Yumi Kikuchi’s Blog and Podcast

My first NVC Workshop for Social Change@Island Naturals Kona, Hawaii on May 24, 5pm

2013-05-14T17:45:00.000+09:00

Aloha. Some of you know I have been passionately learning and practicing NVC (Non Violent Communication). At the end of this month, I will be going to Bay Area to share NVC and also to participate Bay NVC Leadership Program 2013. I am really looking forward to reconnecting with NVC community members.

Here is the event Andrea, Gen and I are going to offer to the community of Hawaii who are wanting social change. The next day on May 25 is a big day to raise awareness and voice on GMO food (I want to eat healthy and food choice is important for me). Here on this island, there is a bill 79 to limit GMO and I support that.

This workshop is for those who want to create social change through effective communication. We have been spending a lot of time to prepare the workshop. It is going to be valuable for community activists and concerned people for environment and food safety.

Here is the flyer. Please bring your friends on May 24, 5pm@Island Naturals, Kaiwi Street, Upstairs
in Kona. It is free(donations are welcome).

Aloha Fukushima Kids Hawaii Project

2013-03-19T16:22:00.001+09:00

Today, I am announcing Aloha Fukushima Kids Hawaii Project (AFKHP) here in the Big Island of Hawaii asking your participation and support.

If you have any Japanese connection (friends), please send this post (in Japanese　日本語):
http://kikuchiyumi.blogspot.com/2013/03/aloha_29.html

You may know there are about 300,000 children (and 2 million people) living in Fukushima prefecture in Japan today, and at least 3 children have already developed thyroid cancer and 35% of children are reported to have some cysts, which may have been caused by the exposure to radiation.

The speed of children developing health problems in/around Fukushima is faster and serious than the case of Chernobyl accident in 1986 in Ukraine.

We are very concerned about the wellbeing of children in Fukushima who have not been able to play outside since the nuclear accidents after March 11, 2011 East Japan Great Earthquake (and tsunami). Four (only one inChernobyl) broken reactors of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants are still critical conditions and no one really knows how to stop the radiation from leaking into the environment.

All they can do is to keep cooling the melted nuclear fuel to prevent recriticality accident. I am sorry for those workers at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants daily exposing themselves to radiation to save all of us.

I work with Marian Moriguchi (Assist One) in Fukushima, for recruiting children
Vicky Nelson www.loveneverfailsjapan.com, in East side of Hawaii,
Gen Morita www.moritagen.blogspot.com in West side of Hawaii
and others on this effort of bringing Fukushima kids to Hawaii.

This effort is one of many such efforts by civilian sectors as Japanese government is doing opposite saying it is safe to live in Fukushima and those who had been evacuated should go back to Fukushima.

I do not agree with Japanese government as the levels of radiation in some parts of Fukushima is too dangerous for children to live healthy life. Check the following prominent doctors and specialists opinion (those who I trust knowing them for years) who would refute Japanese government claim:
Helen Caldecott
Yuri Bandazhevsky
Arnie Gundersen

AFKHP aims to host children from Fukushima during Japanese school vacations (there are summer, winter and spring vacations) starting from this summer (August) 2013 in the Big Island, half time in Kona, half time in Hilo and a few days in Honolulu. We would like the kids to play freely in the beautiful nature of Hawaii, and cultivate good relationship with people and nature of Hawaii.

This summer (August 2013) is our first such effort and we would like to host 20 or so children for 1 month or so in Hawaii, about 10 days in Kona, about 10 days in Hilo, and about 5 days in Honolulu.

We are seeking for support from the community in Hawaii and donation from around the world who care and who can.

Easiest support is send a donation, $10 or $10,000 does not matter, whatever you can afford.

We have a PayPal account: genm@trust.ocn.ne.jp
Please let us know by e-mail that you want to support Fukushima kids.

In the USA, we can receive donations by personal and bank checks, too:

The check made out to: Harmonics Life Center Hawaii
can be send to: Harmonics Life Center c/o Morita
75-286 Hoene St., Kailua Kona, HI96740

In Japan, you can make a donation by Yubin-Furikae at any post office to:
Harmonics Life Center : 00110-1-144224
write: Aloha Fukushima Kids in the comment space.

And make sure to let me know by e-mail:
rawinfo@harmonicslife.net!

Support can be in many levels.

Simply you can spread this project.
Here is the link in English.
Japanese link is here.

Spreading words may be the most essential of all.

There are more things you may be able to do:

Do you have fun with kids? Then you can play with them.
You can teach Hawaiian culture, hula, lei making, Hawaiian traditional cooking, etc.
You can take kids to the beach and swim together.
You can teach English or learn Japanese from Fukushima kids.
You can donate money to help the families who are participating in this program.
You can donate fresh organic food from your garden or local market.
You can be a host family for 1 or 2 kids.
You can take kids to hiking.
You can be a driver. This is important and essential, too.

Whatever you can or you want to do, please let me know by e-mail so that I can coordinate your time, skills and resources into helping kids in Fukushima. Let them spend a wonderful and meaningful time here in Hawaii this summer and many more summers (winters, spring vacations) after.

I estimate the cost of hosting one child from Fukushima for a month in Hawaii can be 3~4,000 USD including airfares (as the summer airfare from Japan to Hawaii is the highest of the year). If we get airfare discounted or donated, it would be much less, may be $2000. The cost of transportation, food, lodging and programs can be donated by those who are capable and willing to donate their time, rooms and skills, or if we can raise enough money (and awareness), we would like to compensate those volunteers so that this program can be sustainable for everyone involved.

I am grateful for your care and support for Fukushima (and the world) children.

mahalo nui loa,
arigato gozaimasu

Yumi Kikuchi and Gen Morita
co-founders, Aloha Fukushima Kids Hawaii Project (AFKHP)

World Simultaneous Prayer for Healing of Earth's Waters

2013-03-05T17:39:00.001+09:00

On 2 years anniversary of East Japan Great Earthquake, March 11, 2:46pm Japan time, Dr. Emoto (Japan) and Kumu Keala Ching(Hawaii) invite you to pray for healing of water near you. Here in the Big Island, we meet at 7pm at the big banyan tree next to King Kamehameha Hotel on Ali'i Drive.

Please share this to your connections and create an event in your hometown. Even just one person praying is great!

The simultaneous prayer will take place at 2:46pm on March 11 Japan time, which is 7:46pm on March 10 Hawaii time.

Use Time Zone converter to know the time in your locality.
http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzref.tzc

I appreciate getting to know where the prayer will take place. Please post your event to this blog so that people near you may be able to join you.

There will be many prayers throughout Japan on that day.

The power of each one of us around the world praying together will be phenomenal.

Thank you for your care and participation.

MSG Destroys the Nerve Cells of the Brain

2013-02-16T15:46:00.000+09:00

I got an e-mail from my webmaster who had a terrible health problem by eating MSG. I paste it below so that you can read and learn from him.

I try to avoid MSG by making meals and desserts from scratch (fresh vegetables and fruits).

We better pay attention to what we eat because "We are what we eat" and those artificial food and chemicals that are harmful to us also destroy environment when they are made and disposed.

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Most doctors, dieticians, and the public know very little about the toxic effects of MSG. The multi-billion dollar processed food industry and MSG producers pay lobbyists to make all of us believe MSG is safe.

MSG destroys the nerve cells of the brain and 50 percent or more of the population is experiencing the harmful effects of what the medical community has called the "MSG Symptom Complex."

Yet, many of us are unaware of that. MSG is not just used in oriental restaurants, but in restaurants and most bagged, bottled, frozen, boxed, canned, or commercially prepared foods. Additives such as hydrolyzed protein, textured vegetable protein, yeast extract, autolyzed yeast, torula yeast, and anything modified, can contain as much as 50 percent MSG and need not be labeled as such. That Attention Deficit Disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, some weight problems, migraine headaches, sleeping disorders, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, glaucoma, asthma, diabetes, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Parkinson's, and fibromyalgia may have more in common than you think.

Now that you know the secrets that have been kept from you, read labels, act responsibly, respect your body, and get healthy.

Aloha!

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/039109_MSG_hidden_ingredients_taste_enhancer.html#ixzz2L01uROFG

http://www.naturalnews.com/039109_MSG_hidden_ingredients_taste_enhancer.html

Dr. Masaru Emoto's Lectures in Hawaii (Hilo and Kona)

2013-01-29T19:54:00.000+09:00

Exciting news! Dr. Masaru Emoto, the water messenger, is coming to Hawaii to spread wonderful messages from water.

