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Japan’s nuclear crisis doesn’t get any safer

Japan Weighs Entombing Nuclear Plant in Bid to Halt Radiation, – Bloomberg, By Go Onomitsu and Sachiko Sakamaki – Mar 31, 2011 Japan will consider pouring concrete into its crippled Fukushima atomic plant to reduce radiation and contain the worst nuclear disaster in 25 years. Continue reading →

March 31, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Fukushima nuclear crisis – a roundup of news, 31 march

Japan’s power crisis could last for months

THE term ”rolling blackouts” has become shorthand for noting one way Japan is trying to cope with its national calamity.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/japans-power-crisis-could-last-for-months-20110329-1ceqs.html

Setbacks mount in Japan over nuke facility
Setbacks are mounting in the crisis over Japan’s tsunami-damaged nuclear facility, with nearby seawater testing at its highest radiation levels yet.
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/setbacks-mount-in-japan-over-nuke-facility-20110331-1cgi8.html

Japan’s crippled reactors may be shrouded
Japan is considering draping crippled reactor buildings at the Fukushima nuclear plant with a fabric to reduce radiation and using a tanker to siphon off contaminated water, a report says.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/japans-crippled-reactors-may-be-shrouded-20110330-1cg5a.html

Stem cell plan for nuclear operators
Japanese authorities are considering plans to collect and freeze cells from engineers and water cannon operators at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in case they are exposed to dangerous levels of radiation.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/stem-cell-plan-for-nuclear-operators-20110330-1cg5b.html

Sea contamination likely to be local: scientists
Radioactive contamination of the sea from Fukushima is likely to be only a local problem, but could lead to an exclusion zone if there is a major release of long-term pollutants, scientists say.
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/sea-contamination-likely-to-be-local-scientists-20110330-1cfnd.html

Japan engineers knew tsunami could overrun plant
Over the past two weeks, Japanese government officials and Tokyo Electric Power executives have repeatedly described the deadly combination of the most powerful quake in Japan’s history and the massive tsunami that followed as “soteigai”, or beyond expectations.
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/japan-engineers-knew-tsunami-could-overrun-plant-20110330-1cfmy.html

Japan’s nuclear crisis and radioactive half-lives
The passage of time has sharply reduced radiation from some elements with a short half-life at Japan’s quake-crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant but others will stay radioactive almost indefinitely.
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/japans-nuclear-crisis-and-radioactive-halflives-20110330-1cfmi.html

Fukushima: what is plutonium and what are the dangers?
Following is a factfile on plutonium, which Japan says has been found at very low levels at five locations at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant:
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/fukushima-what-is-plutonium-and-what-are-the-dangers-20110330-1cfmb.html

Fears over N-plant close to Tokyo
AS Japan struggles to contain the crisis at the Fukushima, attention is switching to other nuclear plants that could pose an even greater risk
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/fears-over-n-plant-close-to-tokyo/story-e6frg6so-1226030969688

Japan radiation outside safety zone
RADIATION levels recorded at a village outside the evacuation zone around the quake-striken Fukushima nuclear plant are above safe levels, the UN atomic watchdog says.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/japan-radiation-outside-safety-zone/story-e6frf7jx-1226031093076
Japan orders check of all nuclear reactors
JAPAN orders check of all nuclear reactors to ensure there will be no repeat of the crisis currently unfolding at stricken Fukushima plant.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/japan-orders-check-of-all-nuclear-reactors/story-e6frf7jx-1226031016951
Japan, a land where it’s pollen versus radiation

http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/03/30/japan-a-land-where-its-pollen-versus-radiation/

Physicists Detect Low-Level Radioactivity from Japan Arriving in Seattle
Physicists are detecting radioactivity arriving in Seattle from Japanese nuclear reactors damaged in a tsunami following a mammoth earthquake, but the levels are far below what would pose a threat to … http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110330131314htm

Japan’s crowdsourced radiation maps
Citizen scientists armed with Geiger counters are helping to map the spread of radiation from Japan
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/03/crowdsourced-radiation-maps.html

