Yohei Sasakawa Blog

I will be on my way to Prague and Helsinki tomorrow.

The main purpose of this trip is to be at the 15th international conference “Forum 2000” that the former President Vacalv Havel and I established together in 1997. This year’s theme is Democracy and the Rule of Law.

In the Asian Panel, Professor Kiichi Fujiwara of the University of Tokyo will be present. At the Sasakawa Peace Foundation Panel, the Foundation’s Chairman and Board of Directors Jiro Hanyu will be present, with Dean Motoshige Ito, Graduate School of the University of Tokyo giving a Keynote Speech.

From the Middle East Forum established in Jordan the year before last, H.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal plans to present a report centering on the Arab Spring at the panel session. We expect the conference to attract keen attention.

In Helsinki, I will attend the 20th anniversary ceremony of Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (Sylff) established in the University of Helsinki, and visit the National Achieves of Finland.

I plan to return on October 16.
I look forward to give you a report on the proceedings of the conference.

Posted by Y.Sasakawa at 09:00 | URL | comment(1)

International Expert Symposium on Radiation and Health Risks –3 [2011年10月07日（Fri）]

Abel Julio Gonzalez, Vice-chair, International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP)

International Expert Symposium on Radiation and Health Risks – 3
The world’s wisdom collected to deliberate on the future of Fukushima

Thirty-one experts from 14 countries and international organizations, including International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), European Organization for Nuclear Research, United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCER), National Cancer Institute (U.S.), Health Protection Agency (U.K.), National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian, Chernobyl Tissue Bank, Dalton Nuclear Institute, Ukrainian Research Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism, World Health Organization, German Federal Office for Radiation Protection and 15 experts from Japan participated and presented their reports. The symposium was also attended by approximately 200 Japanese researchers, scholars and representatives of the news media in the two-day symposium that took place on September 11 and 12 during which heated deliberation continued.

Director General Margaret Chan of the World Health Organization stated in her video message that it is important as one of the best means to use the international professional knowledge and technology in order to draw out appropriate and acceptable evidenced-based outcome as regards the health risks concerning emergency situation.

Abel Julio Gonzalez, Vice-chair of the International Commission on Radiological Protection had lost his two sons in a traffic accident prior to his departure for Japan. He came in spite of his deep sorrow because of the importance of the conference. He commended the consistency of the measures taken to protect citizens from radiation in the aftermath of the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima. On the other hand, he noted that there was a misunderstanding going around concerning the danger of internal exposure more than necessary. “The lessons learned at Fukushima should certainly be incorporated in the international standards in the future.”

John Boice Jr. from International Epidemiology Institute emphasized, “Poison is the dose, not the exposure to radiation. Fukushima is not Chernobyl. The risk is small given the appropriate measures taken for evacuation and food examination.”

Professor Evelyn Bromet from Stony Brook University pointed out the need of carefully observing the soundness of mind as well as the health of the body of the citizens.

Executive Director Makoto Akashi of the National Institute of Radiological Sciences emphasized, “Citizens are confused without knowing the correct information. The consistent information based on the scientific knowledge should be disseminated.”

David Heyman, Senior Fellow at the Chatham House Centre on Global Health Security (U.K.) summed up, “Health management must include psychological impact and provide multi-faceted care to residents in and around the radiation effected area.”

Participants were positively surprised to learn that the Fukushima prefectural government has effected health management survey covering all its two million residents.

I felt the real need of scientists going to the effected communities to talk with citizens their fears in layman’s language, not just a cursory official explanation.

Posted by Y.Sasakawa at 09:00 | URL | comment(0)

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