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Safecast providing impartial information on Fukushima radiation

 visit Safecast at blog.safecast.org .

Local governments in Fukushima are linking up with Safecast to get additional readings, for example in schools, and are sharing data with residents. More volunteers are joining, including Europeans and Japanese as well as other nationalities.

U.S. group supplying radiation data Japan Times,   18 July 12By YURI KAGEYAMA People seeking information on radiation levels from the Fukushima crisis are turning to a volunteer group founded in the U.S. that has created a detailed and constantly updated visual database online. Continue reading →

July 18, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, media, USA | Leave a comment

Study on cancer from Fukushima, but they didn’t count internal emitters of radiation

Christina Macpherson’s websites & blogs

Note that this study – like so many touted in the media – counts only “external emitters” – not the cancers caused by “internal emitters” .  Internal emitters are the sources of radioactive material that lodge inside a person’s body – the lungs or the gut – and will cause cancer later on – perhaps years after they have been taken in by the body, through eating or breathing.  They can be taken in long after the actual radioactive release, as they are the particles that have settled somewhere – on the ground, on plants, in water.

Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster may cause 1,300 deaths: report Radio Australia 18 July 2012  US researchers have released a study warning that radiation from the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan may eventually cause up to 1,300 deaths….. And they forecast anywhere between 24 and 2,500 thousand cases of cancer.

While the estimates have a large range, they do contrast with a UN prediction that the meltdowns would cause no severe health effects…. The study relied on a 3-D atmospheric model to predict the spread of radioactive material, and then calculated the estimated exposure to people in the path of the contamination…
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2012-07-18/japans-fukushima-nuclear-disaster-may-cause-1300-deaths-report/981808

July 18, 2012 Posted by | Christina's notes, Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

Tokyo anti nuclear rally by 170,000

Thousands reject nuclear,http://www.theage.com.au/world/thousands-reject-nuclear-20120716-226gd.html#ixzz20xx3KSqt   The Age, July 17, 2012,   TOKYO. Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Tokyo demanding an end to nuclear power, the latest in a series of demonstrations following the disaster at Fukushima. As many as 170,000 demonstrators chanting ”Don’t resume nuclear power operation. Prime Minister (Yoshihiko) Noda should quit” marched in one of the biggest rallies since last year’s earthquake and tsunami disaster sparked one of the world’s worst atomic disasters. Participants included Nobel-winning author Kenzaburo Oe and Japanese musician and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.

”We are so angry because no progress has been made in terms of compensation and decontamination,” said Noboru Shikatani, 71, who was evacuated from Fukushima following the disaster.

picture from http://www.facebook.com/internetocracy

July 17, 2012 Posted by | Japan, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Japan’s ruling party risks election defeat, due to anti nuclear feeling

Nuclear issue puts increasing pressure on Japan government  By Linda Sieg TOKYO Jul 17, 2012  (Reuters) – Japan’s government came under fire on Tuesday over its handling of public hearings on nuclear energy policy, threatening to dent already sagging support for the ruling party ahead of an election many expect to be this year.

The latest furor follows Monday’s massive rally in Tokyo against nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, an issue now so contentious that lawmakers and analysts say it could trump taxes as the focus of lower house elections, which must be held by September 2013 but could come sooner. Continue reading →

July 17, 2012 Posted by | Japan, politics | Leave a comment

Japan’s Shika nuclear power plant on top of an active earthquake fault?

 Shika nuclear plant may sit on active fault Confirmation could doom facility; others probed Japan Times, 17 July 12 Kyodo Government research indicates the fault running beneath Hokuriku Electric Power Co.’s Shika Nuclear Power Station may be active, raising questions  about the utility’s claim in the late 1990s to the contrary, according to sources.

Government regulations do not allow construction of a nuclear reactor above an active fault. If it is confirmed active, the Shika nuclear plant in Ishikawa Prefecture may not qualify to operate. Continue reading →

July 17, 2012 Posted by | Japan, safety | Leave a comment

Japan’s police not able to stop 150,000 anti nuclear protestors

Tobiyama explained that her husband had come every Friday but that this week was her first time. Flipping open her phone, she showed off a picture of her ninth grandson.

“I’m here so that he won’t have to live in a world with nuclear power,” she said.

Barriers Fail to Stop Japan’s Anti-Nuclear Demonstrators WSJ, By Eleanor Warnock, July 13, 2012,   Police cordons and closed subway exits didn’t stop Japanese protesters from carrying on a nearly four-month tradition of holding Friday-night anti-nuclear demonstrations in front of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s residence in Tokyo. The protesters turned up for the 16th such rally to protest the restart of the first nuclear reactors since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, and future restarts.

