Open Letter of Inquiry to the Organizing Committee for the International Expert Symposium in Fukushima — Radiation and Health Risks

September 10, 2011

Concerning the International Expert Symposium that the Organizing Committee is planning at Fukushima Medical University on September 11 and 12, we have several questions and concerns. Some of them arise from the explanation repeatedly given to the residents of Fukushima Prefecture since the mid-March that exposure to ionizing radiation up to 100 mSv per year represents no harm to the health. The others are related to the evaluation of the Health Examination for Citizens in Fukushima Prefecture, which is to be the main theme of the planned International Expert Symposium.

We consider that the mission of the experts in radiological protection consists in preventing health hazard by minimizing exposure to radiation. However, the document, “An Initiative for the Health Examination for Citizens in Fukushima Prefecture,” says that the purposes of the Examination are “to remove fears among residents of Fukushima Prefecture raised in the wake of the nuclear plant accidents and to secure safety and relief through long-term health management of the residents.” For us, citizens of Fukushima, “safety and relief” can only be achieved when these radioprotection experts fulfil their responsibilities. On the contrary, however, these experts have done nothing but repeat the argument that exposure to radiation up to 100 mSv per year represents no harm to the health. 

Also when we find a passage in the briefing document on the said Health Examination that says, “The impact on public health of the accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant can be assumed to be very minor,” we cannot but have an impression that the Examination is conducted under a presumed conclusion, refusing any on-going discussions with specialists with different views. We can only interpret such a scheme as an attempt to evade their own responsibilities. Distrust and discontent are rising among residents of the prefecture and the Japanese public at large. Exposure to radiation is continuing in diverse forms at various locations. Much of the responsibilities for this situation should be assumed by the Japanese experts who are the members of the Committee as well as by the selected foreign participants of the Symposium. It is very unlikely that any views helpful in changing the current situation and promoting proper radioprotection can be obtained from experts from overseas who are designated by the very parties responsible for the current situation. Given such development, we cannot help but concluding that what you are delivering is a make-believe external evaluation, which would only aggravate doubts and fears among residents.

 For the reasons given above, we consider that the planned International Expert Symposium is inadequate to scientifically examine the impact on public health of radiation exposure resulted from the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, or to correctly evaluate the health risks involved and protect the public from radiation exposure.

We hereby convey our view, followed by our inquiry below concerning the Symposium organized by the Committee. Your sincere response to our inquiry will be much appreciated. Please note that this Letter of Inquiry will not only be delivered to the Committee but also be open to the public.

Inquiry

Question #1

Among the participants of the Symposium, there are no researchers reporting that the impact of low-dose exposure on health is greater than the assessment by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. If the International Expert Symposium is committed to studies on the impact of radiation exposure on health, it is essential to raise discussions among experts and researchers with different views. For what reasons are such researchers excluded from the Symposium? 

Question #2

Fukushima Medical University Vice President Shunichi YAMASHITA, one of the Committee members, has been giving explanation to Fukushima residents that it is safe to be exposed to radiation up to 100 mSv per year. On the other hand, the Food Safety Commission, Cabinet Office, gives quite a different view that adverse impact is observed when one is exposed to a total dose of 100 mSv over a lifetime. What is your opinion on the huge gap between these two observations?

Question #3

Concerning the number of persons that died of cancer caused under the impact of radiation due to the Chernobyl disaster and the number of cancer patients, there is a significant discrepancy between the IAEA/WHO report (4,000 cancer deaths estimated by the Chernobyl Forum in 2005) and Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, “Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment,” (published in 2009; a total of one million deaths caused by various cancerous and non-cancerous diseases, stillbirths, etc.) or many other reports from ECRR, German Radiological Protection Association, etc. How will you explain the gap? We would like to have the view of the Committee good enough to be accepted by residents with fears. 

Question #4

There is a passage, “The only illness pinned down related to the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is thyroid cancer among children caused by internal exposure to radioactive iodine. No increases of other illnesses have been recognized” (“Purpose and Outline” in the Health Examination document). Are you planning examination of massive studies and reports (e.g., Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, “Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment” and German Affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Health Effects of Chernobyl, 2010) indicating observations different from the view above? If not, please explain the reasons.

Question #5

Despite the fact that experts and researchers have different opinions, they are not having any debate on the differences. This will lead to increasing concerns among local residents, which is against the purposes of the Symposium. What are the purposes and intent of the Organizing Committee? What are the reasons behind them?

