The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 22, 2011)
Govt must toughen control of radiation in food
放射能漏出　監視を強化し「食」の不安防げ（3月21日付・読売社説）

All-out efforts are being made to gain control of malfunctioning reactors at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture.
　東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故は、沈静化を目指して、懸命の作業が進められている。

TEPCO's plant workers, Self-Defense Forces personnel and firefighters are working painstakingly to restore power supply at the plant and spray water into damaged spent nuclear fuel storage pools while taking great care about the amount of radiation they are exposed to.
　外部から電源を引き込む工事や使用済み核燃料の貯蔵プールへの放水も、発電所員や自衛隊、消防隊員が、被曝(ひばく)量をにらみつつ続行している。

If electrical power is recovered and the storage pools are filled with enough water, the situation will hopefully turn for the better. We pray anew that their desperate efforts will be successful.
　電源が回復し、貯蔵プールに十分な量の水が入れば、状況の好転が期待できる。命がけの努力が実ることを改めて願う。

But spraying water alone will not solve the problem. And even if the power supply is restored, it remains to be seen whether principal equipment in the plant can resume operation.
　ただ、放水を続けるだけでは抜本的な対策にならない。電源が回復しても、原発内の主要な機器が復旧するかどうかわからない。

The government must prepare the next steps while analyzing images of the reactors taken from SDF helicopters to determine the degree of damage.
　自衛隊ヘリによる上空からの破損状況の撮影データなどをもとに政府は、さらなる手段を、先手を打って検討しておくべきだ。

===

Little risk to health

The fact that radioactive materials have been found in drinking water and agricultural products in the aftermath of accidents at the nuclear plant is increasing public anxiety.
　事故で漏出した放射性物質による飲料水や農作物などの汚染も、不安を広げている。

Radioactive substances have been detected in tap water in Tokyo and elsewhere. But their amounts are extremely small, so they pose little health risk. An amount of radioactive iodine slightly exceeding the current limit, which was set temporarily in line with the Food Sanitation Law, was detected Thursday in tap water in Kawamatamachi, Fukushima Prefecture. But the amount subsequently dropped to half the limit.
　東京都などで水道水から放射性物質が検出された。ごく微量で健康に影響はない。福島県川俣町では１７日、食品衛生法の暫定規制値をわずかに上回る放射性ヨウ素が水道水から検出された。翌日に規制値の半分に戻った。

In the case of tap water, radioactive materials can be mostly eliminated by normal purification done at water purification plants.
　水道水は浄水の過程で、放射性物質をほぼ除去できる。

Random checks of food products conducted by the government showed the amount of radioactive substances in milk and spinach in Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures exceeded the provisional limits.
　政府が実施した食品の抜き取り調査で、福島、茨城両県で牛乳やホウレンソウが暫定規制値を上回るなどの例も報告されている。

The detected amounts are far short of levels that could immediately harm health if ingested. According to the government, drinking an average yearly amount of milk that contained the detected level of radiation would be equivalent to the radiation exposure of one computed tomography (CT) scan.
　摂取しても直ちに健康に影響するほどの量ではない。政府は、この牛乳について、１年間摂取しても、被曝する放射線量は「コンピューター断層撮影法」（ＣＴ）１回分と説明している。

===

Calm response urged

Therefore, a calm reaction is called for.
　冷静に対応しよう。

Moreover, the two products in question have not appeared on the market because both prefectures called on producers to voluntarily refrain from shipping their products.
　しかも両県は、これらの食品について出荷自粛を求めており、市場には出回っていない。

The government should cooperate with prefectural governments to ensure thorough checks and quick public disclosure will be conducted. New regulatory measures such as the halting of shipments and recall of goods already shipped must be studied so measures can be implemented promptly when radiation exceeding limits is found in food.
　こうした検査と迅速な情報公開を、政府は都道府県と協力して徹底することが求められる。規制値以上の食品が見つかった際に即応できるよう、出荷停止や回収などの新たな規制も検討課題だ。

To help prevent damage caused by rumors, the government and prefectural governments must carefully and repeatedly explain that thorough checks can ensure our food remains safe to eat.
　風評被害を防ぐために、政府や都道府県は、検査の徹底で安全が確保できることを、国民に繰り返し、丁寧に説明すべきだ。

Because the government did not assume a serious nuclear accident, it has not established standards to regulate radiation levels in food.
　これまで政府は、食品の放射能汚染を規制する基準を設けていなかった。重大な原発事故を想定していなかったためだ。

After the accidents at the Fukushima plant, the government temporarily adopted guidelines proposed by an international organization. But it is necessary to study whether the international food safety standards can fit Japanese dietary habits, thereby avoiding excessive regulations.
　今回は国際機関が提案した指針を暫定的に採用したが、日本人の食生活の実態に適しているかを検討し、過剰な規制も防ぎたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21, 2011)
（2011年3月21日00時54分  読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 21, 2011)
Multiple crises call for clear command structure
官邸の危機管理　「複合事態」克服へ司令塔作れ（3月20日付・読売社説）

The government's measures to deal with the disasters caused by the March 11 earthquake have lagged from the beginning. The Prime Minister's Office must rebuild its crisis management system as soon as possible.
　政府の震災対応が後手後手に回っている。首相官邸の危機管理体制の立て直しが急務だ。

Extensive physical damage is not the only characteristic of the Tohoku Pacific Offshore Earthquake. The multiple disaster situation includes a wide variety of problems, such as the nuclear plant accident, the urgent need to rescue disaster victims and support their livelihoods, paralysis of the commodity distribution system, a shortage of electricity, the yen's appreciation, and falling stock prices.
　東日本巨大地震の特徴は、被害が広域なことだけではない。原子力発電所の事故、被災者の救助と生活支援、物流、電力不足、円高・株安など、危機が多岐にわたる「複合事態」になっていることだ。

The government has to tackle these problems concurrently. Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano are taking all the work upon themselves, but they are too busy dealing with the nuclear accident to handle other issues and have become trapped in a vicious cycle.
　政府は、これらの課題に同時並行で取り組む必要がある。だが、菅首相や枝野官房長官が、全部の課題を抱え込みながら、原発事故対策に追われ、他の課題に手が回らない悪循環に陥っている。

The prime minister shows strong interest in measures to deal with the nuclear accident since he studied science at university and feels that he has considerable knowledge about nuclear issues. But he has not made any major achievements. Meanwhile, Edano has his hands full with press conferences, which are held very frequently, and has been failing to play his original role as a senior coordinator for measures to deal with earthquake disasters.
　菅首相は、理系出身で原子力問題に詳しいとの自負もあり、原発対策に強い関心を示すが、具体的な成果は出ていない。枝野長官も、頻繁な記者会見への対応に精いっぱいで、震災対策を総合調整する本来の役割を果たせていない。

