US drones in Pakistan – counterproductive
Pakistan Drone Study Finds ‘Damaging And Counterproductive’ Consequences From U.S. Policy HUFFINGTON POST 09/25/2012 A new study conducted by law professors at Stanford and New York University contends that the U.S. use of drones to target suspected militants in Pakistan has had a “damaging and counterproductive effect” on the country and has killed far more civilians than previously acknowledged. Continue reading
Poorly paid, dangerous, work of nuclear sub-contracted workers
Desirability of nuclear power is the real question, THE HINDU, 28 Sept 12
MADHUMITA DUTTA“……In France, over 20,000-30,000 workers dubbed as “nuclear nomads” are subcontracted annually in the 58 nuclear reactors operated by Électricité de France S.A. (EDF) located in 20 sites which contribute 78 per cent of the electricity produced in the country.
EDF subcontracts over 1,000 companies, who employ the “nuclear nomads,” sometimes of foreign origin, to do the dangerous maintenance, repair and clean-up work in these plants, exposing them to ionising radiations. In her book “Nuclear Servitude: Subcontracting and Health in the French Civil Nuclear Industry,” French social scientist Annie Thébaud-Mony has highlighted this division of labour and “risk” by subcontracting dangerous work in the French nuclear power industry.
In the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster, over 18,000 workers were hired to clean-up the power plant, who were all subcontracted to do dangerous radioactive clean-up work. These men, hailed as “national heroes” by many, were actually local residents rendered unemployed by the disaster or were daily wagers from city slums.
Since the 1970s, Japan has had a dubious track record of subcontracting maintenance
work of reactors to outside companies which hire workers on a short-term basis who remain employed till they reach their radiation exposure limit (Nuclear Nomads: A look at the Sub-contracted Heroes by Gabrielle Hecht in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January 9, 2012)…. http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/desirability-of-nuclear-power-is-the-real-question/article3939373.ece
Supreme Court might halt Kudankulam nuclear power project
Kudankulam nuclear plant can be stopped if not found safe: Supreme
Court http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/kudankulam-nuclear-plant-can-be-stopped-if-not-found-safe-supreme-court/articleshow/16576138.cms
27 Sept 12, NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today made it clear that it can stop
commissioning of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant if it finds that the mandatory safety requirements for it have not been put in place.
A bench of justices K S Radhakrishanan and Deepak Misra said the safety of plant and the people living in its vicinity is its prime concern and issued notices to the Centre and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board on a plea challenging the environmental clearance given
to the controversial project. Continue reading
Fukushima rice was sold labelled as from Nagano http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/09/fukushima-rice-was-sold-labelled-as-from-nagano/ by Mochizuki September 27th, 2012 In this May, a rice wholesaler in Nagano sold 26 tones of rice from Fukushima and Aomori with deceptive label of the origin to be from Nagano prefecture.
Police is suspecting this wholesaler in Nagano prefecture sold about
200 kg of Fukushima rice “Akitakomachi” labelled as the rice from
Nagano, which violates the Unfair Competition Prevention Act and JAS.
Nagano prefecture is about 268 km from Fukushima plant. The rice was
sold to Osaka.
The company is “Hashimoto shoji” in Komagane city, Nagano prefecture.
The president, Hashimoto (57) sold 200kg of Fukushima rice in the
package labelled as “Nagano” for 60,000JPY.
Police has been investigating his office and warehouse since this May.
He states he did not have enough supply of Nagano rice, purchased rice
from Fukushima to sell with deceptive label of the origin.
Third steel beam found beside the fuel rack. Tepco “Fuel assemblies may be damaged” Fukushima Diary, by Mochizuki on September 25th, 2012 ·
As to the latest accident in reactor3, Fukushima Diary reported Tepco
found 2 steel beams in SFP3.
(cf. [Reactor3] Underwater video, “Two steel beams were found in the pool”)
After this article, Tepco found another steel beam in the pool, now
they are considering the possibility that the fuel assemblies are
damaged.
So far, Tepco finished investigating the 1/8 of the pool and found 3
steel beams in total. One of the 3 steel beams was found beside a rack
of fuel assemblies.
