The Voice of FUKUSHIMA: A Cry from the Heart – Ground Zero 03: Home but Home no More – Excerpt

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yoganbaumfukushima

Ever heard of Tsukemono? ⁣ ⁣ Those are Japanes

Ever heard of Tsukemono? ⁣
⁣
Those are Japanese preserved vegetables and very popular here in Japan. Tsukemono are usually pickled in salt, brine or a bed of rice bran.⁣
⁣
Commonly used as a garnish, relish or digestive, they are being served with traditional meals together with rice and miso soup. ⁣
⁣
When you visit Japan or your local Japanese restaurant give them a try ;)⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram⁣⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣⁣
#japaneseculture⁣ #japanculture⁣⁣⁣
#radiation⁣⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#author #authors #writer #writers ⁣
#authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram ⁣
#authorsofig #writersofig ⁣
#authorlife #authorslife #writerslife⁣
#reading #booklover #bookworm⁣

One route of spectacular beauty here in northeaste

One route of spectacular beauty here in northeastern Japan is the Michinoku (meaning 'the end of the road') Coastal Trail along the Pacific Coast.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
It stretches 700 km (435 miles) between Hachinohe (Aomori prefecture) and Soma (Fukushima prefecture).⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Part of this trail is the Sanriku Coast - that's the area north of Sendai. It is beautiful to take your breath away as I saw when I rode up the coastal roads on my little Honda CB 125 in the summer of 1984. Can't believe, that 36 years ago ...⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The coast is very rocky, there are hundreds of small inlets and coves and towns located in them.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Unfortunately there is a drawback to this beauty, when it comes to tsunamis. It's the topography of this landscape. That's why the tsunami of 3/11 piled up so high there - too much water pushed into a narrowing vessel - and devastated so many towns and and villages along the coast.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
On the picture you can see two Japanese serows (goat-antelopes). They live in the woodlands of northern and central Honshu and are seen as a national symbol of Japan.⁣⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadaiichi⁣⁣
#march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#japanesehistory #japaneseculture⁣⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣⁣
#author #authors #writer #writers ⁣⁣
#authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram ⁣⁣
#authorlife #authorslife #writerslife⁣⁣
#reading #booklover #bookworm⁣⁣
#tohoku #sanriku⁣⁣
#ReadMore #bookish⁣⁣
#AmEditing #AmWriting⁣⁣
#WritingCommunity

The local wisdom was, “There are no big earthqua

The local wisdom was, “There are no big earthquakes here”. No known fault lines near! ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Tsunamis occurred in other places, everyone knew the coast north of Sendai with its fjords and inlets was in constant danger of tsunamis, but – Iwaki? No.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Local wisdom, unfortunately, doesn’t reach back twelve hundred years in this part of the world!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Just around the time of the 2011 quake a geologist named Masanobu Shishikura had completed a survey showing the extent of a year 869 tsunami – which proved to tally exactly with the damage done by the 2011 tsunami.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
You can learn more about this in part 1 of my book serial The Voice of FUKUSHIMA - A Cry from the Heart. Ground Zero 01: Earthquake is available for FREE. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
For download please see link in bio.⁣⁣
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⁣⁣
#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram⁣⁣⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣⁣⁣
#japaneseculture⁣ #japanculture⁣⁣⁣⁣
#radiation⁣⁣⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#author #authors #writer #writers ⁣⁣
#authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram ⁣⁣
#authorsofig #writersofig ⁣⁣
#authorlife #authorslife #writerslife⁣⁣
#reading #booklover #bookworm⁣⁣

Another photo posted by by @mizai_sho symbolizing

Another photo posted by by @mizai_sho symbolizing ”Sincerity” and ”Honesty” ... ⁣
⁣
Thinking about these virtues reminds me of what I hate about Japan ... ⁣
⁣
... the way most politicians and media never ever are honest with the people here .⁣
⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram⁣⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣⁣
#japaneseculture⁣ #japanculture⁣⁣⁣
#radiation⁣⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#author #authors #writer #writers ⁣
#authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram ⁣
#authorsofig #writersofig ⁣
#authorlife #authorslife #writerslife⁣
#reading #booklover #bookworm

