More than ten thousand people have died in the Sendai earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Not one person has died owing to damage sustained by the Fukushima reactors, and it's not vain to hope that the death toll owing to radioactivity will be nil. If there are deaths, they're most likely to occur amongst the brave workers labouring to stabilise and clean up the mess ... just like the thousands still searching through dangerous debris for survivors. Noonan's attempt to co-opt this tragedy to push his agenda isn't just unconvincing. It's unequivocal evidence of sanctimony so extreme that not even ten thousand deaths will distract him from his quest. In the proper time and place, I'd be keen to debate the matter — it's important. For the moment, anyone with a scrap of empathy will agree it's nowhere near so important as sending relief to the survivors and respectfully burying the dead. If Noonan and his mates really think this is the proper time ... I don't know what to say besides: sick, sick, sick.

If one believes the media - twelve people who were close to the plants/reactors died this morning of illness. However, there could have been contributing factors.