If you do not know who Dr. Emoto is, take a look at his site:

http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/emoto-label.html

Dr. Emoto asked me to organize his lectures in Hawaii, so I did what I can. Here is the flyer an excellent designer in Australia designed:

I have organized many events in Japan, but this is my first time to organize such an evnet in Hawaii.

Dr. Emoto is the world-famous "Water Messanger". Even if you do not know him, you may have seen this beautiful picture.

The picture is the water crystal when it was shown the words Love and Gratitude
（愛、感謝 or aloha and mahalo）in Japanese.

I was privileged to be an interpreter last year when Dr. Emoto gave a key note speech at the World Congress of Quantum Medicine in Honolulu. As a result, he asked me to organize his talks in the big island of Hawaii.

Unlike Japan, I had no idea what kind of halls are available and how much they cost, how you sell tickets (there are no Lawson nor Ticket Pia that sells tickets for you in Japan), who I can ask making flyers, posters and how much is the printing.....I knew nothing, but I came this far by choosing a small step at a time.

If you are planning a vacation in Hawaii, please make it around March 2 and 3 in the Big Island!

＜Messages from Water -- Dr. Masaru Emoto's Lecture in Hawaii＞
　　＝ Love and Gratitude heal You and Earth ＝

Sat. March 2, 2013 2~4pm ＠HICOM（Hawaii College of Oriental Medicine),10th Floor of Naniloa Hotel, Hilo
$25 at the door,
Supporter (with Reception) $100 (20 seats only)

Sun. March 3, 2013 7~9om＠Aloha Theater, Kainaliu (South Kona)
$25 in advance, $30 at the door
Supporter (with Reception) $100 (40 seats only)

*Supporters are invited to Reception of Dr. Emoto
Dr. Emoto's Reception in Hilo: Mrach 2 in Hilo, 5-7pm
Dr. Emoto's Reception in Kona: Mrach 3 in Kona 2-4pm
(venue will be notified to the supporters: RSVP by e-mail)

presented by: Harmonics Life Center Hawaii
inquiry and booking : e-mailrawinfo@harmonicslife.net　Tel: 808-334-9616

Advance tickets sold at Aloha Theatre (APAC) and Java On the Rock for March 3 lecture@Aloha Theatre

Those who purchased VIP seats for March 3 lecture at Aloha Theater are invited to the welcome party of Dr. Emoto. Only 40 VIP seats available, first come first served. Call or e-mail me now for the VIP seats as it won't last too long!

Thank you for helping to spread the good news in HAWAII.

Yes, we are the water (at least 70% of our body is) and water is listening to you all the time. So, let's speak with aloha and mahalo so that our body can heal itself.

A Poem for 12-11-2012, A Special Day for Celebration and Appreciation

2012-12-12T05:18:00.001+09:00

Barbara, a friend of mine in the Big Island of Hawaii sent me the poem below by RUMI this morning and I would like to share it with you as it is inspiring.

Yesterday, we had a family celebration for having each other, food on the table, roof on our head, and honest, open, intimate relationship like we have.

We had a young women from Japan in our house for a month and it has become a bit of stress as she practices a mediation with vocal mantra day and night. I asked her if she could meditate silently, but she said no and kept doing it as she wished. Because of her presence, my children's sleep was getting affected and they were unhappy.

Our house is open for people who want to learn Harmonics Healing and sustainable living. It is not a hotel nor B&B, it is a learning center. But she has not been taking our classes and kept practicing her own mediation daily.

So we finally asked her to leave (she was supposed to leave last month, but it has been delayed because her god told her to stay).

She left yesterday and we celebrated that. My children were so relieved because they felt uneasy being with her.

As she left, she told us her god said no need to pay for her stay and she did not. What kind of god is that?, I thought.

But I am so glad she left as I could sleep so deeply last night. I did not realize how stressful it was for me to have her in our house for a month.

Her words and deeds reminded me of Jiddu Krishnamurti on the Belief in God : A man who believes in God can never find God. If you are open to reality, there can be no belief in reality.
How does this sound to you?
------a poem my friend Barbara sent me:

From: Awakening Women <info@awakeningwomen.com>

Amazing one,
We live in a time the prophets have spoken about for eons,
it is the end of 2012.

This is not a time to ask "what will happen to me/us?"
This is a time to fully commit to the wisdom of your wide-open heart.
Not to wait for it all to change, or for him/her to change,
but to take stand for love, no matter what.

People and life will continue to throw challenges your way,
that is out of your hands.
But what is in your power, at any given moment,
is to choose to not hook into it all.
To choose to stay in love.

We are called to grow up now
from the outdated games of entanglement,
we are called to stand clear and free in our own spiritual authority.
Drop your heavy baggage of resentment and clever reasons,
the only one who suffers from it is you.

In the willingness to just for once stay here,
feeling, hearing, seeing, opening in real curiosity
to the miracle of being able to perceive at all,
all of the "stuff" drop away.
It is up to you to pick it up again.
Or not.

Find your peace.
You have prepared for this time.

Make everything in you an ear, each atom of your being,

and you will hear at every moment
what the source is whispering to you . . .
You are, we all are, the beloved of the beloved.
And in every moment,
in every event of your life,
the beloved is whispering to you
exactly what you need to know.
Who can ever explain this miracle
It simply is.

~Rumi

You and the Earth are One

2012-08-15T17:52:00.001+09:00

When I became aware of the environmental problems our planet earth was facing back in 1988, I was in despair.

There were too many problems and destructions and there seemed not much a could do. All of problems were getting worse year by year. I then thought we, human being , were like cancer cells of the earth, so we should go extinct!

I was wrong. I found it out myself when I started living in the country of Kamogawa, Chiba in 1998. I left my city life and started a totally unknown and new life in an old abandoned farm in a mountain of cedar forest with my partner Gen.

We started to grow what we eat all organically, rice, vegetables, fruits and mushrooms (and later even children). In a few years, we were growing more rice than we could eat in one year, yes, we were nearly self-sufficient. We were so happy and so healthy. And then, I noticed there were fireflies around our house, which were not before we lived there. We made a gutter where our used water was carried to the vegetable garden and rice paddy. In that gutter, fireflies were living.

I was so happy and so amazed. I knew fireflies needed clean water. So, our waste water was clean enough for fireflies. It was true I did not use any chemical detergent nor even a soap. I just used warm water and sometimes salt to wash dishes.

Then came the fireflies.

I realized humans were not cancer cells. We could be, but we could be different too. If we chose a way of living that is not polluting (by this, I mean chemically polluting or radioactively polluting, something that eco system can not take care of), we can actually make the environment better or richer.

We started planting many fruit trees. Some for the bird and wild animals and some for ourselves.

Soon I realized I had become much more healthy, vital and younger, too. This realization was so inspiring for me. If I chose to live making my environment (water, etc) clean, I become more healthy and beautiful.

Wow!

I am one with the Earth. If I chose a way of life that makes me beautiful, it also make the earth beautiful. At the same time, if I am careful not to pollute the water, soil and air, as a result, I become more healthy and beautiful.

I and the Earth are one. You and the Earth are one. So, we are one.

This is such a great realization for me. When I look at people, I try to remember this. No matter what is going on between me and that person, I am one with that person as long as I live on this planet Earth.

I am no longer a cancer cell of the planet. I am a change agent. Gandhi said you must be the change you wish to see in the world. I am the one to make the planet more healthy and beautiful by making myself more healthy and beautiful.

So are you.

Isn't this great?

Join me for Super Fitness@Kona, Big Island of Hawaii

2012-05-10T18:54:00.000+09:00

On Feb 3, 2012, I became a member of Pacific Island Fitness in Kona, which was a birthday gift to myself. I turned a half the age of how long I want to live. The former half of my life is over and I am starting the latter part of my life, so, I needed to take better care of my body and health.

I have missions to accomplish. I want to keep working to create more sustainable society here in Kona and in Japan. There is so much to do and I need at least 30 or more healthy years to accomplish what I started doing before I leave this body.

Even though we had grown most of what we ate in Japan organically and also trying to do the same here in Kona, Hawaii, which is quite healthy, you still need to exercise regularly to keep your body in good shape. I confess I have stopped all kinds of sports for nearly 30 years.

I used to dance in my teens and 20s, but after I started working, I stopped dancing completely. So, I had less muscle and more fat when I joined the club. And 3 months later, I think I have more muscle and less fat.

SO, joining a fitness club in another country(USA) was quite a big leap for me, but my Japanese friend in Kona invited me to a ZUMBA class, which I had no idea what it was, but now I enjoy so much. I had never heard of ZUMBA in Japan. It is like an aerobics dancing in Latin Music. I love latin music so it was perfect combination for me: dancing in latin music.
One of my ZUMBA instructors is Naomi. Her stamina is amazing and she has such a beautiful and powerful body, and of course, as a woman, I wanted to be like her.
Well, I am much older, but it is better to be late than never to start something you enjoy and also good for your health.

