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Despite Prime Minister Abe, nuclear power IS an issue in Tokyo election

To say that nuclear power should not be an issue in the Tokyo gubernatorial election is ludicrous as the question of what to do about nuclear power affects everyone in this small, quake-prone country — including the tens of millions of people living and working in the nation’s capital.

ballot-boxSmflag-japanCan’t bury the nuclear issue, Japan Times Editorial, 23 Jan 14 Campaigning kicked off on Thursday for the Feb. 9 Tokyo gubernatorial election, which will not only decide the leader of the nation’s capital but also influence the debate on whether Japan should continue to rely on nuclear power — a major issue that will help determine the shape of Japan’s future.

The nuclear issue has assumed great importance because former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa has entered the race with the backing of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and is running on a “zero nuclear” platform — a stance shared by Koizumi. Both Hosokawa and fellow candidate Kenji Utsunomiya, a former head of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, are calling for the immediate halt of nuclear power generation. They oppose the Abe administration’s plan to restart idled nuclear power plants if their safety is confirmed by the Nuclear Regulation Authority.
Some people, in particular Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, oppose the idea of treating nuclear power as a major issue in the Tokyo gubernatorial election. In an apparent effort to prevent the nuclear power issue from rousing wide interest among Tokyo voters, Abe said energy policy is an issue not just for Tokyoites but for all Japanese, adding that various issues that the Tokyo governor must deal with should be discussed in a balanced manner.

Yet Tokyo, which consumes about 10 percent of Japan’s total electricity, is the biggest power user among Japan’s 47 prefectures. Continue reading →

January 24, 2014 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Offshore solar power plant: Japan leads the way

Is Japan’s Offshore Solar PowerPlant the Future of Renewable Energy?s found a new way to harness the power of harness the power the sun

By Vicky Gan SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE  

FEBRUARY 2014 cross Japan, 50 nuclear power plants sit idle, shut down in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Nobody is certain when government inspectors will certify that the plants are safe enough to be brought back online. Anti-nuclear activists point to this energy crisis as evidence that Japan needs to rely more on renewables. One think tank has calculated that a national solar power initiative could generate electricity equivalent to ten nuclear plants. But skeptics have asked where, in their crowded mountainous country, they could construct all those solar panels

One solution was unveiled this past November, when Japan flipped the switch on its largest solar power plant to date, built offshore on reclaimed land jutting into the cerulean waters of Kagoshima Bay. The Kyocera Corporation’s Kagoshima Nanatsujima Mega Solar Power Plant is as potent as it is picturesque, generating enough electricity to power roughly 22,000 homes.

Other densely populated countries, notably in Asia, are also beginning to look seaward.

In Singapore, the Norwegian energy consultancy firm DNV recently debuted a solar island concept called SUNdy, which links 4,200 solar panels into a stadium-size hexagonal array that floats on the ocean’s surface.

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovations/Is-Japans-Offshore-Solar-Power-Plant-the-Future-of-Renewable-Energy-180949453/#ixzz2rFqExlFq

January 24, 2014 Posted by | Japan, renewable | Leave a comment

Tokyo governor election – a referendum on nuclear energy?

ballot-boxSmflag-japanFormer Japanese Premier Challenges Abe’s Nuclear Policy Tokyo Governor Race Threatens to Become Referendum on Atomic Energy, WSJ,  By ALEXANDER MARTIN And TOKO SEKIGUCHI  Jan. 22, 2014 TOKYO—Former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa pledged on Wednesday to work toward keeping Japan’s nuclear reactors offline in his campaign platform for the coming Tokyo gubernatorial race, threatening to make the local election a referendum on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pro-nuclear energy policies.

“Restarting nuclear reactors while we still have no place to dispose nuclear waste is a criminal act toward future generations,” Mr. Hosokawa said during a news conference where he laid out his campaign promises for the Feb. 9 election……..

