Discrimination and bullying of Fukushima evacuees

[bananas]

described in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1072979

[Art_from_Ark]

1. If I may say something here

I think this thread was motivated in large part by what I wrote in the other thread.

I don't want to give the impression that all Japanese kids are creeps who would gleefully taunt a helpless Fukushima evacuee. There are LOTS of good kids in this country (Japan), and I have no doubt that there are many kids who are trying to extend the hand of friendship to evacuee kids. However, all it takes is one...BRAT... and perhaps a cadre of misguided followers... to make life miserable for a Fukushima classmate.

However, I am heartened by reading blogs from Japanese who almost universally condemn bullying of Fukushima (and other) kids. I am also glad that this problem is apparently being addressed by educators. I also think that, given the negative publicity that the city of Tsukuba (which is accommodating a large number of evacuees) received for its radiation screening program, and the mayor's public apology to Fukushima evacuees, it is a safe bet that the city is now bending over backwards to nip bullying in the bud.

Saying that, I now have to look at this from the eyes of a Fukushima parent. Say that I am a resident of Iwaki, the largest city in Fukushima Prefecture, and I have some kids attending Iwaki public schools. I am 30 miles south of the reactors. So far, the wind is blowing favorably, and radiation levels in my area are within international tolerable limits. Given all the stories I have heard about the bullying of Fukushima kids in other prefectures (and this may be overblown by the media for all I know), what do I do? Do I stay in Iwaki and hope that they can get this problem under control before the wind starts blowing from the wrong direction? Or do I quit my job, pack the family up, and head off for parts unknown, with the nagging fear that my kids might by bullied by their classmates in our new town, or maybe that I might not be able to find a job, or even a decent place to live, in whatever place we decide to settle?

[bananas]

2. You said there are "documented incidents of discrimination against Fukushima evacuees"

so this is more than just bullying by children.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. Sure it's more than just bullying

but I wanted to clarify my explanation of the situation here about bullying. OK?

Documented discrimination includes signs at some restaurants, gas stations, etc., that basically say "Fukushima people, go somewhere else". I think, or maybe hope, that media attention has shamed the people who have put up such signs. I have not seen any around here (southern Ibaraki), thank goodness, and if I did, I would vow never to patronize that business.