This beautiful Japanese calligraphy created by @mi

This beautiful Japanese calligraphy created by @mizai_sho represents what I like best about Japan.⁣
⁣
It's the incredible patience people have in the face of adversity, and on a personal level, the friendliness they show me.⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram⁣⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣⁣
#japaneseculture⁣ #japanculture⁣⁣⁣
#radiation⁣⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#author #authors #writer #writers ⁣
#authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram ⁣
#authorsofig #writersofig ⁣
#authorlife #authorslife #writerslife⁣
#reading #booklover #bookworm

One of my favorite Japanese writers is Yukio Mishi

One of my favorite Japanese writers is Yukio Mishima. Absolutely crazy, but, what a writer! Even in translation. I read very little Japanese, unfortunately.⁣
⁣
However The Sound of Waves is one of Mishima's works I read in Japanese.⁣
⁣
His trilogy Temple of Dawn/Runaway Horses/ Decay of the Angel⁣
and The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea are one of my other favorites from Mishima.⁣
⁣
Have you read any Mishima books?⁣
⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram⁣⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣⁣
#japaneseculture⁣ #japanculture⁣⁣⁣
#radiation⁣⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
#author #authors #writer #writers ⁣
#authorsofinstagram #writersofinstagram ⁣
#authorsofig #writersofig ⁣
#authorlife #authorslife #writerslife⁣
#reading #booklover #bookworm⁣

Fortunately these days it's not as hot as in recen

Fortunately these days it's not as hot as in recent weeks. I told you we have no air condition in our house. The combination of heat and high humidity during summer here in Iwaki can be very exhausting.⁣
⁣
Now we got temperatures around 80° F, that's around 27° C. The weather forecast calls for some rain over the weekend. Thanks to the Weather God ...⁣
⁣
Meanwhille I look forward to the cooler days of autumn and the diversity of colors this time of the year brings us. One color I'm very much into is red. ⁣
⁣
That's why I love the Higanbana flower also known as red spider lily and its bright beautiful red color. One of the many meanings the flower carries is "Passion".⁣
⁣
Blooming season for this year is predicted to be around the end of September to early October.⁣
⁣
What's your take on the autumn season?⁣
⁣
⁣
#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣
#japaneseculture⁣ #japanculture⁣⁣
#radiation⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣⁣

Hi there, ⁣ ⁣ glad to let you know that I've f

Hi there, ⁣
⁣
glad to let you know that I've finished my manuscript for Ground Zero 03: Home but Home no More.⁣
That's episode 3 of my book serial The Voice of FUKUSHIMA - A Cry from the Heart.⁣ ⁣
⁣
Now it's time for editing ... I am targeting an October 25 2020 release date.⁣
⁣
Meanwhile you may take a first look at Chapter 2 of Ground Zero 03: Home but Home no More. It deals with our return to Japan seven weeks after having left head over heels due to Fukushima Daiichi meltdown.⁣⁣
⁣
I've posted a preliminary excerpt on my website. See link in bio.⁣
⁣
You can also download the excerpt on your desktop or mobile. It's available in ePub, MOBI and pdf format.⁣
⁣
Would love to get your feedback. Please feel free to leave your questions or comments in the comments section below here or use the contact form on my website.⁣
⁣
Cheers⁣
⁣
Yogan⁣
⁣
⁣
#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣
#japaneseculture⁣ #japanculture⁣⁣
#radiation⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣⁣
⁣

I recently learned I need more time to finalize my

I recently learned I need more time to finalize my script of my upcoming new book Ground Zero 03: Home but Home no More. That's episode 3 of my book serial The Voice of FUKUSHIMA - A Cry from the Heart.⁣⁣
⁣
As of now we are working on an October release date.⁣
⁣
Meanwhile you may take a first look at Chapter 2 of Ground Zero 03: Home but Home no More. It deals with our return to Japan seven weeks after having left head over heels due to Fukushima Daiichi meltdown.⁣⁣
⁣
I've posted a preliminary excerpt on my website. See link in bio.⁣
⁣
You can also download the excerpt on your desktop or mobile. It's available in ePub, MOBI and pdf format.⁣
⁣
Would love to get your feedback. Please feel free to leave your questions or comments in the comments section below here.⁣⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣
#japaneseculture⁣ #japanculture⁣⁣
#radiation⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣⁣

