Empirical Nonsense

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TINKEBELL

Going out for a walk in Tomioka, Fukushima.

Video, duration 45 minutes

For four years in a row, Dutch artist TINKEBELL. has visited and researched the (sociological) impact after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima (March 11 2011) since 2015. After spending a lot of time mostly in the city of Tomioka but also spread over the complete affected area, she wrote a book on the dangers of fear and hypochondria in Fukushima and she still works on a series of ongoing art projects on the spot. (see www.tinkebell.com)

So, about the lucky four leaved clovers. TINKEBELL. found out that the amount of four leaved clovers is notable in Tomioka. Especially in the decontaminated parcels.

But, does this mean that this a mutation caused by radiation after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima Daiichi?

The answer is: probably not.

Although we will never know for sure. Because the cause of mutation can only be found before the mutation happens.

There can be many causes for an increase of four leaved clovers. One of them is luck or coincidence. But for most people this answer is not really satisfying. Another possibility is that the four leaved clovers were already there before the accident. Or maybe the clean soil that was put in the decontaminated parcels after they took away the contaminated soil contained the seeds of already mutated clovers.

Again. We will never know.

But I go for luck.

And that is also what I wish for Tomioka and the rest of Japan.