Back home, there’s no escaping toxic risk
IN HER home town 16-yearold Aoi Sato cannot run outdoors, dig in the dirt or swim in the sea.
More than six years after a tsunami ravaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, life for residents is far from normal.
Kardinia International College students raised thousands of dollars and sponsored three Fukushima high school students to come out for a oneweek exchange in Geelong.
The program, facilitated by the Japanese-based NGO Earth Walkers, aims to create cultural links, raise awareness about Fukushima’s radiation levels and give students opportunities they can’t access in Japan.
Earth Walkers representative Naoya Kodama said since 2011 children in Fukushima have led an unnatural life.
“They can’t go outside, they can’t touch the dirt or swim in the sea,” Mr Kodama said.
“Their way of life has been A FIRE that badly damaged a Norlane home is believed to have been deliberately lit.
Emergency services were called to Taroonga Court, off The Boulevard, after reports of fire, about 11.40pm on Sunday.
Senior Constable Simon Keogh said early analysis of the scene indicated the blaze had been deliberately lit. No one was home at the time.
“About 11.40pm a fire was completely changed.”
Kardinia International College Japanese teacher Yoshi Ota said the exchange program gave local students the chance to see how their fundraising could make a significance difference.
“Often when we raise money we don’t see the outcomes. Here, the students raised money and we brought three students to Australia,” he said.
“For these three children, discovered at the rear of a property on Taroonga Court. Most of the damage was caused to the rear of the house with CFA attending and deeming it suspicious,” Sen-Constable Keogh said.
“It caused major damage and we’re now waiting on arson chemists to attend for further investigation.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. who normally can’t even go to the beach, they have had so many opportunities and on the weekend went to the Great Ocean Road.”
Aoi said the wide, completely safe vast expanse of the region’s beaches were in stark contrast to the off-limits Fukushima beaches.
The exchange students will speak at an Effects of Nuclear Energy in Australia seminar at the college from 6.30 tonight.