Tepco still hasn’t verified the dropped steel beam.
They have been stating there is no change in the radiation level in
the pool water and no change of the water level, which suggests the
state of the pool and fuel assemblies were sound, but they are
starting to suggest the possibility that fuel assemblies were
damaged…….. http://fukushima-diary.com/2012/09/third-steel-beam-found-beside-the-fuel-rack-tepco-fuel-assemblies-may-be-damaged/
Japan’s new nuclear safety agency dumps the previous hastily made “stress tests”
New nuclear watchdog to dump reactor stress tests http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120925c1.html Kyodo Japan’s new nuclear watchdog plans to disregard the stress tests used by its predecessor for the reactor reactivation process because it
plans to create fresh criteria for the task, Nuclear Regulation Authority chief Shunichi Tanaka said Monday.
“We will not use ‘stress tests’ as our judgment criteria,” Tanaka said in an interview,
referring to the two-stage safety examination that the government slapped together to push through reactor restarts in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in March last year, fearing summer power outages.
Utilities seeking to restart reactors have already submitted the results of their first-phase stress tests to the NRA’s predecessor, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. NISA was to check the results.
Of the nation’s 50 viable commercial reactors, results on 30 have been submitted. In July, Kansai Electric Power Co.’s two reactors at the Oi power plant in Fukui Prefecture became the first to be reactivated since the crisis.
But Tanaka’s remarks mean the utilities will have to go back to square one to restart their reactors.
Tanaka emphasized that he has “no intention” to decide on whether the stress test results so far submitted are proper.
The NRA, launched earlier this month as part of efforts to improve regulation in light of the Fukushima crisis, plans to formulate new safety standards within 10 months.
Hypocrisy of Japanese govt’s pretense of a no nuclear policy
The entire [zero nuclear]policy had been watered down to nothing due to opposition from both the US and the Japanese Business Federation (Keidanren).
If we don’t, someone else will (and other dubious rationalizations)Kanagawa Notebook, September 23, 2012 ZERO NUCLEAR POWER BY 2030′s: OFFICIAL GOAL!! …. protestors in Tokyo are calling for an end to reliance on nuclear power NOW, which could be achieved simply by shutting down the two reactors at the Oi Power Plant in Fukui Prefecture.
Zero nuclear power by the 2030′s?? That would give the government plenty of opportunity to keep the Ooi reactors running and re-start others in the meantime. So I read the article calmly and objectively, and was not surprised to discover the clause at the end added by the Prime Minister: “It is extremely hard to predict how things may develop in the future and we should make sure that we are able to take a flexible approach.” Flexible, meaning “Well, we’ll TRY to keep this promise. But it may not work out, so please understand, okay?”
And to add insult to injury, the article made it very clear that the government intended to continue the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, and did not plan to give up on the Monju fast-breeder (a prototype reactor that theoretically will run on reprocessed uranium and plutonium. The reactor has been plagued by accidents and cover-ups, and currently sits idle; it has actually only produced a single hour’s worth of electricity since its completion, which involved four decades of work and an appalling amount of money), scheduled to come on-line in 2050. Continue reading
Deformities in butterflies – effects of Fukushima radiation
More images of deformed butterflies after Fukushima — Wings folded over, rumpled, much different sizes (PHOTOS)
September 21st, 2012
By ENENews
The biological impacts of the Fukushima nuclear accident on the pale grass blue butterfly
Scientific Reports
Volume 2; 2012 See more photos here
Fishing boats: protest against uranium fuel loading for Kudankulam
Fishermen protest against Indian nuclear plant The Nation By: AFP | September 23, 2012 CHENNAI – Indian fishermen and anti-nuclear activists on Saturday mounted a sea protest against an atomic power plant following violent demonstrations earlier this month, police said.
Some 3,000 fishermen and anti-nuclear activists in 500 fishing boats sought to block a port in southern Tamil Nadu state to protest against the loading of uranium at the under-construction power plant, police said.
Tuticorin port spokesman V. Satyarajan described the protest as “peaceful” and said there was no disruption to traffic at the port from the attempted blockade off Tuticorin town, 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the project. Witnesses said the boat-borne protesters shouted anti-nuclear slogans and demanded an end to the loading of uranium at the Russian-backed project.