So, if you want to visit Hawaii and to join me to Super Fitness retreat, please e-mail me.

The retreat is 7days(6nights) minimum and longer, that includes lodging, 2 raw food meals a day, fitness club (class) fees, pick up at the airport, transportation to and from the club daily, taking you to the airport (Kona). Gen and I will share what we have learned from Bay NVC (Non Violent Communication) and I will lecture on food and environment, tips on how to stay healthy in more contaminated world (more radiation and chemicals). We also will check what your body is wanting (and not wanting) to be healthier by LET (Life Energy Test).

I look forward to having you at our house in the center of Kona, Harmonics Healing Hawaii. Our garden is small but we grow many vegetables and fruits, and even started growing rice! You can experience an abundant life and nature of Hawaii in town!

You will witness how much you can grow in a small garden, and you will be inspired. And by the end of this retreat, you will be energized, more healthy and maybe in better shape than before.

Celebrate Japan's ZERO nuclear power plant day: May 5, 2012

2012-05-04T07:33:00.000+09:00

I am so thrilled and overjoyed by the fact on the midnight of May 5, 2012 Japan time, Hokkaido Electric Company will shut down Tomari #3 nuclear reactor for the regular check up, meaning the last operating nuclear power plant in Japan is stopping.

We have 54 nuclear plants in Japan and now only one plant in Hokkaido is operating, no plant in Honshu, Shikoku and Kyusyu islands are operating, which is a surprise to many people around the world.

They ask, "How can Japan manage without nuclear power? It has no other energy and needed nuclear energy to meet its demand!".

Well, the truth is that every nuclear power has its back up power plant and we do not need to use nuclear power at all in Japan if we chose so. Even without using these back up plants, by operating existing hydro and fossil fuel power plants, we have enough capacity to cover Japanese energy demand.

This fact is finally getting to be known to ordinary citizens, who have been deceived over 3 decades. We just believed we could not live without nuclear power plants as we have been told so for too long by too many sources: governments and media.

But it was not TRUE at all.

In fact, after 3.11 Fukushima accident 2011, Tokyo electric company has been supplying enough energy with most of its nuclear power shutting down since 3.11. They have only 3 nuclear reactors operating out of 17 reactors after 3.11, 2011. We have had no energy shortage since then.

They used natural gas, petroleum, coal and hydro power instead. I would prefer they increase natural gas combined cycle power plants as they are the most efficient existing and reliable energy sources in Japan.

How long have I been waiting for this day of ZERO nuclear power plant in Japan?---For decades.

Since the day I first learned about the danger of nuclear power plants and its waste, which we have no place to put or no technology to manage.

Since the day I learned nuclear power plants needed workers always exposed to some amount of radiation.

Since the day I learned about Japan's nuclear reactors were not strong enough to withstand big earthquakes over 600 gals, and Japan's big earthquakes exceed 600 gals.

Since the day I learned about the children living around nuclear power plants are more susceptible to leukemia and cancer even if there is no accident, as small amount of radiation is released every single day to the environment.

May 5 in Japan is Children's Day. I think this is the best gift Japan can give to the world children and future generations. So, please join us for the big celebration. I mean to ask/help our government to go more sustainable and ecological energy choices. Join me in this effort.

The zero operating nuclear power plant in Japan does not mean that our government gave up nuclear power. It is just the regular check up, and they would like to restart operation as soon as they have agreements from local governments (governors) that have nuclear power plants, such as Fukui, Shizuoka, Ehime, Niigata, Shimane, Ibaragi, Saga, Kagoshima, Miyagi, Aomori and Hokkaido.

But Japanese people have learned how much harm just one server nuclear accident can cause to the people's lives and nature. Our voice and awareness against nuclear power is raising steadily.

On that day here in Kona, Hawaii (May 4, 6pm), I am inviting people to celebrate the ZERO nuclear power of Japan at Harmonics Life Hawaii. If you live in/near Kona, please contact me by e-mail. It is a potluck so bring a dish you like.

To read this in Japanese, go to: http://kikuchiyumi.blogspot.com/2012/05/blog-post.html

Japan's Nuclear Power Plants Count Down to ZERO

2012-04-25T17:13:00.002+09:00

Starting tomorrow, April 26, 2012, Japan's last remaining nuclear power plant will have only 10 days left before it is shut down. Some people are happily counting down from ten to zero from tomorrow. The last plant is the Tomari #3 nuclear reactor owned by Hokkaido Electric Company and it is going to be shut down on May 5, 2012 for its regular check up.

The Japanese government is trying to reopen Oi #3 and #4 nuclear reactors in Fukui before the total shut down of all 54 nuclear reactors, but citizens together with some 50 politicians are against the reopening of Oi, which could mean the total shut down of all the 54 nuclear reactors for the first time since nuclear power plants started operating in Japan in 1966.

Here is a list of all the nuclear power plants in Japan and their shut-down dates:
http://www.jca.apc.org/mihama/fukushima/genpatsu_jyoukyou_20120326.pdf

There are ten electric companies in Japan and each company is a regional monopolistic enterprise and consumers have no choice but to buy electricity from one company.

As of today, only onw nuclear reactor (Tomari #3) is in operation. The other 53 reactors are shut down due to check ups or trouble. This fact (only one reactor in operation) seem surprising to many nationally and internationally as we were told that 30% of Japan's energy comes from nuclear power.

In reality, no nuclear power plants have been in operation in Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu for some time, yet there has been no energy shortage.

The Japanese government is working hard to reopen the Oi nuclear power plant as they are afraid of a total shut down of nuclear power in Japan. The fact Japan can do without nuclear power plants is frightening to them as they had kept on telling the Japanese people that Japan could not live without nuclear power.

They do not want Japanese people to know Japan has enough power without nuclear power plants.

There have been many people in Japan who have said that Japan's energy needs could be met without nuclear power. Scholars and journalists including Yuko Fujita, Takashi Hirose, Yu Tanaka, Atsushi Tsuchida, Hiroaki Koide are some...

So, May 5, 2012, the Japanese people will finally realize the fact that they CAN do without nuclear power.

If what the government and electric companies have been saying had been true, we would have experienced power shortages and black outs by now. But so far, none!! This fact that we can do without nuclear power is surprising to many. People have tended to believe the government story that Japan can not live without nuclear power.

We were deceived. They were lying.

Because of the March 11the tsunami, earthquake and resulting radiation release, the Japanese people are finally demanding the total shut down of nuclear power to the government and electric companies.

Below is the list of shut down dates of nuclear power plants of the nine electric corporations:

Tohoku Electric Co.: No nuclear power since March 11, 2011.
Tokyo Electric Co.: No nuclear power since March 26, 2012
Chubu Electric Co.: No nuclear power since May 14, 2011
Hokuriku Electric Co.: No nuclear power since March 11, 2011
Kansai Electric Co.: No nuclear power since Feb 20, 2012
Chugoku Electric Co.: No nuclear power since Jan 27, 2012
Shikoku Electric Co.: No nuclear power since Jan 13, 2012
Kyusyu Electric Co.: No nuclear power since Dec 1, 2011
Hokkaido Electric Co.: Last one to be shut on May 5, 2012
Okinawa Electric Co.: has no nuclear power at all.
(There may be depleted uranium munitions and even nuclear bombs stored in US bases in Okinawa.)

Japan may become the first country to have a post-nuclear power society in spite of all the effort its government and electric companies are making to reopening the nuclear power plants.

10 days count down to "ZERO nuclear power" in Japan! This is the best news since March 11, 2011.

Japan should be the leader of renewable and sustainable energy society so that other countries can follow.

The operation of nuclear power plants on earthquake faults is a threat to the health of young people in the world and to environment as if there is a release of radiation after an accident it will spread and go around the world just like radiation from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is now spreading through the air and water. The Japanese people are finally demanding from their government that there be a total shut down of nuclear power plants and a shift to renewable energy.

Radiation and Health Talk @Island Naturals, Kona, Hawaii 1pm

2012-04-21T19:26:00.001+09:00

It is quite short notice, but tomorrow April 21, 2012, I am speaking at Island Naturals (Kona) @1pm and you are very welcome to be there.

If you have small children and/or are concerned about low level radiation exposure due to current Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant disaster and its radiation leak (contaminated water will be in the Hawaii area any time now), please join us tomorrow at Island Naturals in town at 1pm. I will talk about:

1. Current situation of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plants and its effect on the environment, especially in relation to Hawaii

2. What you can do now to reduce the negative effects of exposure to radiation

A personal health consultation by Gen and Yumi Morita (Harmonics Healing Practitioners) can taken after the talk if anyone is interested (with fee).

