By Dana Mar
The North American Post
Japan-America Relations Strengthened Through JALD
The U.S.-Japan Council will be sending ten Japanese American leaders to Kobe and Tokyo from March 5th on their week-long Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program. These delegates, including Seattle’s own City Council President, Bruce Harrell, will be meeting with Japanese leaders for the program’s 16th year of expanding U.S.-Japan relations. The delegates will return at the end of the program to liaise with JALD alumni with JALD alumni along with other organizations, local and national, involved in promoting U.S.-Japan relations.
Fukushima Daiichi Update
The Consulate General of Japan released a statement this past Monday providing an update on the recent developments in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. According to the report, released in tandem with the assessment by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), there is positive headway being made towards the containment of contaminated water and mitigation of environmental conditions of the surrounding area.
Progress includes low, “relatively stable” levels of radioactivity far below that of regulatory limits set for edible fish; general stability of food production both land and sea-based in the area; and decrease of groundwater inflow to the and decrease of groundwater inflow to the failed reactors, which has gone down by 33% in the past half year.
The IAEA identifies three primary processes for decommissioning the power station and combatting contaminated water as “remove sources of contamination,” “isolate water from contamination,” and “prevent leakage of contaminated water,” for which details can be found through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet.
Angry, Angry Okinawa: Henoko Landfill Update
Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga has been ordered to repeal his cancellation of the former governor’s decision by, it is suspected, Tuesday regarding the fate of land long-fought for in the Henoko district of Nago.
Land minister Keiichi Ishii made the demand on Monday, suing in response to the Fukuoka High Court settlement, which had allowed Onaga to make movements to appeal against the Central and Local Government Dispute Management Council decision. Onaga voiced his disapproval of the central government’s short notice deadline.
The government order is deemed a “correction” of Onaga’s cancellation of the landfill approval and it is currently being countersued by Okinawa.