Resin to be sprayed on Fukushima nuclear plant
With no sign of the crisis at Fukushima Daiichi being resolved any time soon, plans are now afoot to spray a resin over the embattled nuclear power plant
http://www.newscientistcom/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/03/resin-to-be-sprayed-on-fukushi.html

U.S. Public Support For More Nuclear Power Slips

U.S. public support for expanding nuclear power appears to be slipping after Japan’s nuclear crisis while New York’s governor said on Tuesday an aging plant near New York City will be the top priority in a federal review of earthquake risk to such facilities.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61624
France And U.S. To Help Japan In Nuclear Crisis
France and the United States are to help Japan in its battle to contain radiation from a crippled nuclear complex where plutonium finds have raised public alarm over the world’s worst atomic crisis since Chernobyl in 1986.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61622

UK Must Push On With Nuclear Plans: Scientists
Nuclear plants remain one of the safest ways to make electricity, and Britain should not allow Japan’s tsunami-provoked problems to delay its new build plans, UK scientists said on Tuesday.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61621

Japan radiation spreads across Asia

MANILA: Small amounts of radiation from Japan’s leaking nuclear power plant have spread across Asia, deepening concerns for millions of people already wary of eating Japanese food.
http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20110330/business01.htm

 

March 31, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

Bill Gates marketing small nukes to China, where nuclear industry is less regulated

“right now the regulatory environment here in the United States means it would take decades just to certify. By partnering with the Chinese, they can move ahead and commercialize the technology around the world when it’s proven.”

Nuclear Industry Thrives in the U.S., but for Export – NYTimes.com By MATTHEW L. WALD March 30, 2011 “……At a clean energy conference in Washington in January, Jon M. Huntsman Jr., then the American ambassador to China, said that he had recently run into Bill Gates in China. Mr. Gates is an investor in a new kind of reactor, part of a class called “small modular reactors,” Continue reading →

March 31, 2011 Posted by | marketing, technology, USA | Leave a comment

Whistleblower sues nuclear power company

San Onofre nuclear plant worker files whistleblower suit,  SignOnSanDiego.com, By Onell R. Soto  March 30, 2011 A former manager at the San Onofre nuclear plant in North County said Wednesday that he was fired after complaining to nuclear regulators that his superiors were ignoring worker complaints.

Paul Diaz, 35, of Oceanside, said he tried to go through channels within the plant when people he supervised raised questions, but was shot down.

“I needed to do something,” he said. And so he went to Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors based at the plant. He was then fired from his job as manager of business accounting and project services…….. San Onofre nuclear plant worker files whistleblower suit – SignOnSanDiego.com

 

March 31, 2011 Posted by | civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

Japanese radiation in Scotland, strengthens antinuclear feeling

Japanese radiation found at three more Scottish locations – Scotsman.com News 31 March 2011By CLAIRE SMITH RADIOACTIVE iodine believed to be from the Fukishima nuclear plant has been found at three more locations in Scotland, according to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.Sepa said yesterday that samples believed to be from Fukushima had been detected at Dounreay in Caithness and at Lerwick in Shetland. Radioactive iodine has also been detected in East Kilbride.The news follows reports on Monday that radioactive iodine from the stricken Japanese power station had been detected in Glasgow……..Rob Gibson, SNP candidate Caithness, Sutherland and Ross said the latest detections were a reminder of the hazards of nuclear power.

He said: “It is important to stress that there is no threat to public safety. However, even at such a distance it does remind us of the hazards of nuclear power, and the terrible events in Japan.”

Mr Gibson said the Japanese nuclear crisis had strengthened the SNP’s resolve to realise Scotland’s potential for renewable energy: “No country with Scotland’s energy mix would contemplate a new nuclear power programme.”
Japanese radiation found at three more Scottish locations – Scotsman.com News