Mr. Hosokawa’s candidacy poses a headache for Mr. Abe’s administration, which has been preparing to reactivate the nation’s 50 commercial reactors once they are deemed to comply with new safety standards introduced after the March 2011 Fukushima crisis.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is the fourth-largest shareholder of Fukushima Daiichi plant operator Tokyo Electric Power 9501.TO +1.02% Company (TEPCO) with a 1.2% stake, giving it the right to make proposals at the general shareholders’ meetings. Using this leverage, Mr. Hosokawa said he would pressure TEPCO not to restart any reactors………Mr. Hosokawa, 76, opposes any restarts and calls for pulling the plug on nuclear power entirely. And he aims to tap the antinuclear electorate with the support of fellow former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. A political mentor to Mr. Abe who in recent months has become an avid antinuclear campaigner, Mr. Koizumi remains one of the nation’s most popular politicians after stepping down in 2006……

rival candidate Yoichi Masuzoe……supports a phasing out of nuclear power……..http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303448204579335982659523094?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fo

January 24, 2014 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

The harsh facts on U.S.S. Reagan’s sailors affected by Fukushima radiation

Is Nuclear Experimentation Fascism? OpEdNews   1/22/2014 By  (about the author) “…the crew of the U.S.S. Reagan. The U.S.S. Reagan was exposed to radiation after being redirected towards Japan to provide support immediately after the massive Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan.

According to an article in the New York Post, Senior Chief Michael Sebourn, a radiation-decontamination officer who tested the aircraft carrier for radiation found that “levels were incredibly dangerous and at one point, the radiation in the air measured 300 times higher than what was considered safe.” The article continues: “The former personal trainer has suffered a series of ailments, starting with severe nosebleeds and headaches and continuing with debilitating weakness” has lost 60 percent of the power in the right side of his body and his limbs have visibly shrunk.” As Senior Chief Michael Sebourn stated, “I’ve had four MRIs, and I’ve been to 20 doctors” No one can figure out what is wrong.” He has since retired from the Navy after 17 years of service.

And he is not alone. According to The Post, “crew members on the aircraft carrier and a half-dozen other support ships are battling cancers, thyroid disease, uterine bleeding and other ailments.” Of the 5,000 sailors on board, at least 70 have contracted some form of radiation sickness, and of those, “at least half” are suffering from some form of cancer,” said lawyer, Paul Garner, who is representing the sailors in a lawsuit against the operators of the Fukushima Daiichi energy plant. “We’re seeing leukemia, testicular cancer and unremitting gynecological bleeding requiring transfusions and other intervention,” said Garner.

In a Voice of Russia report, Mr. Garner elaborated: “it seems that there’s too many people at the same place at the same time without any family background or any reason to believe that they had these issues to now show up with these significant cancers and beyond. So we feel that time will tell in many instances”. especially, because they all had physicals and were all in top health.”

Navy sailor Lindsay Cooper, who was also present on the U.S.S. Reagan, stated that crew members suffered from excruciating diarrhea at the time. “People were s-“-tting themselves in the hallways,” Cooper recalled. “Two weeks after that, my lymph nodes in my neck were swollen. By July, my thyroid shut down.”

When asked about the U.S.S. Reagan’s ability to detect radiation early, sailor Cooper stated “we have a multimillion-dollar radiation-detection system, but” it takes time to be set up and activated”. She went on to describe that after being exposed, “we couldn’t go anywhere. Japan didn’t want us in port, Korea didn’t want us, Guam turned us away. We floated in the water for two and a half months” until Thailand took the stricken sailors in……..http://www.opednews.com/articles/Is-Nuclear-Experimentation-by-Ethan-Indigo-Smith-Fukushima_Nuclear-Cover-up_Nuclear-Meltdown_Nuclear-Waste-140122-627.html

January 24, 2014 Posted by | Fukushima 2014, health, radiation, Reference | 1 Comment

Wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is in a continuing crisis

a constant flow of water is necessary to keep the molten uranium from heating up. TEPCO has built thousands of tanks to store the daily flood of contaminated water, but it is running out of space.

“The tanks have mushroomed all over the power plant,” McNeill said. “Because if they don’t keep it cool, it heats up, radiation escapes and then we’re back to square one.”

Fukushima-water-tanks-2013

Is Fukushima at risk for another nuclear disaster?, Aljazeera America, 9 Jan 14  by Michael Okwu Nearly three years after the nuclear catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, there remains concern about whether another disaster is right around the corner. America Tonight

 At the Fukushima Daiichi plant, the Tokyo Electric Power Co., or TEPCO, is struggling to contain the ongoing nuclear disaster. Since the catastrophe almost three years ago, there has been disagreement about whether the plant is safe.

The official line from the Japanese government is that the situation is under control.

“The government is moving to the forefront and we will completely resolve the matter,” said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in September, just before Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Summer Olympics.

