tagged w/ Japan's earthquake
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Los Angeles Times...
Japan says it was unprepared for post-quake nuclear disaster
In its report, Japan says, it needs to revise its nuclear safety preparedness and response in light of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant crisis. It also says the damage and radiation leak were worse than previously thought.
associated press
June 8, 2011
tokyo —
— Japan acknowledged Tuesday that it was unprepared for a severe nuclear accident like the tsunami-generated Fukushima disaster and said damage to the reactors and radiation leakage were worse than it previously thought.
In a report being submitted to the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency, the government also acknowledged reactor design inadequacies and a need for greater independence for the country's nuclear regulators.
The report says the nuclear fuel in three reactors probably melted through the inner containment vessels, not just the core, after the March 11 earthquake, and the tsunami knocked out the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant's power and cooling systems. Fuel in the Unit 1 reactor started melting hours earlier than previously estimated.
The 750-page report, compiled by Japan's nuclear emergency task force, factors in a preliminary evaluation by a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency and was to be submitted to the IAEA as requested.
"In light of the lessons learned from the accident, Japan has recognized that a fundamental revision of its nuclear safety preparedness and response is inevitable," the report says. It also recommends a national debate on nuclear power.
The report says the "inadequate" basic reactor design — the Mark-1 model developed by General Electric — included the venting system for the containment vessels and the location of spent fuel cooling pools high in the buildings, which resulted in leaks of radioactive water that hampered repair work.
GE declined to comment on the specific conclusions of the report.
Hundreds of plant workers are scrambling to bring the crippled reactors to a "cold shutdown" by early next year and end the crisis. The accident has forced more than 80,000 residents to evacuate from neighborhoods around the plant.Los Angeles Times...
Japan says it was unprepared for post-quake nuclear disaster... more
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The New York Times...
April 9, 2011
Japan Orders Nuclear Plant Operators to Obtain More Emergency Generators
By ANDREW POLLACK and MATTHEW L. WALD
TOKYO — Radiation readings spiked sharply in one reactor at the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after a powerful aftershock late Thursday, according to data released by the government, a development that might indicate new damage to the already compromised reactor.
But the plant owner, the Tokyo Electric Power Company, said the gauge used to measure radiation was most likely broken.
The high radiation was measured in the drywell of Reactor No. 1, directly below the reactor pressure vessel and part of the primary containment that is a crucial barrier preventing the escape of radioactive materials. The drywell reading raised the worrisome possibility that highly radioactive water had escaped, and perhaps even material from the nuclear core, although this was far less likely.
Experts said, however, that keeping water in the drywell could limit the damage from any leak.
On Tuesday the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission set off alarms when it said that such a leak might have happened in the No. 2 reactor at the plant, based on a high radiation reading in its drywell. But the agency has since appeared to step back slightly from that theory, emphasizing that its judgment was based on speculation because no one can get close enough to the reactor to judge what is really happening.
And on Saturday, Eliot Brenner, a spokesman for the commission, agreed with the power company’s assessment that the high reading in the No. 1 reactor was most likely in error because there had not been a sharp increase in pressure or temperature in the drywell.
The radiation readings, while still quite high, were down Friday from the highest level, which was recorded a half-hour after the 7.1- magnitude aftershock.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission had expressed concern in a recent report that the damaged nuclear power plant could prove unusually vulnerable to aftershocks.
Peter Yanev, a longtime consultant specializing in the earthquake resistance of nuclear power plants, said that the aftershock late Thursday had not been strong enough to cause new damage to previously undamaged equipment. But the Japanese authorities have not released detailed information on the extent of damage from the initial earthquake nearly a month ago, he cautioned. “If you have something severely damaged, teetering, it can fall over” in a later shock, Mr. Yanev said.
The Japanese government, meanwhile, ordered reactor operators on Saturday to bring in additional emergency diesel generators, as the aftershock again demonstrated the potential for such events to shut down portions of the power grid.
The new government order came after problems were reported at two other nuclear power plants, both run by the Tohoku Electric Power Company. The plants suffered temporary losses of cooling to spent fuel pools, electricity cutoffs and problems with backup diesel generators after Thursday’s aftershock.
