I said in “3/11
Three Years On Part 1” that I would not write about radiation because enough
people had written about it, and I would rather write about other effects of
the earthquake that I happen to feel personally about. Well, that was before I read anyone else’s
thoughts on the anniversary of the Triple Disasters and changed my mind. I know that the nuclear disaster has
overshadows the others, and I have understood this since March 2011. Hell, that is the reason I initially decided
not to write about Fukushima. But ye gods.
From some of the chatter, and you all know if this applies to you or
not, one would think the nuclear disaster was the only significant consequence
of the earthquake. I believe the nuclear
disaster is the most significant consequence, so I do understand all the
attention it gets. Or rather, I would be
able to if it were not for the sheer ignorance that permeates so much of what
has been written about Fukushima.
I wish I were being hyperbolic, but
when I read the chatter about Fukushima I can only conclude some people are
being willfully ignorant. A lot of
information is available about Fukushima and its consequences. It is true that TEPCO and the Kan government
were not forthcoming in March 2011 and had to have their arms twisted before
they explained anything, but they have no more secrets left. The bad handling of the disaster response is
the reason Kan’s party is out of power.
Perhaps this pervasive ignorance is driven by the distrust of nuclear power,
but people really seem to want to believe the situation is worse than it
is. Unless you enter the exclusion zone,
radiation from Fukushima Daiichi is unlikely to harm you. Really, I think you would have to enter the
power plant and start huffing the spent fuel rods. The North American West Coast is not being
“fried,” Pacific fish are by and large safe to eat (Deep Sea News can express
the nuance of that problem better than me), even Fukushima Prefecture is safe
to visit (and next time I am in Japan in July, I intend to go to the Soma
Nomaoi festival in Minamisoma). As I
said before, a lot of people have already written about the reasons we should
all chill out and relax over Fukushima radiation (but not get complacent!) so
rather than reinvent the wheel, I would like to introduce you to these
thoughtful gentlepeople.
Skeptoid:
This is
primarily the home of Brian Dunning, a businessman who runs a podcast on
skepticism and how to analyze and debunk claims of the paranormal, as well as
earthly claims of an extraordinary and duplicitous nature. Dunning also hosts a group blog in which
other individuals write about similar topics.
Mike Rothschild has been covering Fukushima claims since last September here.
It's Time to Play Know! Your! Sources of
Crap! This is not
specifically about Fukushima but many of the “sources” Mike goes over here have
been disseminating misinformation about Fukushima, and in all likelihood will continue. So it makes this list.
Deep Sea News:
Where Skeptoid
is about how to ask the right questions and seek the answers, Deep Sea News is
about promoting science, and introducing readers the reality behind the wonders
of the sea. So much of the
misinformation concerns the effects on the ocean and its delicious fish, Deep
Sea News has taken up the issue. You may
have noticed that Mike Rothschild linked to DSN quite a bit. DSN has even more sources for you to follow.
Detectable but not Hazardous: Radioactive
Marine Life of Fukushima
by Miriam Goldstein
True Facts about Ocean Radiation and the
Fukushima Disaster by
Kim Martini
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