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Japanese govt hid the radiation risks from the public

The Truth About Nuclear Power: Japanese Nuclear Engineer Calls for Abolition Koide Hiroaki Introduction and translation by Sakai Yasuyuki and Norimatsu Satoko, 1 August 11,”.……I believe disclosing accurate information is the only way to avoid panic. That way people would trust the administration and the government. However, the Japanese government acted in the opposite way. They consistently hid information, repeatedly saying that the situation was not critical. The government spent more than 10 billion yen in the last 25 years to develop the radiation dispersion simulation system called SPEEDI (the System for Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information), but they hid the simulation results from the public and did not let local residents know the risks….”
The Truth About Nuclear Power: Japanese Nuclear Engineer Calls for Abolition :: JapanFocus

August 1, 2011 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Anger in Japan,as nuclear regulator’s hypocrisy is revealed

the Chubu Electric scandal features the direct involvement of the nuclear safety agency, the government body responsible for overseeing nuclear power plant operations. This cannot be seen as anything but an attempt to distort public opinion….

The revelation that the government attempted to manipulate a public symposium on a pluthermal power-generation project in 2007 has confused and angered people living near nuclear power plants….

‘Credibility shot to pieces’ / Latest utility scandal also sullies govt nuclear safety agency The Yomiuri Shimbun, 29 July 11, An attempt by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency to stifle public opposition to a plutonium-thermal power generation project at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant during a 2007 community symposium is the latest scandal to involve a nuclear power project. Continue reading →

July 30, 2011 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Japanese nuclear regulator’s deceptive role in promoting nuclear power

UPDATE: Japan’s Nuclear Regulator Admits It Tried To Sway Public Opinion On Nuclear Plants By Kosaku Narioka and Toko Sekiguchi, Dow Jones Newswires;  JULY 29, 2011,

— Japan’s nuclear regulator behind efforts to falsely suggest public support for nuclear power

— At least two utilities say they were asked to take part in secret efforts

— Admission comes as government releases energy strategy that reduces dependence on nuclear power

— PM Kan says that scandal brings into question the agency’s very existence

TOKYO (Dow Jones)--The Japanese government disclosed Friday that its primary nuclear regulator tried to manipulate public opinion at public forums around the country to promote nuclear power, findings that further damage the industry's already tattered reputation. Continue reading →

July 30, 2011 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

School shuts up Fukushima teacher on radiation risks

Fukushima Teacher Muzzled on Radiation Risks, Bloomberg, By Takahiko Hyuga – Jul 28, 2011 As temperatures soared to 100 degrees Fahrenheit on a recent July morning, school children in Fukushima prefecture were taking off their masks and running around playgrounds in T-shirts, exposing them to a similar amount of annual radiation as a worker in a nuclear power plant.

Toshinori Shishido, a Japanese literature teacher of 25 years, had warned his students two months ago to wear surgical masks and keep their skin covered with long-sleeved shirts. His advice went unheeded, not because of the weather but because his school told him not to alarm students. Shishido quit this week.

“I want to get away from this situation where I’m not even allowed to alert children about radiation exposure,” said Shishido, a 48-year-old teacher who taught at Fukushima Nishi High School. “Now I’m free to talk about the risks.”…..

Radiation Exposure   About a fifth of the 1,600 schools in Fukushima are exposed to at least 20 millisieverts of radiation a year, the Network to Protect Fukushima Children from Radiation said, citing the most recent government readings in April. That’s the limit for an atomic plant worker set by theInternational Commission on Radiological Protection.

More than three-quarters of the schools receive radiation readings of 0.6 microsievert per hour, said the network, a group comprising 700 parents. That’s 10 times more than the readings in Shinjuku, central Tokyo, on average….. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-28/fukushima-teacher-muzzled-on-radiation-risks-for-school-children.html

July 29, 2011 Posted by | civil liberties, Japan | 1 Comment

Japan about to censor Internet news on nuclear radiation?

On June 17, 2011 the Japanese Parliament passed “The Computer Network Monitoring Law” . Prof. Ibusuki of Seijo Univ. Law Dept. comments that “The Computer Network Monitoring Law will enable the police to monitor anyone’s internet activity without restriction.”…

The question is, will METI draw the line at “clarifying” erroneous information, or will it act to clamp down and suppress sources of information that it finds inconvenient?

New Japan Law Cleanses Bad Nuclear News, UK PROGRESSIVE,  | JULY 24, 2011  Friday, July 15, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (METI) – Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, opened a call for bids (tender) regarding the “Nuclear Power Safety Regulation Publicity Project”, for contractors to monitor blogs and tweets posted about nuclear power and radiation……. Continue reading →

July 24, 2011 Posted by | civil liberties, Japan | 4 Comments

Military Industrial Complex makes sure NASA uses nuclear, not solar, technology

There’s more to it. For many decades there has been a marriage of nuclear power and space at NASA.   The use of nuclear power on space missions has been heavily promoted by the U.S. Department of Energy and its predecessor agency, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, and the many DOE (previously AEC) national laboratories including Los Alamos and Oak Ridge. This provides work for these government entities. Also, the manufacturers of nuclear-powered space devices–General Electric was a pioneers in this–have pushed their products. Further, NAS has sought to coordinate its activities with the U.S. military. The military for decades has planned for the deployment of nuclear-powered weapons in space.

