Radiation Concerns

[KIKKI.K]

Ok, really sorry for the spam, btu I decided to try to find the site now.
Gomen!

here's an article in English from Asahi Newspaper explaining the system,
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_new ... 1202220028

and here's the MEXT site, it's only available in Japanese I7m sorry, but you can look up the Kanji for the area you want to check out and go from there I guess....

http://radioactivity.mext.go.jp/map/ja/

Hope this helps... Sorry about the 3 posts in a row....

[Lyre]

Well, I don't live in Fuku, but I am in Niigata, and I personally do not really worry about the radiation.
I'm actually planning a trip to Fuku is the near future, and I really won't be worried about it then, either, haha.

Really, I think as long as you don't go marching naked into the work parts where there is contamination, you'll be okay.

So, there you have my words of advice: Don't walk around naked in the restricted area.

[teabot]

as others have said, the background radiation is not something you need to worry about. if anything it's food. there are conflicting opinions and thoughts about this, to people eating nothing further east than Kansai area and wearing masks, to people who don't really care at all. i think it's important to think critically about the matter, but it does seem to be "everything's fine!!" or borderline fear-monger-y. it's likely somewhere in the middle, so it's up to you essentially who you believe, to what extent, and how you let that belief affect/influence your life and decisions here. personally i avoid foods labeled as from the immediate area, but i don't worry about it too much, though i do try to keep up with news about the area/related to the aftereffects every once in a while.

[Asche]

I know a lot of people are concerned about the radiation and I know my family has been trying to dissuade me from applying because of it, but the way I look at is, why should I let the fear of something like radiation or earthquakes stop me from doing something that I have dreamed of for years?

[KIKKI.K]

I know a lot of people are concerned about the radiation and I know my family has been trying to dissuade me from applying because of it, but the way I look at is, why should I let the fear of something like radiation or earthquakes stop me from doing something that I have dreamed of for years?

Radiation isn't something to be dismissed off hand, but I think that if everyone who is concerned educates themselves about it, there's no reason to worry overmuch. ^_^

[crystal]

Has anyone had experience cancelling and did you have to pay any fees?

There were 125 JETs positions in Fukushima last year, so the percentage of getting placed there is not that low.

After my research, my personal comfort level is that I'm okay with Japan, but I'm definitely NOT going if I'm placed in Fukushima. Sure JET is awesome but I don't want to increase any chances of developing cancer in my life (even if it's 5-10%) for a trip that I don't have to necessarily take this year.

They say that we may be responsible for paying for flights/fees of ~$2000 if we accept now and back out when we find out about our placement, but does anyone know statistically how likely that is going to happen? In the Alternate forum, a few Coordinators said that the 2nd wave of Alternates being upgraded is when short-listed JETs find out in May/June where they're placed and then back out because they don't like the area. How does this work? Did all those cancelling JETs pay the $2k and then the upgraded Alternates go instead?

I wish the JET Program could have done a special recruitment for Fukushima this year where those who are willing to go there can check off a box or something

GAHHH I can't decide whether I should accept because I don't want to pay $2000 and I also do not want to go to Fukushima.

[ljoekelsoey4]

Has anyone had experience cancelling and did you have to pay any fees?

There were 125 JETs positions in Fukushima last year, so the percentage of getting placed there is not that low.

After my research, my personal comfort level is that I'm okay with Japan, but I'm definitely NOT going if I'm placed in Fukushima. Sure JET is awesome but I don't want to increase any chances of developing cancer in my life (even if it's 5-10%) for a trip that I don't have to necessarily take this year.

They say that we may be responsible for paying for flights/fees of ~$2000 if we accept now and back out when we find out about our placement, but does anyone know statistically how likely that is going to happen? In the Alternate forum, a few Coordinators said that the 2nd wave of Alternates being upgraded is when short-listed JETs find out in May/June where they're placed and then back out because they don't like the area. How does this work? Did all those cancelling JETs pay the $2k and then the upgraded Alternates go instead?

I wish the JET Program could have done a special recruitment for Fukushima this year where those who are willing to go there can check off a box or something

GAHHH I can't decide whether I should accept because I don't want to pay $2000 and I also do not want to go to Fukushima.

you dont pay for the flights; if you back out someone else takes your seat on the plan. dude, chill the @?!" out already, your not going to be placed in the exclusion zone, and it has being scientifically proven to be safe to live anywhere that is not in the exclusion zone. being australian/american (judging by the dollar signs), id worry more about gettin cancer from the sun...

[Mark_KyotoPA]

If you're not happy with going anywhere in the country, you shouldn't accept your position.

Also, it's not a "trip" it's a job.

[crystal]

you dont pay for the flights; if you back out someone else takes your seat on the plan. dude, chill the @?!" out already, your not going to be placed in the exclusion zone, and it has being scientifically proven to be safe to live anywhere that is not in the exclusion zone. being australian/american (judging by the dollar signs), id worry more about gettin cancer from the sun...

