Fukushima Eyewitnesses to Visit New York, Challenge UN to Stop Its Promotion of Nuclear Power

As the nuclear crisis precipitated by the 2011 Great Eastern Earthquake unfolded, spewing radioactive material across northern Japan, Sachiko Sato of Fukushima sent her three children away to safety while she stayed behind. With clear information about fallout and radiation levels in short supply from the government, other families inside and outside the evacuation zones faced similar separation. Businesses continued as usual despite rising radiation levels, so parents, often fathers, were forced to stay at work as the wives and children left for Tokyo or western Japan.

While Sato’s children worried about their classmates who remained in Fukushima, the Japanese government, rather than arrange for wider evacuation, raised the legal radiation limit by 20 times. The new limit: 20 mSv per year, equivalent to some countries’ maximum-allowed dose for nuclear workers.

Meanwhile, Sato’s organic farm in Fukushima faced contamination from the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. Many farmers like her may never be able to return to their land, and those who can grow untainted food are challenged with trying to sell it to a fearful public confused by lax government testing and regulation.

Sato and her 13- and 17-year-old children, Yuuki and Mina, plan to share their stories in New York City this month at a presentation with anti-nuclear activists. The Satos will talk about poor evacuation operations, the splitting of families and the impact of the nuclear meltdowns to lives and livelihoods.

Joining the Sato family are Yukiko Anzai, who will talk about the fate of farmers after the meltdowns, and activists Kaori Izumi, Aileen Mioko Smith and Kevin Kamps.

Kaori Izumi, director of Shut Tomari, will discuss the unhealthy and corrupting relationship between government, business, the media and pro-nuclear intellectuals and the judiciary. Aileen Mioko Smith, Executive Director of Green Action and a veteran anti-nuclear campaigner in Japan, will discuss her petition to the UN High Commission on Human Rights to recognize and address the plight of children in the Fukushima region. Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear will describe the “Freeze our Fukushimas” campaign, a first step in shutting down reactors in the U.S. identical to those at Fukushima Daiichi.

The organizers timed the meeting to coincide with a United Nations meeting that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is holding in response to the Fukushima catastrophe. The organizers hope that by drawing the UN’s attention to the human suffering caused by nuclear power, they can convince the UN to stop promoting its use.

When

Thursday, September 22, 12–2pm.
Brown bag lunch recommended. Soft drinks will be available.

Where

American Friends Service Committee Meetinghouse
15 Rutherford Place between 15th and 16th Streets, and 2nd and 3rd Avenues
New York City

RSVP

If you plan to attend, please email Kevin Kamps at Beyond Nuclear: Kevin@beyondnuclear.org.

For more information, call 301.270.2209 to speak to Kevin Kamps or Linda Gunter.

Who

Sachiko Sato, an organic farmer from Fukushima and her 13- and 17-year old children, Yuuki and Mina, will talk about poor evacuation operations, the splitting of families and the impact of the nuclear meltdowns to lives and livelihoods.

Kaori Izumi, director of Shut Tomari, Hokkaido, Japan, will discuss the unhealthy and corrupting relationship between government, business, the media and pro-nuclear intellectuals and the judiciary.

Yukiko Anzai, from near Tomari, Hokkaido, will talk about the fate of farmers after the meltdowns.

Aileen Mioko Smith, Executive Director of Green Action and a veteran anti-nuclear campaigner in Japan will discuss her petition to the UN High Commission on Human Rights to recognize and address the plight of children in the Fukushima region.

Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear will describe the U.S. “Freeze our Fukushimas” campaign, a first step in shutting down US reactors identical to those at Fukushima-Daiichi units 1-4 as part of a goal to phase out operation at all 104 US reactors.

The event is co-sponsored by: Abolition 2000 NY Metro ■ American Friends Service Committee ■ Beyond Nuclear ■ Fukushima Network for Saving Children from Radiation ■ Granny Peace Brigade ■ Green Action ■ Nuclear Age Peace Foundation ■ Peace Action International, CT ■ Physicians for Social Responsibility, NY ■ Shut Down Indian Point Now ■ Shut Tomari ■ Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

Download event flyer (PDF)