“We will continue to protest until the nuclear plant is shut down,” said Subash Fernando, one of the leaders of the sea protest. On land, demonstrators from villages near the plant formed a human chain in Tuticorin to protest against the loading of the fuel rods. Earlier this month, one fisherman was shot dead by police as hundreds of protesters clashed with armed officers.
Last week, India’s Supreme Court denied a request to suspend the loading of the rods at the plant which opponents say poses a danger to local people…..
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/international/23-Sep-2012/fishermen-protest-against-indian-nuclear-plant
Loopholes in Japan’s “zero nukes” policy – can allow continuing nuclear power
Next Big Future 23 Sept The energy policy announced by Maehar’s boss, Prime Minister Noda, calls for reactors to operate to the end of their 40 year life, but it offers a loophole to operate them for another 20 years if it can be proven they can do so safely. That loophole would allow a reactor that loads fuel for the first time in 2015 to have a decommissioning date of 2075.
Reactors already under construction will be completed, says Yukio Edano, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry trade minister. They are the No. 3 reactor at the Shimane plant (94- percent complete) in Matsue, capital of the Shimane Prefecture, which is operated by Chugoku Electric; a reactor at the Oma plant (38 percent complete) in Aomori Prefecture, which is operated by Electric Power Development; and, No. 1 reactor (10 percent complete) at the Higashidori plant also in Aomori Prefecture.
In Tamura, Fukushima, children play in radiation contaminated area
Many children playing sports on field with radiation dose over 5 millisieverts per year (PHOTO) http://enenews.com/photo-many-children-playing-on-field-with-radiation-dose-over-5-millisieverts-per-year
September 23rd, 2012
By ENENews 0.581μSv/h at an athletic field in Tamura, Fukushima, where children run and breathe the contaminated air. twitter.com/GuciYama/statu…
0.581 microsieverts per hour * 24 hours in a day * 365 days in a year = 5089.56 microsieverts per year or 5.09 millisieverts per year. The Japanese government’s radiation dose limit for the public is set at 1 millisievert per year –Yomiuri
See the children paying near the radiation detector here
Vietnam, in ignorance, buying Japan’s nuclear technology
Japan lobbied aggressively to win the contract to build a nuclear power plant in Vietnam. Japan and other nuclear powers are now desperate to sell plants to developing nations, since Fukushima has destroyed the dream of a nuclear renaissance in advanced economies.
If we don’t, someone else will (and other dubious rationalizations) Kanagawa Notebook, September 23, 2012 “…..Vietnam, a nation which, with the assistance and “know-how” of both Russia and Japan, is about to go nuclear. In spite of the Fukushima disaster, the Vietnamese government plans to honor their contract with a Japanese firm to build a nuclear power plant, and in fact, preparations are already underway.
While the Noda administration waffles and stumbles before its own citizens, it is “leading the way” with confidence in Vietnam, where residents believe that 1) the nuclear industry is safe and trustworthy, and 2) Fukushima was something unfortunate, but unrelated to their own situation. Continue reading
Fukushima study on cows shows how radioactive cesium collects in the kidneys
New Japan Study: Kidneys accumulate most radioactive cesium by far — Highest levels of any tissue inside cows: http://enenews.com/study-kidneys-accumulated-most-radioactive-cesium-highest-levels-of-any-tissue-inside-japanese-cows September 21st, 2012 By ENENews
« 1 quadrillion becquerels of total strontium into Pacific via wastewater — Giant spike in levels offshore Fukushima many months after 3/11 Chemist: Dangerously elevated hydrocarbons in sinkhole sludge — Levels may be in flammable range »
New Japan Study: Kidneys accumulate most radioactive cesium by far — Highest levels of any tissue inside cows
September 21st, 2012
Title: Radiocesium distribution in the tissues of Japanese black beef heifers fed fallout-contaminated roughage due to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station accident
Source: Biosci Biotechnol Biochem.