Do you know if someone takes my seat on the plan - do they have to be from the same city/airport that I'm from, or if the chances of them taking the seat is higher if the cancellation happens earlier? I'm not trying to opt out, I'm trying to find out what's the worst-case scenario if I really somehow got Fukushima and don't feel comfortable going.

And regarding radiation concerns - that view really depends on the extent of your research. Even the official government online graph with the radiation detection show that areas in proximity of Fukushima outside of 20-30km (up to like ~80km) still experience higher than normal radiations.

And nah, I'm neither Australian nor American, nor a dude.

If you're not happy with going anywhere in the country, you shouldn't accept your position.

Also, it's not a "trip" it's a job.

Well I think that's a slightly different mentality.

Someone may be perfectly acceptable to different cultural and lifestyle conditions (e.g., small populations, rural areas, living in different climate conditions) - but someone may not be comfortable with exposing themselves to a potential health risk that does not stem from irrational fear but reasonable concern.

And fine, it's a "relocation" that doesn't necessarily have to happen this year.

[Sendai_Momiji]

And fine, it's a "relocation" that doesn't necessarily have to happen this year.
[/color]

Well it won't happen ANY year after this year if you receive a placement and THEN back out. That's the choice you have to be willing to make.

I, for one, have already accepted the fact that one day I will meet the Big C (being pale, freckled, and have a family history of skin and breast cancer) and when I do, I will hopefully kick it's ass. The sun's already done it's damage. There's nothing Japan can throw at me that the sun hasn't already done in my childhood.

[teabot]

first, protip: typing entirely in red font is probably a bad call due to readability/annoyance issues.

on to the actual topic at hand...
chances are that if you call to decline or something the day you get your notification you won't actually have to pay the cancellation fee as your flight has likely not been booked at that point. you will be bound (most likely*) by the ineligibility to apply for JET again in the next year, though.

basically the earlier that you let them know you're bailing is the best for everyone involved, including you. there will likely still be some consequences to bailing at that point, but they'll be minimized the sooner you let people in charge know.

*last year there were exceptions made because of the situation. i can't speak to the particulars since that wasn't my experience, though, but i believe Fukushima shortlisters who declined their placements were able to apply again this year, and i don't think they had to pay the fee either, unless they waited until much later to decline.

[brainsteww]

I hope I get placed near Fukushima. I heard radiation is great for weight loss! *fingers crosses*

[Guiteau]

Crystal, as others have said, there's no monetary penalty for not taking an offered position. There is, however, the penalty of being unable to apply for a position with the JET Program for the following year, meaning you will have to wait for the next-next application cycle before you can get a position through JET.

it has being scientifically proven to be safe to live anywhere that is not in the exclusion zone.

This is not at all true. There's still considerable debate on the matter, and it's a possibility that living in Fukushima or the surrounding prefectures will increase your risk of cancer. The question comes down to how much risk are you will to take on? I live in a prefecture right next to Fukushima, and I'm ok with that risk; others may not be.

If you're not happy with going anywhere in the country, you shouldn't accept your position.

Also, it's not a "trip" it's a job.

You are on point.

Do you know if someone takes my seat on the plan - do they have to be from the same city/airport that I'm from, or if the chances of them taking the seat is higher if the cancellation happens earlier? I'm not trying to opt out, I'm trying to find out what's the worst-case scenario if I really somehow got Fukushima and don't feel comfortable going.

Yes, someone takes your seat on the plane. As far as my limited-knowledge about the acceptance process goes, there are nationality quotas for the prefecture, and possibly even consulate-quotas for each prefecture, but that doesn't necessarily mean that someone from your city will go in your stead. But someone will.

And regarding radiation concerns - that view really depends on the extent of your research. Even the official government online graph with the radiation detection show that areas in proximity of Fukushima outside of 20-30km (up to like ~80km) still experience higher than normal radiations.

Not just higher, but significantly higher-than-normal. But these higher-than-normal radiation rates only-possibly-maybe pose an at-worst very small risk of developing cancer. You may not be comfortable with that, which is, of course, fine. I would still recommend seriously weighing a Fukushima placement, especially depending on your location in Fukushima. It's the third-largest prefecture in Japan, and the radiation rates vary greatly by location in Fukushima.

basically the earlier that you let them know you're bailing is the best for everyone involved, including you.

On point.

[coop52]

Here's a current map of radiation levels-http://japan.failedrobot.com/. Outside the 20km zone is pretty much less than .2 microsieverts. Keep in mind that you'll be exposed to more radiation on the plane ride over(about 5 microsieverts per hour) than you will be by living in Fukushima. (Side fact- pilots and flight attendants are exposed to more radiation than nuclear plant workers).

[cookiehearts]

Yeah where I live in Fukushima the radiation is like 0.02ish everyday, it's higher in Tokyo! If I develop cancer because of living in Fukushima, it will be down to the vast amounts of bug spray I use to kill kamemushi.