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Yumi's profile: Born and raised in Tokyo. After working as a reporter and a bond trader, from 1990 she chose to work at solving environmental problems and made this the focus of her life work. She has launched several movements and NGOs such as Monkey Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (in Belize), Clean Up Campaign (JEAN, Japan), Niji no Hebi (Rainbow Serpent, Plutonium Free Future, Japan & USA), SAFE(Safe Alternative on Food and Environment, Hong Kong), Harmonics Life Center(Kamogawa, Japan), Global Peace Campaign (International), Tokyo Peace Film Festival(Tokyo, Japan), JUMP (Japan United for Ministry of Peace, Japan) and recently Tsunagu Hikari-Connecting Light (A relief project for pregnant women and children from Fukushima, Japan and USA). In 1988 after she moved to Kamogawa in the countryside of Chiba she started practicing a sustainable lifestyle with her partner Gen. They grew most of what they ate as well as their children organically. After 311, they decided to create a Harmonics Life Center in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Their concept was to promote a functional sustainable lifestyle within the confines of the American consumer society. This had been their dream since 2001. Harmonics Healing Hawaii opened in April 2012. Yumi has been an advocate of natural medicine and sustainable living. She has given lectures nationally and internationally on radiation and health.

Helping Japan Stop Nuclear Power Plants will Help You

2012-03-23T19:10:00.004+09:00

We had a potluck party yesterday at our place that included about dozen people who are interested in learning about what is happening in Fukushima, radiation in the Pacific ocean, its health effects, and how to stay healthy and positive in this difficult time of environmental crisis.

Some practical dietary applications to ease the effects of radiation in the body include:
1 Eat mostly fresh greens, vegetables of color, raw foods, and fermented foods. 80% raw food is optimal.
2 Daily intake of sea vegetables like Dulse, Wakame, Nori, Limu, Spirulina and others help the body maintain natural iodine which is helpful in shielding radioactive iodine.
3 In Japan after the atomic bomb, some people who ate miso, brown rice, umeboshi survived in spite of they were very close to the center.

Radiation is rapidly spreading in the ocean, but radiation (such as Cesium) in any water will not evaporate and create toxic rain as some are afraid, because the molecules are heavy and its evaporation point is 678 degree c. However, we need to monitor the radiation contamination in sea food and push our local government to act on this important issue, due to the fact that sea food is very important to the people of Hawaii.

As I have said, much can be done to minimize the effects of radiation, simply by maintaining a happy healthy diet and lifestyle. I am happy to come any place and share what I know. Please contact me by e-mail.

Most importantly, to avoid another accident, please ask our government (Japan) to stop reopening the nuclear power plants in Japan (52 are stopping right now out of 54, but government wants to reopen/restart the Oi nuclear reactors). You can send a short message to our prime minister by twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/YoshihikoNoda

IT can be something like this:
Having nuclear reactors on earthquake faults is insane. I am shocked to hear Japan is still trying to reopen nuclear power plants again after polluting the entire northern hemisphere. We want safety, clean water, and clean air. No more radiation in the environment please.

Ben who attended the potluck just posted this to his Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000466793663

I really hope you can send a message to stop the nuclear power plants on earthquake faults (Japan!)

Bid for Compassion: Marlena's Teaching Fund Teaching NVC

2012-03-13T15:00:00.003+09:00

I hope some of you who are reading this live in Bay Area or in California. I want you to support Marlena, a compassionate teacher of NVC.

Marlena is my friend, a co-participant of 2010 Leadership Program of Bay NVC and an assistant of 2011 Leadership Program which both Gen and I participated.

I became aware she had multiple physical difficulties when she laid down during the classes as it was too hard for her to stay sitting straight, which at first was surprising for me as I have never seen people lying down during classes. But I understood her physical condition and soon we come to know each other. I often was moved by how empathic she was when it came to guessing feelings and the needs of another person during LP 2010.

She has been teaching NVC to her group of people who have Chronic Illnesses & Disabilities. But those people can not afford to pay her much as they can not work because of physical or mental condition and they are in poverty.

So, they got creative and they are having online auction to support her financially so that she can continue teaching NVC to those who need it. Please read the story below, and bid if you can.
http://marlenasauction.blogspot.com/

Worsening Health Condition of a Fukushima Resident: The Case of Ms. Emiko Numauchi

2012-03-12T15:49:00.007+09:00

Aljazeera has reported on a women, Emiko Numauchi, a former high school teacher, living 25 km from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Reactor, whose health has been worsening after the 311 nuclear disaster: She is losing her hair, many teeth are gone, and she has purple marks on the skin...

http://www.youtube.com/embed/lpWOeKk1GUo

Here is an English article about her:
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia-pacific/2012/03/20123914421232874.html

Below is a report written by Sanae who volunteered to spread the information about Ms. Emiko Numauchi, who is in the Aljazeera report.
--------
How safe is it for Fukushima people to stay in Fukushima, Japan?

People all over the world may think that Fukushima issue is already over. The Tsunami is over and international support has been delivered, therefore it is over.

However, there actually are the people who have been suffered from some incomprehensible symptoms around the nuclear power plants in Fukushima since the disaster. A Hiroshima Survivor told that Hiroshima people have been the same symptoms just like Fukushima.

1. The symptoms Fukushima people have and the ones Hiroshima people have.
A lady, Emiko Numauchi, 42 years old, who has lived in Minamisoma city in Fukushima prefecture in Japan, has been suffered from bunch of incomprehensible symptoms such as diarrhea (from May in 2011), feeling horror (from June), loss of appetite (from June), numbness in her hands (from August), higher blood pressure (from August), higher body temperature (from August), loosing her teeth (from September), (water) blisters (from October), loosing her hair (from October), bleeding (from December), and so on since the Fukushima nuclear power plantsa exploded after the earthquakes and Tsunami on March 11th. According to her, she had no problem with her health before that. Her husband was just a few km far away from the plants and one of her friends was in Minamisoma city as well. He has been suffering from feeling horror, numbness in his left feet, and nose bleeding and her friend has been loosing her hair.

Another lady, Koko Tanimoto Kondo, a Hiroshima Survivor I met last month told that a lot of the people who were in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was detonated over the city have been suffered from the incomprehensible symptoms same as the above.

2. The distances they are staying from the Fukushima nuclear power plants.
Minamisoma city where Emiko has been living is within 25 km from the Fukushima nuclear power plants. Her hasband moved to Kooriyama city where is within 60 km and comes back to Minamisoma city on weekends and her frends moved to the border place of Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures, within 75 km, after the disaster.

3. What are their conditions now?
They do not have the all symptoms all of the time, (some of those such as headaches, blisters, or numbness keep appearing and disappearing) , but Emiko actually has been loosing her hair and teeth since the last autumn and have difficulty in working (teaching high school students) because of feeling restless. Her hasband feels horror and have difficulty in working as well and her friend is also loosing her hair. Both Emiko and her friend got wigs in this winter.
Through a lot of Japanese websites, we can see not only Fukushima people but also the people outskirts of Fukushima have the similar health problems. Now we wonder how safe it is for Fukushima people to live there.

Click here to see a larger version of the above picture.

Now the debris from the tsunami is coming close to Hawaii and we do not know how radioactive it might be. I will keep measuring the radiation and report it here if I find anything strange.

Invitation to Big Island NVC Retreat

2011-12-13T09:27:00.005+09:00

After I posted the first draft a few days ago, I got support from my NVC friends and came up with the following. It met my needs for support and clarity. I now think it is ready to go out to the world.

Please share the following if you feel like:

---------
Sharing NVC from the Inside Out

Nurture Ourselves, Inspire Others and Impact Our Communities

An NVC Retreat in Kona, Hawaii with CNVC Certified Trainer François Beausoleil

Feb 2-5, 2012 at Harmonics Life Hawaii (Yumi and Gen’s house)

How motivated are you to share NVC when you’re drained? Often times, just living NVC is hard when our energy is low or when we feel some emptiness inside. And when we feel lonely, it might be even harder.

Now, how does it feel to share (or live) NVC when it springs naturally out of us? When you almost can not contain it? How do people around you react when you talk about NVC from that place, with that energy?

Yes. Inspired, often magnetized.

This retreat will be focused on nurturing the fire inside, as well as offering ways to increase your ability to be of service and have an impact on your communities.