Since the first rally on March 29, the number of participants has grown from 300 to approximately 150,000 this week, according to the organizers. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department told JRT it doesn’t release its own estimate of the number of participants…..
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department ordered that only one of the access points to the nearby subway station be open to people exiting the station, leaving the other three as entrances for workers going home. Police also limited the areas where protesters could stand and didn’t allow protesters to spill from the sidewalk onto the streets. Continue reading →

July 16, 2012 Posted by | Japan, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

Japan moving towards renewable energy

the Japanese Wind Power Association has put the longer-term wind potential at over 200 GW, on and offshore, even taking account of locational constraints. That is similar to Japans total present energy generating capacity.

the aim would be to create a 50 trillion yen ($628 billion) green energy market by 2020 through deregulation and subsidies to promote development of renewable energy and low-emission cars.

Greening Japan’s energy  http://environmentalresearchweb.org/blog/2012/07/greening-japans-energy.html  15 July 12 As part of its policy of moving away from nuclear power, the Japanese government is pushing ahead with renewables and improved energy efficiency. Given the urgent need to cut energy demand, following the shut down of all its nuclear plants in May, it encouraged voluntary energy saving initiatives, with some success. Continue reading →

July 16, 2012 Posted by | Japan, Reference, renewable | 1 Comment

Japanese medical authorities quiet about high thyroid nodules in Fukushima’s children

the rate of thyroid nodules in children 5 to 10 years after the Chernobyl accident was 1.74%.  The results in Fukushima are merely one year after the accident.  This is a much faster progression

Just 0.8% of children in 2001 Japanese control group had thyroid cysts or nodules — 36% in Fukushima study

Fukushima Children’s Thyroid Examination: How Shunichi Yamashita would like doctors to deal with the results. Introduction  Fukushima Voice May 2012,

This is a letter sent from Shunichi Yamashita, M.D., from Fukushima Medical University to the members of Japan Thyroid Association, of which he is the president.  The letter “asks” or rather “instructs” the members, who are likely to be the thyroid specialists, on how to
deal with the thyroid ultrasound results of Fukushima children.  Continue reading →

July 16, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, health, Japan, Reference | Leave a comment

Nuclear danger very real – at Fukushima and at San Onofre

Nuclear Dread On Both Sides Of The Pacific IndyBay by Michael Steinberg Jul 14th, 2012  Nuclear problems are still growing on both sides of the Pacific, at Fukushima and San Onofre…….. Japan Ignored Ominous Signs Continue reading →

July 16, 2012 Posted by | - Fukushima 2011, USA | Leave a comment

Anti nuclear protest in Tokyo: police crack down

Japanese Journalist: “Like Palestine” at Tokyo protest — ‘Iron fence’ erected as last resort of Prime Minister’s regime http://enenews.com/japan-journalist-like-palestine-at-tokyo-protest-iron-fence-erected-as-last-resort-of-prime-ministers-regime   By ENENews    Ryusaku Tanaka’s Journal  from July 13, 2012 translated by Dissensus Japan:

In front of the Prime Minister’s Office, it became like Palestine.

See more pictures of Friday’s Tokyo anti nuclear protest at http://shoottokyo.com/2011/06/13/anti-nuclear-protests-across-tokyo/#comment-23926

During the meeting against the restarting of nuclear power that happens every friday, the police separated the sidewalk from the roadway with iron fences after having considered it was dangerous that people overflow on the roadway (It happened at the meeting last week and two weeks ago). The jurisdiction, Enforcement Division of Kôjimachi Police station explained in a phone interview: “It’s for the security of the crowd”. But isn’t it the same thing than to surround palestinian people saying that It’s to avoid terrorism? As I went to report about the wall of Palestine since the process of its plan, I couldn’t help comparing it.

The movement against the policy of Noda’s regime to promote nuclear power spreads. They don’t want people to have this image. It seems that their worries are increasing much stronger because the snap general election will be hold soon. Their plant scheme succeeded at first glance.

The iron fence is the last resort of PM Noda’s regime and of the Police and has a very bad reputation among the protesters.

July 14, 2012 Posted by | Japan, opposition to nuclear | Leave a comment

High radiation stalls efforts to close down Fukushima nuclear reactor No.3

VIDEO Robot probe detects high radiation at No.3 reactor http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120713_10.html  The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant has detected high levels of radiation in the basement of the No. 3 reactor, with a maximum dose of 360 millisieverts per hour.

Tokyo Electric Power Company sent in a robot on Wednesday to the room where the suppression chamber is located. It was the first robot to probe this area of the plant. TEPCO released video taken inside. They show that a door on the southwestern side is broken. There is no other apparent damage or sign of water leakage.

But high levels of radiation were detected. Readings exceeded 100 millisieverts per hour in a number of locations. Average levels were higher than those in the No.2 reactor.

