2:46 - almost six months on.

It is hard to believe that 6 months have almost past since the quake, so much had changed since March 11th, if someone had told me seven months ago that I would be asking you to sign a petition to the government of Japan against the use of nuclear power plants I would have laughed, as if! But here I am today, asking you to do just that.

For many of you, the nuclear crisis here won't directly effect you but for EVERYONE living in Japan it does, the Japanese government, in their wisdom are shipping radioactive waste around the country, they are diluting radioactive milk, once it is diluted the amount of radioactivity drops and therefore make it 'safe' to drink. They are encouraging people to buy from Fukushima to help support the farmers up there even though many specialists in the field say that the food shouldn't be consumed. They are allowing children to go to school and kindergarten even though the radioactive levels are above the international safety standards, basically they are playing with the lives our children.

This is what is going on in our prefecture and it isn't the only place it is happening, I don't understand why they don't just dump it all near the power plant, it is not like that area will ever be usable again or not for a very long time anyway.

So, what can we do? We can be vigilant about where the food we purchase is coming from, apparently (although I am VERY sceptical about this advice) we should boil all food then throw away the water then cook as usual. We can demand to know exactly where our children's food at school and yochien is coming from, you will want to when you have read this.

We can also stand up and make our views known, not a very Japanese way of doing this but to hell with that! The Japanese government do love their paperwork and red tape so how about we bury them in some of it! All the following information was taken from this site.

1. Download this PDF file and print it out, it is in English (or in Japanese or Italian)

2. Staple the two pieces together.

3. Collect as many signatures as possible, children are allowed to sign too, if they are unable to sign their name then a parent can do it for them.

4. Add a note with how many people have signed the petition.

4. Mail the petition to:

 Citizens' Committee for the 10 Million People's Petition to say Goodbye to Nuclear Power Plants.

c/o Gensuikin,

1F 3-2-11

Kanda Surugadai

Chiyoda-kun,

Tokyo

101-0062

JAPAN

The petition is valid for people outside of Japan too as long as they are addressed to the current Prime Minister so anyone who feels strongly about this please take a few minutes to sign one or better still get one started.

There will also be an anti-nuclear rally on the 19th, check the site for more information.

Please help spread the word, if you live in Japan you can bet your life that some of the food you are eating will have come from the affected areas or possibly fertilized with radioactive waste (although they reckon it is safe, who wants to take the risk?) not just fruit and veg, how about a nice piece of chocolate or some cool ice-cream? The packaging states where the food processing plant is based but not where the ingredients are sourced from.... and to think the food from Fukushima and surrounding areas are selling cheaper  than other places, how tempting for restaurants to save some money! I want to help support the people up there but buying contaminated food isn't the way to go.