But others, such as then–Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose, have said the situation is “not necessarily under control.”…..

‘An ongoing crisis’ Journalist David McNeill has been covering Japan since 2000. America Tonight

“I think this is an ongoing crisis,” said David McNeill, a journalist who has lived in Japan since 2000 and has been covering the Fukushima disasterfrom the beginning. “What you’ve had is a series of ad hoc strategies designed to deal with the crisis that’s right in front of you.” Continue reading →

January 9, 2014 Posted by | Fukushima 2014 | 4 Comments

Japan’s nuclear agreement with Turkey contradicts Japan’s policy on nuclear weapons proliferation

Buy-Japan's-nukes-2Japan’s energy pact with Turkey raises nuclear weapons concerns  Asahi Shimbun, This article was compiled from reports by Sachiko Miwa in Tokyo and Kazuyuki Kanai in Istanbul., 7 Jan 14, A pact required for Japan’s first nuclear plant export after the Fukushima disaster faces opposition over concerns about a possible proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Debate over the issue is expected when the government seeks Diet approval for the nuclear energy agreement with Turkey during a session that convenes this month. Japan and Turkey agreed to conclude the nuclear energy pact, a precondition for exporting nuclear technology, in May. It requires the recipient country to use technology, as well as equipment and materials, only for peaceful purposes.

However, the pact includes a provision allowing Turkey to enrich uranium and extract plutonium, a potential material for nuclear weapons, from spent fuel if the two countries agree in writing. A senior Foreign Ministry official said the clause was added at the request of Turkey.

The agreement would also pave the way for exporting Japan’s enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies if revisions are made.

The provision has sparked criticism that it contradicts Japan’s stance against nuclear weapons. Continue reading →

January 9, 2014 Posted by | Japan, politics international | 1 Comment

Cause of steam from Fukushima reactor 3 – corium burning through containment?

exclamation-Nuclear Chemistry Expert: Steam at Fukushima reactor could be from corium burning through containment into groundwater http://enenews.com/nuclear-chemistry-expert-steam-at-unit-3-could-be-from-corium-burning-throug-containment-into-underlying-groundwater

 Judy Haar, former nuclear industry worker with a master’s degree in nuclear chemistry, Jan. 6, 2014: […]the story continues to linger, and the speculations have not stopped. […] With a high potential of fear-mongering, just the facts, please. […] First noticed in July, 2013, the plant, [Fukushima Daiichi] Reactor 3, suddenly started releasing steam. […] TEPCO […] hypothesized it was caused by rain waters seeping into the reactors damaged containment vessel which hit thermal hot spots […] On December 19, 24, 25, and 27, Reactor 3 started releasing steam, again. […] this is a strong indicator of the fragile state the site is in […] Reactor 3 ran on a mix of uranium and uranium/plutonium mixed fuel […] which experienced a complete meltdown. We don’t know for sure at this time, but the corium could have burned its way through the reactor vessel due to extreme heat, thus reaching the underlying ground water and producing steam. […]

In the months after 3/11, Haar concluded, “The Answer is Clear: Nuclear Power is Safe — The three major reactor accidents have shown the industry that even among the worst accidents, few and far between, there is little loss of life, as compared to other fuels.”

And it appears Tepco won’t be the only company in the area emitting plumes related to hot radioactive material — NHK WORLD, Jan. 6, 2014: Nuclear waste incinerator to be built in Ibaraki […] The personnel of JCO, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Metal Mining, began constructing an incinerator to dispose of low-level radioactive substances at its plant in Tokai Village, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Monday. The firm lost its business license for such processing after 2 workers died of radiation poisoning during the disposal process in September, 1999. More than 660 others in and around the plant, including residents, were exposed to radiation. […] The firm is hoping to begin using the incinerator in November […] Used work clothes and documents are among the item to be treated. […] The firm’s officials say the facility’s air-filtering system will prevent any radioactive substances from leaking outside. […]

See also: Nuclear Engineer: Radioactive plumes always coming out of Fukushima Unit 3 — “Water is not getting to hotspots… it’s because of melted core” — Fission may be taking place underneath reactor (AUDIO)

And: Nuclear Engineer: Radioactive plumes always coming out of Fukushima Unit 3 — “Water is not getting to hotspots… it’s because of melted core” — Fission may be taking place underneath reactor (AUDIO)

