Regarding the ongoing Fukushima disaster, whom do we believe? One of the scariest news stories we’ve ever read implies that we’re all doomed – not just Japan, but the whole world. It boils down to this: try to move hundreds or perhaps even thousands of nuclear fuel rods, some of which may already be damaged or leaking, to a supposedly safe place, and sooner or later a couple of them will bump up against each other, triggering a chain reaction with enough heat to send a radioactive plume into the upper atmosphere and the ends of the earth. From some of the same sources, we are given to understand that thyroid cancers are already epidemic in Japan, that radiation levels are starting to rise on the U.S. West Coast, that hundreds of tons of highly radioactive coolant are finding their way into the ocean and groundwater each day, and that every fish in the northern Pacific has already been contaminated to some degree.
But if any of this true, why hasn’t it appeared in The New York Times? Well, it’s not quite correct to say the Times hasn’t reported the story. It’s there, all right — for anyone with the patience and diligence to find it. On November 18, for instance, buried on an inside page, is a “quick update” on efforts to clean up the tsunami-damaged reactor complex. Doomsday fears are way overblown, implies David Lochbaum, a nuclear engineer quoted as an expert by the article’s author, Andrew Revkin. “The truth is that the irradiated fuel in the Unit 4 spent fuel pool does pose some hazard,” notes Lochbaum, “and the prudent management of that risk is to remove it from its present location to a safer, more secure location. In other words, do exactly what it [sic] being done now at Fukushima.” Lochbaum sounds like one level-headed dude, for sure. Revkin too. He ends on a note intended to silence those, including Russians involved in the Chernobyl cleanup, who are skeptical that Tokyo Electric Power Company is up to the job. “I think the international community has better things to do than interfere in this matter’” writes Revkin — “like bailing out the U.S. if we go bankrupt next January.”
So which is it, dear readers? Is the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl something that deserves little more than a passing mention in the Times? Or are we all in fact doomed? Please bring the best evidence you can find – links, quotes, anecdotes…whatever — to support your point of view.
The examples of this go on and on and the situation gets worse everyday. There are a few good sources, although the new “Secrets Bill” in Japan (link above) may soon do away with them. It passed, forcibly, to my understanding; protests ensue.
One that consistently seems to provide good info is http://enenews.com/
I cannot bring myself to read it too often, although, I find myself checking it more than I probably should.
They do not have the situation under control, the buildings are quickly deteriorating/rusting. They do not report on reactors 1, 2, or 3 (MOX fuel).
At least Marin County, California Officials are stepping up measures. A little late. But how much of their own wastewater do THEY dump into the Pacific every day?
Back in 2011, in Vancouver and California, seaweed was found to contain radionuclides at levels 4 higher than considered safe for humans; ditto for tuna. That was 2 years ago, following the original hydrogen explosion.
Not one sardine caught in Alaska this year?
Unprecedented marine life found up and down the west coast (Monterey Bay in particular). I mentioned this a few days back.
Coincidence?
Where’s that Ann Coulter sound byte?
This saddens and worries me. The probable levels of Cesium-137 hitting the west coast (as early as 2014) are 3x HIGHER than originally estimated, and that’s got a 30.1 year half life, and they’re still pouring tons of wastewater in the ocean daily.
Oh and about all of that rain that comes in off of the Pacific, hmm. The Olympic Peninsula? 2014 and beyond?
The potential economic impacts are TREMENDOUS.
Perhaps its a good time to start thinking more about Malbec from Chile, Bordeaux, Chianti, and the occasional African Pinotage. Maybe that’s a bad joke in poor taste.
Super Sake, anyone? Sorry.
Here’s a doozy, TEPCO reporting a GAIN! Haha!
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2013-11-01/japan’s-most-hated-outfit-tepco-reports-fat-profit-taxpayer-bailout-money
“”So where did that big fat profit of ¥616.2 billion come from? Turns out, “ordinary income” was only ¥141.6 billion, up from a loss last year. Those were the rate increases. The difference? “Extraordinary Income.”
A lot of it! So TEPCO sold some fixed assets for a gain of ¥74.2 billion, fine. But then there was an interesting, and huge entry: ¥666.2 billion ($6.7 billion). It was the amount of taxpayer bailout money TEPCO had received during the first half. Booked as income!””
Bend over Japan, just like we did for DaBoyz.
I hope we are all flat out wrong.
I’ve heard some interesting info on clean up ideas, but nothing compelling enough to make me feel at ease too much. I’m sure something does exist though.
I pray it does.