Thank you so much for covering this topic, which has been so overlooked by Canadian media [“Fukushima brings big radiation spikes to B.C.”, August 4-11].

I spend a lot of time in Europe, and I can’t believe how little information we receive here in Canada. Any small local paper in Spain has been reporting more about the consequences of Fukushima on the North American West Coast than all the Canadian or U.S. media together. This clearly shows that to some the country’s economic interests weigh heavier than the health of millions of Canadian citizens and residents. Thank you, Georgia Straight!

What surprised me in your article is the past tense used in “there was reason to worry”. Was? Even today, 25 years after Chernobyl, German, Italian, French, and Austrian authorities still warn their citizens to limit their consumption of fresh forest mushrooms and wild boars, because they still contain increased levels of cesium. Independent scientists compare Fukushima with Chernobyl, some even say it has been worse. (The four reactors are still emitting radioactive material!) Over 12 million litres of radioactive water have been disposed of into the Pacific Ocean, entering into the food chain (in addition to the actual radioactive fallout through the air); 99 million litres of highly radioactive water is still emitted as radioactive steam.

Do we know where the salmon and seaweed in our sushi come from? Do we know what the freighters passing through radioactive waters and entering the Vancouver harbour carry with them?

> Tony Auth / Vancouver