Question #6

In the August 16 press conference, the Organizing Committee announced that you would compile suggestions for removing concerns over radiation among Fukushima residents in general and mothers with children in particular. You say you will make suggestions for eliminating concerns. Why won’t you make suggestions for radiological protection, instead? 

Question #7

While being aimed at eliminating concerns among the public, why is the Symposium being held by excluding citizens in general, not allowing their voices to reach? 

Sincerely,

Organizations and Researchers submitting this Letter of Inquiry 

(in random order)

市民放射能測定所　Citizens' Radioactivity Measuring Station

47プロジェクト Project47

低線量被ばくから子どもの未来を守るプロジェクト

Project to protect the future of children from low dose exposure

高木学校　Takagi school

NPO法人セイピースプロジェクト　Say Peace Project

市民科学研究室・低線量被曝研究会

Exposure to Low-Dose Radiation Research Group, Citizen Science Initiative Japan

ドイツ放射線防護協会　German Society for Radiation Protection

たんぽぽ舎　no nukes plaza tanpoposya

未来の福島こども基金　Fukushima Children's Fund

ハイロアクション福島原発40年実行委員会　Hairo Action Fukushima

脱原発福島ネットワーク　the Phase out Nuclear Energy Fukushima Network

子どもたちを放射能から守る福島ネットワーク

Fukushima Network for Saving Children from Radiation

子どもたちを放射能から守る全国ネットワーク 

National Parents Network to Protect Children form Radiation

母乳調査・母子支援ネットワーク　

Network for Human Breast Milk Research and Mother-Child Support

STOPプルサーマル！ふくしま　Stop Plutonium ! Fukushima

福島老朽原発を考える会　

Citizens Against Fukushima Aging Nuclear Power Plants(Fukurou-no-Kai)

脱原発の日　Campaign for nuclear-free JAPAN

福島原発事故緊急会議Fukushima Nuclear Crisis Emergency Action Network

チェルノブイリ子ども基金　Chernobyl Children's Fund,JAPAN

ＤＡＹＳ ＪＡＰＡＮ

チェルノブイリから日本を考える会　Think of Japan from Chernobyl

グリーン・アクション Green Action

子どもを放射能から守る・大東ネットワーク　

Daito Network to Save Children from Radiation

森・植物生理研究所　Mori Laboratory of Plant Physiology

パレスチナ連帯・札幌 Palestine Solidarity Sapporo

「権力とマスコミの横暴を正し、人権を守る国民の会」ｉｎ入間　

The tyranny of the media, power and protect the human rights of the public　meeting in Iruma.

さっぽろ食まちネット　Sapporo syokumati net

東北アジア情報センター（広島）North east Asia Information Center(Hiroshima)

反戦被爆者の会 Association of A bomb sufferers for peace

全国被爆者青年同盟 League  of A bomb sufferers' second generation  for peace

蛍コンサート　HOTARU　concert

アジア連帯講座　Asian solidarity school

21世紀を愉しむ会　

The meeting of the relation which will enjoy life in the 21st century

脱原発を進める会かながわ　Kanagawa Society for the Abolishment of Nuclear Power

劣化ウラン兵器禁止市民ネットワーク（東京）

Citizen`s  Network  for Ban  on  Depleted  Uranium  Weapons(NO DU Net)

環境会議・諏訪　Environment Forum in Suwa

地球のいのちを守る会　Save the Earth Project

京都原発研究会 Kyoto Research　Group　Against Nuclear Power

全国一般労働組合全国協議会山口連帯労働組合

National Union of General Workers ,Yamaguchi Solidarity Union

ＭＯＸ反対伊方の会（愛媛県）IKATA People Against MOX

環境と暮らしを考える集いthe Akita Association for Environmental Protection

ボイス・オブ・ヒロシマ　（広島の市民グループ）Voice of Hiroshima

NPO <Echo Echanges ONG France-Japon>, France

反原発・かごしまネット Anti-nuclear Kagoshima Network

くらしを見つめるひととき（大阪府）Kurashi wo mitsumeru hitotoki

NPOあおいとりNPO Aoitori

海と風と光の会（広島）Ocean,wind and right society(HIROSHIMA)

日本からガザへ  Japan to Gaza

国際環境ＮＧＯグリーンピース・ジャパン GREENPEACE

特定非営利活動法人アジア太平洋資料センター（PARC)