January 8, 2014 Posted by | Fukushima 2014 | 1 Comment

Rebellious Fukushima farmer who cares about his cows

ABC News: Gov’t, scientists ‘baffled’ over white spots on cows around Fukushima plant — Farmer: No one knows what they are, I think it’s from radiation; “Our town’s contaminated like Chernobyl… We were just thrown away like trash” — Officials order the animals to be slaughtered (VIDEOS) http://enenews.com/abc-news-govt-baffled-over-white-spots-on-cows-around-fukushima-plant-farmer-no-one-knows-what-they-are-i-think-its-from-radiation-our-towns-contaminated-like-chernobyl-we-were-j

ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Jan. 4, 2014 (Emphasis Added):

Mark Willacy, ABC News (Australia) correspondent: He calls himself […] the leader of the Fukushima nuclear resistance movement […]

Masami Yoshizawa, ‘Ranch of Hope’ 14 km from Fukushima Daiichi: I won’t obey what the government says, because we were betrayed. Our community was destroyed by the nuclear disaster. […]

What we saw and heard in Fukushima, “The Ranch of Hope”, Namie

Willacy: A radiation decontamination team arrives […] Yoshizawa has defied a government order to slaughter his cows.

Yoshizawa: Instead of being slaughtered, these cattle should be used to study the long-term effects of radiation. Killing them is destroying evidence. […]

Willacy: Scientists have descended on his property, saying it is important his herd is studied. […] Some of Yoshizawa’s cattle have developed white spots. The ministry of agriculture has begun an investigation, but so far everyone is baffled.

Yoshizawa: “I showed these spots to many vets who came to my farm. But none of them knows what they are. I think it’s the result of radiation.” […]

Watch the broadcast here

Masami Yoshizawa in Tokyo last May, published Dec. 26, 2013 13 (at 5:30 in): Our town is over. The end. It is like Chernobyl. […] Our town has been contaminated like Chernobyl. […] Our lives are totally destroyed. How depressed we are! So sad and empty. […]  We were just thrown away like the trash. […] With all the rest of my life, I would like to fight against TEPCO and the government.

Watch the video here

January 7, 2014 Posted by | Fukushima 2014, Resources -audiovicual | 1 Comment

Anti-nuclear power law sought by community for Shimane Prefecture

logo-NO-nuclear-Smflag-japanCitizens seek nuclear-free Shimane http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/06/national/citizens-seek-nuclear-free-shimane/#.UsweM9JDt9U BY ERIC JOHNSTON STAFF WRITER Shimane Prefecture citizens seeking to enact a local ordinance that would phase out nuclear power and develop renewable energy sources have collected more than 92,000 signatures of support from registered voters, well over the minimum needed to force the governor to introduce the ordinance to the prefectural assembly.

The latest move is part of a series of attempts by citizens’ groups around the nation to pass anti-nuclear power ordinances, none of which has succeeded so far.

Kenji Nanki, a spokesman for the group pushing for the ordinance, said local governments are checking the signatures against their voter registration lists but will present them to Shimane Gov. Zenbei Mizoguchi in early February. The governor is then expected to bring the issue to the assembly.

The ordinance calls on Shimane to establish a plan of action for getting out of nuclear power by an unspecified date, to up the use of natural and renewable energy sources, and to establish a committee to develop a concrete policy for that purpose.Chugoku Electric Power Co.’s Shimane nuclear plant, in Matsue, has two reactors. About 469,000 people in Shimane and Tottori prefectures live within 30 km of the plant. Last month, Chugoku Electric formally asked the Nuclear Regulation Authority to inspect reactor 2 to determine whether it meets new safety standards established last year.

Reactor 2 was built in 1989, making it one of Japan’s newer reactors. Shimane’s reactor 1, on the other hand, turns 40 years old this year and its future is uncertain.

January 7, 2014 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

“Solar sharing”= agriculture and sunshine, brings new prosperity to Fukushima farmers

Renewable village offers lifeline to Fukushima farmers New Scientist. 06 January 2014 by Rob Gilhool  It seems the most unlikely place to try to put a utopian blueprint into practice. Yet a patch of land in Fukushima, the Japanese prefecture contaminated by nuclear fallout in 2011, holds the foundations of a model village of the future.

solar sharing Japan

The prefecture was affected by the meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011. Now construction has started on a community-run project in the coastal city of Minamisoma to reuse farmland contaminated by fallout. About two-thirds of the city’s farmland lies within the nuclear evacuation zone.

