May, 2011.

Written demand 2

Dear Prime Minister Naoto Kan,

The Life Investigation Agency (LIA) was established in 2010 to contribute to efforts to save and preserve animal life. We are an independent campaigning organization which seeks to investigate, expose and raise awareness against illegal trades in wildlife, the destruction of our natural environment and the abuse of animals.

We respectfully wish to express our doubts about the Government’s measures in terms of declaring a ‘20-kilometer no-go zone’ around Fukushima’s nuclear reactor on 22nd April and call on you to improve and change this decision.

Although many animal welfare organizations, including ourselves, have saved animals in the epicenter of the disaster, miserable conditions persist for abandoned animals such as dogs and cats, and also other domestic animals, in the radiation-contaminated area. The neglect of these animals has been given a lot of attention, not only by the Japanese people but also by others elsewhere in the world.

In addition, nine veterinarians and staff have been searching for and saving companion animals abandoned in Fukushima’s restricted area of Tomiokacho, Futabacho, Ohkumacho, Namiemachi, Kawauchimura, Narahacho, Minamisomashi, Tamurashi and Katsuraomura since 28th April; however, their work has not included the saving of domestic animals.

Domestic animals have clearly been neglected. If we find a dying cow, all we can do is inform the owner and then the cow will be killed with their agreement. If we find a lost cow, all we can do is to bring it to the original barn. In other words, domestic animals in the disaster have to wait for their owners to return or to die because of health regulations.

This situation makes us deeply sorrowful and angry. We insist that the Government’s decision as regards domestic animals is unjust should be withdrawn. The decision must be discussed anew on the assumption that these animals continue to exist and that they feel pain and suffer no less than humans.

Further, we urgently demand that you should promise and announce that other areas, such as ‘lower restriction areas’ and ‘emergency preparation areas’ which are not designated as no-go zone are also included in the countermeasure in the same way as 20-kilometer no-go zone are in your decision.

We submit the documents to the Government of Japan; please make the new plan your immediate consideration.

Request

In terms of being left animals in around Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, we request that all animals in the area be saved and transferred to safe areas and cared for by veterinarians in an appropriate facility where possible. We call on you to prepare such facilities and acquire the staff immediately as a measure to save the life all your power.

Request details

We request that the Government should be:


1
Providing supplies of food and water for abandoned animals and preparing vehicles to transfer rescued animals, and also funding the necessary expenses such as radiation protection suits, Geiger counters and goggles for rescue workers;

2
Saving and decontaminating each animal as much as possible. All of the animals should be returned to their owner after they recovered;

3
Funding the travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses for rescue workers, including veterinarians and their staff;

4
Providing a temporary shelter in Fukushima and the surrounding prefecture;

5
Providing for staff and veterinarians to care for the animals in the shelter;

6
Permission for animal welfare organizations to enter the restricted area to save animals;

7
Putting in place plans to bring out animals, and providing information about temporary owners for people who live in the area;

8
Domestic animals and the most of their by-products, such as their meat, are often used as food for humans. However, if they are not used for our food, they should not automatically be dealt with on the assumption that they are only to be killed in the future.


*Definition of Domestic animals,
Domestic animals are animals to be used as food and to produce products such as milk, meat, egg, fur, skin, work power, for humans.
Sometimes, companion animals and ornamental animals are also included in the category of domestic animals.

All animals managed by humans are domestic animals; from this point of view, insects such as bees and silkworms can also be considered domestic animals.


Sincerely,


Life Investigation Agency (LIA)