The Higashidori plant lost all outside power. Although it had three backup diesel generators, two were out of service for periodic maintenance. The remaining one worked for a while, but later, after some outside power was restored, it stopped because some of its oil spilled out.
At the Onagawa plant, three out of four outside power lines went down, but the plant continued to operate on the fourth line. Although diesel backup was not needed, it was discovered that one of the plant’s two diesel generators had been out of order since April 1.
“There was no problem this time,” said Hidehiko Nishiyama, deputy director general of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, which regulates the atomic energy industry, at a news conference. However, he said, nuclear plant operators will now be required to have more backup diesel generators available and working.
Mr. Nishiyama said his agency was also trying to find the causes for the loss of cooling to spent fuel pools. The cause of one stoppage seemed to be essentially a blown fuse, Mr. Nishiyama said.
Loss of cooling can allow spent fuel to heat up, which can lead to the release of radioactive materials.
The government also moved to ban the planting of rice in soil containing too much radioactive material, which has been released from the Fukushima Daiichi plant in the weeks since a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. Sales of some milk, vegetables and fish have been prohibited because of contamination, but the new measures affect the nation’s staple crop, a foundation of its culture as well as its diet.
The new policy on rice will ban planting of the crop in soil that has more than 5,000 becquerels of cesium-137 per kilogram of soil.
So far, radiation testers have found only two spots in northeastern Japan, both in the town of Iitate, 25 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, that has had cesium levels that high. Cesium-137 can damage cells and lead to an increased risk of cancer.
The national and prefectural governments are now hurriedly performing broader soil surveys to identify which areas would be off limits to planting.
With planting about to begin, “we don’t have so much time,” said Sumito Yasuoka, an official in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, who said farmers pressed the government to let them know if they could plant their crop. The government also wants to assure consumers that the rice they eat will be safe.
The level of 5,000 becquerels per kilogram was chosen because rice grown in such soil would be expected to end up with about 500 becquerels of cesium 137 in the rice. That is the existing limit for vegetables and some other foods, Mr. Yasuoka said.
Fukushima Prefecture is the nation’s fourth-largest rice producer, and rice is its biggest crop, so any ban on planting would cause financial hardship.
“It hurts terribly,” said Yoshinori Sato, an official of an agricultural cooperative in Fukushima Prefecture with 13,000 households as members. Mr. Sato said that about half the rice acres his co-op’s members hoped to plant this year might be off limits, either because of radiation or because of tsunami damage.
Mindful of the sensitivities, Michihiko Kano, the minister of agriculture, visited Iitate on Saturday and promised that farmers who were not allowed to grow rice because of soil contamination would be compensated.
Andrew Pollack reported from Tokyo and Matthew L. Wald from Washington. William J. Broad contributed reporting from New York and Yasuko Kamiizumi, Ken Ijichi and Kantaro Suzuki from Tokyo.The New York Times...
April 9, 2011
Japan Orders Nuclear Plant Operators to... more
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“Machine Civilization” is the fabulously choreographed music video by World Order, the celebrated Japanese music/dance performance group led by former martial artist Genki Sudo. The video features slow-motion breakdance voguing Japanese businessmen, released along with some words of hope following the recent earthquake and tsunami devastation in Japan. Genki Sudo accompanied his video with these words of hope:
“The unprecedented disasters unfolding in Japan; earthquakes, tsunami, and nuclear explosions, will somehow change things to come. And to send my message about this, I have expressed it here with World Order. These disasters can be interpreted as a turning point for civilization. I think that we have arrived at a time of revolution, shared with all the people of the world, in today’s society, economy, and political systems.
Incidents themselves are neutral. I believe that every single one of us, wandering through this deep darkness, can overcome anything, if only we let go of our fear, and face the it all in a positive light. The world is not going to change. Each one of us will change. And if we do, then yes, the world will be changed. It is darkest right before the dawn. Let’s all rise up to welcome the morning that will be so very bright for mankind. We are all one.”
