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Video Testimony from Fukushima in 7 Languages: Evacuee Mr Konno Sumio
Peace Boat, in cooperation with the environmental NGO Friends of the Earth Japan (FoE Japan), has launched the next in their series of video testimonies of the current situation in Fukushima in various languages.
The sixth instalment in the series, this latest video features an interview with Mr Konno Sumiko, who evacuated from his home in the town of Namie, Fukushima. It is being released in English, French, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Korean, German and Spanish, adding to the original Japanese.
“Almost no one is coming back to this district anymore,” says Mr Konno standing in front of his former house, located around 10 km from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. “There are no young people, at all.”
When asked what he thinks of the word "Fukkou" (recovery or reconstruction) being used by the government as a slogan including for the Tokyo Olympic Games, Mr Konno says: “That's the last thing I want to hear. I don't want to hear words like "bonding" or "recovery." They are not words that should be used loosely. Fukkou is about things getting back to normal, and then standing up and starting again. There's no such thing as Fukkou when you can't go back to normal, and when you can't rise up again.”
Please listen to this testimony, to hear the voices and ongoing situation of the community in Fukushima (4 mins 56 sec).
English https://youtu.be/1G3_9f5g8HM
French https://youtu.be/QSxTf0-YVQM
Korean https://youtu.be/tA7VGh7ubjI
Chinese (traditional) https://youtu.be/4ieQXoQ1yMo
Chinese (simplified) https://youtu.be/-ZqbnJBAVAc
German https://youtu.be/2sWWaw34VBw
Spanish https://youtu.be/JnlPZrMl05w
Japanese https://youtu.be/J9ibyJN_Tr0
See the “Mieruka Project” Homepage for other testimonies and comprehensive information about Fukushima