vildemose

 

US Troops Ready to Enter Japan's Nuclear Danger Zone

 //www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/US-Troops-Ready-to-Enter-Japans-Nuclear-Danger-Zone-118227379.html

The hallmarks of a Level 5 emergency are severe damage to a reactor core, release of large quantities of radiation with a high probability of "significant" public exposure or several deaths from radiation.

(//www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/18/japan-raises-severity-nuclear-accident_n_837467.html)

A partial meltdown at Three Mile Island also was ranked a Level 5. The Chernobyl accident of 1986, which killed at least 31 people with radiation sickness, raised long-term cancer rates, and spewed radiation for hundreds of miles (kilometers), was ranked a Level 7.

France's Nuclear Safety Authority has been saying since Tuesday that the crisis in northeastern Japan should be ranked Level 6 on the scale.

The fuel rods at all six reactors at the stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi complex contain plutonium - better known as fuel for nuclear weapons. While plutonium is more toxic than uranium, other radioactive elements leaking out are likely to be of greater danger to the general public.

The ministry said up to 0.17 millisieve­rts per hour have been detected 18 miles northwest of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, according to NHK."

If true, I don't see how Japanese government can refuse to extrend the Evac. zone beyond the present 30 km radius. This is a very high level.

The government of Japan should have expanded the evacuation zone a week ago. As it stands now it may be too late for those who were not evacuated as they've already been exposed to levels too high to maintain their heath and life. The lack of vision to evacuate is a far greater tragedy than the melting of the nukes; profoundly sad and unacceptab­e as we, our government along with others have stood by and witnessed this lack of ineptitude­.

It will turn out the nuclear plants will create the worst disaster. It's becoming all too true. Despite Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, the industry has become too confident. Certain companies made decisions to take shortcuts in order to save money. And all the windmills in Japan survived the quake, continue to function, continue to provide Japan with the power they need. Oh how we wish that Japan had 350,000 windmills, how we wish America had two million windmills. How much of the earth needs to be uninhabita­ble before this insanity ends? We need to develop wind and solar energy today.

At least 3 reactors have had partial meltdowns.  

US President Barack Obama announced he is ordering the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct a review of all US nuclear power plants as a result of the situation in Japan. The President also reassured Americans there is no risk of exposure to significant levels of radiation.

The situation is expected to take weeks to resolve. Japn is also reviewing future of NPP.

Latest Stats as of early morning Friday 18 March. Japan. (combined sources)
-15,000 dead/missing
- 380,000 displaced
- Emergency crews are still having difficulty reaching some areas hit by the tsunami.
- Japan officials are ordered food be tested for radioactivity
- 2,000 emergency shelters are operating
- Shortages of food and water growing critical as well as access to gasoline

• Reuters Japan Factbox

• Dave Lochbaum, Union of Concerned Scientists: Interview:

//www.therandirhodesshow.com/pages/rrnews.html?feed=393046&article=8299848

• NYT: Q. and A. on the Nuclear Crisis in Japan
• Plutonium In Fuel Rods: Cause For Concern?

IAEA chief says the situation is grave and sever. I think IAEA is partially responsible for this catastrophe.IAEA CALLS ACCIDENT "EXTREMELY SERIOUS." The head of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency says authorities are "racing against the clock" to cool the complex and calls the accident "extremely serious."

From this event I hope the UN and IAEA will propose a robust (enforcable by the UN) policy  that states that countries must have a thorough recovery plan,  approved by an elected or internationally nominated committee before they dabble in things that affect security and safety of not only their own people but neighborin­g countries as well with; especially those countries that build their nuclear plants on the conjunction of 3 plate tectonics like Iran and Japan. Until further notice, IAEA should immediately suspend/revoke IRI's nuclear power plant's licensing and any other technological cooperation with the IRI.

Watch the video of Quake in Japan's Central Park Cracks Liquefaction as the crack is moving throughout the park. It boggles the mind.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2f2Nw3j2fE&feature=player_embedded#at=23