This piece includes a number of high-resolution color photographs, as well as the wonderfully choreographed music video.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/machine-civilization-we-are-all-one/“Machine Civilization” is the fabulously choreographed music video by... more
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“Little Japan” is a wonderful tilt-shift three-minute short film created by Fershad Irani, with music by Jack Johnson. The film was shot during early February 2011, in and around Kyoto and Tokyo. Irami began working on the film while watching news coverage of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, and sends his message, “To everyone in Japan, stay strong, thoughts are with you.”
This piece includes a number of color photographs, as well as the short film.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/little-japan-a-wonderful-tiny-tokyo/“Little Japan” is a wonderful tilt-shift three-minute short film created... more
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“The Taxi Lights of Tokyo” is a wonderful collection of color photographs by New York City street photographer Joseph O. Holmes. It’s an incredible series of images, which captures the spirit of a city that glitters and shines much like Times Square. The photographs reflect a nighttime urban mood that seems always the same, with scenes that are enhanced by the colorful out-of-focus background of other lighted signs.
This piece presents a number of high-resolution color photographs, a slide show and three documentary short films.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/photos-of-the-day-the-taxi-lights-of-tokyo/“The Taxi Lights of Tokyo” is a wonderful collection of color photographs... more
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International Fund for Animal Welfare
I've heard from so many supporters who have been watching the situation in Japan and e-mailing me to ask what they can do to help the animal victims.
Like you, IFAW is eager to help. Our Emergency Relief Team have had their bags packed since first learning of the incredible devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami.
Unfortunately, we've had to delay our relief mission because of the ongoing radiation threat from the Fukushima nuclear plant.
Please know that as soon as the nuclear situation has stabilized and the area is declared safe for responders, we plan to rush to the scene to help. As soon as we arrive we will conduct an assessment to determine the best way to support local animal welfare groups and shelters.
I want to thank you so much for your offers of help, and for your incredible concern for Japan's animals.
I'm sure you've been watching the images and videos from Japan like I have - with great concern and deep sympathy. The human impact is staggering - the death toll now stands at 4,164 with 7,843 people missing and 450,000 people in shelters.
Of course, there have also been heartbreaking images and videos of animals struggling to survive amidst the devastation. While we don't yet have a lot of information on the impact to animals, it's certain to be profound.
IFAW has responded to many disasters, including the Haiti earthquake, the Southeast Asia tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the Kobe (Japan) earthquake in 1995, and many others. And two themes often come through: One, that animals play a critical role in the emotional and economic recovery of the impacted areas...and two, that the human survivors are extremely grateful that we are there rescuing and caring for the animals -- it often gives the survivors their first glimmer of hope amid the despair.
I'd like to thank you again for your support and understanding, and especially for your commitment to helping Japan and its animals recover from this terrible disaster.
I will update you again with any news of our relief efforts.
In the meantime, please continue to monitor our blog. And more importantly, please keep the people and animals of Japan in your thoughts.
Gratefully,
Fred O'Regan Signature
Fred O'Regan
IFAW CEO
PS. Please visit our blog to read the latest update on our response and see the video of one dog's survival and loyalty amid the incredible devastation.
-International Fund for Animal Welfare
I've heard from so many supporters... more
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A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered a tsunami that damaged much of the country's coastline. The tsunami waves that followed reached upwards of 30 feet high and devastated Japan's northeastern shoreline. Waves pushed over ships, carried smaller vessels inland, knocked buildings off their foundation and tossed cars about like toys.
In addition, the quake resulted in a nuclear crisis unfolding at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, unlike any seen in history: multiple failures, fires and radiation leaks from at least four separate reactors. While damage from the earthquake and tsunami was instantly visible, the nuclear impact has taken days to unfold and could affect far larger areas of Japan and neighboring countries.
What the sea so violently ripped away, it has now begun to return. On Monday, various reports from police officials and news agencies said that as many as 2,000 bodies had now washed ashore along the coastline, overwhelming the capacity of local officials. About 350,000 people have reportedly been left homeless and are staying in shelters, awaiting news of friends and relatives among the many thousands who remain unaccounted for. The national police said early Tuesday that more than 15,000 were missing, though just 2,475 deaths had been confirmed since the quake.
This piece includes a number of high-resolution color photographs, a slide show and a video.
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/japan-the-devastation-of-the-massive-earthquake-and-tsunami/A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered a tsunami that... more
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