Clip Reel – Greenpeace Radiation Survey
Iitate, Fukushima Prefecture
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2017
LOCATION: IITATE, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN
NATURAL SOUND
DURATION: 27.15min
SOURCE: GREENPEACE
ACCESS ALL, NO RESTRICTIONS. ALL MATERIAL GREENPEACE COPYRIGHT.
SUMMARY
Nearly seven years after the triple reactor meltdown, this unique nuclear crisis is still underway.
Greenpeace is conducting radiation surveys in Iitate, which lies 30-40km north west of the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. In March 2011, the radioactive fallout from the nuclear plant,
deposited high levels of contamination in this mountainous area of Iitate. Greenpeace in March
2011 was the first to warn the town mayor and Japanese government that the radiation levels were
such that evacuation was required. It took more than two months for most of the population to
evacuate.
The Japanese government opened most of Iitate in March 2017, lifting the evacuation order that had
been in place since March 2011. As of December 2017, 505 people were living in Iitate, 7.9 percent
of the population in 2011.
Greenpeace has been conducing detailed surveys Iitate at evacuee homes, along roads, farmland and
forests since 2015. Its clear that there are areas of Iitate that remain contaminated well above safety
limits. At one house that has been under study for three years, radiation levels have not declined
during the period from 2016-2017, but have remained the same, or even slightly increased.
Explanations for these results include re-contamination through migration of radionuclides from the
nearby contaminated forested mountain slopes, and possibly some variation in the precise survey
area. The inevitability of re-contamination from the forested mountains, which represent 70% of
Iitate, as well as an equal amount of Namie, is further evidence that the government’s limited
decontamination program for thousands of homes has been, and will continue to be, ineffective in
reducing the risks to citizens of Fukushima if they were to return to their homes.
The results of Greenpeace 2017 survey in the Iitate, as well as in the Namie highly contaminated
exclusion zone and Namie town published on 1st March 2018, in “Reflections in Fukushima”, reveal
that radiation levels will remain a long term risk for human health for many decades, and in the
exclusion zone of Namie into next century.
The Japanese government is determined to continue to open areas of Fukushima heavily
contaminated in 2011. Why ? The government is desperate to restart nuclear reactors – while today
only 3 are operating. Having areas of Japan closed to human habitation because of radioactive
contamination is a major obstacle to the governments ambitions.
The report is being released as the Japanese government is under international diplomatic pressure
to accept recommendations made by member states at the United Nations Human Rights Council in
Geneva, On 16th March 2018, the government will announce whether it will accept or reject each of
the recommendations. If accepted and applied it would effectively end the current policy of lifting
evacuation orders, terminating financial housing support, including for 29,000 self evacuees, as well
as addressing some of the multiple other violations of Japan’s human rights commitments
perpetrated by the government against Fukushima citizens.
SHOTLIST
00.00-01.49 – Iitate evacuee Mr Anzai, arriving at his former home, entering with Greenpeace
radiation survey team members, Mai Suzuki and Jan vande Putte
01.50-02.36 – Mr Anzai inside house looking at belongings left since he left in June 2011
02.37.04.57 - Mr Anzai entering room and Greenpeace radiation survey inside house
04.58-06.44 – Mr Anzai discussing radiation survey with Greenpeace radiation survey team
members, Mai Suzuki and Jan vande Putte
06.45-07.44 – Aerial views of Mr Anzai’s former home, and forests
07.45-08.06 - Mr Anzai walking in desert