===

Govt must meet basic needs

Of course, it is very important to prevent a large-scale diffusion of nuclear material from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. But at the same time, the government should not neglect delivering food and medicine to disaster victims and must work to minimize the adverse effects of electricity shortages on economic and civic activities.
　原発からの放射性物質の大規模拡散を防ぐのは無論、重要だ。一方で、被災者に食料や医薬品を届け、電力不足による経済・市民活動への悪影響を抑えることも、おろそかにすべきではない。

The government's crisis management should be rebuilt as a system headed by the prime minister, with a commanding officer appointed for each problem and a clear chain of command established.
　体制を立て直すには、課題ごとに司令塔を作り、指揮系統を明確にしたうえで、首相が統括する体制を確立することが肝要だ。

Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, now acting president of the Democratic Party of Japan, was appointed deputy chief cabinet secretary and put in charge of supporting the livelihood of disaster victims. This unusual appointment suggests that the government acknowledged flaws in its current crisis management system, though it came a bit too late.
　民主党代表代行の仙谷由人前官房長官を官房副長官に任命し、被災者の生活支援担当にした異例の人事は、遅ればせながら、体制の不備を認めたものと言える。

The Kan administration proposed a plan to appoint three additional ministers and invited Sadakazu Tanigaki, president of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, to join its Cabinet. This aimed to create a national salvation Cabinet by forming a grand coalition with the major opposition party. We well understand this attempt because the present time of emergency is rightly considered a national crisis.
　菅政権は、閣僚を３人増員する案を示すとともに、自民党の谷垣総裁に入閣を要請した。大連立による「救国内閣」を作るのが狙いだろう。国難と言うべき非常時だけに、十分理解できる。

The LDP has taken the increase of ministers under consideration, but refused the request for Tanigaki to join the Cabinet. The party said the government made the request "too suddenly." However, we expect the LDP not to act on partisan interests but to cooperate with the government as much as possible.
　自民党は、閣僚増員には賛成する方向だが、谷垣氏の入閣は「あまりにも唐突」として拒否した。党利党略に走らず、最大限の協力をするよう求めたい。

===

Involve the experts

Meanwhile, the Kan Cabinet should stop clinging to its principle of leadership by politicians, which already has come to exist in name only. Politicians and bureaucrats must unite to overcome the current crises.
　菅政権は、形ばかりの「政治主導」に固執するのもやめるべきだ。今の危機克服には政治家と官僚が一丸となることが欠かせない。

It is important for the prime minister and other ministers to listen calmly to the opinions of bureaucrats and experts first and then concentrate on bringing out the best in the gigantic bureaucratic organization. They must avoid by all means a situation in which the pretext of leadership by politicians discourages bureaucrats from taking the initiative in their work.
　首相や閣僚は、まず官僚や専門家の意見に冷静に耳を傾け、巨大な官僚組織の能力を最大限引き出すことに心を砕くことが大切だ。官僚が「政治主導」を言い訳に積極的に仕事をしない状況こそ、避けねばならない。

Kan made a high-profile visit to the head office of Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the troubled nuclear plant, and State Minister in Charge of Government Revitalization Renho was told to serve concurrently as state minister in charge of a campaign to save energy. But such mere performances are no longer wanted.
　首相が自ら東京電力本店に乗り込んだり、蓮舫行政刷新相に節電啓発担当を兼務させたりといったパフォーマンスはもう不要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20, 2011)
（2011年3月20日01時30分  読売新聞）

今朝、朝日新聞の社説（日本語）を開いてびっくり。
有料となっている。月額５００円。
英語版は一日遅れなので明日の朝刊を見てみないとわからない。
朝日新聞の社説は今日で最後になる見込みです。
読売、毎日の社説は無料で読めます。
朝日の教材がなくなると痛いですね＾＾。
今後、他の教材を探します。
英語学習初心者のためにVOAの掲載など考えております。
あちらがダメなら、こちらを使う！
（スラチャイ記）

2011/03/19
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 18
EDITORIAL: The battle being waged at the Fukushima nuclear power plant
原発との闘い―最前線の挑戦を信じる

Helicopters operated by members of the Self-Defense Forces dumped tons of water on the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture on Thursday. Riot police of the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo and SDF personnel also deployed water cannon from the ground in an attempt to cool the No. 3 reactor.
　福島第一原子力発電所に、自衛隊員が操縦するヘリコプターが何度も、水をまいた。地上からは警視庁の機動隊員と自衛隊員が放水を試みた。

The immediate area is seriously contaminated with leaked radioactive substances. The workers all wore protective gear and measured radiation exposure levels as they went about their tasks.
　原発のまわりは、漏れ出た放射性物質でひどく汚染されている。いずれも重い防護服に身を包み、被曝（ひばく）量を測りながらの、決死の作業だ。

Footage of the operation, aired on television, was watched by many people with bated breath.
　きのう朝から夜にかけて、原発の冷却に向けての作業を、多くの国民がかたずをのんで見守った。

One week has passed since the mega-quake struck northeastern Japan.
(地震発生から１週間が経過した）

Workers of Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, and its business partners and firefighters have been working day and night to fight a disaster that has no precedent.
　東京電力や協力会社の作業員、消防隊も、地震の発生以来、不眠不休で経験のない災厄に挑んできた。

Countless people perished in quake-triggered tsunami and some were injured in explosions at the plant. Many workers are also engaged in efforts to recover the ability to generate electricity at the plant.
津波やこれまでの爆発で、行方不明やけがをした人もいる。さらに、第一原発の制御を取り戻すため、多くの作業員が電源の復旧作業に取り組んでいる。

We pray their efforts bear fruit quickly and that those brave souls who are literally staking their lives to fix the radiation leak are exposed to the minimum risk to their health.
　事態が少しでも好転してほしい。
　そして、まさしく生命をかけてこの難局に立ち向かう人びとの被害が、最小限に抑えられるように――。
　努力が結実することを願う。

In a catastrophic event such as this, who has to work in such a dangerous environment? Our society, which has avoided in-depth discussion on this issue, is now facing this grave question.
　ひとたび重大な原発事故が起きたとき、だれが、危険をおかして作業にあたるのか。これまで突っ込んだ議論を避けてきた私たちの社会は、いま、この重い課題に直面している。

Japan is neither a dictatorship nor the militaristic state that it once was. Each and every life is precious and irreplaceable. No one can has the right to rank one person's life as more valuable than another's.
　軍国主義時代の日本や独裁国家ではない。一人ひとりの生命がかけがえがなく、いとおしい。そこに順位や優劣をつけることはできない。