How to share NVC from the inside out
Nurture Ourselves, Inspire Others and Impact Our Communities

In this 4-day retreat you'll:

· Nurture yourself through healthy food, whale-watching, writing NVC-related poetry, and song lyrics. This will provide a solid foundation of wellbeing and inspiration for you to tap in over and over.

· Strengthen your body and spirit with optional private health consultations with Gen & Yumi, who have many years of experience in applying eastern medicine and practices to supporting individual well-being

· Experience healing around what might slow you down in terms of sharing NVC; this will set you up for moving forward doing what you love with greater strength and speed.

· Learn how to create a nurturing circle of intimacy around you, so you can maintain the fire burning inside all year long.

· Learn the golden rules of how to market your NVC offer.

· Learn the main keys to sharing NVC and being sustainable, saving you time and energy as you design your strategies to share NVC.

François Beausoleil,
MBA, Certified Trainer, Center for Nonviolent Communication
Executive Stamina Certified Trainer

-----
To register, send an e-mail to rawinfo@harmonicslife.net with “NVC Retreat Hawaii” in the subject, no later than January 20, 2012. In the email, please provide your name, address, phone number, and your prior experience with NVC.

Required minimum participants: 8 (max: 16)

Fees: there are 3 parts: tuition, meals and accommodation
*We accept payment plan. Please consult with Yumi

• Tuition: $600($500 for early birds:if booked by the end of 2011)

• Meals and drinks: $100 (for all the meals at HLH during the 4 days retreat)
(Breakfast fruits, lunch and dinner are mostly vegetarian with some fish or meat. One traditional Hawaiian meal, with organic/wild pork, will be served during the retreat. Other meal options are available with advance request and possibly additional costs)

• Accommodation: Accommodations are arranged separately.
We recommend the Kona Islander Inn ($60-80/night). Book early for the best rate.
http://www.konaislanderinnhotel.com/
*Note we can host up to two people in our home ($20/night requested). This option is available in order of request.

Pls. send a check payable to Gen Morita to the address below for tuition and meals.
Gen Morita/Hamonics Life Hawaii:
75-286 Hoene Place, Kailua Kona, HI96740
T/F:808-334-9616 rawinfo@harmonicslife.net (Yumi and Gen)

NVC Retreat in Paradise : Hawaii(Big Island)

2011-12-10T14:50:00.005+09:00

I am so excited to announce our hosting a NVC (Non Violent Communication) Retreat by Francois Beausoleil in Hawaii (Big Island) . My needs for joy, contribution, connection, learning, growth, challenge, fun and sustainability may be fulfilled!

If you are excited about learning and practicing NVC in Hawaii!, please come!

I enjoy using my energy and time for creating peace and sustainability, and sharing NVC is my favorite way of doing it.

But I never done organizing in English in the USA. I have done a lot of organizing in Japan, and this is my first trial of organizing a NVC retreat in the US.

How challenging! Just making a flyer is hard for me. I do not know how to do that in English!

Thanks to the support of the NVC community, my first draft is shaping up. I would like to put it here now so that you can think about visiting Big Island of Hawaii, learning NVC, eating healthy organic vegetarian food, watching whales and even celebrate my birthday!
-----

Sharing NVC from the Inside Out
Nurture Ourselves, Inspire Others and Impact Our Communities
An NVC Retreat in Kona, Hawaii with François Beausoleil
Feb 2-5, 2012 at Harmonics Life Hawaii (Yumi and Gen’s house)

From the trainer:

“I don't know if you went through a similar experience, but when I started to learn NVC, I was infused with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. In those days, I was driving 4 to 5 times a week from Montreal to Sherbrooke, a 1.5 hour drive, and I had various passengers carpooling with me to help cover the cost of gas. Almost every ride, I would end up talking, or more like preaching, about NVC.

The key here is the energy and enthusiasm I had. I still do, of course. And a lot of that energy comes from the fire inside. The fire that burns from being in the joy of giving and receiving, and of being sustainable.

This retreat will be focused on nurturing the fire inside, as well as offering ways to drastically increase our ability to be of service and have an impact on our communities.

How to share NVC from the inside out
Nurture Ourselves, Inspire Others and Impact Our Communities

In this 4-day retreat you'll:
• Learn the main keys to share NVC and be sustainable
• Receive detailed guidelines about the best formats to share NVC
• Explore how to create a nurturing circle of intimacy around you
• Experience healing around what might slow you down in terms of sharing NVC
• Learn the golden rules of how to market your NVC business
• Go whale-watching , the best time of the year for it
• Write NVC-inspired song lyrics and poetry on the beach
• Celebrate Yumi's birthday in plentiful, healthy abundance
• Eating organically and locally, with some foods grown right on the premises
• Have options for private health consultation with Gen & Yumi

François Beausoleil,
MBA, Certified Trainer, Center for Nonviolent Communication
Executive Stamina Certified Trainer

To register, send an e-mail to rawinfo@harmonicslife.net with “NVC Retreat Hawaii” in the subject, no later than January 20, 2012. In the email, please provide your name, address, phone number, and your prior experience with NVC.

Required minimum participants: 8 (max: 16)

Fees: there are 3 parts: tuition, meals and accommodation
*We accept payment plan. Please consult.

• Tuition: $600 ($500 for early birds, if paid by the end of 2011)
• Meals and drinks: $100 (for all the meals at HLH during the 4 days retreat)
(Breakfast fruits, lunch and dinner are mostly vegetarian with some fish or meat. One traditional Hawaiian meal, with pork, will be served during the retreat. Other meal options are available with advance request and possibly additional costs)
Pls. send a check payable to Gen Morita to the address below for tuition and meals.
• Accommodation: Accommodations are arranged separately. We recommend the Kona Islander Inn ($60-80/night). Book early for the best rate.
http://www.konaislanderinnhotel.com/
*Note we can host up to two people in our home ($20/night requested). This option is available in order of request.

Hamonics Life Hawaii: 75-286 Hoene Place, Kailua Kona, HI96740
T/F:808-334-9616 rawinfo@harmonicslife.net

♪ My Talk@Hawaii Community College: How to reduce your cancer risk with diet ♪ - 27 min 18 sec - 7.1 MB

2011-11-18T20:42:00.007+09:00

I gave a talk at Hawaii Community College on their Japan Day event about 311 and Danger of Nuclear Power Plants. I did not have enough time to talk about what you can do to reduce your cancer risk.

And Biannca, my friend from Australia, has sent me this information below, which is what I wanted to say. So, I am posting it here so that you can have it, too. These are very similar to what Gen and I teach in Japan and Hawaii.
-----
*CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc. are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses, but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. A better alternative is Bragg's Liquid Aminos or sea salt. (Actually, I do not agree! Most people are not aware that Bragg's Liquid Amino's contain a lot of MSG. Because of this I definitely cannot recommend them. Use sea salt or some other high mineral natural salt.)

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells can be starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little other meat, like chicken. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)...

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells... Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit.

A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

No plastic containers in your microwave. (I would rather say, no microwave at all)

The Morning of Oct. 30 in Oakland, Awakening to Living NVC Consciousness

2011-11-02T16:52:00.006+09:00

I was crossing the pacific ocean on Hawaiian airline flight 47 to Honolulu as I wrote this. I am so inspired to share what
happened to me that morning on the way to Oakland airport.

From the Quaker Center, where NVC Leadership Program retreat was held for 8 days, Kangs gave me a ride to his apartment in Oakland where I was spending a night. I woke up early that morning around 6 am in his apartment. I noticed I only had less than 4 hours of sleep as I did not go to bed past 2:00am. We had a party at one of the trainer's house with Thai food take out, which I enjoyed so much and I had a conversation with Kangs after we came home until about 1:00am.

After saying good night to Kangs and his roommate, I went to the bedroom I was to sleep and started writing my blog, which I happily report I did that everyday during the retreat (Japanese blog), and then slept.

As I woke up, I was grateful for not only my being alive but also having energy to check my e-mails and even wrote one to this list about the Gems of LP before leaving the apartment.

At 7:30am the alarm went off, which I borrowed from his room mate.

Last night Kangs asked me how long I needed to get ready after waking up. I said, "5 minutes". Then, to be safe, I asked his roommate to set the alarm at 7:30am so that I would have 15 minutes from waking up to leaving.

We talked about how to get to the Oakland airport. I wanted to use public transportation and Kangs and Barbara gave me the information about BART that goes to the airport.

I needed to leave his apartment at 7:45am to catch 8:15am train from MacArther station, which was closest, within 30 minutes' walk. He said he would drive me to the station if he was up, but it did not happen. I was happy Kangs was meeting his need for rest.

