18.2 C
Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

Fukushima disaster ‘continues unchecked’

Latest News

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.

Other News

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Why Being Seen is Beautiful

There is something profound about being seen. Being accepted and loved for exactly who you are. It’s life changing. It’s simple. It’s transformative. But some people don’t get to experience this. Nearly half of transgender Australians have attempted suicide.That data tells the very real impact of discrimination, stigma and lack of access to gender-affirming surgery. I write this as a woman who was born a woman, who identifies as a woman. I’ll admit, that even in that gender role, that fits within the societal binary, I’ve had my own challenges.

Heavy traffic on M1 predicted over Easter long weekend

Bottlenecks in Northern NSW are predicted to occur at Coffs Harbour and Tugun over the Easter long weekend. This is expected to be further impacted by work on the Pacific Highway just north of the Queensland border.

What the duck!

Most days I ask myself ‘what the duck’ is happening here? How could Trump be president again if he...

Superbowls

Superbowls is your go-to spot for a burst of woodfired flavour! Nestled in Byron Arts and Industry Estate, the...

Laid-back but lively

Ooz is an acoustic roots reggae artist with a large, eclectic repertoire of crowd favourites. His unique, laid-back but lively style creates a relaxed atmosphere and his song choices have you remembering many of those forgotten classics.

Breakfeast, Bluesfest weekend

Victoria Cosford Oh to be a cow with a four-chambered stomach system! Farmers’ market, Bluesfest long weekend, a spot of...

Fukushima week gathering at The Channon in 2013. Photo supplied
Fukushima week gathering at The Channon Market in 2013. Photo supplied

On the sixth anniversary of Fukushima the people of our rainbow region will gather to send a message of solidarity to the people of Fukushima and Japan.

Three events are planned for the week: a pop-up action at Cape Byron Lighthouse, on Saturday March 11; a community gathering at the Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby, on Saturday March 11; and an event at the Channon Market on Sunday March 12.

‘Six years after the Japan tsunami destroyed the Fukushima nuclear power station the radiation from Fukushima spreads unchecked, contaminating the seas, the air and groundwater. Three reactors are still in meltdown and hundreds of gallons of radioactive water are being released into the Pacific Ocean every day,’ organiser Harsha Prabhu told Echonetdaily.

‘The Fukushima Daichi company and the Japanese government are clearly unable to resolve this crisis. Instead of calling for international assistance to meet this challenge, the Japanese government is busy increasing radiation safety levels, marketing produce from Fukushima as safe for human consumption, forcing people to relocate to contaminated land and promoting unsafe nuclear technology to countries like India,’ he added.

‘Meanwhile, world governments turn a blind eye to the growing problem of unchecked radiation.

‘The Australian government is complicit is this crisis as Australian uranium was used in the reactors at Fukushima. This despite the fact that the people of Australia, including the traditional custodians of the land, are opposed to the mining and sale of uranium,’ Mr Prabhu said.

Local events

The Cape Byron Lighthouse pop-up action will run from 8am to 9.00am

The Drill Hall gathering will run from 2pm until 8pm and feature a locally-produced short film, Good Fortune Island, starring Japanese actress and anti-nuclear activist Saya Minami, shorts by award-winning local filmmaker David Bradbury, art workshops in Manga and Japanese calligraphy, dance and music by Micotsuki Shivamoon, Karen Minami, Yellow Chicks, Fukushima musician Takashi Sato and world music duo Nakula. Macrobiotic food will also be on sale.

The Channon Market event will start at 11am near the Rainbow Chai Tent and features installations by well-known Nimbin (now New York) ‘artivist’ Benny Zable, with speeches, dance and music by Bo Kaan, Neil Pike and Peter Pix, The Love Handles and Reuben Barkley and Entropixx plus special guests, culminating in a mega Drum Up for Fukushima.

 

All events are fundraisers via donation for a Fukushima citizens’ group fighting for the rights of radiation victims and their families.

‘We will also raise our voices to condemn the mining of uranium and the spread of the nuclear industry,’ Mr Prabhu said.

‘This industry is dirty from go to woe: from the toxic legacy of nuclear mining, to the commissioning of dodgy nuclear reactors and the proliferation of nuclear weapons,’ he said.

More info on Facebook at:

Cape Byron Lighthouse action: https://www.facebook.com/events/1764258697224892/

Drill Hall event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1750942628568615/

Channon Market event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1129826980477544/


Support The Echo

Keeping the community together and the community voice loud and clear is what The Echo is about. More than ever we need your help to keep this voice alive and thriving in the community.

Like all businesses we are struggling to keep food on the table of all our local and hard working journalists, artists, sales, delivery and drudges who keep the news coming out to you both in the newspaper and online. If you can spare a few dollars a week – or maybe more – we would appreciate all the support you are able to give to keep the voice of independent, local journalism alive.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Fukushima is far worse than described. Six hundred tons of reactor fuel is missing. Three hundred tons of this is something real special. It’s called MOX fuel. It’s like taking flower and making hash oil from it (excuse me I live in Colorado) MOX is two million times more toxic than refined uranium. Utility companies like it because the get more kilowatt hours out of their pile of poison. There is now a picture of a steel grate under the reactor vessel which has been melted. Recent news articles cite a measured reading of 530 sieverts an hour. Four sieverts an hour will kill half of everyone exposed and I am unaware of any radiation monitors that measures more than ten sieverts an hour. Someone is lying. They are lying about the children. Three hundred kids have already been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. They shall wear a scar at the base of their throat that shall be known as the Fukushima necklace. They will be medicated for the rest of their lives as I am.

  2. No doubt about the Japanese they now everything ., but the reality is they realy know nothing as from the beginning everything has been a stuff up and coverup.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Where should affordable housing go in Tweed Shire?

Should affordable and social housing in the Tweed Shire be tucked away in a few discreet corners? Perhaps it should be on the block next to where you live?

Making Lismore Showground accessible to everyone

The Lismore Showground isn’t just a critical local community asset that plays host to a number of major events each year, but has also been used as an evacuation centre during past natural disasters in the region. 

Iconic Lennox beach shed upgraded –  not demolished

Lennox Park and the shelter shed has now been upgraded and reopened.

Govt cost-shifting ‘erodes financially sustainable local government’

Byron Shire Council looks set to add its voice to the growing chorus calling on the state government to stop shifting responsibilities and costs onto local government.