GreenWatch

B. McPherson How long until another Fukushima in Japan? Just when you thought it was safe to eat the rice. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear station has released a massive cloud of radiation. On January 12, 2015 nearly four years after the nuclear power station was wrecked in an earthquake/tsunami one two punches of dangerous levels of radiation are being released. The four elements reported on in the January 12, 2015 news release show stunningly high radioactivity. ·          Cesium 134 emitting at 7,500% above the January 8 reading, setting a new record high ·          Cesium 137 emitting at 7,500% above the January 8 reading, setting a new record high ·          Cobalt 60 emitting at 400% of previous record high ·          Beta particles emitting at 6,000% above January 8 reading 1,300% above old record high ...

B. McPherson Fukushima cleanup workers exploited by contractors The sorry saga of Fukushima continues as the Japanese government continues to dither. Since the devastating earthquake and tsunami wrecked the nuclear power plant owned by TEPCO, the world has been subjected to radioactive poison spewing from the facility. For over two years the world has listened to excuses and tales of incompetence and outright cover ups. Now some workers hired to help in the clean-up have come forward to allege corruption. TEPCO does not hire workers directly, to help with the salvage and clean up at the Daiichi Fukushima plant, but relies on a network of contractors and sub-contractors to recruit workers from wherever they can. There have been rumblings of difficulties in attracting enough manpower to get the job done, in part due to the low wages being offered. A twist on that story was revealed, October 30 th , in Japan Today, in which a worker hired to do a relatively safe job monitoring ...

B. McPherson In spite of assurances of safety, nuclear power stations in Japan remain vulnerable to damage from earthquakes and tsunamis. The Tomari Nuclear Power Station shut down their reactors for routine maintenance. There is speculation that all the nuclear power stations may remain shut down. Japan is moving into the summer months when demand for electricity for air conditioning soars. Nuclear power provided about 30% of that nation’s power supply before the Fukushima Daiichi disaster last year. Before the Fukushima disaster, the nuclear power industry was expected to expand its production to provide 50% of the power needs over the next 20 years. Imports of liquefied natural gas(LNG), coal and oil have been ramped up to feed the thermal plants. Even so, there are   predictions of electrical shortages throughout the country. "I have to say we are facing the risk of a very severe electricity shortage," said the economy, trade and industry minister, Yu...

B. McPherson Journalists had an opportunity to tour the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station on Tuesday. They witnessed wreckage still littering the plant grounds and makeshift repairs done to some of the critical systems that are keeping the radiation under control. For instance, plastic water pipes that supply cooling to the defunct reactors split during a cold spell and were repaired with tape. It is expected that the ultimate clean up of the site will take years. "I have to admit that it's still rather fragile," said plant chief Takeshi Takahashi, who took the job in December after his predecessor resigned due to health reasons. TimeWorld An independent group investigating the actions of TEPCO and the government in the critical days following the nuclear emergency, Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, delivered their report on the March 11, 2011 triple crisis which saw a massive earthquake, tsunami and radiation release combine. The report...

B. McPherson The news from Japan just keeps getting worse and worse. The newspaper Japan Today is reporting that a radiation hot spot has been found in Yokohama next to a school. According to their report radioactive cesium has been found next to the school at a level 12x the allowable amount. The topsoil will be removed from the hot spot. Where it will be dumped is open to speculation. There is no news about how long the radioactive hot spot has been emitting its toxic energy or the effect on the school children adjacent to it. Yokohama is located south of Tokyo and well away from any evacuation/exclusion zone. The handling of the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant continues to unfold revealing incompetence and coverups. Now RT is revealing even more bad news. Over eight tonnes of water from the plant has leaked out of its containers because cold weather has split the pipes. The electrical company which has been presiding over this disaster has stat...

By B. McPherson When the huge earthquake and resulting tsunami hit Japan last year, it spawned the ongoing disaster of Fukushima. Since then, the world has watched while the various stories and reassurances have been spun to the people – the rice is safe, the children are safe, leave your homes. It continues. More information is leaking out. Apparently when the nuclear radiation crisis hit, the ‘experts’ were at odds with how to present the ominous news to the Japanese public. One expert was front and centre, accepting responsibility. Now former acting head of the Atomic Energy Commission of Japan Sunichi Tanaka is quoted in The MainichiDaily News: "Reactor cores have melted to a considerable extent. I never predicted that we would cause the public so much trouble. We are responsible for promoting nuclear power." In ongoing hearings into the cause of the fatal damage at the Fukushima electric plant, there have been clashes over pinning the damage on the ts...