Japan hoping to sell nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia
Trade Minister Toshimitsu Motegi‘s visit at the weekend was aimed at securing extra oil from the world’s biggest exporter in case of instability in world supply, Japanese officials had said…….. Saudi Arabia’s plan to build up to 17 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity over the next two decades has offered a possible lifeline to plant builders hit by a lack of demand since the Fukushima disaster….. http://news.yahoo.com/japan-offers-nuclear-help-saudi-free-oil-154800170.html
Fukushima survivors to file class action lawsuit against Japanese govt, plant operator
A TEPCO spokesman admitted that the utility gave inaccurate information to the parliamentary commission but claims it did not intentionally lie about conditions within the structure.
In July a parliamentary report said Fukushima was a man-made disaster stemming from Japan’s culture of “reflexive obedience.”
Published: 08 February, 2013, 20:10
Edited: 09 February, 2013, 02:51
RT
At least 350 people affected by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown will file a class action lawsuit against the Japanese government and the plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) on the second anniversary of the disaster.
This handout picture, taken by Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) on March 18, 2011 and released on February 1, 2013 shows water discharged against unit 3 reactor building at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant at Okuma town in Fukushima prefecture. (AFP Photo/TEPCO)
Lawyers representing residents whose homes and farms were hit by radiation in the wake of the disaster said it was the largest suit on the issue filed against the government.
The plaintiffs will further seek some US$535 each in compensation from TEPCO for every month they have been displaced as a result of the accident.
They also plan to seek a court injunction that will require both the government and TEPCO to reduce radiation levels in the affected area to pre-disaster levels.
The suit will be filed on March 11, the two-year anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Several other similar class-action suits against both the government and TEPCO will be filed with the Tokyo District Court on the same day.
“The government promoted nuclear power as a national policy and has been closely involved with it,” lawyer Izutaro Managi told AAP news agency.
“Being fully aware of the danger of losing power due to a tsunami, the government neglected its duty to prevent such an event,” he said. “This is a suit to recover a Fukushima with neither radiation nor nuclear power,” he continued.
The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster occurred after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake and a subsequent tsunami crashed into the power station and knocked out its cooling system leading to the meltdown of three reactor cores. Tens of thousands were forced to flee the area and many are still unable to return.
TEPCO ‘lies’ to government
With residents preparing to sue the government and TEPCO for their role in the worst nuclear disaster in a generation, on Thursday the power company found itself in hot water for allegedly misleading a government panel over possible quake damage to its reactor building.
TEPCO said that radiation levels were “dreadfully high” in order to prevent an onsite inspection of its crippled nuclear plant, according to Mitsuhiko Tanaka, a former member of the now-disbanded Diet commission, which had been tasked with uncovering the cause of the nuclear crisis.
The commission had hoped to determine to see if the isolation condensers – key safety components at nuclear plants – had been damaged in the earthquake.
The National Diet is Japan’s bicameral legislature. It consists of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councilors.
TEPCO had denied they were damaged in the quake and falsified actual conditions within the plant to keep inspectors out, Tanaka said in a statement submitted to the chiefs of the two Diet chambers on Thursday.
Toshimitsu Tamai, then chief of TEPCO’s corporate planning department, urged Tanaka not to carry out the probe in light of major safety concerns, saying “If you got lost, you would run into areas with dreadfully high levels of radiation,” The Asahi Shimbun newspaper reports.
North Korea: bellicose statements and actions to get foreign aid?
Why North Korea Is Testing Nuclear Weapons Now US News, By ANDREW NATSIOS February 8, 2013 The first test of the Obama 
administration’s second term foreign policy team is shaping up to be North Korea’s upcoming nuclear explosion. Korean President Kim Jong Un last week declared martial law in anticipation of the country’s third nuclear test that Un has reportedly ordered be conducted before the middle of February, which will coincidentally occur on his late father’s (and former leader of North Korea) birthday.
This week a bellicose and belligerent North Korean government put on its official website a bizarre and provocative video of the bombing of what appears to be New York City with the caption: “Somewhere in the United States, black clouds of smoke are billowing… It seems that the nest of wickedness is ablaze with the fire started by itself.” The video includes the launch of a North Korean missile, implying that if the United States puts too much pressure on them the consequence will be a nuclear response. The Chinese foreign minister on Wednesday issued a stern public warning to North Korea against the test, and the Chinese Communist Party official party newspaper published an unprecedented editorial saying, “If North Korea insists on a third nuclear test despite attempts to dissuade it, it must pay a heavy price.” North Korea is in no position to anger its only remaining patron and ally, and yet it may go ahead with the nuclear test anyway……
TEPCO tried to cover up evidence that earthquake, not tsunami, caused nuclear disaster
“(TEPCO’s explanation) was absolutely false and seriously obstructed the investigation,” Mitsuhiko Tanaka, a former member of the now-disbanded Diet commission, said in a statement submitted to the chiefs of the two Diet chambers on Feb. 7.
