Japan: Greedy Big Business: Save Company Not Lives

From Denny:  Dragging into a one month crisis it is still unbelievable how TEPCO, Tokyo Electric Power Company, has the gall to continue placing the equivalent of band-aids on a life-threatening nuclear crisis. Today they threw wet concrete, newspaper shreddings, sawdust and sand onto an eight-inch crack where radiated water was leaking out into the ocean. Every decision made so far has been to try and save the nuclear reactors rather than entomb them in concrete, killing them - and the company's investment - forever.

Japan: TEPCO Chief MIA. Why and Where Is He?

Tokyo, city of 39 million - Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: TEPCO Chief Masataka Shimizu, who has not been seen in public since 16 March, is the subject of speculation. Japanese media is swirling with suicide rumors as an explanation for his absence.

It was March 15 when the Prime Minister Naoto Kan angrily demanded to know from Shimizu and other TEPCO executives, shouting, "What the hell is going on?" PM Kan was furious at how slow Shimizu was at informing him of the crisis at the plant and the seriousness of the situation.

Japan: We Are Far Beyond Level 5 Nuclear Threat

Three Mile Island - Image via Wikipedia

From Denny:  Today it was finally acknowledged the radiation is now 10,000,000 times safety levels. Workers trying to cool off reactor number two have been evacuated.

New reports stream in about how TEPCO did not do safety inspections over many years.  Today another blow to their credibility: While planning for a killer tsunami, the company dismissed scientific evidence as well as 3,000 years of geologic history. The science evidence has been available for a decade.

They arbitrarily decided that the Earth simply could not release such fury from the chafing of two coupled tectonic plates building stress and great pressure nor from the ensuing killer tsunami that was registered as high as 33 feet tall, 27 feet in other accessments.  A fault line lies offshore just about 220 miles from the plant. TEPCO engineers again arbitrarily decided a tsunami certainly could be no higher than 18 feet high and would pose no problem.

President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, Arjun Makhijani, labels this Japanese nuclear incident the most serious since Chernobyl in 1986. Most notably he discusses (in the second video) how the nuclear threat level long ago surpassed the level five the Japanese claimed last week. He is sounding the alarm. Is anyone listening?

He says the release of radioactive Iodine 131 is 100,000 times more than what happened at Three Mile Island. Drinking water, sea water and food are all contaminated in Japan, with constant new exposure daily.

Cooling the hot fuel rods so they don't release radioactive steam into the air has been hampered by the salt water used in desperation last week. The salt has coated the fuel rods making them hotter and more difficult for the fresh water now being used to make contact with the metal rods. In short, the fresh water cannot easily cool the rods because of the salt coating.

Makhijani says there are seven sources of radiation leakage and these difficulties will not be contained or controlled for some time. The real question is this: Just how much time is left?

Japan: Nuclear Update, 20 Japan Political Cartoons

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny:  While "experts" chime in that the radiation contaminated food in Japan is fine to eat, the radiation levels within "acceptable parameters," the death tolls mount as more dead are found during the recovery effort. If the food is so safe to eat why don't those experts dine on it? Radiation has been found in food as far away as 90 miles out from the nuclear site in trouble.

Now, most Japanese are on edge about their radiation contaminated food and water supply. The drinking water is contaminated. The spinach and other green leafy vegetable crops are contaminated. The milk is contaminated. What's left to eat that isn't contaminated? People are bathing in radiated water because there is nothing else available and now that is a worry from repeated exposure.

The information is sketchy and conflicting about the status of the nuclear reactors and the spent fuel rod pools. Over the weekend, officials kept claiming they were making headway with enough sea water to cover the pools, cooling them. Then late in the day there was an explosion that wasn't supposed to happen.

The Japanese claim reactors five and six are under control and that reactor three, the plutonium one, is doing well. They claim it couldn't be the fuel rod pool that experienced an explosion because there was no radiation levels found but they do admit the radiation levels spiked. Come on, people. Just how stupid do you think the public really is to accept this garbage story?