At the same time, the mission at hand is not work that anyone can do. It can only be handled by highly trained professionals--people whose job is to make and provide electric power and those who have specialized knowledge and technology; SDF personnel who have the required equipment and entered service taking the oath that they are prepared to take risks when necessary; and police officers, whose mission is also to maintain public safety.
　一方で、誰もが立ち向かえる仕事ではない。電気をつくり、供給することを業務とし、専門の知識と技術をもつ人。一定の装備をもち、「事に臨んでは危険を顧みず」と宣誓して入隊する自衛官。同じく公共の安全の維持を責務とする警察官。

Of course, for SDF personnel and police, it is work they never thought they would be required to do. However, since the crisis has escalated to this point, we have no choice but to believe in their sense of mission and ability and hope for the best.
　もちろん自衛隊や警察にとっては、およそ想定していなかった仕事だ。しかし、事態がここまで進んだいま、私たちは、そうした人たちの使命感と能力を信じ、期待するしかない。

This risky work will likely continue for many days to come. Difficult decisions will probably have to be made along the way.
　危険な作業はこれから長く続く。この先も、苦渋の選択が求められる場面が何度もあるだろう。

Those who are in the position to make decisions and issue commands must do so on the basis of appropriate information. The same can be said of politicians who must take final responsibility.
　その判断をし、指揮・命令する立場にある人は、適切な情報に基づいた確たる覚悟が求められる。最終責任を負う政治家も同様である。

They must gather much wisdom, take into account all sorts of factors, devise multiple backup measures and procure supplies before reaching their decisions.
　多くの知恵を結集して様々な場合を想定し、三重四重の対応策を考え、物資を調達し、決断する。

If they make a misstep, get rattled or try to shift the blame on others, not only those doing the actual work but their families and also the public will not have any faith in their ability to resolve the crisis.
　ここを誤り、右往左往し、あるいは責任を転嫁するような振る舞いをすれば、作業にあたる人やその家族はもちろん、国民は何も信じられなくなる。

While showing gratitude from the bottom of our hearts to those who are at the frontline of this disaster, we must keep supporting their activities both spiritually and materially.
　私たちは、最前線でこの災禍と闘う人たちに心から感謝しつつ、物心の両面でその活動を支え続けなければならない。

As ones who use electricity and have been enjoying life's comforts as a result, we wish to join hands in a spirit of solidarity.
　電気を使い、快適な生活を享受してきた者として、そしてこの社会をともに築き、担ってきた者として、連帯の心を結び合いたい。

Do whatever it takes to cool N-reactors
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 19, 2011)
福島第一原発　あらゆる冷却手段を活用せよ（3月18日付・読売社説）

Herculean efforts are being made at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to prevent leaks of radioactive material from spreading.
　福島第一原子力発電所では、放射能拡散を防ぐための懸命な作業が続けられている。

Self-Defense Forces helicopters on Thursday dumped seawater on one reactor at the plant, while water cannon trucks also blasted water at the reactor's spent fuel rod pool to cool it down. Efforts to restore power at the plant are continuing.
　自衛隊の輸送ヘリから海水が投下された。地上から放水も始まった。電力を回復させる作業も続けられている。

We hope the SDF officials, police officers and power plant workers involved in the highly dangerous task of cooling the damaged nuclear reactors and spent fuel rods will safely accomplish their mission.
　危険な作業に取り組む自衛官や警察官、発電所員らの安全を確保しながら、何としても原子炉や使用済み核燃料の冷却を成功させてもらいたい。

The plant has six nuclear reactors. The nuclear cores at the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 reactors are not being cooled sufficiently.
　現場では敷地内にある６基の原子炉のうち、１号機から３号機で炉心の冷却が不十分なままだ。

Meanwhile, cooling functions at the storage pools for spent fuel rods at reactors Nos. 3 and 4 have failed, raising fears that this fuel might overheat.
　加えて、３、４号機では、使用済み核燃料の貯蔵プールの冷却機能が止まり、冷却水減少による核燃料の過熱が心配されている。

In the worst-case scenario, the nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel would break down, possibly causing leakage of radioactive materials. The situation remains critical.
　最悪の場合、原子炉や核燃料が壊れ、放射性物質が漏出しかねない。依然として、危機的な状況が続いている。

===

Daunting task

Using helicopters to dump seawater on the reactor was a desperate attempt to cool the storage pool.
　海水投下は、貯蔵プールの冷却を目指した苦肉の策だ。

The helicopters can only carry a limited amount of water; they would have to make more than 100 flyovers to fill the 12-meter-deep storage pool.
　投下できる水量は限られ、深さ約１２メートルの貯蔵プールを満たすには１００回以上の飛行が必要とされる。

The helicopter crews also risk being exposed to high levels of radiation when they fly over the reactors.
搭乗員らが、使用済み核燃料の真上を飛行する際に大量の放射線を浴びる危険性もある。

The water cannon trucks of the Metropolitan Police Department and the SDF will only have a limited effect. But by using various means at their disposal, the authorities are trying to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
　警視庁や自衛隊の放水車による放水も、効果は限定的だが、いくつもの手段を使うことで事態の悪化を食い止めようとしている。

Despite the incredible efforts being made, they do not appear to be turning the situation around.
　現場は最大限の努力を続けているが、手詰まり感は否めない。

The government has sought advice from nuclear power experts in dealing with the worsening problem. However, we think it might have to tap the expertise of specialists in other fields and the industrial sector to help bring the situation under control.
　政府は原子力の専門家の意見を聞きながら対応を検討してきた。今後はもう少し広く、他の分野の専門家や産業界の知恵を借り、終息を目指すべきだろう。

For instance, mobile water-spraying equipment used to fight fires at industrial complexes could be utilized to shoot water at the storage pool. These devices can spray large volumes of seawater higher and farther than the methods deployed so far.
　例えば、貯蔵プールへの注水には、コンビナート火災消火のため各地に配備されている移動式の放水装置を使えないだろうか。より高く、より遠くへ、大量の海水を飛ばせる。

===

Evacuees need more help

As the serious situation drags on, criticism of the government's response is rising.
　事態の長期化に伴い、政府の対応に批判も高まっている。

Residents living within a 20-kilometer radius of the plant were ordered to evacuate, while people living between 20 kilometers and 30 kilometers away were urged to stay indoors.
　このトラブルで、原発周辺の半径２０キロ以内の住民には避難、２０～３０キロの住民には屋内退避が指示された。

Many Fukushima residents have fled the prefecture in the past few days, and finding places that can accommodate these evacuees has become a pressing task.
福島県外へ退避する人たちも多く、受け入れ先が課題だ。

