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Drop in water levels in Fukushima reactors coolant injections

Tepco: “Unknown whether the flow will recover” — No conclusive evidence of why reactors had sudden drop in water injections  August 31st, 2012    By   Follow-up to: Trouble injecting water into Fukushima Reactors 1-3 — Flow falls despite increasing coolant level — Tepco unable to identify cause, thinks pipes are clogged

August 31, 2012 report by Kyodo News translated by EXSKF:

After the amount of water being injected into Reactors 1, 2, and 3′s Reactor Pressure Vessels at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant had temporarily dropped below the level specified in the safety regulations, TEPCO announced on August 31 that the company flushed the pipes […] TEPCO will wait and see if the amount of water injected into the RPVs recovers before deciding whether the second flushing is necessary.

[…]

According to TEPCO’s Junichi Matsumoto, “There is no conclusive evidence to narrow down the possible causes, and it is unknown whether the flow will recover.”

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, incidents | Leave a comment

Every minute of every day – radiation exposure to Fukushima’s children

He didn’t answer my question about the fuel rods melted out did he?”

No he did not answer that question. ( The molten fuel is still molten, and large amounts of it has leaked through the holes in the base of the pressure vessles. As of September 2011, TEPCO still cannot accurately measure the amount of water in the reactors, the levels have been recently found to be very low and the water keeps leaking from the holes in the bottom of the damaged reactor pressure vessels.

On completion of “Step 2″ in their road map, the government scrapped the 20km exclusion zone, “welcoming back” women and children.

 …most will come back because the government is making false promises. They have no where else to go

“Our government is still telling us that there is no immediate effect on health. Also it is telling us that it will be safe to come back and live in Fukushima within one or two years after the clean up work is done. Children in Fukushima are the most victimized by these government lies. Children in Fukushima are being exposed to radiation everyday and every minute of the day. Only 10% of 300,000 children living in Fukushima Prefecture have evacuated. “

Evacuate Fukushima 福島の子供を守れ Part 07 – DAYS OF INFAMY http://nuclearhistory.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/evacuate-fukushima-%E7%A6%8F%E5%B3%B6%E3%81%AE%E5%AD%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%82%92%E5%AE%88%E3%82%8C-part-07-days-of-infamy/

The Japanese government decides to return all evacuees within 20 km of Fukushima Diiachi …going deeper into the history books 30 September 2011 will also mention this Day of Infamy. When an entire nation abandoned its children at the hands of a Nuclear Mafia that purchased the souls of the very young ones that were supposed to protect them. Continue reading →

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, health, Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Fossil fuel lobby designed Mitt Romney’s energy policy

there’s the glaring absence of any mention of climate change or how much more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases all that mining, transportation and fossil fuel-burning will cause, not to mention public health impact.

Renewable energy and energy-efficiency also get short shrift from Romney. Any federal support would be limited to basic research — no incentives for solar, wind or other renewable businesses…..
 long-term, a Romney administration would turn the U.S. inward and send a strong message to investors and companies around the world that the country is not interested in competing in new global energy markets, which are focused on sustainability and efficiency.

But what’s most unsettling about the Romney energy plan is that it comes from an advisory committee composed solely of fossil fuel company executives and lobbyists, many of whom are also major Republican donors.

Green Desert: Romney platform anything but green  K Kaufmann The Desert Sun, Sept 1  2012,   No sooner had Mitt Romney released his long-awaited energy policy Aug. 23 than a small army of reporters and pundits started drilling into the details and coming up with barely a kilowatt of vision or substance.

The plan is basically all about oil, coal and gas. Continue reading →

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Obama in Iowa promotes renewable energy, jobs in the wind industry

Obama Urges Alternative Energy Subsidies, Hispanic Business Sept. 2, 2012 U.S. President Barack Obama campaigned in Iowa Saturday, saying Mitt Romney’s ideas to improve the economy are “retreads of the same old” Republican policies.

During his speech at Morningside College in Sioux City, ridiculed Republicans for coming up with an agenda at their national convention in Tampa, Fla., “that was probably a little better suited for the last century.” …

….[Obama’s]   desire to see alternative energies grow to help the United States become energy self-sufficient. He touted the efforts of renewable energy businessman Rob Hach and his wife, Tara.

He said Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan “would put those jobs at risk by ending tax credits for wind energy producers.”