Japan: Plutonium Reactor Careening Out of Control, 18 Political Cartoons

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny: The whole world watches, waits, and holds its breath dreading nightmarish nuclear disaster. We are transfixed upon every tiny bit of streaming news coverage to the point of emotional saturation. And the news does not get any better. Even the Japanese government called the situation today "very grave."

At the moment, scientists and world governments are most concerned about reactor number three's spent fuel rods as that is the plutonium reactor. This is the reactor where the military are flying in bucketfuls of water to try and douse the hot area. Specialized military water trucks have proven more successful. Teams work in short bursts of time because the radiation levels are so high and then they must retreat. Another team moves in to take their place in the emergency relay trying to beat the time clock, hoping against hope.

Japan: Thousands Flee From Terror of Deteriorating Nuclear Situation

From top left: Shinjuku, Tokyo Tower, Rainbow Bridge, Shibuya, National Diet Building Image via Wikipedia

From Denny:  As many countries increasingly do not trust what the Japanese government is telling them, a number began ordering their citizens out of the country. At the very least they are advising people to move far south of the nuclear plant site in trouble.

Just yesterday France accused Japan of lying about the true situation at two of the reactors. They are spitting mad because the French take nuclear energy seriously and their responsibility to their citizens and the world too.  I'm quite proud of my French cousins for speaking up and speaking out so forcefully.

Japanese culture is known for its grace, order, quiet and most of all a refusal to give out bad news. Unfortunately, this is not the time for soft pedaling hard truths to their people or neighbors like Russia. Right now Russia is in fear of the radiation clouds coming their way if this nuclear disaster increases to exponential proportions.

Which countries have instructed their citizens to either evacuate Japan or move far south?

* Australia
* Britain
* Czech Republic
* Philippines
* Germany
* France
* India
* United States

France sent in Air France flights to assist their citizens who wish to evacuate as they are taking no chances for loss of life or serious illness. The French Cirque du Soleil was performing at Toyko's Disneyland and the Fuji Dome but has now moved the troop to Macau.

Germany moved 4,000 either evacuated or moved south. Germany also moved their embassy from Tokyo down to Osaka. About 1,000 Germans remain.

United States: President Obama and Sec. Clinton are advising voluntary evacuation for all government personnel and citizens or to move far south.

Serbia and Croatia also evacuated citizens and moved their embassies from Tokyo to Osaka too.

China moved their citizens to the far south.

India evacuated 185 employees of L & T InfoTech.

Which country says it's safe to stay in Japan?  Try Canada.  I don't know what those government officials are smoking but they are telling the 11,000 Canadians living in Japan that it's no big deal to remain near the danger zone and no need to evacuate. And they are also claiming it's just fine for Canadians who want to travel to Japan to do so.  What drugs are these guys taking?

What's wrong with staying in Tokyo? Try there are 39 million people living in or near Tokyo. It would be a nightmare to evacuate the entire city, especially since the authorities did not begin on day one like a prudent person would have done.

Tokyo is also only 140 miles away from the nuclear disaster area and that is just too close for comfort for many people.

At the moment 600 Americans were found trapped up above the nuclear disaster site. They are being brought down in 14 buses. Yes, they have to travel within the 50 miles radius of the dangerous nuclear site to get to the south for safety. Keep them in your prayers.

The problem of moving far south is that now that will put tremendous pressure on resources in those areas. I well remember what it was like when Hurricane Katrina hit and half of New Orleans moved into Baton Rouge, my town, literally overnight. They took over the roads, clogging them. They raided the gas stations and the grocery stores, emptying them. There was literally nothing left after 500,000 desperate needy people raided our resources. Fortunately, we were able to supply our town within a couple of weeks as suppliers were able to get to us from other regions of the country. Can you imagine the logistical nightmare that must be happening in Japan, and Tokyo in particular, trying to supply 39 million people?