So far the Renewable Energy Village (REV) boasts 120 photovoltaic panels, generating 30 kilowatts of power which is sold to a local utility. Plans are afoot to put wind turbines on some of the land. Recreational and educational facilities as well as an astronomical observatory will also be built if further funding can be secured.

Solar sharing  Central to the project is what the Japanese call “solar sharing” – growing crops beneath raised solar panels. One crop that has already been planted, namely rapeseed, was chosen, say project organisers, because its oil is free of contaminants even though the plants themselves take in some radioisotopes such as those of caesium. Generous feed-in tariffs set by the government support the project……..http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24816-renewable-village-offers-lifeline-to-fukushima-farmers.html#.UsyZe9JDuik

January 7, 2014 Posted by | Japan, renewable | Leave a comment

Steam from Fukushima nuclear reactor no.3 is still an important matter

Nuclear Expert: Why Steam From Reactor 3 at Fukushima Matters nsnbc International, Susanne Posel (OC) 5 Jan 14– In September of 2013, steam was observed coming from Reactor 3. The average temperature in Fukushima was 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) during the daytime high. Gordon Edwards, president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility (CCNR) spoke about the steam and warned that it could be indicative of an under-reported problem. Edwards explained that “nobody quite understands what’s going on . . . in fact there’s been several incidents of steam escaping.”…….

On 17 December 2013, TEPCO began to “remove fuel assemblies from the Reactor 3 Spent Fuel Pool, (and began with the) removal of large-size debris in the Spent Fuel Pool”. Not long after TEPCO began this operation, steam once again began to emanate from Reactor 3.

Since 24 December 2013, reports, directly from TEPCO’s website, have confirmed that steam has been emanating from Rector 3. The daytime high temperature during the 3 days in question was 6 degrees Celsius or43 degrees Fahrenheit.

Over the course of 3 days, reports continued, claiming that no “abnormal plant conditions” have been identified at Rector 3, where the steam has been observed via a camera.

A recent commentary on the steam rising from Rector 3, claims that because it is currently winter in “much of the northern hemisphere” that the steam is simply “hot water vapor [being] released daily”, from the devastated Fukushima nuclear plant.

Under normal conditions, with temperature differences between the environment and the nuclear plant, this explanation would make sense. Although the steam, rising from Reactor 3, is undeniably more visible during the winter months, it is certainly not just ordinary “hot water vapor” as some media outlets may suggest.

Indeed, the winter weather water vapor theory does not account for TEPCO surveillance cameras recording steam rising from Reactor 3 in the middle of summer, as was shown in this video.

The specific elements contained within the steam should be the focal point of discussion in terms of properly appreciating the potential consequences yet to manifest at Reactor 3.

In 2011, at Reactor 3, the water in the reactor vessel evaporated. Fuel became uncovered, and heated up to a temperature of 2,300 degrees Celsius. It mixed with the materials of the structure to form magma called Corium.

The Corium flowed down to the bottom of the reactor vessel, which is made of steel. According to Japanese investigators, the Corium pierced the reactor vessel before falling on the concrete basement inside the containment.

Questions about how much erosion to the concrete has occurred because of the Corium still remain unanswered. The steam emanating from Reactor 3 is most assuredly radioactive. In fact, TEPCO lied at first about Corium melting through concrete and steel casings.

The Institute of Applied Energy (IAE) pointed out that, at least in Reactor 1, the Corium did indeed melt through the barriers, causing the vessel to “tilt”.

Reactor 3 could be showing sings that Corium may be the cause of a possible future disaster if the Corium comes into contact with radioactive water, causing a violent reaction such as a steam explosion…….. http://nsnbc.me/2014/01/04/nuclear-expert-steam-reactor-3-fukushima-matters/

January 7, 2014 Posted by | Fukushima 2014 | 1 Comment

Fukushima nuclear reactor No 3 gives off new plumes of steam

Plumes of Mysterious Steam rise from Crippled Fukushima Nuclear Reactor  By Russia Today
Global Research, January 03, 2014 Fresh plumes of most probably radioactive steam have been detected rising from the reactor 3 building at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, said the facility’s operator company.
The steam has been detected by surveillance cameras and appeared to be coming from the fifth floor of the mostly-destroyed building housing crippled reactor 3, according to Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), the plant’s operator.

