nuclear-news

News on Japanese nuclear disaster

Japanese jittery as nuclear crisis grows
The rare TV appearance by Emperor Akihito has emphasised the gravity of the crisis gripping Japan after the 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami.
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/japanese-jittery-as-nuclear-crisis-grows-20110317-1bxik.html

Australian rescuers exposed to radiation
Australian search-and-rescue workers in Japan have been exposed to low-level radiation after their helicopter was forced to land near the damaged nuclear power plant at Fukushima.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/australian-rescuers-exposed-to-radiation-20110316-1bxf9.html

Frantic bid to douse reactors
Military helicopters have been deployed to dump water on Japan’s crippled Fukushima No. 1 power station, as the remaining workers at the plant face an increasingly dangerous and difficult battle to prevent a catastrophic meltdown.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/frantic-bid-to-douse-reactors-20110316-1bxfb.html

Chalpat Sonti: Is this the end for nuclear power?
There’s nothing like a meltdown to concentrate the mind.
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/is-this-the-end-for-nuclear-power-20110315-1bvqj.html

Chernobyl effect on the economy
A FULL-BLOWN nuclear disaster in Japan, though unlikely, could lead to a new global economic crisis, according to Europe’s top trade official.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/chernobyl-effect-on-the-economy-20110316-1bxe4.html

Radiation crisis worsens
JAPAN’S nuclear crisis has intensified, as military helicopters unsuccessfully attempted to waterbomb a fire that had spread to a fourth nuclear reactor. The government revealed two of the reactor cores may now be damaged, one was thought to be leaking radiation, and last night it called in police water canon trucks to help frantic firefighting efforts.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/radiation-crisis-worsens-20110316-1bxen.html

Power company had poor safety record
The operators of the Fukushima reactors have been the subject of scandals over site inspections, writes environment editor Ben Cubby.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/power-company-had-poor-safety-record-20110316-1bxez.html

Engineer quit over reactor design
A General Electric Co engineer said he resigned 35 years ago over concern about the safety of a nuclear reactor design used in the now crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan.
http://www.smh.comau/environment/energy-smart/engineer-quit-over-reactor-design-20110316-1bwet.html

Japan promised to step up plant safety after watchdog’s warning
Japan warned more than two years ago by the international nuclear watchdog that its nuclear power plants could not withstand powerful earthquakes, leaked diplomatic cables disclose.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/japan-promised-to-step-up-plant-safety-after-watchdogs-warning-20110316-1bxdd.html

Foreigners flee nuclear crisis
FOREIGN governments and companies were last night urging their people to leave Tokyo as the nuclear crisis was rated the worst since Chernobyl.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/tens-of-thousands-dead-as-japan-scrambles-to-avert-nuclear-catastrophe/story-fn84naht-1226022831151

Radiation very high at Japan reactor
THERE is no water left in the spent fuel pool of reactor 4 at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant, resulting in “extremely high” radiation levels, the chair of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission warned today.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/radiation-very-high-at-japans-fukushima-reactor-warns-us-nuclear-regulatory-commission/story-e6frf7jx-1226022949641

China orders inspections of nuclear plants
CHINA orders safety inspections of the country’s nuclear plants and suspends approval of new projects in light of Japan’s atomic crisis.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/china-orders-inspections-of-nuclear-plants/story-e6frf7jx-1226022889489

Editorial: Nation waits in suspense
WHILE the enormity of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami is still to be realised, a potential disaster has gripped the nation.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/editorials/japanese-nation-waits-in-suspense/story-e6frfhqo-1226022829852

Meltdown hysteria (interesting choice of word) will make West wary: expert
The Fukushima power plant crisis is likely to kill off any nuclear renaissance in western countries that had been reconsidering the energy option in the face of global warming concerns, according to a Melbourne nuclear power expert
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/meltdown-hysteria-will-make-west-wary-expert/2104407.aspx

Japan’s nuclear farce
A plume of radioactive particles extending into the stratosphere from the Fukushima Daiichi reactor complex makes a mockery of claims that Japan’s nuclear crisis isn’t comparable to the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/03/16/japans-nuclear-farce-has-chernobyl-written-all-over-it/

Japan’s nuclear crisis: the technical facts
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/rooted/2011/03/16/japans-nuclear-crisis-the-technical-facts/

Fukushima wrecks the already problematic finances of nuclear power
http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/03/16/fukushima-wrecks-the-already-problematic-finances-of-nuclear-power/

What’s radiation poisoning like? And other Japan questions
As Japan rushes to stop nuclear meltdown and limit the exposure of radioactive material to its citizens, how do evacuees know if they’ve been exposed? Also, what will the government do with all the debris from buildings? Slate explains.
http://www.slate.com/id/2288228/

How a nuclear reactor works
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/12/world/asia/the-explosion-at-the-japanese-reactor.html?ref=asia

Japan wind change to blow radiation over Pacific
(Reuters) – Winds are set to blow low-level radiation from Japan’s quake-crippled nuclear power plant out over the Pacific Ocean in coming hours, easing health worries after drifting toward Tokyo early on Tuesday, experts said.
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/42470

Nuclear crisis: ‘Chain reaction could restart’
The Tokyo Electric Power Company has admitted that the spent fuel rods at the Fukushima plant could go critical and a nuclear chain reaction could restart
http://www.newscientistcom/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/03/nuclear-crisis-radioactive-fue.html

Fukushima throws spotlight on quake zone nuclear power
The unfolding nuclear disaster in Japan should force a rethink on the building of nuclear power plants in seismically active areas
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20928043.100-fukushima-throws-spotlight-on-quake-zone-nuclear-power.html

EU Mulls Nuclear-Free Future, Extra Tests On Reactors
Europe’s energy chief Tuesday raised the prospect of a nuclear-free future and said the 27-nation bloc is considering “stress testing” its nuclear power stations to check they can cope with crises.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61507

Radiation Plume Could Reach Tokyo: U.S. Scientists
If the containment at the nuclear power plant damaged by Japan’s devastating earthquake fails, a potential radiation plume from a full core meltdown could reach Tokyo, a U.S. scientists’ organization said on Tuesday.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61506

Germany To Shut Down Pre-1980 Nuclear Plants
Germany will shut down all seven of its nuclear power plants that began operating before 1980 at least till June, the government said on Tuesday, leaving open whether they will ever start up again after Japan’s crisis.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61505
Navy Repositions Warships Over Radiation Risks
The Navy said on Tuesday some arriving warships will take position on the west coast of Honshu instead of heading to the east coast as planned because of “radiological and navigation hazards.”
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61504

Nuclear Sector Takes Beating But U.S. Offers Support
The nuclear power industry took a beating as governments addressed its safety and investors bailed out of stocks because of the crisis enveloping a Japanese nuclear power plant. But the United States government offered some support.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61493

March 17, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Japan