We talked about how we wanted to be a "Good Host" and at the same time how he needed sleep. I shared I would use public transportation as much as I could. The reason behind that, which I did not share then, is I am curious to know how people without car travels in any parts of the world I visit. This was my opportunity to learn and experience. I love learning new things.

About 1 minute before leaving, I wrote a thanking note to Kangs on the map he drew last night and left his apartment quietly at 7:15am, with excitement of walking the town I do not know. I had a clear sense of direction to the MacArther BART station from his apartment.

The morning sun was shining just above the roof of the house in his neighborhood and it was so beautiful that I smiled. I felt joy as I started walking the 33rd street to Market street with no one except me on the street. I turned left there, and continued walking to 40th.

I remembered Kang did say, "My neighborhood is not the safest place".

I was curious how safe or unsafe I would feel as I walked.

Approaching the first highway, I noticed a man was sleeping under the bridge. The person was a black man and soon I saw another one, and then another one on the bench in a park. I walked quietly not to wake them up. They had little belongings, most of which I would consider as garbage. I was sad that US, and my country Japan, among the economically richest nations on earth, have people sleeping on the street and I so wanted the world where basic human needs met.

I noticed a black older women walking towards me looking down slowly in her walking device . As we came close, I said "Good morning" to her smiling. She stopped and said "Good Morning" looking at me and smiled back a little bit.

When I came to a big junction, I wanted to make sure if this was the 40th street where I was supposed to turn right. There, I saw another black man waiting for the green traffic light. I approached and asked him, "Is this the way to the BART station?" pointing right. He said "Yes" and I was so relieved and thanked him.

Turning right, I thought the station must be near. According to the map which I did not bring, the BART entrance was along the next highway to the right. So, I looked for the BART sign to the right along the highway, as he said I would see it.

But I could not find the sign.

So, I continued walking, wondering where the BART entrance was, to the next crossing where more buildings and shops were. "That must be the station", I said to myself. There were more people walking, but no BART station.

I stopped walking, looked around and asked another black man walking to my direction, "Where is BART station?". After asking, I noticed that he was talking to someone on the cell phone. In a few second he said "I call you back" and told me "You passed the BART station already" looking at my eyes.

Then he pointed the direction I came from and started walking. I followed him and soon we were walking side by side. I smelled alcohol from him. When we came back to the highway I passed, we turned right crossing the MacArther street, there I saw the BART sign and a structure that looked like a station.

I was relieved when I saw dozens of people coming out of the structure and I was sure this was the station. I was so grateful to the man, who might have been drinking till morning, who accompanied me all the way to the station.

As I thanked him, I noticed the people who came out may have been coming out of 8:15am train which I had planned to take. I may have missed the train, and I knew there was another one in 20 minutes, that would still get me to the Oakland airport in time.

When I was trying to buy the ticket, I did not know how to do so with the credit card (I had little cash left), then, a worker from the station came out and helped me and I got the ticket to Oakland Airport. I asked him if I missed the 8:15 train and he said yes. He asked me where I was going and I said to the Oakland airport. He told me to take the line 2 to Fremont and get off at Colosseum/Oakland Airport, then take AirBart, which was a bus waiting downstairs outside of the station.

When the train came in 15 minutes or so, it passed me. Then I realized it was 3 car train that did not stop where I was waiting on the platform, so I ran to the train. Luckily train did not leave until I was on. In the train, there were mixture of colors of people, but all the people I met on the street were black. The train did not move for another5 minutes or more. I started a bit worried about the time.

I got off at the Colosseum, walked down, got out of the gate, there I saw a bus waiting. "I am almost there" I said to myself.

Got on the bus, I noticed every one in the bus were white men except me. The bus announcement said it will take 12 minutes to the airport.

At the airport terminal, I could not find the Hawaiian airline counter as they were not in the same area as other airlines. I spent another 5 minutes looking for the Hawaiian airline. Finally at the Hawaiian airline counter, the ground staff told me I was too late and the time of checking in had passed already.

To my surprise, I was calm when I heard it. I was already thinking about the next plan.

Then some miracle happened and the Hawaiian airline decided to hold the plane until I was on board. When I was at the security check, it was already 3 minutes to the departure time, which was 9:40am. Passed the security, I ran to the gate 8, accompanied by the staff. I ran as fast as I could and I was so happy I could run like a child.

In my final approach to the aircraft, flight attendants were counting,"5, 4, 3, 2, 1....". I became the last passenger on board and the door was shut upon my boarding.

I walked to my seat, 28G with my heartbeat drumming. I sat down and took "5 deep breath" as written at the door of Kangs' apartment.

And here I am, writing this to meet my need for learning, expression and feedback.

I was so grateful for all the people showed up this morning. Each one I met were helping me one way or another and I am filled with joy and gratitude.

Of course, I felt safe all the time.

Na Wai Iwi Ola Tokyo Concert: E Ola Ka Hula!

2011-10-04T14:28:00.005+09:00

These are the photos taken by 12 year old Michika who spent 6 month living on the Big Island. She helped behind the scenes together with her mother Masami and her grand mother; 3 generations working together! They came to Bunkyo Civic Hall to help us out.

Enjoy the photos and see how beautiful it was!

10 Years from 911

2011-09-11T01:02:00.006+09:00

I pray for those who lost their lives on that day and beyond as a result of 911 and the two wars following 911 (Afghanistan and Iraq). I pray those who are left behind who are surviving and living their life overcoming the hardships.

I am sorry
Please forgive me
Thank you
I love you

The following video is something I would like to share with you today, especially with Americans who believe their government and corporate media, on the 10th anniversary of 911. Because I have so many dear friends in the USA:

http://youtu.be/jLzPMww4tdA

I agree with the words of the producer of this video: "This is the biggest crime against humanity" and the truth needs to be revealed. I do not know when it will be and what the truth is, but I know it takes every one of us to make it happen.

You can see some of the people who are trying to reveal the truth. In fact, some of them have risked their lives to expose the discrepancies in the official story. They need more of our attention:
http://torontohearings.org/author/torontohearings/
Here is USTREAM:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/thetorontohearings

I would like to tell you that something similar is happening in Japan.

Right now, the facts about Fukushima nuclear power plants' disaster are being hidden from the public so that the government and companies can reduce the amount of money they need to pay out to compensate the victims. They knew that the meltdown occurred right after the 311 earthquake, but they hid it from from us and the world for two months. During those two months the Japanese people in and around Fukushima (in my case I lived 150 miles from it) were exposed to excess radiation. Our government and TEPCO continue to try to make the effect of the damage look smaller and more trivial than what actually is. Our media is the same as in the rest of the world. The truth is distorted to the advantage of the government and corporations.

Today the International Conference on Radiation and Health Risk in Fukushima is being held. Many citizens and citizens groups are challenging the reliability of the conference as they believe it is actually a propaganda event that is being used to support nuclear industry and medical establishment who underestimate the risk of low level radiation, especially internal exposure.

Please read the citizen's point of view here.

May Love, Life and Truth thrive!
----
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
and many others...

If it Really Safe for Children to Live in Fukushima?

2011-09-10T17:13:00.001+09:00

Scientists from IAEA, WHO, ICPR　are coming to Fukushima and hold International Conference: 9/11 Symposium on Radiation and Health Risks.

But this conference is getting a challenge and critisizm of people of Fukushima.
http://www.fccj.or.jp/node/6874

Description:
Fukusima Citizens Challenge 9/11 Symposium on Radiation and Health Risks

On Sept. 11-12, 30 radiation and health experts from 14 countries will gather in Fukushima Prefecture for a Nippon Foundation-sponsored symposium on the health risks faced by Fukushima residents. But the symposium has drawn fire from local residents who note Fukushima citizens will not be allowed to directly attend the proceedings, which are ostensibly being held for their benefit.

Critics of the symposium are concerned about the Japanese participants, who have already indicated the primary purpose of the symposium is to conclude Fukushima is safe. They charge the symposium is merely an attempt by the nuclear power lobby to cover themselves with a fig leaf of international respectability rather than an open and objective scientific debate about the issues. The three speakers oppose the symposium, charging it will make a collective scientific evaluation on health risks faced by people living in Fukushima without any first-hand knowledge of Fukushima citizens, and without civil
society findings.

Fukushima-based Seiichi Natate and Wataru Iwata will address the voices of Fukushima citizens, their efforts to reduce radiation exposure, and the open letter of inquiry being sent to the organizing committee for the International Expert Symposium in Fukushima (September 11th-12th.)

Tokyo-based Kazumasa Aoki will present findings on radiation his organization has conducted including Fukushima children's urine, while Kyoto-based Aileen Mioko Smith will comment on her efforts to appeal to the UN on behalf of the Fukushima victims.

