誰かが言わなきゃならない

1. “Pet bottle” blankets

Two fresh blankets in a vacuum-sealed package were distributed to each of us on the first day in Kawauchi-mura. “Two” was really helpful: One was to place on the floor. The other is a real blanket, but one was not enough. I needed another one to avoid coldness for sleeping. These blankets are still with me in the Big Palette. I recently learned why they were not warm enough. They are polyester-made.
I further learned they had been recycled from used pet bottles. Ah, we slept under pet bottles! How different it is from a woolen blanket. I wish one woolen blanket at least were distributed. The weather here is still cold at night. Japan sends blankets and other commodities needed in an emergency to other countries, when they are hit by a disaster. Are they also “pet bottle blankets”?

2. Life style one month after the accident

The first few days passed very hectic, leaving Tomioka-cho, my home town, to the Big Palette in Koriyama-city. Nobody had dissatisfaction for the first week with the hardship with everything in scarcity. Everybody took it for granted. Everybody anticipated the environment would improve fast under the support system to be established. But, but the reality is … Everybody here still spend their nights on the blankets and cardboard on the floor.
The cardboard partitions elevated their heights here and there. But that’s all. The people on the first floor still have to stand cold environment. Recently, a visiting scene of Emperor and Empress to the evacuation camp in Budokan, Tokyo, was on TV. The refugees there seem to be in better environment: straw mats on the floor, better structured partitions, and larger space for individuals, etc.
Meals remain almost same: buns for use-by-date, omusubi and a bottled of water. The only improvement is: omusubi come from markets, a bit better in quality, occasional supplement together or a pack of vegetable juice. But still no hot meals. Compliments by volunteers are the only diversification in meals, e.g., hot meals, miso-soup, etc. No response is received to my earlier suggestion of launching a catering system, not even its plans. Washing is still by hands. The only other choice is to use coin laundries, not free. Baths are the tent baths built by the Self-Defense Force on the playground.
For living expenses, flat rate of US$200 was once provided for each on the “loan” basis with one year repayment term, not given.
Very few people moved to a ryokan or hotel. Applications for rented houses on the town budget were received, but no development further.The Big Palette is still full of more than 2,000 refugees. In this congested circumstances,
norovirus is getting around.
Ambulances come often and pick up aged sick people. No big improvements are visible from the very beginning. Headquarters of the government, the prefecture or the town are not functioning properly. Upon our complaints, the response is simply “We are doing our best.” No outcomes, no help!

3. Insincere wording in apology

President of TEPCO mentioned to the compensation to the refugees, TV reported,
“Compensation is under deliberation.” It is a common skill of wording not to be tripped, among politicians, for instance. How does this wording sound to the refugees? What for deliberating? It can’t be for avoiding payment. If so, why can’t he say straightforwardly, “We will compensate.”