The steam was first spotted on December 19 for a short period of time, then again on December 24, 25, 27, according to a report TEPCO published on its website.

The company, responsible for the cleanup of the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, has not explained the source of the steam or the reason it is rising from the reactor building. High levels of radiation have complicated entry into the building and further inspection of the situation…….

Unlike the other five reactors, reactor 3 ran on mixed core containing both uranium fuel and mixed uranium and plutonium oxide, or MOX nuclear fuel. The Reactor 3 fuel storage pond still houses an estimated 89 tons of the plutonium-based MOX nuclear fuel composed of 514 fuel rods…….http://www.globalresearch.ca/plumes-of-mysterious-steam-rise-from-crippled-fukushima-nuclear-reactor/5363614

January 3, 2014 Posted by | Fukushima 2014 | Leave a comment

Secret agreement between Fukushima Govt. Fukushima Medical University and IAEA

Fukushima Govt. & Fukushima Medical University Signed Secrecy Pact With IAEA fukuleaks.org January 1st, 2014 Tokyo Shimbun is reporting the results of their investigation into the dealings of the Fukushima prefecture government, the medical university and the IAEA. There has beenflag-japanongoing suspicion about the openness and honesty of what has been ongoing in Japan. Tokyo Shimbun has confirmed that these government entities did sign a secrecy agreement with the IAEA. The Fukushima Medical University has been the main source of all public data on exposure and had been dictating what medical care many in the region were allowed to receive related to radiation issues.

Both the prefecture and the medical university have been the subject of growing distrust from the public due to their efforts to downplay problems and withhold information from the public. Tokyo Shimbun’s work has confirmed this problem to be the case. A machine translation of the article is below.

………The Memorandum of Understanding with the IAEA, in December last year, Fukushima Prefecture were signed respectively in October this year, Fukui Prefecture.

In Fukushima Prefecture, Prefectural University of Medicine has concluded with the IAEA for the health impact study prefecture, radiation for the management of radioactive waste and decontamination. There are “exemplary arrangements” document as detailed MOU provisions marked to be “to ensure the confidentiality of information designated as confidential by the other party” is included in the document……..http://www.fukuleaks.org/web/?p=11993

January 3, 2014 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | 1 Comment

Japan quietly removing debris from Reactor 3 Spent Fuel Pool at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant

spent-fuel-rods Fukushima I NPP Reactor 3: Debris Removal from Spent Fuel Pool Has Started  JANUARY 1, 2014 There were a few news outlets in late November and early December last year that reported TEPCO would start removing the debris from the Reactor 3 Spent Fuel Pool at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant in mid December. Hardly anyone paid attention. (No one probably thought it was possible.) Then there was no news of it actually starting.

Well, news or not, the work started on December 17, 2013. That information was shared at the meeting on December 26, 2013 on “Roadmap to Decommissioning”, which was available via live feed on the net. However, unless you are one of the dwindling number of reporters and net citizens who continue to follow the accident by attending/watching such meetings, you wouldn’t know……..(excellent graphics)…

Kyodo also reports that two cranes will be used, and up to 11 monitoring cameras will be used. All the work will be done by remote-controlled vehicles and equipment. No information whether the human workers are to be posted near the work for further safety monitoring.

All of the MOX fuel that TEPCO had at the plant was in the reactor itself at the time of the accident. http://ex-skf.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/fukushima-i-npp-reactor-3-debris.html

January 3, 2014 Posted by | Fukushima 2014 | Leave a comment

Keeping the lid on Fukushima information: the reason for Japan’s new Secrecy laws

t cannot be overly emphasized that the law undermines freedom of the press, people’s right to know and freedom of expression

censorshipflag-japanJapan & the Truth About Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station Armstrong Economics,  January 2, 2014 by , I have received a many requests about Japan and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station disaster. I have many friends there and it deeply concerns me that the failure of the government to seal that site like the Russians did is threatening the world and Japan itself.

The reports of radiation hitting the West Coast of the USA are alarming and the debris that has been floating toward the USA is another issue unreported. However, the great concern is the secrecy laws imposed in Japan. Governments do not imprison people for criticizing officials unless there is really something they are trying to suppress. This in itself seems to be confirmation of our worst fears.

A Source from Japan Writes: Continue reading →

January 3, 2014 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment