News in Japan - February

GEJET

1,415 sue builders of Fukushima nuclear plant

Nuclear regulator raps TEPCO over Fukushima radiation readings

TEPCO took months to release record strontium readings at Fukushima

TEPCO says 100 tons of tainted water leaked at Fukushima

After the Tsunami, at the 'Women’s River'

(UPDATED) (Now They Tell Us) Highly Radioactive Pieces Found in Naraha-Machi in June/July 2013 Came from #Fukushima I NPP, TEPCO Now Says

Tsunami debris disposal on schedule for Miyagi, Iwate

Gov't to lift evacuation order for Fukushima town on April 1

Post-tsunami deaths due to stress, illness outnumber disaster toll in Fukushima Data compiled by officials and police show that almost three years after the huge waves smashed ashore, 1,656 people living in Fukushima Prefecture have died from stress and other illnesses related to the disaster, compared with 1,607 who were killed in the initial calamity. “The biggest problem is the fact that people have been living in temporary conditions for so long,” Hiroyuki Harada, a Fukushima official dealing with victim assistance, told AFP. “People have gone through dramatic changes of their environment. As a result, people who would not have died are dying,” he said.

Japan
Evacuation plan prepared for Mt. Fuji eruption The evacuation plan calls for 750,000 people leaving their homes in 14 municipalities in Shizuoka and Yamanashi due to lava and pyroclastic flows, as indicated in March 2013. In addition, 470,000 people, mainly in Kanagawa, would need to evacuate because of volcanic ash in the air, according to the latest plan.
Snowstorm leaves 19 dead; 6,900 trapped in small communities
Heavy Snowfall in Kanto That Has Killed 15 So Far Is Clearly Not Disastrous Enough for Prime Minister Abe
Trying to protect themselves from a sudden heavy rain, thunder, tornado!" Disaster prevention awareness video
Disaster prevention is top priority, Tokyo governor assures IOC

USA
Los Angeles' vulnerability to future sea level rise projected

Other areas
Climate change threatens to cause trillions in damage to world's coastal regions if they do not adapt to sea-level rise
Flood waters 'could last for months'
UK Monthly water situation report Environmental Agency
UK storms: Mapping the floods
Extreme weather images in the media cause fear and disengagement with climate change
Flooding kills nearly 70 in Burundi
Outsmarting nature during disasters: Instead of winging it, planners need to think carefully about costs and benefits
Ant Brood Function as Life Preservers during Floods
Massive Open Online Course in Emergency Management

Vulnerable people
Cancer 'tidal wave' on horizon, warns WHO
64% think it's difficult to raise children in Japan

In U.S., 14% of Those Aged 24 to 34 Are Living With Parents

Resilience: A Lesson From Sochi

Netherlands ceases aid to Uganda due to anti gay law (Dutch)

Japanese fire drill

Today we had the yearly fire drill. As usual, it was very uneventful given the complete lack of fires. But that's probably safer?

Nearly all of the information provided during the drill was in Japanese. As 25% of our institute is non Japanese, the 45 minutes of drill are mostly wasted work time. There is one chance of activity though, which I like to grab. Actual use of a non-actual fire extinguisher.

"Kaji da!" or "Fire!" is what you have to shout first. Then take the extinguisher, remove the yellow safety plug, hold the nozzle and test shortly if it works (at least, this is what I learned previously in the Netherlands and continue to do), and walk slowly toward the fire while squeezing the handle. Stop at some random point in time and space (I know the extinguishers of 5/6 kilo are usually empty after 5/6 seconds, so I stopped then, and at 1 meter distance). People clap. We used water filled extinguishers to spray at a plastic cone with A4 sized signs and the word 'fire' on them.

Not our actual drill, but very much a similar situation.

I can't help but feel slightly disillusioned having been part of an evacuation and first aid team previously, and moreover having had training with real fires and real extinguishers as part of the annual drills. Every single time. We've had training with real fire and real extinguishers in Japan during the Tsukuba Disaster Drill and the Ninomiya House disaster drill. Why our own public works research institute has less resources to organize than our previous apartment is striking, especially given the lack of English translations.

Average training during fire drill in the Netherlands. 

The only information given in English was the email sent the day before:

Tomorrow, Fire drill will be held from 13:15.

When the emergency bell rings, please assemble in front of the auditorium.
I will take you to the evacuation point.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

It doesn't mention how long it will last or that we are to go outside, which is convenient to know as it is still a bit nippy with 12 degrees Celsius. Of course, like all years, I stressed for translations, but all I can do is ask and hope those in charge (whom of course have no trouble speaking Japanese) make a decision that makes everyone more resilient.

Dutch Risk Reduction Team

The Dutch water sector, traditional experts in prevention measures such as infrastructure levees, modifying river courses and movable weirs, now has expanded into recovery with the Risk Reduction Team.

It is comprised of a team of experts advising governments on issues related to both water quantity and quality. Beyond technological advice, they also offer advice on urban planning policies, public private cooperation and attracting funding. All solutions are said to be sustainable in the long term.

The team is activated if a country is facing or has just suffered a disaster, and the embassy or central government has requested the Dutch government for aid. There is a map showing the global water projects established so far, with project details.

UN online discussion on legal rights to water and sanitation

The UN has an interactive discussion online about the legal rights to water and sanitation. It is running from January 29 to March 10.

Anyone with internet access can join the discussion on the forum, read the related legal documentation provided on the website and even add their own information and polls. The forum is moderated by Virginia Roof (Adviser on human rights to water and sanitation) and Inga Winkler (Legal adviser on human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation). Let's all share our ideas on how we can ensure everyone has water access!