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Illegal dumping of radioactive material in Fukushima

wastesContaminated soil might have been illegally dumped in Fukushima
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130104p2g00m0dm068000c.html
TOKYO (Kyodo), 4 Jan 13,  — Some Japanese contractors are suspected of flag-japanhaving
illegally dumped radioactively contaminated soil, vegetation and water
into rivers or other places close to the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi
nuclear power plant, the Environment Ministry said Friday. Continue reading →

January 5, 2013 Posted by | Fukushima 2013, Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties, wastes | 2 Comments

Prime Minister Abe in a hurry to restart nuclear power, fearing that Japan might manage well without it

Abe,-Shinzo A survey conducted by the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper, just before the
elections last month, showed that more than 60 per cent wanted to
phase out nuclear energy completely

If the government allows nuclear plants to remain switched off, it
would be admitting that nuclear power is not critical to economic
recovery

the Abe administration cannot afford to have
the public realise that Japan can get along just fine without nuclear
power

Japan prepares for nuclear U-turn.Ft.com By Michiyo Nakamoto in Tokyo 3 Jan 13, 
Japan’s plan for a nuclear-free society, which gathered momentum after
the nuclear meltdown in Fukushima nearly two years ago, looks set to
be shortlived.
Since its electoral landslide in December, the Liberal Democratic
party has wasted no time in setting the stage for a return to Japan’s
former policy of promoting nuclear power as a major source of energy
generation.

Shinzo Abe, who took over as prime minister last month, has given a
clear indication that the government is looking to build new nuclear
power plants, Continue reading →

January 4, 2013 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Turkey now testing all food from Japan for radiation

Report: Turkey begins testing all food from Japan for radiation — Imports suspected to be contaminated http://enenews.com/report-turkey-begins-testing-all-food-japan-radiation-imports-suspected-be-contaminated
January 2nd, 2013 
 Excerpt From: Turkey to test Japanese products for radiation
Source: World Bulletin
Date: December 30 2012
h/t Anonymous tip

Turkey to test Japanese products for radiation

The arrangement will go into effect on January 1, 2013 and will cover all Japanese products sent to Turkey after March 11, 2011. […]

Fukushima Diary summarizes a Japanese-language report on Turkey’s move:

[…] They state imports from Japan are suspected to be radioactively contaminated.

January 4, 2013 Posted by | environment, Japan, Turkey | Leave a comment

Fukushima government’s efforts to stop study of baby teeth for radiation checks.

exclamation-Fukushima gov’t tried to kill proposal to store baby teeth for future
radiation checks
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20121219p2a00m0na016000c.html
FUKUSHIMA — The Fukushima Prefectural Government has tried to kill a
proposal by a local assemblyperson to store local children’s milk
teeth to examine their internal radiation exposure stemming from the
Fukushima nuclear disaster, it has been learned. Continue reading →

January 4, 2013 Posted by | Fukushima 2013, Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Lucrative jobs for former nuclear officials, and “benefit” money keeps Japan’s “nuclear village” operating

Foundation filled with ‘nuclear village’ officials monopolizes nuclear
benefit program
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201301030065
 THE ASAHI SHIMBUN, 3 Jan 13 A foundation that provides high-paying
jobs for retired industry ministry officials has held a two-decade
monopoly on the program that pays benefits to residents living near
nuclear power plants, The Asahi Shimbun has found. Continue reading →

January 4, 2013 Posted by | Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Radiation spread from Fukushima in Northern hemisphere

Almost entire ground-level of Northern Hemisphere covered in radioactive fission product after 3/11 (GRAPHIC) — Study: “The impact of Fukushima radioxenon releases on the worldwide Xe-133 background must be investigated” http://enenews.com/almost-entire-ground-level-northern-hemisphere-covered-radioactive-fission-product-after-311-study-impact-fukushima-radioxenon-releases-worldwide-xe-133-background-be-investigated-graphic
December 31st, 2012 
Title: Analysis of Radionuclide Releases from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident Part II
Source: Pure and Applied Geophysics
Authors: Pascal Achim, Marguerite Monfort, Gilbert Le Petit, Philippe Gross, Guilhem Douysset, Thomas Taffary, Xavier Blanchard, Christophe Moulin
Date: September 2012

[…] In this study, the emissions of the three fission products Cs-137, I-131 and Xe-133 are investigated.

[…] worldwide industrial Xe-133 background could be modified by Fukushima radioxenon release affecting the performances of the CTBT radionuclide monitoring network.

[…] during the couple of months after the Fukushima Dai-ichi accident, monitoring capabilities of the network could have been affected by the large amount of radioxenon released by the accident. The impact of Fukushima radioxenon releases on the worldwide Xe-133 background must also be investigated. […]..