What Could Truly End the Space Program: A Nuclear Disaster Overhead , OpED News, By Karl Grossman 21 July 11,“…..As to why the use of a plutonium-powered rover on Mars–considering that NASA has successfully used solar-powered rovers on Mars–the NASA Environmental Impact Statement says that a “solar-powered rover”would not be capable of operating over the full range of scientifically desirable landing site latitudes” on this mission. Continue reading →

July 21, 2011 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

USA’s radioactive rainwater from Fukushima nuclear disaster

High levels of radiation detected in Northwest rainwater, by GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News, July 11, 2011, SEATTLE — A Seattle nuclear watchdog group is accusing the federal government of failing to keep the public informed of radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

In the days following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the U.S. began monitoring radiation from Japan’s leaking nuclear power plants.

Most of the public attention went to the air monitoring which showed little or no radiation coming our way. But things were different on the rain water side.

“The level that was detected on March 24 was 41 times the drinking water standard,” said Gerry Pollet from Heart of America Northwest. He reviewed Iodine 131 numbers released by the Environmental Protection Agency last spring.

“Our government said no health levels, no health levels were exceeded.When in fact the rain water in the Northwest is reaching levels 130 times the drinking water standards,” said Pollet.Elevated rain water samples were collected in Portland, Olympia and Boise — which had the highest….http://www.king5.com/news/environment/High-levels-of-radiation-detected-in-Northwest-rainwater–125391598.html

July 12, 2011 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

Nuclear power loses even more credibility as Japan’s crooked email scandal is exposed

There can be no doubt that the sending of the e-mails under the guise of ordinary residents of the prefecture was perpetrated systematically….Making the problem worse is the fact that the company at first tried to cover it up.

E-mail scandal could amplify distrust of N-power, The Yomiuri Shimbun, 11 July , If they thought they could use the deception to increase support for restarting nuclear reactors, the idea was extremely ill-advised.

This is in reference to the e-mail scandal involving Kyushu Electric Power Co., in which the utility sought to manipulate public opinion to favor reactivation of its Genkai nuclear power plant in Saga Prefecture. Continue reading →

July 11, 2011 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Disgrace for Kyushu Electric, as deceitful nuclear power promotion exposed

part of the e-mail instruction read: “Send opinions and questions …which could win sympathy from the prefecture residents.”     It also said, “Use personal computers from home.”…

Kyushu Electric president to resign over pro-nuke e-mails, Asahi.com 8 July 11, Toshio Manabe, president of Kyushu Electric Power Co., said July 7 that he intends to resign after the utility was found to have instructed employees to manipulate public opinion on nuclear power.

Manabe said he will take responsibility for instructing employees to send “pro-nuclear power” e-mails to organizers of a public hearing broadcast on television in late June. Continue reading →

July 11, 2011 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | 1 Comment

Nuclear Regulatory Commission keeps the public in the dark about radioactive leaks

NRC, nuke industry criticized for skirting public . The Sacramento Bee, 10 July 11, MONTPELIER, Vt. — When a nuclear watchdog group asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a study on leaks of radioactive water at the Vermont Yankee plant, it was told the NRC had seen the report but had never officially taken custody of it – so it wasn’t public. By DAVE GRAM, Associated Press

Critics say it’s a style of communication between regulator and regulated that cuts out the public and even state regulators – trying to track leaks of tritium, a radioactive form of water linked with cancer when ingested in high amounts.

An NRC spokeswoman confirmed the agency routinely sees industry reports that it does not share on its public web site. Raymond Shadis of the New England Coalition said the result is an agency making regulatory decisions based on information the public doesn’t get to see…..

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/10/3759812/nrc-nuke-industry-criticized-for.html

July 10, 2011 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA | Leave a comment

Overview of nuclear problems – Britain, Japan ,France, USA

 

 

The Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant is still surrounded by floodwaters. Because there is so little information being released, it is difficult to assess the situation….

Nuclear Problems In Britain, Japan, France and the U.S.  WASHINGTON’S BLOG,  JULY 8, 2011

UK

The British government has finally admitted widespread contamination from the Sellafield plant.

The Guardian reports:

Radioactive pollution from the Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria has led to children’s teeth across Britain being contaminated with plutonium.