March 31, 2011 Posted by | environment, UK | Leave a comment

Low radiation is a public health danger, rather than individual

Individual versus public health risk ABC Science Analysis 31 march 11, “……..The Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) question Gale’s position [on safety of low level radiation] .”His position illustrates very neatly the divergence between individual and public health risk,” says PSR’s Dr Ira Helfand.”The risk to any one individual from drinking water with this much radiation is indeed very low. The problem comes when 40 million people in the Tokyo water district drink the water and get this much radiation.”Helfand says if the risk of cancer from a low dose exposure is 1 in a million, an individual does not need to take any special precautions.”But if 40 million get this dose of radiation then 40 of them are going to get cancer,” he says.”And they may also be getting radiation in the days ahead from increased levels of radiation in the air, and from radiation contamination of food.”Helfand says it is reasonable to assure the public that they don’t need to take individual action if the level of radiation is very low.”But we should not mislead them that the dose is ‘safe’ or ‘no cause for concern’ which is very different,” he says.
No ‘safe’ threshold for radiation: experts › Analysis (ABC Science)

March 31, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, health | Leave a comment

France wants to keep NATO’s tactical nuclear weapons in Europe

France is biggest obstacle to ridding Europe of tactical nuclear weapons – report |guardian.co.uk, Julian Borger,  30 march 11, IKV Pax Christi, a Dutch nuclear abolitionist group, is putting out a report today on its findings from talking to Nato member states about what they think about the estimated 180 remaining US tactical nuclear weapons on European soil.

The key findings of the report show that there is sufficient political will within NATO to end the deployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. Fourteen, or half of all NATO member states actively support the end of TNW deployment while ten other countries say they would not block a consensus decision to removed the weapons. Only three NATO members (France, Hungary and Lithuania) say they oppose an end to the TNW deployment, and only France has is willing to invest political capital to keep the weapons on the territory of Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Turkey…..

France is biggest obstacle to ridding Europe of tactical nuclear weapons – report | World news | guardian.co.uk

 

March 31, 2011 Posted by | France, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Anxiety in France about its nuclear reactors

French atomic security unready for repeat disasters: agency Expatica France, 30 march 11, French nuclear security has not yet taken into account the kind of accumulation of natural catastrophes that led to Japan’s atomic disaster, the head of the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) said Wednesday.”How do we deal with an accumulation of assaults? This is something that we have not yet taken into account,” ASN head Andre-Claude Lacoste said when asked about lessons to be learnt from the unfolding nuclear accident at Fukushima……

“We cannot live on quiet certainties, in fact who can after what’s just happened?” he said, adding that the ASN’s position remained that “no one can ever say that there will never be a nuclear accident in France.”

The French government last week told the ASN to carry out a security audit at France’s 58 active atomic reactors. France is proportionally the world’s largest user of nuclear power…..French atomic security unready for repeat disasters: agency < French news | Expatica France

 

March 31, 2011 Posted by | France, safety | Leave a comment

Video on Chernobyl’s continuing disaster

VIDEO Chernobyl: A Nuclear Accident With No End?J, Voice of Amerca James Brooke | Chernobyl, Ukraine, 30 march 11, As nuclear workers in Japan struggle to contain radiation from the Fukushima reactor, world attention is turning back to Chernobyl, Ukraine. There, people prepare to mark the 25th anniversary of the explosion that blew the roof off Reactor Number 4…… Continue reading →

March 31, 2011 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Nuclear news items – 13 from March 30

Japan says no choice but to flood reactors
Japan says it has to keep pouring water into reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant to limit a huge meltdown.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/29/3177045.htm?site=news

Traces of Japan radioactivity in US rain
Traces of radioactivity from damaged nuclear power facilities in Japan have been found in rainwater in the north-east United States, but pose no health risks, officials say.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/29/3176647.htm?site=news


Executive vanishes during nuclear fallout
The sudden disappearance of disgraced officials is not unheard-of in Japan.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/executive-vanishes-during-nuclear-fallout-20110329-1ceoe.html

Highly radioactive water threatens Fukushima
Emergency crews scramble to contain extremely radioactive water leaking into tunnels and basement rooms at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/highly-radioactive-water-threatens-fukushima-20110329-1ceoh.html

Reactor no match for this tsunami, PM finally admits
The Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, has said for the first time that the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant’s tsunami defences were inadequate, while reassuring the public that radiation leaks pose no health threat beyond an evacuation zone.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/reactor-no-match-for-this-tsunami-pm-finally-admits-20110329-1cesb.html

Japan on ’maximum alert’ over nuclear crisis
Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan says his government is in a “state of maximum alert” over the crisis at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant.
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/japan-on-maximum-alert-over-nuclear-crisis-20110329-1cdw0.html