Food and heating fuel are piling up but not reaching people directly affected by the quake.
　深刻なのは、関係住民への暖房用燃料や食料の提供が滞っていることだ。

Some patients who were evacuated from hospitals near the nuclear plant have died due to a lack of medicine, and other causes, at facilities where they were taking shelter.
　原発近隣の病院から避難した患者が、避難先施設で医薬品不足などから死亡した例もある。

The prefecture is running out of daily necessities because some truck drivers are hesitant to transport goods to the stricken region.
　福島県内への物資輸送をためらう運転手もおり、県内では生活必需品も枯渇している。

Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato has called on the government, which issued the evacuation orders, to come up with measures to care for people who have left and those who are afraid to venture out their homes.
　知事は、避難を指示した政府に早急な改善策を求めている。

Everything must be done to prevent these people from falling victim to secondary disasters.
二次災害を何としても防ぎたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18, 2011)
（2011年3月18日01時26分  読売新聞）

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 16
EDITORIAL: We must stand strong to overcome this catastrophe
原発危機―「最悪」の回避に全力を

We are facing an unprecedented national crisis. In order to overcome it, we have no choice but to create firm bonds of trust between the government and the people, as well as between companies and the people.
　これは未曽有の国家的危機である。乗り切るためには、政府と国民、企業と市民、それぞれの「信頼」という綱を、しっかり結び続けるしかない。

The disaster at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. is becoming increasingly serious.
　東京電力の福島第一原子力発電所の状態が深刻の度を増している。

Following hydrogen explosions at the No. 1 and No. 3 reactors, the No. 2 reactor exploded and a fire occurred at the No. 4 reactor.
　１号機と３号機で水素爆発が起きたのに続き、２号機では爆発が、４号機では火災があった。

The suppression pool linked to the containment vessel that covers the No. 2 reactor has likely broken. There is a danger that highly radioactive substances could leak into the outside air.
　２号機は、原子炉を覆う格納容器につながる圧力抑制室が壊れたようだ。強い放射能を帯びた物質が外に出るおそれがある。

Support their dangerous mission
■危険な作業支えよう

The No. 4 reactor was undergoing a regular inspection when the earthquake hit on March 11. There are also suspicions that the spent fuel rods in the suppression pool part of the reactor have broken because they were not sufficiently cooled.
　４号機は１１日の地震のときには定期検査中だった。プールで保管中の使用済みの核燃料の冷却が不十分となり、燃料棒が壊れた疑いもある。

Four nuclear reactors in a single plant are still unstable and appear to be leaking radioactive substances. This is an extremely serious situation.
　ひとつの発電所内にある四つの原子炉がいずれもまだ安定せず、放射性物質が漏れているらしい。極めて厳しい状況といえる。

The most important thing is to prevent large quantities of radioactive substances from spreading outside.
　放射性物質が大量に、広範囲に外に出ることを何とかして食い止める。これが最も大切だ。

Under demanding and challenging conditions, desperate efforts to cool the reactors continue. We want to do everything we can to support those efforts so that this difficult and extremely dangerous work can progress as smoothly as possible.
　厳しい条件の下、原子炉を冷却するための努力が懸命に続けられている。困難かつ危険を伴う作業ができるだけうまく進むよう、全力を挙げて支えてゆきたい。

At one point, workers had to be evacuated because a high level of radioactivity was detected inside the plant. While work needs to move forward, safety must also be ensured.
　発電所内で高い放射線量が検出され、作業員が退避する事態もあった。安全を守りながら進める必要がある。

Yet lacking a power source with the limited capacity of pumps or other equipment, it is difficult to find an effective way to bring the situation under control. We need to gather knowledge and strength.
　電源が得られず、ポンプなどの能力にも限りがあり、なかなか決め手となる方法が見いだせないのが現状だ。知恵と力を結集してほしい。

In response to the accident of the No. 2 reactor, Prime Minister Naoto Kan once again called on residents who live within a radius of 20 kilometers of the plant to evacuate and those who live between 20 and 30 kilometers of the plant to stay indoors. People are becoming increasingly anxious about how long the situation will continue.
　２号機の事故を受け、菅直人首相は改めて半径２０キロ以内からの住民避難を呼びかけるとともに、２０～３０キロの範囲の人たちに屋内退避を求めた。いつまで続くのか、不安が広がる。

As many as 200,000 people have been asked to evacuate from the vicinity of the plant. They will be forced to put up with the inconvenience of staying at evacuation sites. To support them, the cooperation of local governments and residents will be indispensable.
　原発周辺から集団避難を求められたのは約２０万人にも及ぶ。不便を強いられる避難先での生活を支えるため、受け入れ先の自治体、地元住民の協力が欠かせない。

Trust the public and disclose information
■国民信じ情報開示を

Kan is the only person who can guide the nation to overcome this crisis. We urge him to give first priority to protecting citizens' lives and act in unison with TEPCO to deal with the difficult situation.
　危機にあたって陣頭指揮をとるべきは、菅首相をおいて他にいない。国民の生命を守ることを最優先に、東電と一体となって難局に臨んでほしい。

The prime minister visited TEPCO's head office Tuesday and told officials: "You are the only ones (who can do this job). You have to brace yourselves." From the perspective of citizens, his words also apply to the government and the prime minister himself.
　首相はきのう東電本店に乗り込み、「あなたたちしかいない。覚悟を決めてください」と叱咤（しった）した。国民から見れば、その言葉はそのまま政府、そして首相自身にも当てはまる。

Many citizens and government officials have begun to distrust TEPCO because of the way it has dealt with the situation and the delay in releasing information. What is important at this juncture is for all those concerned to come together to overcome the crisis.
　情報伝達の遅れなど、これまでの東電の対応に不信感を募らせる国民や政府関係者は多い。ここは、あらゆる当事者が心をひとつにして、危機を乗り切ることが肝心だ。

First, the government and TEPCO need to closely share information and unify their chain of command. Why not seek the opinions of foreign specialists such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States, both of which have pledged their cooperation?
　まずは政府と東電が密接に情報を共有し、指揮命令系統を一本化する必要がある。すでに協力を表明している国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）や米国など、海外の専門家の知見も広く求めたらどうだろう。

The important thing at this juncture is to promptly and adequately disclose information.
　いま重要なことは、迅速で十分な情報の開示だ。

Until now, at every turn, the government and TEPCO have stressed that everything is under control. We can well understand the need to prevent the public panicking.
　政府や東電はこれまで、ことあるごとに大丈夫だ、と強調してきた。国民がパニックに陥らないよう細心の注意を払う必要はよくわかる。