The Government has admitted for the first time that Sellafield ‘is a source of plutonium contamination’ across the country. Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson has revealed that a study funded by the Department of Health discovered that the closer a child lived to Sellafield, the higher the levels of plutonium found in their teeth…. Continue reading →

July 9, 2011 Posted by | 2 WORLD, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Allegations of corruption against Pakistan’s nuclear scientist Khan

Pakistani nuclear scientist Khan accused of graft, The National, Tom Hussain, Jul 9, 2011 ISLAMABAD  The disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, allegedly embezzled money from the country’s clandestine programme, and sought to sabotage technology acquisition deals for personal financial interest, a former chief diplomat said.

“He siphoned off a lot of money from every deal,” said Akram Zaki, the secretary general to Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs from 1992 to 1993, and a former senator.

“And the deals in which he didn’t get his finger, he tried to scuttle … even if they were national-interest [projects].”

His comments, in a recent interview with The National, were made before a Washington Post report on Thursday saying Mr Khan had leaked 1998 documents purporting to show Pakistani generals accepted more than $3.5 million (Dh12.9m) in bribes to allow the export of nuclear weapons technology to North Korea.

Mr Khan, the founding father of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme, was arrested in December 2003 after a shipment of nuclear weapons-making equipment, bound for Libya, was seized off the coast of Egypt. He was pardoned after making a televised apology to Pakistanis, but kept under house arrest until 2009.

International investigators and Pakistani officials have said Mr Khan had illegally exported some 200 uranium enrichment centrifuges to Iran and North Korea…….http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/pakistani-nuclear-scientist-khan-accused-of-graft.

July 9, 2011 Posted by | Pakistan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Atomic Energy Society of Japan critical of govt’s lack of transparency on Fukushima

Japan nuclear group says vital info still has not been released, such as temperatures of the molten nuclear fuel and lower section of pressure vessels, ENE News July 8th, 2011 , Nuclear accident disclosure, Japan Times, July 8, 2011:

The Atomic Energy Society of Japan […] issued a statement criticizing the government, Tokyo Electric Power Co. and other related institutions for delays and insufficiency in their disclosure of information concerning the accidents at Tepco’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant […]

Since the Atomic Energy Society of Japan is regarded as close to Japan’s nuclear power establishment, the criticism bears importance all the more. […]

The following point is especially important. The society notes that there is the possibility that the damage to people’s health from radiation exposure has increased because the government, Tepco and other related institutions did not properly disclose information on the status of the nuclear accidents and the environmental contamination by radioactive substances. […]

The society notes that such vital information as the temperature of the lower section of the pressure vessels, the volume and temperature of the coolant water in the lower part of the pressure vessels, and the temperature of the molten nuclear fuel have yet to be released. […]http://enenews.com/japan-nuclear-group-vital-info-released-temperatures-molten-nuclear-fuel-lower-section-pressure-vessels

July 8, 2011 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Emails reveal how UK govt and nuclear industry conspired to downplay Fukushima disaster

“There is  a risk that this event could impact on the global industry.  We need to ensure that the anti nuclear chaps and chapesses do not gain ground on this. we need to occupy the territory and hold it… We need to get into context – show that the events in Japan…. are all part of the safety processes of this 1960s reactor. We also need to pull out the additional safety of Gen III…

Should also highlight and show that this is what has happened even with the 1960s reactor in Japan, radiation release has been controlled – the reactor has been protected.

We really need to show the safety of nuclear. We need to quash any stories trying to compare this to Chernobyl…    We do not want to be on the back foot with this. People at new build sites are likely to be following closely…. The mitigation with nuclear is so high that the risk is minimal – as demonstrated in Japan”    

  UK  government and nuclear industry email correspondence after the Fukushima accident, guardian.co.uk, 30 June 2011

Emails released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal the level of coordination between government departments and the nuclear industry during the Fukushima crisis.

July 2, 2011 Posted by | secrets,lies and civil liberties, UK | Leave a comment

Doctor ejected from airport for refusing radiation scanning

Airport Boots Doctor for Refusing Radiation Assault, (NEWSER) 2 July 11– An eye specialist on his way to treat child patients in Switzerland was escorted out of Britain’s Manchester airport by police after refusing a full-body scan. Tony Aguirre declined the scan on both medical and ethical grounds, calling the technology a “radiation assault,” reports the Daily Mail. Fliers at the three British airports that have installed the scanners are not offered the dreaded “pat-down” option offered to American travelers who refuse the scan.

“X-rays are known to cause cancer and I think somebody will get cancer from this body scanner whether it’s me or someone else,” the doctor told officials. The “no scan, no fly” rule “raises the suspicion that perhaps it’s more expensive to do a manual search and that’s why they are forced to go through an X-ray,” he says. The doctor eventually flew to Switzerland from Liverpool airport, which does not have the scanners…..http://www.newser.com/story/122386/airport-boots-doctor-for-refusing-radiation-assault.html
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July 2, 2011 Posted by | civil liberties, UK | Leave a comment

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