Guest Blog by Tiffany Hansen Two years ago, in the dark basement in our Denver home, suffering from myriad aliments, some more visible than others, I had the “AH HA” Google-search moment of my life. After plugging in every symptom I’ve suffered along with the magic word ‘causes’ I discovered that I grew up downwind… Read More »
Survivor Stories
Fukushima Radiation Victims Speak
I urge everyone to purchase the newly translated collection of 50 stories and statements from Fukushima residents, called Fukushima Radiation: Will You Still Say No Crime Was Committed? Here’s the blurb I contributed to the book: Will You Still Say No Crime Was Committed? resounds with the anguished voices of deeply aggrieved mothers and fathers confronting… Read More »
Where the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster’s Victims are Three Years Later
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor meltdowns occurred three years ago on March 11, 2011, following a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami, and for several days thereafter. It was the world’s largest nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. And after three years, significant discharge of radiation continues to be released into the environment. Fukushima Evacuees Some… Read More »
Fukushima’s Forgotten Clean-Up Workers
Want to know how the poor souls who worked (and continue to work) at Fukushima are faring? Read this thoroughly researched piece by veteran reporters Justin McCurry and David McNeill. I’ve just read the reprint and am still reeling. Here are the key points: Radiation Doses Underestimated In October of 2013, UN experts said that… Read More »
In Praise of Coldwater Creek Downwinders
A short time ago, I became aware of a rather remarkable group of former and current residents of North St. Louis Country who began to notice high incidence of cancer and other disease in a relatively young population. Their only commonality was place of residence, near Coldwater Creek. A Radioactive River This determined group learned that… Read More »
Shoko Hara Film about Children of Fukushima
I just came across this video (called Abita) portraying a child of Fukushima who can’t play outside due to radiation contamination in the area where she lives. Thanks to Gerrit, of Niews_Lezer, Netherlands, for sharing this.
Hanford Downwinder Panel in Manhattan Project Commemoration
The presence of the Downwinders was felt in Richland at the Hanford Manhattan Project 70th Anniversary, in a presentation by Kate Brown, author of Plutopia, accompanied by a panel discussion and Q&A with several Hanford Downwinders. The Downwinders became an official part of this commemoration at the last minute after cobbling together enough donations to… Read More »
Akira Ken Nakano
I am greatly saddened to have recently learned of the passing of Akira (Ken) Nakano. I was informed of his passing by a charming Japanese elder statesman while waiting for a flight in the Oakland airport. I couldn’t help notice that this gentleman made use of a beautiful wooden walking stick. When I saw the… Read More »
Fukushima – Living Alone in the Contamination Zoo
I found this story, translated beautifully and reported by VICE Japan , referenced in Mother Jones: The Most Radioactive Man on Earth Has the Kindest Heart . It’s been just over two years since the earthquake and tsunami that caused catastrophic failure in the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, releasing high levels of radiation onto surrounding… Read More »
Richland: The Joys of Childhood Downwind
My parents made me stay behind the glass of the front window, watching forlornly while my friends joyfully rode their trikes and bikes in the massive, magnificent, billowing clouds of DDT sprayed monthly out of the back of the Benton County Mosquito Abatement District truck. DDT was Safer As it turned out, the DDT fogbank… Read More »