Adding Insult to Injury!

2011-08-11T07:04:00.004+09:00

Why are they sending us high level waste now when we are already being irradiated with radiation from Fukushima?

******

Sellafield High Level Waste (HLW) shipment sails for earthquake region of Japan

3 August 2011

Sellafield High Level Waste (HLW) shipment sails for earthquake region of Japan – a direct threat not only to the people and environment of Japan, but also to en-route communities in the Caribbean and Pacific and their marine environment.

The shipment, which comes less than five months after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the Pacific coast of northern Japan, and while the Fukushima-daiichi nuclear meltdown and accident is on-going, left the port of Barrow-in-Furness at approximately 0200 hrs this morning. The cargo of nuclear waste is bound for Aomori, north-eastern Japan via the Carribbean and the Panama Canal.

The vitrified HLW, delivered by rail from Sellafield in three TN28VT transport flasks yesterday, was loaded onto the Pacific Grebe, a British-flagged ship operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited (PNTL). Within the transport flasks were 76 cannisters of vitrified HLW, totalling over 40 tonnes of highly radioactive waste which has been assigned to the Kansai, Shikoku and Kyushu Electric Power Companies in Japan respectively.

Last month CARICOM, which represents the nations of the Caribbean, had demanded a halt to all shipments in a statement condemning ‘as unacceptable and injurious, the practice by the United Kingdom, France and Japan of transporting hazardous waste through the Caribbean Sea, thus risking the very existence of the people of the Caribbean’. The Pacific Grebe, making her maiden voyage to Japan, is expected to arrive in the Caribbean in mid-August, the Panama Canal on 18th August, and its HLW cargo scheduled to arrive in the port of Mutsu-Ogawara around 25th September.

CORE’s spokesman Martin Forwood said today: “It is incomprehensible that whilst Japan, its people and environment continue to suffer daily from the still unfolding Fukushima catastrophe, Sellafield should see fit to add to the country’s woes by sending nuclear waste. This unwanted shipment of the most radioactive material on the planet is also being made in flagrant disregard of the long-standing opposition to such shipments by the Caribbean nations and others en-route. These dangerous transports are wholly unnecessary and must be stopped”.

The high level waste results from the reprocessing of Japanese spent reactor fuel at the Sellafield site in NW England – the process which also recovers plutonium. Under contracts signed in the 1970's and 1980's, Japanese nuclear power companies shipped the waste to the UK and France for reprocessing with some of the waste and all of the plutonium to be returned. The HLW, in glass block form, is sufficiently radioactive to deliver a lethal radiation dose to a person standing within one metre of an unshielded block in less than one minute.

Today’s shipment is the second return of HLW to Japan, the first undertaken early last year when 14 tonnes in one transport flask were returned on the Pacific Sandpiper. Some 15 years late, these waste returns to overseas reprocessing customers were originally scheduled to be made in the mid-1990’s.

A shipment of plutonium MOX fuel was scheduled to leave France the first week of April 2011 for Japan, including Fukushima. Due to the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident it was cancelled after it was revealed by Greenpeace France.

******

Original article: http://goo.gl/C35Y5
English/Japanese: http://goo.gl/KikL6

Prof. Chris Busby to make an emergency visit to Japan

2011-07-16T20:25:00.010+09:00

To the Press

July 14, 2011

Dr. Chris Busby - European Committee on Radiation Risk (ECRR)
Emergency Visit to Japan Press Conference & Lecture Schedule

From July 17 to 21, Dr. Christopher Busby, Scientific Secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk (ECRR) and well known for his research on internal radiation exposure will make an emergency visit to Japan. As you may know, Dr. Busby’s position differs significantly from that of the International Committee on Radiation Protection (ICRP), which he believes has greatly underestimated the dangers of internal exposure. Dr. Busby continues to research into both the dangers of internal exposure as well as the negative health consequences of low-dose radiation exposure.

During his visit to Japan, Dr. Busby will present for the first time his analytical results for the various radionuclides that have been dispersed in Fukushima Prefecture and Tokyo, based on his original dust collection method, which was carried out in advance of his visit. His findings indicate that the official methods used to evaluate radiation exposure to the population are grossly inadequate. He is deeply concerned for the people of Japan as he feels they have not been given accurate data on the levels and types of radionuclides that they are being exposed to.

Dr. Busby will give talks in Aizu Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture; Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture; and in Tokyo, and will meet with local citizens. Visiting Japan for the first time since the nuclear accident, Dr. Busby will hold lectures and press conferences as outlined below. We sincerely look forward to your attendance at any or all of the events.

Dr. Busby’s Lecture Schedule in Japan

July 17 (Sun) 16:00 to 20:00 pm (Venue opens 15:50)
Location: Waseda Hoshien Scott Hall (2-3-1 Nishi Waseda, Shinjuku Ward)
http://www.hoshien.or.jp/english/index.html
Attendance limit: 200 persons Participation fee: 1000 yen
Enquiries: office.sokai@gmail.com

July 18 (Mon) 13:30 to 16:30 p.m
Location: Matsudo City Chamber of Commerce, 5th Floor Conference Room
http://www.matsudo-cci.or.jp/english/index.html
Attendance limit: 200 persons Participation fee: 500 yen
Enquiries: expose2011@mail.goo.ne.jp

July 19 (Tue) 18:30 to 21:00 pm (Venue opens at 18:00 pm)
Location: Apio Space Exhibition Hall (90 Inter-nishi, Aizu Wakamatsu City)
http://www.apio.or.jp/apiospes.html 
Attendance limit: 250 persons Participation fee: 500 yen
Enquiries: Ms. Sakai: 080 5557 5407
Interlocutor: Professor Emeritus Shoji Sawada of Nagoya University

***July 20 (Wed) 11:00 a.m. (Venue opens at 10:00 a.m.)***
Location: Kojimachi Press Conference Room
2F, YT Bldg. Kohjimachi 2-2-4 Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo
Sponsor: Free Press Association of Japan
Application: Free Press Association application web page: http://fpaj.jp/?page_id=1406
Please enter “Application for 20 July Dr. Chris Busby Press Conference participation” in the subject line and then fill out the required details. *Please ensure that each individual wishing to participate sends in their own separate application.
Deadline: By 18:00, 19 July
Enquiries: Free Press Association (FPAJ), PR Manager: Mr. Hatakeyama
Tel. 03-5213-4888 Fax. 03-5213-4989　info@fpaj.jp http://fpaj.jp

For more information regarding this press interview and all other events: Ms. Hajime Shiraishi: 03-3296-2720 (Our Planet TV) 090-9824-5731 shiraishi@ourplanet-tv.org

July 20 (Wed) 2011 13:30 to 16:00
Location Chiyoda Ward, Uchisaiwai Hall (1-5-1 Uchisaiwai Cho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo)
http://www.uchisaiwai-hall.jp
Attendance limit: 183 persons Participation fee: 1000 yen
Ms. Hajime Shiraishi: 03-3296-2720 (Our Planet TV)

***July 20 (Wed) 16:30 to 18:30 pm***
Meeting with House of Representatives Members and Press Conference
Location: Diet Members' No. 1 Office Building of the Lower House, Conference Room No. 2
Attendance limit: Diet members and press only.(not open to public)
Enquiries: irihome@js6.so-net.ne.jp (Ms. Irisawa)
Sponsor: “Evacuate Children From Fukushima Lawsuit”, Representative Mr. Toshio Inoue, Chair of Legal Team, Mr. Toshio Yanagihara Prior application is not required. Participation is on a first come, first served basis.

If there are English language problems when booking any of the events listed, contact Gen Morita: moritagen...at...gmail.com

For more background on the "Evacuate Children from Fukushima Lawsuit" check out this news story:
http://www.majiroxnews.com/?p=10335
or
http://www.majiroxnews.com/2011/06/26/radiation-scare-prompts-lawsuit-to-move-fukushima-schools/

Fukushima is Worse than Chernobyl - on Global Contamination by Dr. Chris Busby

2011-07-16T12:18:00.003+09:00

Now that Dr. Chris Busby is coming to Japan for the first time after 311, I would like to post this article here so that you know who he is and what he has been doing.

Dr. Chris Busby
Interview by Norimatsu Satoko and Narusawa Muneo
http://www.japanfocus.org/-Chris-Busby/3563

Introduction by Norimatsu Satoko

Chemical physicist Chris Busby is at the forefront of scientists who are challenging the radiation risk model propounded by ICRP, the International Commission on Radiological Protection, whose standards for allowable radiation doses the Japanese government has adopted for its citizens affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident.