However, if the government causes the public to suspect that it is hiding something, it could breed public anxiety. Crisis management depends on the public's trust in the government.
　しかし、「政府は何かを隠しているのでは」との疑念を招けば、かえって国民の不安をあおりかねない。危機管理がうまくいくかどうかは、政府に対する国民の信頼にかかっている。

The government needs to have faith in the public and properly release information.
　国民を信じてきちんと情報を提供しなければならない。

What is actually happening? What developments are expected? What about preparations and what action should be taken?
　何が起きているのか、これからどんなことが想定されるのか、備えはどうなっているか、どう行動すべきか。

While doing its best to bring the situation under control, the government should simultaneously prepare for a worsening of the situation. If additional measures such as further evacuation become necessary, it must give prompt and appropriate instructions.
　政府は事態の収拾に最善を尽くしつつ、さらに悪化した時をも想定して、対応策の準備を同時に進める責任がある。状況の変化に応じ、さらなる避難などが必要であれば、的確な指示を出すことだ。

Resilience of Japanese society
■日本社会の復元力を

The Japanese economy is also about to enter unknown terrain, having been dealt a double blow of an unprecedented nuclear accident, a mega-earthquake and calamitous tsunami.
　日本経済もまた、大震災に加え、原発ショックに襲われ、未知の次元に陥りつつある。

At the Tokyo Stock Exchange, major stocks of electric power and electronic companies were sold one after another. The Nikkei average recorded the third-highest drop rate in history.
　東京証券取引所では電力、電機など主力株が軒並み売り込まれた。日経平均株価は、史上３番目の下落率を記録した。

In the face of these unpredictable and turbulent developments that occurred one after the other, both businesses and the people are shrinking back in fear. We must not allow ourselves to fall into a vicious cycle.
　次々と見舞う想定外の事態に、企業や人々は心理的に萎縮している。悪循環を抑えなければならない。

In order to stop the financial market contracting, the Bank of Japan has provided a total of 41.8 trillion yen ($518 billion) in funds, the largest amount ever. Every possible measure should be taken so that the economy does not fall into further confusion.
　日本銀行は金融市場の収縮を阻止するために計４１．８兆円という史上最大の資金を供給する。経済がこれ以上混乱しないよう、あらゆる手をうつべきである。

Our patience, resilience and ability to solve problems are being tested. Let us act calmly. The world is watching us.
　私たちの忍耐力、問題解決能力、復元力が試されている。冷静に行動しよう。世界もそれを見守っている。

We were prepared both mentally and materially against earthquakes to an extent. If we regard blackouts as an energy crisis, then we can say that we have already weathered one of those too, with the oil shocks. But this is the first time for Japan to face the ordeal of preventing radioactive leakage from a damaged nuclear power plant.
　地震には物心両面でそれなりの備えがあった。停電をエネルギー危機ととらえれば、石油ショックを乗り切った経験もある。だが、壊れた原発からの放射能放出という事態は、日本にとって初めての試練だ。

Japanese industries were based on an interdependent supply system of advanced information, distribution, personnel and financial networks. When struck from the outside, they complemented each other and prepared to help each other to rebuild themselves.
　日本の産業は情報、物流、人流、金融が高度に組織され、相互依存の供給体制を構築してきた。外から打撃を受けたときは、全体で補い合い、助け合って復旧に努める覚悟だった。

Now is the time for citizens to put up with inconvenience to give first priority to the provision of supplies to the stricken areas. The lives of people who survived a massive tsunami are still hanging in the balance.
　今は国民が我慢を引き受け、被災地への物資供給を優先させるときだ。押し寄せる水から逃げのびた人が、なお生命の危険にさらされている。

With the government at the helm, desperate attempts to stop further damage continue. We must do everything we can to avoid the worst case scenario from occurring.
　政府を先頭にして、打撃をくいとめようと懸命の努力が続く。最悪の事態を、なんとか回避したい。

今朝は４時起床、NHK、TBS、BBSをみる。
日本では大きな動きなし。
世界ではバーレーン、リビア、イスラエル・パレスチナ情勢をチェック。
福島原発が気になるが、とりあえず英字新聞を掲載する。
昨日の天皇陛下のお言葉がまだ残っている。
苦しみを国民皆（みな）で分かち合って…。
陛下は夜、電気を消してローソクで過ごされている。
銀座のバーなどは明かりを落とすべし。
（スラチャイ）

2011/03/16
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 15
EDITORIAL: The nation must join hands to overcome the crisis
計画停電―我慢と共助のときだ

Rescue workers are continuing their search for survivors of the gigantic earthquake and tsunami that destroyed wide areas in northeastern Japan on Friday.
　太平洋沿いの被災地で救出活動が続く。

Hundreds of bodies are found daily in the affected areas, making increasingly clear the grim reality of the catastrophic damage inflicted by the mega-quake.
数十、数百と遺体が見つかり、つらい現実を突きつけられる。

For many survivors, a new, tough life in evacuation centers has begun.
厳しい避難所生活も始まっている。

It is essential now for the entire nation to share a commitment to the long-term efforts for mutual aid and support needed to overcome the crisis.
長丁場の助け合いへの決意を、国民全体で共有することが欠かせない。

Vast swaths of the nation have been hit by the disaster.
　被災は列島の広範囲に及んでいる。

As the new week began Monday, great confusion broke out in the Kanto region early in the morning.
週明けの関東圏は、早朝から混乱に見舞われた。

After Tokyo Electric Power Co. announced a plan to introduce rolling power cuts throughout its area of service in response to a severe power shortage caused by the quake, Japan Railway and other train service operators hastily decided to cut down their operations.
震災で電力不足に陥った東京電力が地域ごとの「計画停電」を発表し、ＪＲをはじめ鉄道各社があわてて運休や間引き運転を決めた。

Many people living in Tokyo and its vicinity awoke Monday to find their commuter trains had been canceled. Stations on the limited number of lines where trains were in service were crowded with commuters.
　朝起きてみたら通勤の足がなくなっていた、という人たちも少なくなかった。限られた運行路線では各駅がごったがえした。

Still, at many stations people patiently waited in lines for trains.
Then, they endured the ordeal of riding jam-packed trains without complaining.
　それでも多くの駅では人々が辛抱強く列をなし、黙って満員電車に揺られた。

The orderly behavior of Tokyo commuters reflected their awareness of how survivors in the quake-hit areas are desperately searching for relatives amid piles of rubble, many of them without enough clothes or fuel to keep warm.
Commuters in the capital exercised self-control as they perceived their problems were nothing compared with the tremendous hardships the quake survivors are enduring.
がれきの中で十分な暖もなく、一生懸命に家族をさがす被災地の人たちを思えばこそ、「この程度のことで」と自制する気持ちが整然とした行動につながったようだ。