TEPCO suspected of false account to Diet panel http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20130207_19.html
Title: TEPCO ‘blocked’ nuclear accident investigation: panel member
Source: Kyodo
Date: February 07, 2013
[Tepco] blocked an attempt by a Diet-appointed panel to enter the No. 1 reactor building at the Fukushima Daiichi complex for an accident investigation last year, saying the unit was “in complete darkness,” which was not true, a member of the panel said Thursday.
The panel members were seeking to determine whether important equipment of the No. 1 reactor had suffered damage as a result of the earthquake on March 11, 2011, before ensuing tsunami ravaged the plant […] Continue reading
Asdvanced nuclear missile being developed by India
India working on advanced nuclear missile Ft.com, By Victor Mallet in New Delhi 8 Feb 13, High quality global journalism requires investment. Please share this article with others using the link below, do not cut & paste the article. See our Ts&Cs and Copyright Policy for more detail. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3e1410e0-71e9-11e2-886e-00144feab49a.html#ixzz2KQm3xYXY
India is developing a new, long-range missile capable of delivering multiple nuclear warheads to different targets, a senior defence industry official said on Friday.
The missile, dubbed the Agni VI, would have a range of 5,500-6,000 kilometres, slightly farther than the already tested Agni V, but would also have so-called MIRV capability, according to defence analysts. Only a few countries have nuclear missiles with MIRV technology, which stands for Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle…… http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3e1410e0-71e9-11e2-886e-00144feab49a.html#axzz2KQlwwnG5
Fukushima evacuation zone – all 47 cows tested had radioactive silver
Study: Radioactive silver found inside all 47 cows tested from Fukushima evacuation zone http://enenews.com/study-radioactive-silver-found-inside-every-cow-tested-fukushima-evacuation-zone
Title: Distribution of Artificial Radionuclides in Abandoned Cattle in the Evacuation Zone of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Source: PLoS One. 2013; 8(1): e54312
Published Online: January 23, 2013
[…] Between August 29 and November 15, 2011, we collected 79 cattle in total, 27 of which were from Minami-soma city located north and 52 from Kawauchi village located southwest of the FNPP. […]
In the liver (100%: 47/47 animals) and PB [whole peripheral blood] (9.8%: 5/51 animals), 110mAg (half-life: 249.8 d) was detected (Table 1). […]
Although Silver and Tellurium […] were efficiently captured by the mother’s organs and were not delivered to the fetus. […]
We detected 110mAg in the liver of all of the cattle except for fetuses examined (Table 1 and Figure 3A). […]
See also: CNN: Scientists surprised by high levels of radioactive silver in fish off Japan coast
Plutonium in ocean near Fukushima
Study: Fukushima plutonium in Pacific Ocean from ‘liquid direct releases’? http://enenews.com/study-plutonium-could-be-pacific-ocean-liquid-direct-releases-fukushima
Title: Should we measure plutonium concentrations in marine sediments near Fukushima?
Source: Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
Author: R. Periáñez, Kyung-Suk Suh, Byung-Il Min
Date: February 2013
Excerpt
Much less information is available in the case of plutonium isotopes. Trace amounts of Pu isotopes originating from the accident have been identified in soil samples. While it is known that atmospheric releases of Pu were several orders of magnitude lower than that from Chernobyl accident, no information on Pu isotopes in the liquid direct releases to the sea is available. Pu isotopes have been measured in marine sediments outside a 30 km radius circle around Fukushima. Results do not show any contamination due to the accident. Instead Pu isotopes here detected are attributed to global fallout.
However, the situation inside the 30 km zone remains unknown. It could be possible that Pu isotopes entered this coastal area from the direct release of contaminated water in early April 2011. The objective for this work consists of showing, by means of numerical modelling, that, if Pu contamination originating from the accident would be present in sediments of the close area to Fukushima, contamination would not reach areas far from the plant. Contamination would be restricted to the close area because of the low mobility of Pu. Thus, it would not be detected if samples are not collected there. Consequently, further studies on the determination of Pu isotopes in seawater and sediments within the 30 km zone would be required.
Note the objective: “The objective for this work consists of showing […] that, […] Pu contamination […] would not reach areas far from the plant.”
North Korea- a new nuclear test creates new problems
Another nuclear test will make it impossible for the new South Korean government or the second Obama administration to look for resolution of long-standing enmities by focusing on issues beyond the nuclear dispute.
What to Expect from a North Korean Nuclear Test, Foreign Policy, Pyongyang is about to make some more trouble. Here’s what to look for when Kim Jong Un debuts his new bomb. BY SIEGFRIED S. HECKER | FEBRUARY 4, 2013 Pyongyang lashed out harshly at the United States following the most recent U.N. Security Council resolution condemning its December missile test. The Kim Jong Un regime threatened to increase its nuclear deterrent both quantitatively and qualitatively and vowed to conduct a third nuclear test at a “higher level.” So what might we expect from another test? Why, what, how will we know, when, and what difference will it make?