 Pacific Asia Resource Center(PARC)

ゆるゆる新聞　Communication paper "YuruYuru

国際救急法研究所INTERNATIONAL  FIRST  AID  &  RESCUE  RESEARCH  INSTITUTE

暮らしの環境情報室　Life ＆ Environment Infomation Center

神奈川一区の会　KANAICHINOKAI

平和と人権を考える狭山市民の会　Meeting of the Sayama citizen for Peace and Human Rights

10.1森下で織る希望　Oct. 1 Future Woven at Morishita Operating Committee

東電前アクション　Action In Front Of TEPCO

ネットメデイアと主権在民を考える会　Net-Media & Democracy

ATTACジャパン（首都圏）ATTAC Japan

足元から地球温暖化を考える市民ネットたてばやし

Tatebayashi Citizens' network for Climate-Change

全国自動車交通労働組合連合会福島地方本部福島支部吾妻分会

Azuma group, Fukushima branch , National Federation of Automobile Transport Workers Unions

ECRR市民研究会－広島

The Civic Panel of the Study and Research on ECRR in Hiroshima

うべ人権平和ネットワーク

みどりの未来・福島　　GREENS JAPAN・FUKUSHIMA

国際環境NGO FoE Japan　Friends of the Earth Japan

Be-IN Tokyo

地上5cm50cm放射線計測ＮＥＴ　5cm50cm Radiation Measurement Network

ストップ原発＆再処理・意見広告の会

A Group to Protest Advertising on Nuclear Power and Nuclear Fuel　Reprocessing

みどり福岡 Greens Fukuoka

「さよなら原発」福岡の人　good-bye nukes"Ｆukuoka

４月３日の広場　No Nukes Open Space 43

能登原発防災研究会　Sｔop Noto Plants !

なちゅら・周南　Natura-SHUNAN

権力とマスコミの横暴を正し人権を守る国民の会　

National Association For Protecting Human Rights From Power& Media's Autocracy

PEACE LAND

プルトニウム・アクション・ヒロシマ　Plutonium Action Hiroshima

八ヶ岳板垣塾  Yatsugatake Itagaki Forum

実教出版 放射能倶楽部

The Club Radioactive, Jikkyo Publishing

徳山ダム建設中止を求める会

平和・人権・環境を守る岐阜県市民の声

特定非営利活動法人たんぽぽとりで

環境会議・諏訪

核のゴミキャンペーン・中部

Ｓｈｕｔ泊

福島原発３０キロ圏ひとの会

現代史研究会

栄区の電磁波問題を考える会

上関原発を考える山口若衆の会

あーす☆ガイド

自然の種

行商かじや

レインボー大作戦ＩＮ宇部　実行委員会

食政策センタービジョン２１

プルトニウム・アクション・ヒロシマ（広島県）

人権と平和を守る名古屋の会

ネットメデイアと主権在民を考える会

「時を見つめる会」

「鎌倉平和学習会」

富山　能登原発防災研究会

＜ノーモア南京＞名古屋の会

「なくそう原発・平和をつなぐ全国署名の会

戸山教育基本法勉強会

原発をつくらせない山口県民の会

反原発自治体議員・市民連盟

自治市民'９３　杉並

さかえ脱原発を考える

さよなら原発

情報工房・旅の友

街と子どもプロジェクト

横浜の子どもたちを放射能から守る会

DAYS JAPAN
サポーターズクラブ名古屋

玄海原発プルサーマル裁判の会

玄海原発プルサーマル裁判を支える会

プルサーマルと佐賀県の１００年を考える会

自然エネルギー推進ネット・光

「杉並わくわく会議」

福島原発の廃炉を求める有志の会

「子どもの人権と教科書の問題を考える越智今治の会」

「子どもの人権と教科書の問題を考える新居浜の会」

「子どもの人権と教科書の問題を考える四国中央の会」

レインボー大作戦ｉｎ光実行委員会

脱原発大分ネットワーク

劣化ウラン研究会

日本基督教団神奈川教区核問題小委員会

獄中者個別支援ネットワーク関西

原発の危険性を考える宝塚の会

ふくしまの子ども達の命を救う会　　代表

ふくしま絆プロジェクト推進の会　　代表

Researchers：

崎山比早子博士　（医学博士、高木学校メンバー）

Dr. Hisako Sakiyama (Medical Science Doctor, Member of Takagi School)