Engineers lost control of the remote-controlled robot after around 3 hours of operation. They say there are problems with the connecting cable and they’ve been unable to regain control.
TEPCO officials say they have no option but to leave the robot where it is for the time being.

This may pose a problem to the utility’s efforts to decommission the reactor. The operators are in a hurry to identify and repair damage to the reactor’s suppression chamber and containment vessel. They want to pump in water in order to remove the melted fuel lying at the bottom.

July 14, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012 | Leave a comment

High radiation level at Fukushima school, even after ‘decontamination’

1,000,000 Bq/kg of cesium detected at Fukushima school… after being ‘decontaminated’ — “It’s obvious they will just leave it” – Local Official y 13th, 2012   By ENENews  July 11, 2012 post by Koichi Oyama, Minamisoma city council member, translated by Dissensus Japan:

1.000.000 Bq detected in a school after a decontamination conducted!

A University’s research team collected lichen at the entrance of the gymnastic hall of a school that restarted after a decontamination operation, and the sample measured the Cesium radiation level, 989.000 Bq/Kg.

It’s obvious they will just leave it. I told them my ideas at least, but I’m not sure if this inspired them to do anything. No one makes decision to get rid of dangers.
I want to believe that at least “school principal” won’t leave the danger at the place where students walk by. I would go there tomorrow to make sure.   Read the report here

July 14, 2012 Posted by | environment, Japan, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment

Unusual number of birth deformities at Fukushima hospital

Evacuee: Fukushima hospital worker says 5 out of 7 babies were born with birth defect, Down’s syndrome, or lost by miscarriage — After this, husband agreed to evacuate July 13th, 2012 By ENENews Original published June 13, 2012 by a Fukushima evacuee, translated by Dissensus Japan:

Someone I know finally moved out of Fukushima to Mie (middle west of Japan). I wasn’t close to her, but she told me a major incident occurred that inspired her to be scared of radiation.At a hospital in Fuksuhima where she was working in, 5 babies out of 7 were born with birth defect, Down’s syndrome or lost by miscarriage.

  • 2 Down’s syndrome
  • 1 born with 6 fingers
  • 1 anencephalia
  • 1 miscarriage
  • 2 other infants were 4 months old old at the time. They have been followed over time.

Speaking in terms of probability, it’s hardly possible this happens in a same hospital. This terrified her. With experts’ knowledge and experiences, it reached the conclusion that this was associated with radiation.

After this, her husband finally agreed and her family evacuated home.

July 14, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, health, Japan, women | 2 Comments

Dangerous experimental process to remove fuel rods from Fukushima’s No.4 nuclear reactor

Fuel rods to be removed from No. 4 fuel pool   Ene News — Concerns about sea water damage — Special container so fuel doesn’t going critical — Test date not revealed ‘for security reasons’ July 13th, 2012  the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant will soon start test runs for removing fuel rods from a storage pool of the No. 4 reactor.

Removal Procedure A crane will be used to pull each of the 2 rods out of the pool, and then place them in a special container on the 5th floor of the reactor building.

The container will prevent the fuel from going critical.

Another crane will lower the container to the ground, where a truck will take it to a facility called a “common pool.”
Four cables will be used to prevent the container from falling.

Damage to Metal Container?   TEPCO will also check if there’s any damage to the metal container used to store the fuel rods. This is a concern because seawater was used to cool the reactor after last year’s accident.

Security Reasons TEPCO says it cannot reveal the date of the test for security reasons.
http://enenews.com/fuel-rods-to-be-removed-from-no-4-fuel-pool-concerns-about-sea-water-damage-special-container-so-fuel-doesnt-going-critical-date-not-revealed-for-security-reasons

July 13, 2012 Posted by | Fukushima 2012, Reference, safety | Leave a comment

Time that Japan’s media covered public anti nuclear movement

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda had disregarded the will of the people when he ordered the restart of reactors at the western Oi plant the day after receiving a petition of 7.5 million names.

 Japanese media in general should be more active in covering the demonstrations, including those that have taken place outside the prime minister’s office every Friday.
“Before March 11 (last year), all the media played the role of supporting the myth of nuclear safety… It is important for media to be aware of and make known what citizens want in this movement,”

Japan govt, media colluded on nuclear: Nobel winner http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hG6h3G7rcakPrCAdnw_l90r1U6DA?docId=CNG.427d33cc188c7ac8e827e556ac125a3a.891 (AFP) – 12 July 12,  TOKYO — Nobel-winning author Kenzaburo Oe said Japan’s post-war government and media colluded to give nuclear power a stranglehold, as activists readied for what they hope will be the biggest rally in decades. Continue reading →

July 13, 2012 Posted by | Japan, media | Leave a comment

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