Busby, Scientific Secretary of the European Committee on Radiation Risk (ECRR), points out that the ICRP model “deals with radiation exposure from all sources in the same way, as if it were external to the body,” and then takes this dose and multiplies it by a risk factor based on the high acute external doses of the atomic-bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The ICRP method thus fails to take into account a number of ways in which certain internal radionuclides can deliver very high doses to critical targets in cells, particularly the cell DNA. One of these is from “inhaled or ingested hot particles, which are solid but microscopic and can lodge in tissue delivering high doses to local cells.”

As a result, internal radiation exposure can be “up to 1,000 times more harmful than the ICRP model concludes.”

In his calculation based on the ECRR model that considers such internal radiation risks, Busby has estimated that within 100 km of Fukushima Daiichi, approximately 200,000 excess cancers will occur within the next 50 years with about half of them diagnosed in the next 10 years, if the 3.3 million people in the area remain there for one year.

He estimates over 220,000 excess cancers in the 7.9 million people from 100 to 200 km in the next 50 years, also with about half of them to be diagnosed in the next 10 years. By contrast, the ICRP model predicts 2,838 extra cancers in the 100 km population.

“The eventual yield will therefore be another test of the two risk models,” Busby contends, pointing out that many studies of the Chernobyl disaster showed much higher cancer yields than the ICRP model had predicted.

The effect of the nuclear disaster, moreover, extends well beyond the 200 km radius. It has been reported in Japan that “traces of plutonium” have been found in the proximity of Fukushima Daiichi.

This is no surprise, since unusual amounts of plutonium and uranium have been detected in Hawaii, Guam, Alaska, and on the West Coast by the US Environmental Protection Agency in the wake of the 3.11 earthquake and tsunami.

CTBTO, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, has reported that radioactive materials had dispersed throughout the Northern Hemisphere within two weeks of the Fukushima accident, and that it had even reached the Southern Hemisphere by mid-April.

Shukan Kin Yobi, a weekly magazine, interviewed Chris Busby on the issue of global contamination at a time when the Japanese media have maintained silence on the issue. This is a complete original English text of the interview, published simultaneously with the Japanese version on Shukan Kin’yobi (July 8 edition). Check out the Japanese version of the magazine by clicking here.

The Nuclear Disaster That Could Destroy Japan ... and the World

2011-05-08T17:50:00.006+09:00

Counterpunch published an excellent article by Mr. Takashi Hirose's on April 25, 2011:
http://www.counterpunch.org/takashi04252011.html

It is definitely worth reading and so I am posting it here and on my Japanese blog so it can be seen by a wider audience.

Thank you Mr. Hirose and Mr. Lummis, the translator, for your excellent work!

I pray that no more big earthquakes will hit Japan but nature is often more powerful than our individual and even combined human hopes and wishes...

It is becoming more and more obvious that the only way we can completely eliminate the future risk of nuclear power plant disasters in earthquake prone Japan is for all the nuclear power plants here to be decommissioned!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Nuclear Disaster That Could Destroy Japan ... and the World

By HIROSE TAKASHI

Translated by Doug Lummis

The nuclear power plants in Japan are ageing rapidly; like cyborgs, they are barely kept in operation by a continuous replacement of parts. And now that Japan has entered a period of earthquake activity and a major accident could happen at any time, the people live in constant state of anxiety.

Seismologists and geologists agree that, after some fifty years of seismic inactivity, with the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake), the country has entered a period of seismic activity. In 2004, the Chuetsu Earthquake hit Niigata Prefecture, doing damage to the village of Yamakoshi. Three years later, in 2007, the Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake severely damaged the nuclear reactors at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa. In 2008, there was an earthquake in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures, causing a whole mountain to disappear completely. Then in 2009 the Hamaoka nuclear plant was put in a state of emergency by the Suruga Bay Earthquake. And now, in 2011, we have the 3/11 earthquake offshore from the northeast coast. But the period of seismic activity is expected to continue for decades. From the perspective of seismology, a space of 10 or 15 years is but a moment in time.

Because the Pacific Plate, the largest of the plates that envelop the earth, is in motion, I had predicted that there would be major earthquakes all over the world.

And as I had feared, after the Suruga Bay Earthquake of August 2009 came as a triple shock, it was followed in September and October by earthquakes off Samoa, Sumatra, and Vanuatu, of magnitudes between 7.6 and 8.2. That means three to eleven times the force of the Southern Hyogo Prefecture Earthquake.

All of these quakes occurred around the Pacific Plate as the center, and each was located at the boundary of either that plate or a plate under its influence. Then in the following year, 2010, in January there came the Haiti Earthquake, at the boundary of the Caribbean Plate, pushed by the Pacific and Coco Plates, then in February the huge 8.8 magnitude earthquake offshore from Chile. I was praying that this world scale series of earthquakes would come to an end, but the movement of the Pacific Plate shows no sign of stopping, and led in 2011 to the 3/11 Earthquake in northeastern Japan and the subsequent meltdown at the Fukushima

There are large seismic faults, capable of producing earthquakes at the 7 or 8 magnitude level, near each of Japan’s nuclear plants, including the reprocessing plant at Rokkasho. It is hard to believe that there is any nuclear plant that would not be damaged by a magnitude 8 earthquake.

A representative case is the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant itself, where it has become clear that the fault under the sea nearby also extends inland. The Rokkasho plant, where the nuclear waste (death ash) from all the nuclear plants in Japan is collected, is located on land under which the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate meet. That is, the plate that is the greatest danger to the Rokkasho plant, is now in motion deep beneath Japan.

The Rokkasho plant was originally built with the very low earthquake resistance factor of 375 gals. (Translator’s note: The gal, or galileo, is a unit used to measure peak ground acceleration during earthquakes. Unlike the scales measuring an earthquake’s general intensity, it measures actual ground motion in particular locations.) Today its resistance factor has been raised to only 450 gals, despite the fact that recently in Japan earthquakes registering over 2000 gals have been occurring one after another. Worse, the Shimokita Peninsula is an extremely fragile geologic formation that was at the bottom of the sea as recently as the sea rise of the Jomon period (the Flandrian Transgression) 5000 years ago; if an earthquake occurred there it could be completely destroyed.

The Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant is where expended nuclear fuel from all of Japan’s nuclear power plants is collected, and then reprocessed so as to separate out the plutonium, the uranium, and the remaining highly radioactive liquid waste. In short, it is the most dangerous factory in the world.

At the Rokkasho plant, 240 cubic meters of radioactive liquid waste are now stored. A failure to take care of this properly could lead to a nuclear catastrophe surpassing the meltdown of a reactor. This liquid waste continuously generates heat, and must be constantly cooled. But if an earthquake were to damage the cooling pipes or cut off the electricity, the liquid would begin to boil. According to an analysis prepared by the German nuclear industry, an explosion of this facility could expose persons within a 100 kilometer radius from the plant to radiation 10 to 100 times the lethal level, which presumably means instant death.

On April 7, just one month after the 3/11 earthquake in northeastern Japan, there was a large aftershock. At the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant the electricity was shut off. The pool containing nuclear fuel and the radioactive liquid waste were (barely) cooled down by the emergency generators, meaning that Japan was brought to the brink of destruction. But the Japanese media, as usual, paid this almost no notice.

The Hamaoka Nuclear Plant is located at Shizuoka City, on Suruga Bay. Despite predictions of a magnitude 8 earthquake on Suruga Bay, it has continued in operation. If you look at the illustration showing the configuration of the plates beneath the Pacific Ocean, you will see that there is a point at which the Philippine Sea Plate, the huge Pacific Plate, the North American Plate, and the Eurasian Plate all meet; directly over that point is the Japanese Archipelago. And the very center of the area where these four plates press together is Shizuoka.

Large scale earthquakes in the eastern and southern seas have occurred regularly at intervals of between 100 and 250 years. Today in 2011, 157 years have passed since the Great Ansei Earthquake of 1854, so we are in a period when the next big one could come at any time. And the predicted center of this expected major earthquake is – though this is hard to believe – exactly under the location of the Hamaoka Nuclear Plant. And sonar readings at the site indicate that from thirty years back the Eurasian plate has been bending, which means that it is in a condition where it can be expected eventually to spring back.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hirose Takashi has written a whole shelf full of books, mostly on the nuclear power industry and the military-industrial complex. Probably his best known book is Nuclear Power Plants for Tokyo in which he took the logic of the nuke promoters to its logical conclusion: if you are so sure that they're safe, why not build them in the center of the city, instead of hundreds of miles away where you lose half the electricity in the wires?

Douglas Lummis is a political scientist living in Okinawa and the author of Radical Democracy. Lummis can be reached at ideaspeddler@gmail.com