“Rob told you, he [Romney] said these new sources of energy are ‘imaginary.’ And Mr. Ryan called them a ‘fad,'” Obama said. “You just saw Rob. He looks pretty real to me. I wasn’t imagining him up here talking, was I? He has been in the wind energy business for nearly 20
years. He and his wife Tara now have 27 employees. Nearly 7,000 jobs in Iowa depend on the wind industry. These jobs aren’t fads; they’re our future.

“It’s time to stop giving a $4 billion taxpayer subsidy to oil companies that are making money every time you go to the pump. And let’s give some tax breaks to wind energy and homegrown energy and biofuels that are creating jobs right here in Iowa. That’s the choice
in this election. That’s what we’re fighting for….. http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2012/9/2/obama_urges_alternative_energy_subsidies.htm

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Strong case against Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant Project (KKNPP).

Several questions on safety unanswered, cry activists
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/several-questions-on-safety-unanswered-cry-activists/287345-60-118.html  2 Sept 12, N Vinoth Kumar / ENS Anti-nuclear activists have expressed disappointment over the Madras High Court’s nod for commissioning Units I and II of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant Project (KKNPP).
“It is a disappointment. No questions raised by us were answered in the judgment.  We will soon appeal to the Supreme Court,” said G Sundarrajan, who filed cases against the KKNPP in the High Court.  Similarly, Dr V Pugazhenthi, who worked among those affected by
radiation in Kalpakkam, said, “After the Fukushima incident, a committee constituted by the Centre gave 17 recommendations to the government.
As per the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines, a nuclear plant must be commissioned only after putting in place thorough Emergency Operative Procedures (EOP).
But as per the recommendations of the committee, it has given an assurance that the EOP can be finalised six months after the nuclear plant is commissioned.  This is a complete violation.”
He has also alleged holes in the safety assessment of the KKNPP.  “The expert panel on the KKNPP — headed by Prof Muthunayagam— said that there are no chances of a ‘Near Field Tsunami’ in the region.  It also did not acknowledge the possibility of ‘slumps’, the under-sea
phenomenon that causes a tsunami.  But, after we put out our report indicating the presence of such slumps, they modified their report.  As per international norms, if any slump is found, its chemical composition must be studied.
The expert panel did not consider this,” Dr Pugazhenthi said.  Dr Ramesh, a member of the fact-finding team on the mock drill held in Nakkaneri, alleged, “The final request made to the State was the conduct of an emergency preparedness drill. The claim that such a drill was conducted in Nakkaneri is a blatant lie.”
People’s Expert Committee member M G Devasahayam said there was ample evidence to support the case against the KKNPP. “The documents against the KKNPP are formidable and factual,” he said.

September 3, 2012 Posted by | India, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Corruption in Japan’s The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency

NISA is not effectively fulfilling its obligations related to nuclear safety, and was influencing the public perception of nuclear energy since its birth.  NISA is governed by the Japanese ministry in charge of promoting the nuclear power industry, how could the agency be fully committed to ensuring that nuclear power plants were operating safely?  No one can wholly serve conflicting interests, and will either choose to emphasize some, and mitigate the others.  At some point the desire to increase market saturation or investment becomes an all-important driver of regulations, and the individual end-consumers become far less important to regulatory affairs.

In Japan, “The Atomic Village” has been likened to a cult, where the industry and its regulators are focused on a singular purpose of expanding the nuclear industry

Changing the rules – It’s not just regulatory capture, it’s a whole new game Enformable 30 Aug 12, NISA plans to ok operations at nuclear power plants built above faults Despite its conflict of interest, lack of public trust, and pending abolishment, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has released plans to accept new nuclear safety rules that OK operations even at nuclear power plants even if active earthquake faults are discovered beneath their structures, reversing its current mandate that reactors must not be built above faults.

NISA has announced new plans to classify faults under nuclear reactors into three types: active faults that could trigger quakes, auxiliary faults that are structurally connected to active faults, and faults deemed weaker than the other two.  These last-minute efforts to set new seismic safety criteria have drawn criticism from experts, who suspect it is willfully creating loopholes to ensure the continued operations of nuclear plants.

Mitsuhisa Watanabe, a professor of geomorphology at Toyo University, said it would be hard to distinguish auxiliary faults from rifts with weaker power and both types could cause displacements. “The agency appears to be contemplating how to avoid the decommissioning of reactors just before its disbandment,” he said. Continue reading →

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

AUDIO: the Fukushima nuclear disaster continues to unfold

Arnold Gundersen with another update on the unfolding effects of the Fukushima disaster http://ifyoulovethisplanet.org/?p=6397

This week, Dr. Caldicott brings on nuclear engineerArnold Gundersen to update readers on the unfolding effects of the Fukushima meltdowns and what is happening with nuclear power in other parts of the world. Longer show description to follow. As background, listen to earlier conversations with Gundersen (starting with April 1, 2011), which can be found on the Archives page.