Authors: Sasaki K, Hayashi M, Narita T, Motoyama M, Oe M, Ojima K, Nakajima I, Muroya S, Chikuni K, Aikawa K, Ide Y, Nakanishi N, Suzuki N, Shioya S, Takenaka A. (National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization)
Date: 2012 Aug 7
Abstract
This study examined the accumulation and tissue distribution of radioactive cesium nuclides in Japanese Black beef heifers raised on roughage contaminated with radioactive fallout due to the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on March 2011. Radiocesium feeding increased both (134)Cs and (137)Cs levels in all tissues tested. The kidney had the highest level and subcutaneous adipose had the lowest of radioactive cesium in the tissues. Different radioactive cesium levels were not found among parts of the muscles. These results indicate that radiocesium accumulated highly in the kidney and homogenously in the skeletal muscles in the heifers.
See the full report here Title: Radiocesium distribution in the tissues of Japanese black beef heifers fed fallout-contaminated roughage due to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station accident
Oops a 25 foot metal beam fell in nuclear fuel pool at Fukushima
Watch: 25-foot-long metal beam drops into Reactor No. 3 pool at Fukushima — Not clear if any fuel rods have broken — Could further complicate removal efforts (VIDEO) http://enenews.com/25-foot-long-metal-beam-falls-into-no-3-fuel-pool-at-fukushima-no-major-increase-in-radiation-levels-nearby-tepco-says-could-complicate-removal-efforts
September 22nd, 2012
By ENENews
UPDATE: Japan TV: “Grave mistake” that crane knocked beam into No. 3 fuel pool — Checking for fuel damage with camera soon (VIDEO) <<
Title: Day 560 Oops, dropped it Source: uhohjapan2 Date: Sept. 22, 2012
According to the Yomiuri Newspaper, up at FD1 reactor #3, a steel beam, 470kg (30cmX20cmX7m), fell into the spent fuel pool. […]
http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20120922-00000555-yom-soci
Jiji Tsushin report from Sept. 22, 2012 translated by EXSKF:
TEPCO announced on September 22 that a steel frame weighing about 470 kilograms dropped into the Spent Fuel Pool of Reactor 3 during the debris removal operation of the Reactor 3 building […] So far, there is no major increase in radiation levels nearby, TEPCO says.
According to TEPCO, the accident happened at 11:05AM on September 22 when [EXSKF: the crane operator] tried to grab a piece of debris, an H steel lying next to the Spent Fuel Pool on the 5th floor of Reactor 3 building and failed. The H steel slid into the Spent Fuel Pool.
Source: RT News line
Date: Sept 23, 2012
A huge metal beam was dropped into a spent fuel pond at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Workers were trying to extract cement wreckage […] The crane boom accidentally pushed a metal beam into the pool from its casing, reports ITAR-TASS news agency. [Tepco] says the metal construction, 7.3 meters [~25 feet] in length and weighing 470kg, did not cause any breach in the cooling system, but could complicate further retrieve of spent nuclear rods.
Title: Another accident at Fukushima plant
Source: Voice of Russia
Date: Sept 22, 2012
[…]
Reports say it was accidentally dislodged from its place by a crane.
Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident. It is not yet clear whether any of the spent rods has been broken.
Watch video of the crane at 11:05a JST here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4y0D4Wh2OU
China still has poor record on nuclear safety, uranium environmental damage
Should China be involved in the UK’s nuclear energy infrastructure? Guardian UK, Paul Dorfman, 21 Sept 12“….In Tibet, the Chinese nuclear industry is engaged in a determined effort to secure uranium deposits located in Amdo, where leaching and open pit extraction are reported to have resulted in significant environmental contamination. Regulation of safety oversight mechanisms is relatively weak in the Chinese nuclear industry, and according to a recent Nuclear Materials Security Index report, China ranks 29th among the group of 32 nuclear nations in terms of nuclear security and materials transparency. Although it’s to be hoped that greater corporate social responsibility and sensitivity to vulnerable industrial communities is evolving in both Russia and China, it’s still troubling to reflect on their respective human rights situations, documented by Amnesty International……http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2012/sep/21/nuclearpower-energy?newsfeed=true
1 This Month
1 June Webinar – The High Cost of Nuclear Power – Register
of the week– Nuclear Reactor Information Task Force
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