One of the nuclear advisors to Prime Minister Naoto Kan has resigned to protest what he called the government's impromptu handling of the nuclear crisis.
University of Tokyo Professor Toshiso Kosako, who tendered his resignation on Friday, also said that the government has belittled the law.
Speaking at a Lower House committee meeting on Saturday, Kan said Professor Kosako resigned because of disagreements with other scientists.
Kan said the government responded to the nuclear accident based on advice from the Nuclear Safety Commission and has never taken ad hoc measures.
Kosako also criticized the education ministry for allowing students at primary schools in Fukushima Prefecture to perform outdoor activities if the level of radiation of the school ground does not exceed 20 millisieverts per year.
The nuclear scientist said it's very unlikely that even workers at nuclear reactors could be exposed to such a high level of radiation, and therefore he cannot agree on that figure as an upper limit for children.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters that the ministry's decision seeks to reduce exposure to radiation and that it does not mean the government will allow the limit of 20 millisieverts per year for children.
Saturday, April 30, 2011 15:10 +0900 (JST)
Le brave Professeur a démissionné pour protester contre le fait que des enfants seront exposés à des niveaux de radiations trop élevés dans les cours d'écoles.