As a language instructor I was very busy in the la

As a language instructor I was very busy in the last weeks in marking seminar papers of my 100 students. Working from my home office I received nearly 1.200 e-mails which needed to be corrected and answered. ⁣
⁣
Talking about working from home ... Our house has no air condition. I can tell you summertime in Fukushima, it's getting really hot. Climate here is kind of humid subtropical. The hottest month usually is August, with an average high of around 30 °C (appr. 86 °F).⁣
⁣
So after finishing my work on the seminar papers I really needed a break. ⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram #japanesehistory⁣⁣
#japanhistory⁣⁣ #japaneseculture⁣⁣
#japanculture⁣⁣
#weatherinjapan #japanhumidity⁣
#radiation⁣⁣ #Chernobylnucleardisaster⁣⁣
#chernobyldisaster⁣⁣ #nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣

Recently I found this heartbreaking story about th

Recently I found this heartbreaking story about the so-called Phone of the Wind in the Japanese town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. It's the region that gave name to the devastating Tohoku, 9.0 Mega Quake and Tsunami of 11 March 2011 which killed nearly 16,000 people.⁣
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The Phone of the Wind is a booth containing an unconnected telephone, people come to "call" their loved ones who died in the catastrophe.⁣
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Several years after the disaster and and their communities being rebuilt many are still struggling with their losses and can't move forward with their lives.⁣
⁣
For those, the Phone of the Wind is a way to open their hearts and begin to come to terms with their losses.⁣
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This NHK documentary offers an intimate look into what they are really feeling. You can find it on YouTube under NHK The Phone of the Wind Documentary.⁣
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#otsuchi #phoneofthewind⁣
#windphone #dealingwithgrief ⁣
#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣⁣
#fukushimagram #japanesehistory⁣
#japanhistory⁣⁣ #japaneseculture⁣
#japanculture⁣
#radiation⁣⁣ #Chernobylnucleardisaster⁣
#chernobyldisaster⁣⁣ #nucleardisaster ⁣⁣⁣

In Japan alone there are more than one hundred act

In Japan alone there are more than one hundred active volcanoes.⁣
⁣
One of them, Mount Bandai, just in our neighborhood. ⁣
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Bandai is the signature volcano of Fukushima Prefecture, overlooking Lake Inawashiro and the five-colored lakes it created when it blew its top in 1888 after a rest of a thousand years! ⁣
⁣
This was a major outbreak, obliterating villages and killing hundreds in that scarcely populated area of our prefecture.⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣
#fukushimagram #radiation⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster #nuclearwaste ⁣⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣⁣
#japaneseculture #japanculture

One sad thing about volcanoes is their attraction

One sad thing about volcanoes is their attraction to the desperate. The most famous suicide volcano in Japan is Mt. Mihara on a little island south of Tokyo. Tiny Izu Oshima and its looming central mountain devoured more than one thousand young lovers and others in the years running up to the second world war. #fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣
#fukushimagram #radiation⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣
#nucleardisaster #nuclearwaste ⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣
#japaneseculture #japanculture

I have to admit to some personal involvement in th

I have to admit to some personal involvement in the volcano business.⁣
⁣
During the summer of 1984 my wife Mariko and I hung out at Chuhei’s just opened “Gallery Iwaki” right in the centre of Taira.⁣
⁣
Chuhei - the owner - gave me the name “Yogan” right there and explained that the Japanese word “yogan” means “lava” in English.⁣
⁣
So! I tend to think of myself as a meek lamb, but there is apparently something smoldering under that surface. ⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣
#fukushimagram #radiation⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster #nuclearwaste ⁣⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣⁣
#japaneseculture #japanculture

Just learned the government plans to lift coronavi

Just learned the government plans to lift coronavirus emergency in 39 prefectures. Let's see what this means for us Iwaki people. More details to be announced today.⁣
⁣
Meanwhile you can take a first look at Ground Zero 03: Home but Home no More. This will be episode 3 of my book serial The Voice of FUKUSHIMA - A Cry from the Heart.⁣
⁣
Chapter 2 is entitled Back in Yotsukura. It deals with our return to Japan seven weeks after having left head over heels due to Fukushima Daiichi meltdown.⁣
⁣
Just click on link in bio and head over to my website. You can also download the excerpt. It's availabe in ePub, MOBI and pdf format. ⁣
⁣
Would love to get your feedback. Please leave your questions or comments in the comments section below here.⁣
⁣
Many thanks⁣
⁣
Yogan⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣
#fukushimagram #radiation⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣
#nucleardisaster #nuclearwaste ⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣
#japaneseculture #japanculture

Hi there, ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ hope you're all doing fine

