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
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. […]..
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
Japan’s Prime Minister Abe welcomes in pro nuclear officials
Pro-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
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
TEPCO needs help! 3.2 trillion yen needed for Fukushima compensation
Tepco requested additional financial support of 697 billion yen for the 
Nuclear 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]
Fukushima victims declaration for their human rights
Legal Expert in Tokyo: Fukushima 
perpetrators 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
Rats at Fukushima nuclear plant pose safety and radiation dangers
Fukushima 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)
Navy men’s lawsuit against Japan alleges cover-up of radiation harm
Navy 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
[…] 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. […]
Lead 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.”
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.
[… 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. […]
Japan’s new government likely to promote nuclear power, restart reactors
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
allowing 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
Japan’s new government contemplates building new nuclear reactors
a more symbolic issue concerns whether the new government will approve the construction of new reactors.
“a major political decision” on whether or not to allow construction of nine reactors that currently exist only at the planning stage.
personnel appointments point to a greater say in policy by senior former civil servants who in the past walked in step with the LDP in promoting nuclear energy.
Abe administration to overhaul nuclear, monetary policies December 27, 2012 THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will drastically shift the direction Japan takes in monetary and fiscal affairs, and will likely overturn a pledge by the outgoing administration to pull the plug on nuclear power….. There is now a strong possibility of Japan retaining nuclear power, and Abe has additionally indicated a readiness to allow nuclear reactors halted last year to fire up again…… “Once the Nuclear Regulation Authority creates stricter rules, we will decide over a period of three years whether operations can resume,” Abe said at a news conference late on Dec. 26, the day he formally established his Cabinet…….
The Nuclear Regulation Authority is not expected to compile new safety standards until after July 2013, which means any decision on resuming operations could likely only be made after the Upper House election in the summer.
During negotiations with coalition partner New Komeito, the LDP overruled New Komeito’s demand that Japan go nuclear-free. And the wording in the coalition agreement was toned down to state the aim of reducing “dependence on nuclear energy as much as possible.”
This lack of a specific target could allow Japan to maintain its dependence on nuclear energy indefinitely. Continue reading
Japan’s Monju nuclear reprocessing plant on an earthquake fault
Japan Experts: Active fault runs underneath MOX fuel plant — Warnings of massive quake http://enenews.com/japan-experts-active-fault-runs-underneath-mox-fuel-plant-warnings-of-massive-quake
Title: Quake risk at Japan atomic recycling plant: experts
Source: AFP
Author: Kyoko Hasegawa
Date: December 19, 2012
Japan’s only reprocessing plant for spent nuclear fuel could sit on an active seismic fault vulnerable to a massive earthquake, experts warned Wednesday.
If regulators agree they will have to order its closure and Japan would be without any recycling capacity of its own, a government official told AFP on condition of anonymity. […]
Yasutaka Ikeda, assistant professor of geomorphology at Tokyo University, said a nearly 100-kilometre (60-mile) fault runs under the Rokkasho reprocessing plant in northern Japan.
“Even though experts’ opinions are divided on whether this fault is active or not, I think the possibility of it being an active fault is extremely high, given the evidence,” Ikeda told AFP.
“This fault could cause an 8-magnitude earthquake, so any nuclear-related facilities in the region are in danger,” he said, referring to the Shimokita Peninsula where the Rokkasho plant is located.
Mitsuhisa Watanabe, professor of geomorphology at Tokyo University, separately told Wednesday’s Tokyo Shimbun that part of an active fault runs directly under the Rokkasho plant, warning it is likely to move when the bigger fault moves. […]
Under government guidelines atomic installations cannot be sited on a fault if it is still classed as active. […]
Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant – Wikipedia:
At the same site there will also be:
A high level nuclear waste monitoring facility
A MOX fuel fabrication plant
A uranium enrichment plant
Fukushima – there was a meltdown of the reactor itself
Lawsuit: “Reactor itself” melted down, not only nuclear fuel rods — Japan gov’t “lying through their teeth about meltdowns” http://enenews.com/lawsuit-reactor-melted-down-only-nuclear-fuel-rods-japanese-govt-lying-teeth-about-meltdowns
Title: U.S. Sailors Sue Japan Over Fukushima
Source: Courthouse News Service
Author: By ELIZABETH WARMERDAM
Date: Dec 26, 2012
The Fukushima nuclear disaster exposed Navy rescue workers to dangerous levels of radiation, which the government-owned power plant covered up, eight U.S. sailors claim in court. […]
“As a consequence of the earthquake and tsunami, the reactors were damaged and power to the cooling mechanism of the FNPP was interrupted, resulting in a meltdown of the fuel and reactor itself, thereby triggering the release of high levels of radiation.” […]
The plaintiffs claim the government deliberately misled them: “the Japanese government kept representing that there was no danger of radiation contamination to the U.S.S. Reagan … and/or its crew, that ‘everything is under control,’ ‘all is OK, you can trust us,’ and there is ‘no immediate danger’ or threat to human life, all the while lying through their teeth about the reactor meltdowns at FNPP. […]
See also: Kaku: Uranium totally liquified — Reactor actually melted totally (VIDEO)
Hourly release of cesium-134/137 from Fukushima nuclear reactors
10 million Bq of cesium-134/137 is still released every single hour
from reactor 1, 2 and 3
Fukushma Diary by Mochizuki December 27th, 2012
According to mid/long term roadmap of Tepco released on 12/27/2012, 10
million Bq of cesium-134/137 is still released from reactor1, 2 and 3
every single hour.
This is measured at the top part of each reactor building. The amount
is computed from the dust density of Cs-134/137, other nuclides are
excluded.
Since this April, the releasing amount has been stably around 10
million Bq / hour. …
http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/12/10-million-bq-of-cesium-134137-is-still-released-every-single-hour-from-reactor1-2-and-3/
1 This Month
PLEASE OPPOSE HR 8255 AND S.3639 – bills would accelerate satellite deployment, with no environmental review or safeguards – https://ncstd5li.quorum.us/campaign/169331/
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