It became abundantly clear immediately after the earthquake struck that there would be serious power shortages.
　電力が足りなくなることは、大震災の当初から明らかだった。

Probably, the vast majority of residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area do not have any problem with accepting the effects on their daily lives of the rolling blackouts and power conservation if it helps efforts to deal with the situation.
計画停電や節電による生活への影響を甘受してでも協力したいと考える人は少なくないはずだ。

But plans for power cuts must be crafted and executed carefully to minimize their impact.
だからといって、やぶから棒なやり方ではいけない。

It is necessary to announce exactly when and where the power supply will be stopped so that households and businesses in the targeted areas can adequately prepare themselves.
　地域と時間を前もって知らせ、家庭や企業に準備を促すことが必要だ。

Doing so would help prevent confusion and lead to a larger saving on electricity.
そのほうが混乱を防げるだけでなく、節電の効果も上がるだろう。

What is especially worrisome about a power outage is its effects on people who need respirators or other electric-powered medical devices.
　停電でとりわけ心配なのは、人工呼吸器など医療機器を必要とする人たちだ。

A prolonged power outage could be life threatening for home-bound as well as hospitalized patients.
入院患者に限らず、在宅療養している人たちにとっても、停電が長引けば命にかかわりかねない。

Explaining the confusion in the implementation of the power cuts, TEPCO said it made every effort to avoid outages up until the last moment.
　混乱を生んだ理由について、東電側は「停電を避けようと最後まで調整したため」と説明した。

But not many people would get upset when a planned suspension of the power supply in their area has been canceled.
だが、計画停電をあらかじめ知らせておいた地域で結果的に停電がなかったとしても、それで怒る人は多くないはずだ。

The company should put priority on ensuring that its plans for power cuts are made known in advance to people in the areas to be affected.
事前の周知を優先したい。

It is certain that TEPCO's service region will face a chronic power shortage for the foreseeable future.
　東電管内では当面、恒常的な電力不足が続くことに変わりはない。

It goes without saying that companies, governments and households should all do everything they can to save electricity.
企業も役所も家庭も、みんなで節電に取り組むべきであることは論をまたない。

But on Monday night most commercial facilities in the high-end Ginza shopping district in central Tokyo were brightly lit with neon.
　都心部の銀座では夜になっても商業施設の照明やネオンが目立った。

There is still much room for power conservation. The government should urge companies and schools to take bolder measures to save electricity, such as halting operations, to see how much conservation can be achieved.
まだまだ節電の余地はある。政府は、企業や学校などに思い切った休業や節電を呼びかけ、どこまで成果が上がるかをまず試してみてはどうか。

A variety of measures should be combined to lower use of electricity during peak demand hours.
　ピーク時の消費電力を下げるためには、さまざまな手法を駆使しなくてはならない。

In the aftermath of an unprecedented natural disaster, Japanese are ready to face inconveniences and tests of endurance.
　未曽有の災害のただ中で、私たちには不便さや我慢を引き受ける覚悟がある。

The government should respond to the people's sacrifice by demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting their lives and property and reducing the confusion threatening their well-being.
だからこそ政府に求めたいのは、国民の生命と財産を守り抜き、かけがえのない生活を混乱から救い出すことである。

We hope the government will swiftly develop a clear policy for dealing with the situation so that it can capitalize on the people's great ability to help each other.
　明確な指針を早く決め、国民の共助の力を大きく引き出してほしい。

今朝の東電記者会見と同じ内容。５階の燃料プールの記述は４階の床の部分３階の間違いだと思う。使用済み燃料貯蔵プールから発生する水素ガスが酸素と反応したようだ。世界中が固唾を飲んでなりゆきを見守っている。東電の職員が命を張って放射線レベルの計測をしている。頑張れ東電！
 

今朝は日本時間７時に起床。
東電の緊急記者会見をみた。
５時５４分４号機北西部より炎、放射線量が高くて近づけない。
水素爆発の可能性が高い。
４階（３階？）にある使用済み燃料の部分より出火したみたいだ。
それで放射線量が異常に高い。４００ms（ミリシーベルト）。
東電の社員が消防署に連絡して消防隊が向かっているが、放射線量が高いので消防隊も近づけないという。
放射線レベルにより防護服を選択する必要があり、東電の社員が命がけで４号機の周辺の放射線量を測定中！
がんばれ東電！
命がけの計測に敬意を表します。

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 15, 2011)
Ensure disaster victims have daily necessities
救助と支援　被災者へ十分な生活物資を（3月14日付・読売社説）

Thousands of people are still waiting for rescue in the cold. Two days have passed since a large earthquake and tsunami hit the Tohoku and Kanto regions along the Pacific coast Friday afternoon. Rescue operations must proceed as quickly as possible.
　今も寒さの中で、大勢の人たちが救助を待っている。大地震の発生から２日が過ぎた。救出を急がなくてはならない。

Police and firefighters from across the country have been mobilized, and the government will increase the number of Self-Defense Forces personnel dispatched for rescue operations to 100,000.
　全国から警察や消防職員らが駆けつけた。政府は自衛隊の派遣を１０万人に拡大する。

Rescue teams from the United States, South Korea and Singapore, among others, went to disaster-stricken areas after arriving in Japan one after the other.
　米国、韓国、シンガポールなど外国からの救助隊も続々と到着し被災地に入った。

Successful rescues have been reported from various parts of the devastated areas, including evacuations by helicopter of people stranded on a building's roof and a 60-year-old man rescued by a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel after two days adrift at sea.
　建物屋上で孤立していた人たちがヘリで救出されたり、沖合１５キロで漂流していた男性が２日ぶりに自衛艦に助けられるなど、救助の知らせが各地から入っている。

The death toll from the disaster is likely to top 10,000 in Miyagi Prefecture alone. Any and all means should be used to rescue as many people as possible.
　犠牲者は宮城県だけで１万人を超える、との見通しもある。だが今は、一人でも多くの救出に全力を尽くすべき時だ。

We hope the authorities concerned will provide sufficient food, medicine and other necessities to people who remain stranded at their homes or who have evacuated to public facilities.
　自宅や公共施設などに残っている人たちへは、十分な食料や薬などを届けてほしい。

Hundreds of thousands of people are huddled together in evacuation centers throughout the area.
　各地の避難所でも、計３０万人以上が身を寄せ合っている。

