In the rush to buy Christmas presents for those you love, you may forget to ask where the products were manufactured, and if the answer is Japan, were they shipped before 3/11.
This may sound strange, but anything manufactured or grown in Japan - after the Fukushima explosions which send radiation debris around the world on the Jet stream earlier this year - carries no guarantee that it is not contaminated to the point of injuring purchasers or users.
The unending log of lies both from the Japanese government and TEPCO, the constant alteration of research findings and radiation equipment readings, and the active suppression of information among Japanese citizens, should concern all of us at this time of year.
A gift as innocent as a Japanese manufactured camera or Japanese green tea could put a loved one at risk because there is no radiation monitoring of imports from Japan.
Yellow rice is a favorite dish on our Festive Season table, but I hesitate to buy fresh rice from the grocery store because of the level of contamination in Japanese rice, some of which has been exported but, seemingly, no one knows where to.
The amount of lies associated with the Fukushima cover up also suggests that companies, with the blessing of the Japanese government, are not beyond shipping contaminated products to other countries for repackaging, making it appear as if these are not from Japan. While there is no evidence that this is occurring, the idea set in several months back with a circulating rumor which suggested that products were being shipped to China for repackaging.
I would have put this rumor aside as a cheap shot at China-West trade, but given the lies, as I have said, I cannot help thinking that those who stoop so low to hide truth are capable of anything.
My Festive Season budget will be spent on products close to home. We have a great local meat supplier in Lake Land Meats, a Farmers' Market in town, and endless other suppliers of local goodies within easy reach. As for the yellow rice? I hope my dwindling supply of rice stocks in the pantry will see me through the holidays.
If you want to follow the Fukushima developments which could impact your day to day activities, visit Enenews and Fairewinds.
