福島バッジプロジェクト(FUKUSHIMA Badge Project)

多くの皆様のご協力を得て、フクシマン・マサさんの記事「届かなかった安定ヨウ素剤」他を
参照にヨウ素剤が配られなかった経緯をフィンランドのスウェ―デン語新聞のオピニオン欄に
３月１７日に掲載する事が出来ました。
是非とも、日本に住む外国人の方へ、海外のお知り合いに原発事故の影にあるこの情報を
共有していただきたく、此処に掲載させていただきます。
Dear Reader,

The article about the failure of certain authorities to distribute
iodine pills to the general public in Fukushima was edited, shortened
and published by the major national, Swedish-language daily newspaper
in Finland, Hufvudstadsbladet, on March 17, 2014. Some readers of my
blog have asked why this was done, and what the significance was,
as far as the Fukushima Badge Project is concerned.

The answer is that it does not concern the Badge Project directly,
but it serves the purpose of highlighting a typical botched
administrative decision, of a kind that is all too common. The point
is that many narratives of this kind do not reach the general public,
and they are ignored by mainstream media in Japan. More mismanagement
stories need to be made public and spread, not ignored.

When I got the chance to describe this particular failure to a news
editor of the paper, she responded positively and suggested I’d
supply the material for publication. I of course eagerly did so, and
the result was then published, however not as a feature but in the
section “Letters to the Editor”. But published it was, and potentially
reached 98 000 readers in Finland, according to distribution statistics.

This was but one story that needs to be told and retold, with your help.
Please pass it on. The more that is told about the irresponsibility
and incompetence of those in power, the better.

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

３月１７日の新聞の掲載欄です。Varför gavs inte jod åt alla? から始まります。
以下は最初に英語訳、次にスウェ―デン語記事文章です。
Here is the story published on March 17, 2014 in Hufvudstadsbladet,
a national newspaper in Finland (the country’s main daily newspaper
in Swedish, 98 000 readers, established in 1864).
The paper shortened the article, leaving out some information,
and what’s below is a translation of what was actually published.

＜フィンランドの新聞に掲載された記事の英語訳＞
Why didn’t everyone get iodine?
FUKUSHIMA DISASTER

Our aim is to build up an attitude of openness, whereby Fukushima residents are encouraged to show their opinions about nuclear power generation. This enables the residents and the public all over Japan to declare their feelings. The general attitude among the Japanese is that one does not force one’s opinions on other people – it is considered impolite – most particularly, since a year from now, opinions about nuclear power. With an easily recognizable badge it is possible to declare your attitude without intruding on other people, while identifying other badge carriers.

When discussing this sensitive question with others, we have found that people don’t know where other people stand – even close people that they meet on a daily or weekly basis. Because the issue is so sensitive, the subject is avoided. There may also be pressure involved, opinions forced upon employees and so on.

We want to break this deadlock. Oh we also supply pro-nuke badges, same design, but with a different color.


A Fukushima person said, “If Fukushima public servants wear No nuke badge, public transport affix No nuke stickers to the vehicles... then I will be brave enough to wear the badge. Most people in Fukushima are reluctant to show their point of view. The general feeling is “keep it to yourself”.
I myself live in a small village 2 hours from Tokyo by car. Even here in my neighborhood, I cannot speak about the nuclear question.
One of my friends, living 30 km from the Fukushima, in an area with very high radiation, says: “There are very few people I can talk to about the disaster.”
This is something we hear again and again, all over Japan!

That’s why we have started to help people say NO. Including ourselves. We say NO to nuclear power! Too many human errors involved.
We are weak, we are small, we are little, we have no money, we have no power or influence.
We thank you, great friends, who have already had the guts to say NO in public. We are late, but we are coming to follow you in saying NO!


* We are producing No nuke badges for Fukushima people, to be given free to all takers in the prefecture.
* In fairness, we are also making a Yes nuke badge. There may be people who cannot say yes! No opinion suppressed.
* One of the first recipients is the Fukushima Prefectural governor who has made a “quit nuclear” speech. The prefectural assembly has voted against nuclear, but no appeal has been made to the Japanese government, nor indeed to anyone!
* We are making No nuke badges for Japanese. We are going to sell these badges, each at cost for 2 badges: one you keep, the other one will be distributed for free among Fukushima people. We’re making a lot of badges for Fukushima public servants.
* The badge design is open for all who want to produce badges. The design is available for all takers.
* Naturally the badge is also freely usable outside Japan, indeed we recommend it.

Fukushima badge project
Contact:　E-mail fukuhsimabadge@gmail.com
　　+81-50-3347-2191 (allow for poor English)