===

Food needs acute

Food equivalent to 1 million meals a day is estimated to be needed at evacuation centers alone, and there is said to be a shortage of bread and rice at such places. Not a small number of evacuation centers are finding it difficult to secure enough water, as water trucks have not yet arrived.
　避難所だけで１日１００万食近い食料が要る計算だ。パン、おにぎりなどが十分に届いていないという。給水車が未到着で、水の確保にも困る所が少なくない。

Emergency meal preparation service is being provided by community associations, but their powers are limited. A system for transporting daily commodities to the affected areas promptly and preferentially is urgently needed.
　自治会組織の炊き出し支援なども行われているが、限界がある。食料や衣類など、生活物資を迅速かつ優先的に被災地へ送る態勢を確保しなければならない。

In addition, lifelines to areas that normally cover more than 1.5 million households in the Tohoku region and elsewhere have been cut off, as power outages continued Sunday night. Water and gas supply has also been suspended in various areas. We hope such services will be restored as quickly as possible.
　ライフラインも寸断された。１３日夜も、東北地方などで１５０万戸以上が停電している。水道、ガスも各地でストップしている。復旧を急いでもらいたい。

Due to accidents at its nuclear power plants in Fukushima Prefecture, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Sunday it would implement planned power outages from Monday in which it would suspend electricity supply to areas under its network in turns.
　原発事故の影響で、東京電力は管内の各地域で順番に電気を止める計画停電を実施する。

In implementing the plan, care should be taken so patients who are recuperating at medical institutions or at home using medical equipment are not adversely affected.
　医療機関や、自宅で医療機器を用いて療養中の患者らに悪影響が出ないようにする必要がある。

===

Volunteers key to recovery

From this point forward, volunteer efforts will grow in importance in the damaged areas. After the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake and the 2004 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, various relief offered by volunteers through visits to evacuation centers and households proved incredibly helpful.
　これからは被災地でのボランティア活動が重要になってくる。阪神大震災や新潟県中越地震でも、避難所や各戸を回っての様々な支援活動が、大きな力となった。

The government has appointed Kiyomi Tsujimoto--a House of Representatives member who has experience with a nonprofit organization--as adviser to the prime minister in charge of coordination of disaster volunteer activities. We want the government to unify the channels for volunteer work so aid can be dispatched efficiently to the stricken areas in line with their needs.
　政府は、災害ボランティアの総合調整をする首相補佐官に、ＮＰＯ出身の辻元清美衆院議員を任命した。窓口を一本化し、被災地のニーズに合った計画的な派遣体制を作ることが求められる。

A great number of people certainly want to rush to the damaged areas, and campaigns to collect relief donations have already started.
　一刻も早く駆けつけたいという人が全国に大勢いるだろう。被災地に義援金を送る運動も一斉に始まった。

After this great disaster, reconstructing a state of normalcy will most certainly be a long battle. All of us must pull together to support the recovery of the affected areas.
　大災害から立ち直り、復興に至るまでの闘いが、長期戦になることは間違いない。国民全員で被災地を支えていくことが大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14, 2011)
（2011年3月14日01時05分  読売新聞）

昨日は朝からNHKで情報収集。

原発メルトダウン関連です。

今作業中の自衛官は、放射線量が1200マイクロシーベルトを超えてる事実はつたわっているか？
ブログ友から質問が届きました。

スラチャイの返信です。

このレベルは胃のレントゲン撮影を３回くらい受けたときのレベルだと言ってました。
午後１時過ぎにこのレベルに達しましたが現在では２００くらいで安定している。
自衛隊に伝わっているかどうかは報道されていません。

３号機、なぜこうなったのか？
推測ですが、あくまで最後まで真水にこだわり、機器を守ろうとした。
ポンプの故障を理由にあげているが、これはウソ。
ポンプはこの場面で故障しません。
海水に切り替えるのに躊躇した。
真水がなくなって炉心部の温度があがる限界まで我慢した。

その結果、外部に放出される放射線量がふえた。
最終的にここであきらめて海水を注入した。
それで現在炉心部の温度は下がって、放射線量も減ってきた。
これで間違いないと思います。
スラチャイは現場で数々のポンプを使ってきました。
スラチャイの目はごまかせません＾＾。

1200マイクロシーベルトは軽いというニュアンスの報道はウソ。
胃のレントゲンは瞬時。
瞬時*３回を1200マイクロシーベルト環境に長時間居るのと同じように報道している。
なぜ被爆者が２２人も出たのか？
時間のなせる技だと思います。

（スラチャイ記）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 14, 2011)
Make no mistakes handling N-accident
東日本巨大地震　原発事故の対応を誤るな（3月13日付・読売社説）

　◆政府と各党は救援・復興策を急げ◆

The horrible damage caused by the massive earthquake that struck a wide area of eastern Japan on Friday has gradually become clear.
　東日本巨大地震の、すさまじい被災状況が次々明らかになってきた。

Coastal cities and towns in three prefectures in the Tohoku region--Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima--have been devastated.
　壊滅的な被害を受けたのは、岩手、宮城、福島など東北各県の太平洋岸の街だ。

Large tsunamis struck only minutes to several dozen minutes after the Tohoku Pacific Offshore Earthquake occurred, washing away houses and automobiles. The tsunamis even swept ships and boats inland.
　地震の数分から数十分後に大津波に襲われ、住宅など建物のほか自動車、船舶までが内陸に押し上げられた。

Many fires also were reported. In Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, the center of the city was almost completely destroyed.
火災も発生し、宮城県気仙沼市は、中心部がほぼ全滅した。

In Minami-Sanrikucho, about 10,000 of the town's total 17,300 residents were missing.
南三陸町では約１万人が行方不明になっている。

===

Safety must come first
　◆大切な安全優先の原則◆

In a shocking development, the cooling system for the No. 1 reactor at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant malfunctioned, causing an explosion that destroyed the outer wall of the reactor building. Many people must have felt shivers of terror as they watched the scene on TV news programs Saturday.
　中でも懸念されていた東京電力福島第一原子力発電所１号機のトラブルは、爆発で外壁が崩れる衝撃的展開をみせた。その光景を映し出したテレビ映像に、戦慄を覚えた人は多かったことだろう。

For safety reasons, reactors at nuclear power plants are part of a three-layer structure. The innermost part, the reactor, is inside a container, which is itself housed in a reactor building.
　原発は、安全確保のため、三重の構造をしている。最も内側は原子炉で、それを格納容器が覆い、外側に原子炉建屋がある。

It was this outermost part, the reactor building, that was damaged in the explosion.
　爆発したのは最も外側の建屋部分だ。

The explosion was believed to have been caused by gas that leaked from the container, but the container was unharmed and continues to serve its purpose, according to TEPCO.
格納容器から漏れたガスが原因だが、格納容器は無事で機能も維持できているという。