Hi there, ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
hope you're all doing fine!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Right now I am working full throttle on the next episode of The Voice of FUKUSHIMA - A Cry from the Heart.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Due to Corona (still under state of emergeny here in Fukushima Prefecture), I have plenty of time right these days – work is in short supply. Ouch! But, never waste a good crisis, as they say, so here I am busy writing.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
We just finished Golden Week a string of national holidays from end of April until early May.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This kind of spring holidays for us here in Japan usually sends some 25 million people traveling across the country and abroad. Of course this year things are different ...⁣⁣
⁣⁣
April 29 is Showa Day. Japan commemorates Emperor Showa aka Hirohito who reigned Japan from 1926 to 1989. Constitution Memorial Day follows on May 3. And on May 5 Japan celebrates Children's Day.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
The phrase "Golden Week" was initially used by movie companies to get people to take advantage of the "golden" opportunity to go see a film. Given time "Golden Week" gradually began being used by other people to refer to this cluster of national holidays.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
While I now continue writing I just want to let you know Ground Zero 03: Home but Home no More will include approximately 19 chapters. For details please click link in bio.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Take care and stay safe!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Cheers⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Yogan⁣⁣
⁣⁣
⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ #fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster⁣⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #march112011⁣⁣
#311earthquake #tohokuearthquake⁣⁣
#fukushimagram #radiation⁣⁣
#Chernobylnucleardisaster #chernobyldisaster⁣⁣
#nucleardisaster #nuclearwaste ⁣⁣
#japanesehistory #japanhistory⁣⁣
#japaneseculture #japanculture

The Voice of FUKUSHIMA is the chronicle of a man-m

The Voice of FUKUSHIMA is the chronicle of a man-made disaster.⁣
⁣
A disaster that was thank God was not the absolute catastrophe it could have been. ⁣
⁣
BUT it's a disaster unfolding over the decades ...⁣
⁣
Chernobyl .... Fukushima ... What's next??⁣
⁣
Just select from a list of almost 450 nuclear power plants worldwide.⁣
⁣
There is one near you, you may be sure. Better stop it. Before it is too late.⁣
⁣
Life is precious. It is fragile. We have to treasure it if we want to survive. ⁣
Wake up! Fukushima is only the tip of the iceberg.”⁣
⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster ⁣#fukushimadaiichi #Chernobylnucleardisaster⁣
#chernobyldisaster #nucleardisaster⁣
#nuclearwaste #march112011⁣
#311earthquake #radiation⁣

Big fish eat little fish, yes, but this one little

Big fish eat little fish, yes, but this one little fish at least is not willing to go down in silence. ⁣
⁣
Will it do Mariko, my wife and me any good? I don’t know. It is of secondary importance. Important is to speak out.⁣
⁣
I want to honor those who suffer in silence. The old. The children. The uninformed. The victims.⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster ⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #Chernobylnucleardisaster⁣
#chernobyldisaster #nucleardisaster⁣
#nuclearwaste #march112011⁣
#311earthquake #radiation

It is now more than nine years after March 11, and

It is now more than nine years after March 11, and the monster looming less than twenty miles north of here is just not mentioned where human voices are heard. ⁣
⁣
Nobody opens their hearts to cry out to their gods. Silence reigns supreme. Only engineers and politicians talk Dai-ichi.⁣
⁣
Nobody has the courage or the means to cut through the sordid web of deception we, people of Fukushima, are trapped in.⁣
⁣
It is the nameless fear, it is “that which must not be spoken of”. It is taboo. ⁣
⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster ⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #Chernobylnucleardisaster⁣
#chernobyldisaster #nucleardisaster⁣
#nuclearwaste #march112011⁣
#311earthquake #radiation

What motivated me to become an author and writing

What motivated me to become an author and writing this book serial?⁣
⁣
After the events of 3/11 I had absolutely no life, no sense of direction left in me. Both of our children urged me to start writing.⁣
⁣
So finally on New Year’s day in 2012 I began writing. Words help.⁣
⁣
I started to write not to go mad. To write down what I saw. What we - my wife of more than thirty years and I - had to go through, just like countless fellow humans here.⁣
⁣
I started to write down what I began to understand about this mess.⁣
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#fukushimanucleardisaster #fukushimadisaster ⁣
#fukushimadaiichi #Chernobylnucleardisaster⁣
#chernobyldisaster #nucleardisaster⁣
#nuclearwaste #march112011⁣
#311earthquake #radiation⁣
⁣⁣

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