Full analysis in here

January 3, 2013 Posted by | 2 WORLD, environment, Fukushima 2013 | Leave a comment

Japan’s PM reverses policy – now favours nuclear energy

Japan’s new leader endorses nuclear plants
http://www.smh.com.au/world/japans-new-leader-endorses-nuclear-plants-20121231-2c306.html#ixzz2GkVdjSKQ
January 1, 2013 TOKYO — The newly elected prime minister of Japan,
Shinzo Abe, said Sunday that he would seek to build nuclear reactors,
reversing within a week in office a campaign pledge to move Japan away
from nuclear power. Continue reading →

January 3, 2013 Posted by | Japan, politics | 1 Comment

Japan’s Prime Minister Abe welcomes in pro nuclear officials

Abe,-ShinzoPro-nuclear bureaucrats back in the picture under Abe THE ASAHI
SHIMBUN, 30 Dec 12
The Liberal Democratic Party wasted little time restoring the
influence of the pro-nuclear industry ministry to move away from the
nuclear-free society envisioned by the previous government.

Soon after new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe established his Cabinet on
Dec. 26, moves were quickly made that elated ministry officials who
had been kept on the defensive since the March 2011 accident at the
Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Even before he was named prime minister, Abe indicated the direction
he would take concerning the nation’s energy policy. And LDP members
expressed confidence that the party’s landslide victory in the Dec. 16
Lower House election had given them the go-ahead from the public to
pursue nuclear power generation. Continue reading →

December 31, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Physical. mental, social effects of Fukushima radiation

 doctors told the women there was no way to determine if
the symptoms were caused by radiation. But the women saw other
patients with similar symptoms at doctors’ offices, Maeshima says.

“They went through a tremendous amount of stress and those symptoms
can be caused by stress,” she says. “There may be a direct impact from
radiation, but no one, no doctor, can tell.

Md. woman sees long-term effects of radiation in Fukushima, WTOP 30 Dec 12,
“……..Maeshima was a school nurse for 25 years in Japan. Relying on
that experience, she has been volunteering for about a year at Mano
Elementary School in Minami Soma City, which was forced to evacuate
after the nuclear plant accident. She sees a range of issues among
children.

“Some struggle to gain weight while others gain too much and become
overweight,” she says. “Insomnia and frequent headaches are causing
some kids to miss school.”

It’s not so much that she sees the physical injuries from radiation.
Instead, she sees children’s lives turned upside down. Continue reading →

December 31, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, health, Japan, social effects | Leave a comment

TEPCO needs help! 3.2 trillion yen needed for Fukushima compensation

exclamation-Tepco requested additional financial support of 697 billion yen for the Author-Fukushima-diaryNuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/12/tepco-requested-additional-financial-support-of-697-billion-yen-for-the-nuclear-damage-liability-facilitation-fund/
 by Mochizuki on December 27th, 2012 ·
Tepco has estimated the total nuclear damage compensation to be 2.5 trillion yen and has been requesting the financial support from the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund based on the revised Special Business Plan approved on May 9, 2012.

However, after deciding the compensation standard of lands or houses, adding real estate and postponing the compensation term for spontaneous evacuees and harmful rumor of agricultural products, the estimated compensation amount increased to be 3.2 trillion yen.

On 12/27/2012, Tepco requested the Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund for 697 billion yen of the additional financial support.
Related article..[Bloomberg] Tepco Sued by U.S. Sailors Exposed to Radiation [Link]

Source

December 29, 2012 Posted by | business and costs, Fukushima 2012, Japan, politics | 2 Comments

Fukushima victims declaration for their human rights

logo-human-rightsLegal Expert in Tokyo: Fukushima flag-japanperpetrators are escaping responsibility http://enenews.com/legal-expert-tokyo-fukushima-perpetrators-escaping-responsibility
 (Subscription Only) Title: Fukushima victims take a stand with human rights declaration
Source: THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Date: December 28, 2012
Fukushima victims take a stand with human rights declaration

[…] It was drafted by Yoshitaro Nomura, a Tokyo-based lawyer who has been providing legal consultations for those affected by the reactor meltdowns that caused mass evacuations […]

Nomura refers to the parties directly involved, and in his view responsible for the disaster, as “perpetrators.”

“Those who caused the accident switched from having responsibility to escaping from responsibility,” he said. “In essence, they are trivializing the disaster, cutting the amount of compensation and announcing the crisis is over.” […]

“The government delayed giving evacuation orders. Now it is giving priority to economic recovery over the health of residents.” […]

“We want Fukushima to return to the way it was, where we can eat tasty rice, vegetables, fruit, fish and meat without the slightest fear,” says one passage in the declaration. […]

See also: Navy rescue workers sue Japan over Fukushima cover-up — “Irreparable harm to life expectancy” — Gov’t and Tepco conspired

December 29, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012 | 1 Comment

Rats at Fukushima nuclear plant pose safety and radiation dangers

rat-chewing-cableFukushima Worker: Rats now being found in many places around plant — Concern about biting cables, tripping electrical systems, spreading high level contamination http://enenews.com/fukushima-worker-rats-being-found-many-places-around-plant-concern-about-biting-cables-spreading-high-level-contamination
 December 21st, 2012 
Title: Atomic Rats, Fishing For Beams & Cleaning Up The Common Pool At Daiichi
Source: SimplyInfo
Date:  Dec 20, 2012
Atomic Rats […]

Workers at the plant are reporting seeing rats at Daiichi. Worker Happy11311 mentioned seeing them and was worried they would damage cables at the plant. They could cause obvious safety problems if they chewed on electrical or water lines. Small animals also pose the risk of getting into equipment and causing issues by tripping electrical systems. Then there is the problem of rats being in contact with high levels of radiation then making them highly contaminated. This can cause problems as they then spread the contamination up the food chain or take it with them if they leave the immediate area.

