Japanese parents strike out in anger at Education and Health Ministries’ death sentence for their children

Mon May 2, 2011 7:27PM

Michael Penn, Press TV, Tokyo

What is making them angry is a new government edict saying that schoolyards in Fukushima Prefecture should operate normally unless exposed to radiation levels that exceed 20 millisieverts annually.

This number raises the potential amount of radiation that children may be exposed to by 20 times above the previous standard.

Some environmental activists are shocked and mystified.

In the central political district of Tokyo, activists and ordinary citizens had a chance to confront the officials of two government ministries, and the atmosphere was electric.

Sometimes, all the officials could do was to bow their heads in silence as the outrage poured out from the crowd.

Mizuho Fukushima, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, was on hand to lead the questioning of the officials.

She told Press TV that she wasn’t satisfied with their answers.

Citizens from Fukushima Prefecture brought with them a bag of soil from the grounds of an elementary school. The crackling sound of the counter proved that it was highly irradiated.

It was presented to the officials themselves.

Feelings ran high, and few in the audience believe the government’s contention that their children are safe.

The officials left the room under public scorn.

It is fully apparent that the Japanese people are now demanding a change.