Related articles

• Obama Seeks Review of U.S. Nuclear Facilities (online.wsj.com)
• Canada charters evacuation buses, but says Japan still safe (theprovince.com)
• Japan: Nuclear Plants in Peril 3 Days After 9.0 Earthquake, Tsunami (thesocialpoets.blogspot.com)
• Japan: Nuclear Update, Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear Political Cartoons (thesocialpoets.blogspot.com)
• UN: Nuclear plume may reach US by Friday (rt.com)

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Japan: Nuclear Update, Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear Political Cartoons

Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in San Luis Obispo County, California, USA - this plant sits on an earthquake fault - Image via Wikipedia

What is the truth about radiation levels?

From Denny:  The Japanese keep changing and downplaying the radiation level numbers. At one point last night one Japanese official said the radiation levels at the troubled nuclear plant had reached 1,000 times the healthy levels. He was later forced to back off on that number, claiming it was a mistake in translation. No, it wasn't. Read that as a diplomatic way for a bureaucrat to get out the truth, knowing he would have to walk it back but at least the information would get out to the public.

Prez Obama sends in nuke specialist team 

Finally, America got smart and sent in their own teams to monitor and assess the threat level. The American military was to try and douse the troubled reactors with water from a helicopter dump today but had to sideline that idea as the radiation levels were far too high for safety of the crews.  The Navy is also keeping their ships out of harm's way of the radioactive plumes from the plant explosions.

This is one of those times I'm pleased this White House, the Pentagon and the world intelligence community read this blog.  Yes, I yell at them: a lot.  They often need it as they can be such brick thinkers and too slow to react in a crisis situation.  Thank God, they decided to hear me now and act for the sake of everyone concerned: the entire world.  To their credit they are constantly monitoring the health of the military stationed in Japan as well as the crews helping with the rescue and relief efforts.  That sure takes a load off of my mind. Good going, guys.

Japan: Nuclear Plants in Peril 3 Days After 9.0 Earthquake, Tsunami

Image via Wikipedia

From Denny:  BREAKING NEWS: Today it was confirmed by Japanese officials that three reactors are in complete meltdown. 

The news is constantly shifting and changing as fast as the earthquake shook this small nation in the Pacific Ocean. Sitting atop three continental plates, Japan lives in the most dangerous place in the world for severe and frequent earthquakes and resulting tsunamis: The Ring of Fire.

Japan is now 13 feet wider than before the earthquake. Japan as a country has also moved an additional eight feet from its previous position. This 9.0 earthquake has moved the Earth's axis. How much has yet to be determined. The previous 9.0 earthquake off Chile months ago moved the Earth's axis by three inches. It's no wonder the night sky constellations no longer are seen in the same positions as a year ago.

At this point in the nuclear crisis it is difficult for officials to assess fully the situation while they are trying to prevent a huge nuclear disaster beyond what is already unfolding. There are at least six nuclear reactors in crisis stages, from overheating to partial meltdown status. For some, the cooling systems have failed completely, others the containment walls exploded.

Japan: Lying About Nuke Plant Meltdowns, Evacuate Americans

Image by [ Mooi ] via Flickr

From Denny:  Watching CNN interview Japan's ambassador to the U.S., Ichiro Fujisaki, one thing is clear: the official word from the Japanese government to all their diplomats is to lie and hard sell the official party line. Right now, in the middle of all this devastation, they are lying to President Obama and other world governments.

Japanese deception about nuclear meltdowns 

Mr. Obama, contact your "Lie to Me" guys over at the CIA and get them to run the tapes, pointing out the facial micro-expressions proving the shame, lies and deception on the face of this ambassador.  You have a serious problem here, Mr. President, as nuclear containment is no longer possible.  Take precautions for America now.  Don't wait for the Japanese to tell you yet another lie before you make a decision or act.  It could be too late. This is no time for taking your time to decide or it could backfire on you.