Translation by Fukushima Diary: I like animals but haven’t seen rats before. Recently I see rats in many places of Fukushima plant. ・・・ They much bigger than Jerry. I’m concerned they may cause a trouble by biting cables.

See also: Fukushima Daiichi Worker: I got worried about corrosion of pipes after seeing new video of Reactor 1 — One day pipes will break from slight quake after seeing how much they corroded in only a year — Same risk at all four reactors (PHOTO)

December 28, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Navy men’s lawsuit against Japan alleges cover-up of radiation harm

justiceNavy rescue workers sue Japan over Fukushima cover-up — “Irreparable harm to life expectancy” — Gov’t and Tepco conspired http://enenews.com/navy-rescue-workers-sue-japan-over-fukushima-cover-up-irreparable-harm-to-their-life-expectancy-govt-and-tepco-conspired
 Title: U.S. Sailors Sue Japan Over Fukushima
Source: Courthouse News Service
Author: By ELIZABETH WARMERDAM
Date: Dec 26, 2012

flag-japan[…] Eight crew members of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan, whose home port is San Diego, sued the Tokyo Electric Power Co. in Federal Court. […]

Flag-USALead plaintiff Lindsay R. Cooper claims Tokyo Electric (TEPCO) intentionally concealed the dangerous levels of radiation in the environment from U.S. Navy rescue crews working off the coast of Japan […]

The complaint states: “Defendant TEPCO and the government of Japan, conspired and acted in concert, among other things, to create an illusory impression that the extent of the radiation that had leaked from the site of the FNPP was at levels that would not pose a threat to the plaintiffs, in order to promote its interests and those of the government of Japan, knowing that the information it disseminated was defective, incomplete and untrue, while omitting to disclose the extraordinary risks posed to the plaintiffs who were carrying out their assigned duties aboard the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.” […]

And, they say: “Defendants had actual and/or constructive knowledge of the properties of radiation that would ensure that, once released into the environment, radiation would spread further and in concentrations that would cause injury to the plaintiffs.” […]

The sailors say they “face additional and irreparable harm to their life expectancy, which has been shortened and cannot be restored to its prior condition.”

December 28, 2012 Posted by | Japan, Legal, Reference, USA | Leave a comment

Tanks holding Fukushima’s radioactive water – all too easy to break open

Tanks for holding radioactive Fukushima liquid are too fragile and flimsy — Breaking open much easier than expected http://enenews.com/tanks-for-holding-radioactive-fukushima-liquid-are-too-fragile-and-flimsy-breaking-open-much-easier-than-expected
  (Subscription Only)Title: Flimsy waste tanks cause new delay in Fukushima plant decontamination
Source: THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Date: December 26, 2012

Tanks designed to hold radioactive filtrate at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant are proving too fragile to be used, and the operator has announced a further delay in starting up machinery that cleans contaminated water.

water tanks Fukushma

[… It was] to begin operation at the plant in September.

[…] they are unable to predict when the equipment may finally come online.

The vessels are hoisted and lowered as they are filled and replaced by empty containers. In the event of an accident, they need to be strong enough to withstand a fall without releasing their radioactive contents.

TEPCO confirmed that the vessels could sustain a fall from a height of 6 meters in an upright position. But tests found the tanks were breaking and spilling their contents when dropped on from a height of only 3 meters in an upside-down position. […]

December 28, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Japan’s new government likely to promote nuclear power, restart reactors

exclamation-Japan’s new government to restart nuclear reactors – Nikkei Dec 28
(Reuters) – Japan’s idled nuclear reactors will gradually be restarted
under the newly-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the units receive
the all-clear from the country’s Nuclear Regulation Authority, the
Nikkei reported.

Abe, in his instructions to cabinet members, outlined his policy of
flag-japanallowing nuclear reactors to resume operations while giving priority
to the regulator’s safety assessment, the Japanese daily reported…..
The new government will also review its predecessor’s policy of
phasing out nuclear power by 2040, trade and industry minister
Toshimitsu Motegi said at a press conference on Thursday, the Nikkei
said.

Shinzo Abe who took over as Japan’s premier on Wednesday, had derided
the ‘zero nuclear’ goal of the ousted Democratic Party of Japan as
unrealistic. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/27/idUSL4N0A13QS20121227

December 28, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

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