Read the August 2012 news articles Study: Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Caused Mutant Butterflies andGrassroots Power Pushing Japan Towards Nuclear-Free Future . And visit Fairewinds.org, the website of Gundersen’s organization, for more information.

This week, Dr. Caldicott brings on nuclear engineer Arnold Gundersen to update readers on the unfolding effects of the Fukushima meltdowns and what is happening with nuclear power in other parts of the world

[…]Gundersen: The big problem is going to be — Have these things been distorted by the earthquake or heat during the process, or by rubble falling on them. They may not be able to pull them. They may get on them and try to pull them and try to lift and they’ll be jammed. Then that’s another problem. We’ll see as time develops. Unfortunately, they’re taking way too long. http://enenews.com/gundersen-they-may-not-be-able-to-pull-out-spent-fuel-rods-the-big-problem-is-are-they-distorted-from-heat-or-quake-or-fallen-rubble-video

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Resources -audiovicual | Leave a comment

Hurricane Isaac no problem to solar powered wave glider

Solar Powered Wave Glider Survives Hurricane Isaac by Energy Matters, Sept 2 A Wave Glider located in the Gulf of Mexico is alive and well after staring down Hurricane Isaac. Manufactured by California company Liquid Robotics, the Wave Glider is an unmanned marine vehicle (UMV) made up of a buoyant platform and a submerged glider with wing-shaped panels that convert the motion of waves into forward thrust.  The Wave Glider’s navigation, control, and communications systems are powered by two solar panels; which also power sensor payloads.
G2, a Wave Glider collecting ocean chemistry data in the Gulf, was in the process of scooting out of Isaac’s projected path when the hurricane changed direction and bore down on the robot.

G2 continued operating in sustained winds of 40 knots (74 kmh), with gusts up to 74 knots (137 km/h) and in the process delivered new insights into the hurricane via its sensors measuring water temperature, wind speeds, barometric pressure and air temperature….  http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3363

September 3, 2012 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

Where to put Canada’s 2358873 radioactive used nuclear fuel bundles?

Nuclear waste seeks a home The Star.com  September 01, 2012“………A fuel bundle for a Candu nuclear power reactor is about the size of a fireplace log. As of June 30, 2011, Canada had 2,273,873 used fuel bundles stored at its nuclear plants in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.

Another 85,000 or so have been added since then.

In total, they’d fill about six NHL hockey rinks, stacked up as high
as the boards.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization, formed by the three electric utilities that run nuclear reactors, wants to bury the waste deep underground in caverns excavated from stable rock, where it can lie undisturbed forever.

The depth will probably depend on the site’s geology. A facility proposed to hold less-potent radioactive waste at the Bruce nuclear site near Kincardine will be 680 metres deep. By comparison, the CN Tower is 553 metres tall.

The NWMO is looking for a “willing” community to agree to take the $16-to-$24-billion project. The host community itself will decide how to define “willing.” Candidate communities will have multiple opportunities to withdraw if they get cold feet, the NWMO says.

As it moves through a nine-stage selection process, the NWMO hopes to have narrowed the field to one or two communities by 2015, then spend until about 2020 deciding on a specific site within the chosen community.

After that, it will take three to five years to do an extensive environmental assessment of the site. The proponents will also have to satisfy the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission that their plan makes sense, and obtain a license to construct and operate the facility.

Then, it will take six to 10 years to build. The NWMO doesn’t expect the first bundles to be stored until 2035…. http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1250109–nuclear-waste-seeks-a-home#.UEH_alKdoKU.twitter

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Canada, wastes | 1 Comment

Japan likely to go for zero nuclear power, and terminate nuclear reprocessing

Other options under consideration include termination of the commercialization program for “fast-breeder” reactors and of research on the experimental Monju prototype in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. As for the all-important nuclear fuel cycle, the government is actually discussing scaling down its reprocessing and recycling pursuits.

Zero option for nuclear power may be added to revamped energy plan http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120903a3.html Jiji Eliminating dependence on nuclear power is expected to be part of the government’s revamped energy policy, officials say.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will reveal the new policy to his ministers after making a formal decision this month, government officials said Saturday. According to the officials, the government will make the 15 percent option its interim target for nuclear power dependence in 2030 before completely eliminating it from electricity generation at an unspecified date. Continue reading →

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Nuclear weapons for Myanmar

The producers of the DVB documentary say evidence of Myanmar’s nuclear programme has come from top-secret material smuggled out of the country over several years

 Myanmar has developed the capacity and is now using laser isotope separation, a technique for developing nuclear weapons.

Myanmar develops nuclear weapon http://www.weeklyblitz.net/2522/myanmar-develops-nuclear-weapon September 2, 2012 Myanmar’s military junta has secretly gained nuclear
power and soon the country will emerge as the third nuclear nation in South Asia. The issue of developing nuclear bomb by Myanmar came into media’s focal point following broadcast of a documentary in Al Jazeera Television. Continue reading →

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Burma, weapons and war | Leave a comment

Political problems with China’s involvement in building UK’s nuclear reactors

any Chinese involvement in EDF’s new nuclear plans would raise concerns on a number of fronts and could even require a direct UK government involvement through some kind of golden share.

China could take key role in UK nuclear infrastructure through Hinkley Point
• EDF in talks with China to share £10bn reactor costs
• French company’s debt levels rocket to £30bn
• Security concerns raise possibility of government taking ‘golden
share’ in development Terry Macalister guardian.co.uk,  2 September 2012  EDF has been holding talks with China about sharing the soaring cost of building £10bn worth of new reactors at Hinkley Point, Somerset.

The move underlines growing pressure on the French company’s internal finances and has reignited a fractious debate about Communist state-run businesses playing a critical role in sensitive western energy infrastructure.

The overtures to Beijing’s state corporations – as well as approaches to Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds – come as EDF faces growing investment demands in France and the UK that have sent debt levels rocketing to €39.7bn (£30bn)…… Continue reading →

September 3, 2012 Posted by | politics, UK | Leave a comment

Non aligned Nations endorse Iran’s nuclear power project

NAM nations back Iran’s nuclear bid Times of India Thomas Erdbrink, NYT News Service | Sep 2, 2012, TEHRAN: The 120-nation Nonaligned Movement handed its host Iran a diplomatic victory on Friday, unanimously decreeing support for the disputed Iranian nuclear energy programme and criticizing the US-led attempt to isolate and punish Iran with unilateral economic sanctions.

But the group’s communique, issued by Iranian state news media at the end of its annual meeting, omitted any mention of support for Syria, Iran’s vital Middle East ally, which appeared to reflect a view among many members that the Syrian government’s attempt to crush the uprising there was indefensible…..
The Tehran Declaration document not only emphasizes Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy but acknowledges the right to ownership of a full nuclear fuel cycle, which means uranium enrichment – a matter of deep dispute. Continue reading →

September 3, 2012 Posted by | Iran, politics international | 1 Comment

75% drop in cost of solar photovoltaic energy with new technology

Now, technology to reduce cost of solar energy by 75% Business Line, WASHINGTON, SEPT 2: Scientists have developed a new technology which they claim could make production of solar energy cheaper by 75 per cent, and thus speed-up its market adoption. Continue reading →

September 3, 2012 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

UK puts Assange’s lawyer on ‘inhibited person list’

Lawyer for Assange detained at Heathrow and told she was on a ‘secret watch list’ Daily Mail, By ABUL TAHER, 1 September 2012 A lawyer acting for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says she was stopped at Heathrow and  told that she was on a secret watch-list and required special clearance before she could board her plane.

Australian Jennifer Robinson said she was left stunned after being told  by an airline crew that she was on an ‘inhibited person list’ that means she must have ‘done something controversial’.

Ms Robinson said that she could not understand why she was on the list as she had never done anything controversial or criminal. She had only represented clients around the world, one of whom was Mr Assange….. Ms Robinson, 31, said: ‘This incident raises so many questions.
‘Why would I need clearance to travel to my own country? So far I have not had a proper explanation.’
The human rights lawyer is a member of Mr Assange’s legal team, which has been fighting his extradition to Sweden on alleged sexual assault offences.
She was also his legal adviser when WikiLeaks published US military documents as well as diplomatic cables from American embassies. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2197003/Lawyer-Assange-detained-Heathrow-told-secret-watch-list.html#ixzz25RNRNfJl

September 3, 2012 Posted by | civil liberties, UK | 1 Comment

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