松井英介博士　（医学博士、岐阜環境医学研究所所長）

Dr. Eisuke Matsui (Medical Science Doctor, Gifu Research Institute for Environmental Medicine)

沢田昭二教授　（理論物理学者、名古屋大学名誉教授）

Prof. Shoji Sawada (Theoretical Physicist, Professor Emeritus of Nagoya University)

アレクセイ・ネステレンコ博士　（ベルラッド放射線防護研究所所長）

Dr. Alexey Nesterenko　（The Institute of Radioprotection "BELRAD", director）

セバスチャン・プフルークバイル博士 (ドイツ放射線防護協会）

Dr. Sebastian Pflugbeil (German Society for Radiation Protection)

ブルーノ・シャレロン（核物理技術者）

Bruno Chareyron, Engineer in Nuclear Physics, CRIIRAD laboratory manager

リヒァルト・ゾルク博士、社会学教授、ハンブルク

Prof. Dr. Richard Sorg, Soziologe, Hamburg

We condemn the Asahi Newspaper Company's decision to give the Asahi Cancer Award to Mr. Shun'ichi Yamashita

Fukushima Network for Saving Children from Radiation

Representative Board Member: Seiichi Nakate

Board Members

We, members of the Fukushima Network for Saving Children from Radiation, as well as people who are taking part in civic action to protect children in Fukushima from radiation, were appalled to read the 1 September edition of the Asahi Shimbun, and we cannot keep our anger under control.

We simply cannot understand why Mr. Shun'ichi Yamashita's actions have been positively evaluated in this manner. Hasn't the selection committee in your company taken into account how deeply his words have tormented parents in Fukushima who are trying to protect their children from radiation, and how much he is going to torment people in Fukushima as a vice-chancellor of Fukushima Medical University?

Mr. Yamashita has repeatedly stated that "radiation exposure of 100 mSv per year is no problem. There is no risk for expecting mothers or for children," ever since coming to Fukushima at the end of March. His statements at the end of March were featured in the Fukushima City Council News (see attachment) and contributed to creating the myth of safety in Fukushima Prefecture.

While he publishes articles pointing out the risk of low-level irradiation in medical journals, he publicly denies the risk of low-level irradiation in Fukushima.

As you should be well aware, the international consensus regarding the effect of low-level irradiation is represented by the "linear non-threshold model," according to which the risk to health from radiation increases in proportion to the level of exposure. Even the conservative ICRP takes this standpoint.

In reality, the level of contamination in many areas of Fukushima Prefecture exceeds that of "radiation controlled areas" (areas which the general public is not permitted to enter under Japanese law). Lessons from the Chernobyl accident indicate that this level of contamination cannot be said to be safe. Mr. Yamashita's statements have made many people hesitant to evacuate from contaminated areas, given many people the feeling that it is safe to keep living in Fukushima, and even created friction in families. They also helped create an atmosphere in which it is difficult for ordinary citizens to express their concern that levels of radiation might be dangerous.

Is there any unit in this world more important than family? Is there any treasure in this world more precious than children? Words cannot express the agony inflicted upon us by not being able to protect our family sufficiently due to the "safety myth" created by Mr. Yamashita. Despite this situation, here in Fukushima we struggle every day to stay positive.

Recognising the grave danger of Mr. Yamashita serving as Radiation Risk Adviser for Fukushima Prefecture and as chair of the program to monitor and manage the health of prefectural residents, we collected 6607 signatures on a petition calling for the dismissal of Mr. Yamashita from these positions. In a nationwide drive, we collected over 40,000 signatures on a petition calling for the government to respect the legal limit for radiation exposure of 1 mSv per year and to provide official support for those who wish to evacuate, as well as to remove Mr. Yamashita from the above posts.

Giving the Asahi Cancer Award to a person like Mr. Yamashita, while completely ignoring the actions taken by ordinary people, calls into question the decency and morality of the Asahi Newspaper Company.

We hereby call on the Asahi Newspaper Company to revoke Mr Yamashita's Asahi Cancer Award and to make a formal apology in the Asashi Shimbun

We also call on you to properly report on the fact that we have criticized your decision to give Mr. Yamashita the Asahi Cancer Award.

Attachment 1: Fukushima City Council News (21 April, 2011)

Attachment 2: Petition by the people of Fukushima Prefecture calling for the dismissal of Mr. Shun'ichi Yamashita.