Nuke firm could be nationalised
THE prospect of the Japanese government nationalising the disgraced Tokyo Electric Power Co emerged yesterday.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/nuke-firm-could-be-nationalised/story-e6frg6so-1226030356784

Quake fears curb China’s N-targets
CHINA is likely to cut its nuclear power generation targets by about 10 per cent by 2020 and stop approvals for any new inland reactors.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/quake-fears-curb-chinas-n-targets/story-e6frg6so-1226030351841

Radioactive iodine found in UK

TRACES of radioactive iodine from Japan’s stricken nuclear facility found by air-monitoring sites at two locations in Britain.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/japanese-radioactive-iodine-found-at-two-british-test-sites/story-e6frf7jx-1226030429262

Japan on nuclear alert as crisis deepens
JAPAN government on “maximum alert” over crippled nuclear plant where radioactive water has halted repair work.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/japan-on-nuclear-alert-as-crisis-deepens/story-e6frf7jx-1226030325357
Power drain the biggest concern: expert

Japan’s biggest economic challenge is not the devastation of the recent earthquake and tsunami, but rather the continuing nuclear catastrophe and loss of power taking place in the north-east.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/power-drain-the-biggest-concern-expert/2116969.aspx

Plutonium found in soil at Japanese nuclear plant disaster

Plutonium found in soil at the Fukushima nuclear complex heightened alarm on Tuesday over Japan’s battle to contain the world’s worst atomic crisis in 25 years, as pressure mounted on the prime minister to widen an evacuation zone around the plant. Some opposition lawmakers blasted Naoto Kan in parliament for his handling of the disaster and for not widening the exclusion zone. Kan said he was seeking advice on such a step, which would force 130,000 people to move in addition to 70,000 already displaced. The drama at the six-reactor facility has compounded Japan’s agony after an earthquake and tsunami on March 11 left more than 28,000 people dead or missing in the devastated northeast.
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/42526

Fukushima’s radioactive plume reaches the UK
Radioactive material from Japan’s stricken power plant has reached the British Isles, but only in trace amounts
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/03/for-the-first-time-since.html

Caesium fallout from Fukushima rivals Chernobyl
Analysis of Japanese science ministry data reveals high levels of radioactivity on the ground beyond the exclusion zone
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20305-caesium-fallout-from-fukushima-rivals-chernobyl.html

 

‘Don’t panic’ over plutonium in soil at Fukushima plant
Some contamination with plutonium may be due to recent releases, but levels are below those considered hazardous, says Zena Iovino
http://www.newscientistcom/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/03/no-need-to-panic-over-plutoniu.html

IAEA Calls Nuclear Safety Summit Amid Japan Crisis
The U.N. atomic energy chief called a Vienna summit to tackle mounting concerns about nuclear safety, saying on Monday the international community needed a coordinated response in the wake of Japan’s crisis.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61612

China Should Scale Back Nuclear Plans
China should scale back its ambitious reactor building plans in the wake of Japan’s nuclear disaster, an official with the country’s power industry association said in remarks published on Monday.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61611

Japan Rejects Greenpeace Argument For Expanding Evacuation Zone
Japan’s nuclear safety agency on Monday rebuffed a call by Greenpeace to extend an evacuation zone around the stricken Fukushima power plant.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61608

Japan Finds Plutonium At Stricken Nuclear Plant
Plutonium found in soil at the crippled Fukushima nuclear complex heightened alarm on Tuesday over Japan’s protracted battle to contain the world’s worst atomic crisis in 25 years.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61607

U.S. Nuclear Regulator Meets With Japanese Officials
The head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission met Japanese officials in Tokyo on Monday to assess the battle to contain the crisis at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, and offer U.S. support.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61607

Low-Level Radiation Found In Massachusetts Rainwater
Trace amounts of radioactive iodine linked to Japan’s crippled nuclear power station have turned up in rainwater samples as far away as Massachusetts during the past week, state officials said on Sunday.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/61603

Radiation, Climate Change Drive Islanders To Northwest
http://kuow.org/northwestnews.php?storyID=134934931

 

March 31, 2011 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011 | Leave a comment

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