Criminal gangs in the money again in Japan – now in “nuclear waste disposal”
Asahi: Gangsters cashing in on Fukushima disaster — Involved in “disposal of waste” http://enenews.com/asahi-gangsters-cashing-fukushima-disaster-involved-disposal-waste
Title: Gangster illegally hired workers for decontamination projects
Source: AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
Author: KENJI OGATA
Date: January 31, 2013
Criminal organizations are cashing in on the disaster that shook Japan nearly two years ago by sinking their claws into all aspects of recovery operations to skim off handsome profits.
Police have just turned up an instance of a gang member brazenly providing laborers to help clean up contaminated areas in Fukushima Prefecture, and pocketing part of their wages. […]
“The recovery operations involve a lot of money, so they are a godsend for gangs that have trouble making money due to a police crackdown on gang activities,” a gang insider said.
The man said these groups have been involved in the demolition of buildings and the disposal of waste in devastated areas. […]
See also: Police make arrest over cleanup workers at Fukushima Daiichi — Crime syndicate “allegedly participated in containment work for the damaged facilities”
Crisis of Fukushima No 4 reactor a worry for entire world
Japan Experts: Fukushima Unit 4 is the immediate crisis… entire world is concerned — No good solution for speeding up fuel removal http://enenews.com/japan-experts-fukushima-unit-4-immediate-crisis-entire-world-concerned-good-solution-speeding-fuel-removal
Report from Jiji on January 30, 2013 meeting of the Fukushima accident council with summary translation by Fukushima Diary:
[…] Mr. Kurokawa, the chairman of the governmental accident investigation committee commented the SFP of reactor 4 is the crisis in front of us. The entire world is concerned about that.
Mr. Kitazawa, the chairman of the council stated it takes a while to remove all the spent fuel from the pool. There is no appropriate solution for that.
Systran Translation
[…] The same nuclear plant 4 the anxiety for the used nuclear fuel pool of the machine was shown from the group of members […]
[…] Kurokawa which is National Diet accident pitch chairman is clear Science Council of Japan former chairman “the crisis which is immediately. The inside of the world feels concern” […]
[…] Chairman Hiroshi Kitazawa who serves the chairman of intellectual person meeting, points out that time is required for the fuel removal. “There is no good solution method” […]
See also: TV: Gov’t seeking to empty Fukushima No. 4 fuel pool much sooner than planned — Worries it could become ‘unsafe’ (VIDEO
Danger of radical Islamists and Pakistan’s nuclear weapons
Pakistan’s nuclear bombs could be hijacked by radicals, claims scientistPress Trust of India : February 01, 2013
The nuclear physicist and defence analyst estimated Pakistan’s arsenal to be similar to India’s, at around 120-130 warheads.
“Earlier, such weapons were seen just as a means of deterrence. The most dangerous development is the increasing search for fissile material as a new dimension of tactical nuclear war has entered the picture. This means the number of weapons will steadily increase,” he said……
“Whether electricity generated from nuclear sources is really efficient is a big question mark. The construction of nuclear reactors is very expensive and should an accident similar to Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011 were to occur in India or Pakistan, both countries may not have the capacity to deal with it the same way,” he added. http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/pakistan-s-nuclear-bombs-could-be-hijacked-by-radicals-claims-scientist-325021
Fukushima area: radioactivity in 79 tested cattle
Discovery.com: Radioactive Cattle Found Near Fukushima — “In the event of a nuclear Armageddon, don’t eat the steak” — Newborns, fetuses concentrating contamination http://enenews.com/discovery-radioactive-cattle-found-near-fukushima-in-the-event-of-a-nuclear-armageddon-dont-eat-the-steak-newborns-fetuses-concentrating-contamination
Title: Radioactive Cattle Found Near Fukushima
Source: Discovery News
Author: Tim Wall
Date: Jan 30, 2013
Radioactive Cattle Found Near Fukushima
[…] Now, nearly two years after the disaster, those abandoned cattle were found to be contaminated with radioactive elements. Traces of radioactive cesium, silver and tellurium were found in the 79 cattle analyzed by a scientific team led by Nagoya University engineer Toshio Fukuda and published in the journal PLOS ONE.
Fetuses and calves had radioactive materials concentrations up to 1.5 times higher than the adults. The calves had been born, and the fetuses conceived, after the disaster.