However, the cooling system at the No. 1 reactor had not been functioning immediately after the great earthquake. The level of the cooling water decreased dramatically, exposing nuclear fuel rods and probably causing part of the fuel assembly to melt. It was the first serious nuclear incident in this country.
　ただ、１号機では地震直後から冷却機能が作動していない。冷却水も減り、核燃料が水上に露出して熱で溶融したらしい。国内初の深刻なトラブルだ。

To deal with the situation, TEPCO decided to inject seawater into the reactor to completely cool it down. TEPCO had been reluctant to do so, because the salt and other substances in the water would made it difficult to operate the reactor in the future.
　爆発という異常事態に、東電は、原発のすぐ近くにある海水を炉内に注入し、完全に冷却することを決断した。塩分などを含む海水の利用は運転再開を困難にするため東電はためらってきた。

We believe this decision could have been made much earlier, given the importance of safety first.
　安全最優先の原則に照らせば、もっと早く決断することもあり得たのではないか。

===

Crisis management
　◆問われる危機管理能力◆

Although the amount was small, radioactive substances were leaked outside the power station, heightening the general public's fears of nuclear contamination. Residents around the power station were forced to evacuate their homes and put to great inconvenience.
　微量とは言え、放射性物質が外部に漏れるなど、国民は不安にさらされた。原発周辺の住民も、避難を強いられ、不便な生活を続けている。

We also question how the government has provided important information to citizens.
　政府の情報提供のあり方も問われている。

The explosion took place shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano did not officially admit there had been an explosion until about two hours later at a press conference. His announcement that there had been no large leak of radioactive substances and that the explosion did not take place in the reactor container came more than five hours after the explosion.
爆発は、１２日の午後３時半過ぎに発生した。枝野官房長官が記者会見して爆発を公式に認めたのは約２時間後だ。放射性物質の大量漏れはなく、格納容器の爆発でもなかったことを発表したのは５時間余り後だった。

Were these announcements too late? Edano did not mention any important information in his first news conference Saturday, such as the amount of radioactive substances released from the reactor or information about who should evacuate.
　これでは、遅すぎるのではないか。しかも、最初の記者会見で枝野長官は、放射能の放出量や避難情報を含め、重大な情報には全く言及しなかった。

TEPCO and the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry should closely cooperate to resolve the problems at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant's No. 1 reactor.
　東京電力と経済産業省の原子力安全・保安院は、連携して福島第一原発１号機のトラブルに対処しなければならない。

Even if the scale of this earthquake was beyond the assumed maximum level in terms of quake resistance, lax crisis management should be severely questioned.
　今回の地震が想定以上だったとしても、危機管理の甘さは厳しく問われるべきだ。

Nuclear power generation has become the fundamental source of energy in this country. However, the shock wave of the explosion may shake that position to its foundation.
　原子力発電は日本の基幹的な電力源となってきた。だが、爆発の衝撃は、その位置づけを足元から揺るがしかねない。

===

Improve accident prevention

The Three Mile Island nuclear accident in Pennsylvania in 1979 caused no significant radioactive contamination outside the facility. However, the partial core meltdown fueled public opinion against nuclear power generation in the United States. No power plants have been built in that nation since the accident.
　１９７９年の米スリーマイル島原発事故では、放射能による外部への影響はなかったが、炉心が溶融する異常事態に、原発への逆風が吹いた。この事故以降、米国では原発の新設が止まった。

The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union released large amounts of radioactive substances in that nation and others. More than 30 people were killed, many of them exposed to a considerable amount of radiation when extinguishing fires at the plant, for instance.
Many people developed thyroid cancer after the accident, which also fueled the anti-nuclear power movement, particularly in Europe.
　旧ソ連のチェルノブイリ原発で８６年に起きた事故では、原子炉から大量の放射能が世界中に放出された。事故の際の消火活動などで３０人以上が犠牲となったほか、放射能で甲状腺がんになる患者が続出し、欧州を中心に、反原発運動が盛り上がりを見せた。

The government must reinforce its system for preventing accidents at nuclear power plants. If the government makes mistakes in handling such accidents, the utilization of nuclear power stations at home and abroad will be jeopardized.
　原発事故を防ぐ体制を強化すべきだ。対応を誤れば、国内外の原発活用が危うくなる。

===

Save stranded survivors
　◆孤立住民救出に全力を◆

The number of people killed and missing has been increasing steadily. Many people are still stranded at school facilities, on the roofs of buildings or under debris waiting to be rescued.
　死者・行方不明者数も増え続けている。なお大勢の人が学校施設やビルの屋上、あるいはがれきの下などで救助を待っている。

Self-Defense Forces personnel, firefighters and police officers have already begun full-scale rescue and relief operations. Prime Minister Naoto Kan said he would mobilize many personnel from SDF garrisons all over the country. His administration announced the dispatch of 50,000 SDF members to quake- and tsunami-hit areas.
　自衛隊や消防などが本格的な救助・救援活動を開始した。菅首相は全国の駐屯地から総動員態勢で臨むとし、５万人の自衛官を被災地へ送り込む方針だ。

What evacuees want most is information about the safety of their families and friends. We would like police, as well as central and local authorities, to do their best to reunite people as soon as possible.
　避難住民が求めているのは、家族や友人らの安否情報だ。一刻も早く再会できるよう、警察や行政は手を尽くしてほしい。

This is one of the most serious emergencies since World War II, and all the nation's resources must be mobilized for disaster relief.
　戦後最大級の非常時に、国の総力を挙げて災害対策に注力する必要がある。

During talks with Kan, all opposition party leaders pledged again to fully cooperate with the government. They even proposed suspending the current Diet session and delaying some of the unified local elections scheduled for April.
　与野党党首会談で野党各党は、改めて全面協力する考えを示し、国会の当面休会や統一地方選の一部延期などを提案した。

What is most urgently needed is compilation of a large-scale supplementary budget to help quake-hit areas recover.
　最も急がれるのは、災害から復興するための大規模な補正予算の編成である。

The reserve fund for the fiscal 2010 budget only has about 200 billion yen left, not enough for sufficient recovery measures.
　２０１０年度予算の予備費は、２０００億円ほどしか残っていない。これでは本格的な対策を実施するのに全く足りない。

Both the ruling and opposition parties should compile a concrete proposal for the supplementary budget, including how to secure revenue.
　与野党は財源の確保を含め、補正予算の具体案を早急にまとめなければならない。

They should pass the budget at the Diet as soon as possible and then turn to implementing the measures.
　国会でできるだけ早く議決し、実施に移すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13, 2011)
（2011年3月13日01時12分  読売新聞）