In the event of a nuclear Armageddon, don’t eat the steak. Radioactive elements collected most heavily in the cattle’s skeletal muscle. […]
See also: Gov’t to begin testing fetuses for gene mutations in “Fukushima Genomic Analysis”
Fukushima Genomic Analysis will test three generations for gene mutations
Gov’t to begin testing fetuses for gene mutations in “Fukushima Genomic Analysis” http://enenews.com/govt-to-begin-testing-fetuses-for-gene-mutations-in-fukushima-genomic-analysis
September 9th, 2012
http://www.minpo.jp/news/detail/201209073518 …
Source: http://www.minpo.jp/news/detail/201209073518
Grandparents will also be investigated if possible in order to investigate three generations of gene mutations
Japan’s Nuclear Board sets out safety regulations: nuclear industry working to weaken these
The power industry, which has a more supportive government potentially on its side, has been lobbying heavily against some of the regulations.
During the process, the requirements can be watered down.”
Japan Nuclear Board Offers New Safety Plans, WSJ, By MARI IWATA , January 31, 2013, TOKYO—Japan’s revamped nuclear-safety regulator issued its first proposed safety guidelines, telling utilities they need to 
plan for “unthinkable incidents,” such as the mammoth earthquake and tsunami that caused the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster.
Under the new rules, power plants will need to have more than a single access to the external grid power and to install enhanced filters to prevent contamination from being released if the reactors need to be vented due to a dangerous buildup of pressure.U.S. regulators, for example, require nuclear plants to have at least two connections to the external power grid. They require filters on some, but not all, venting valves and are weighing whether to adopt rules that would require expensive new filtering systems at 31 U.S. reactors with designs similar to Fukushima Daiichi.
The utilities also will have to plan how to deal with other types of risks previously not considered, such as a terrorist attack or a plane crash, proposing measures such as stronger buildings surrounding the reactor units and having critical backup systems at greater distance.
The new measures, which are subject to public comment, were issued Thursday by the new Nuclear Regulation Authority, set up in the aftermath of the Fukushima accident. The new body was created following criticism that the previous regulator, part of the energy ministry, was too close to the industry. Nuclear-power opponents say the agency’s work so far has shown that the previous cozy relationships, dubbed the “nuclear village,” are still in place.
Some experts said the new regulations sidestep many of the most important questions that will likely determine whether Japan will again have a heavy dependence on nuclear-generated electricity.
One key issue not yet addressed is how to determine whether a plant should be shut down because it sits on an “active” earthquake fault…..Another critical question for the utilities is whether additional equipment must all be installed immediately or over time, a question that could prompt some utilities to close older plants.
Antinuclear activist Takeshi Sakagami, who has been a regular attendee at NRA events and related expert-panel meetings since the agency began in July 2011, says the agency has been largely taken over by bureaucrats who want to restart Japan’s reactors. “Bureaucrats have been drafting the proposed rules and answering questions in the panel meetings,” he said. “It’s already back to the hands of the nuclear village members.”
He pointed out that the authority has held two sessions with power utilities in its discussions about reactor safety regulations, but so far none with residents from around Fukushima nor with antinuclear groups……
The power industry, which has a more supportive government potentially on its side, has been lobbying heavily against some of the regulations. One utility posted a profit and the other, Fukushima operator Tokyo Electric Power Co.,9501.TO +0.94% has yet to report.
Makoto Yagi, president of Kansai Electric Power Co., 9503.TO 0.00% Japan’s second-largest power utility and previously heavily dependent on nuclear power, said on Jan. 25 that the company will need at least ¥285 billion ($3.15 billion) in additional capital investment to equip its 11 reactors with safety measures required by the new guidelines.
The draft rules are still open to public comment. “It’s not as simple as you might think to evaluate the guidelines at this point,” said Hiromitsu Ino, emeritus professor of the Tokyo University and an expert of raw materials used in reactors. “During the process, the requirements can be watered down.”
The utilities have been hit by higher costs of oil- and gas-fired power plants. Of the nation’s nine utilities that own and operate nuclear-power plants, seven have so far reported losses for the nine months to December…… http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324156204578275690031511384.html
Freedom of press in Japan has gone down drastically, since Fukushima nuclear disaster
Jiji: Japan plummets in press freedom list — “Almost zero respect for access to information related to Fukushima… Should sound an alarm” -Group http://enenews.com/jiji-japan-plummets-press-freedom-list-almost-respect-access-information-related-fukushima-sharp-fall-sound-alarm
Title: Japan dives to 53rd in press freedom list
Source: Jiji Press
Date: Jan. 30, 2013
Japan plummeted to 53rd from 22nd last year in the 2013 press freedom ranking released by Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based nonprofit organization, on Wednesday.
Japan “has been affected by a lack of transparency and almost zero respect for access to information on subjects directly or indirectly related to Fukushima,” the group said in a statement, referring to the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. “This sharp fall should sound an alarm,” it added. […]
See also: Professor: Goebbels would smile in his grave to see how nuclear establishment handled disaster (AUDIO)
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