The situation at Fukushima is really bad.
Apr. 30th, 2012 01:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icarusThe situation at Fukushima is really bad. Really, really bad. After thirteen months the reactors still aren't under control.
TEPCO's finally admitted that there were three separate meltdowns at Fukushima.
Remember all that "Well, this isn't Chernobyl" that we heard a year ago? Turns out, yes, it was. Yes, it is (and they knew it all along), it's been three Chernobyls, and it's been continuous for thirteen months.
TEPCO's just been pouring water over the fuel rods, letting that leak into the groundwater and steam off into the jetstream, and then pouring more water over it. Senator Wyden visited the site, found it much worse than the press reports, and learned TEPCO doesn't plan to move the spent fuel rods for another ten years. Which just shows that TEPCO has its collective head in the sand ... or somewhere darker and smellier.
The US west coast is affected, even my beautiful Seattle. Boulder, Colorado is affected. Hell, the pollen in California is radioactive right now. The sea kelp according to Scientific American has 40,000,000 bcq/kg of radioactive iodine.
I'd like to scream massive cover-up, but it seems more a case of the situation being so bad, so out of control, no one knows what to do. And no one in Japan wants to show the world the giant Homer Simpson sized hole in the image of "nuclear experts" (is there a Japanese Homer Simpson?).
What to do? First, get informed.
Second, I got ice cream, but that's my coping mechanism.
Third, the Hopi Indians say plant gardens, which is probably more practical than my ice cream plan.
Fourth, mobilize. Start Change.org petitions. Push for TEPCO to get help and cooperate with the international community. If TEPCO's planning to deal with this in ten years, they're not planning to deal with it: they're hoping to pass it on to future management. In the nuclear community early on recommended early on that we use a Chernobyl solution at the Fukushima reactors.
Fifth, protest the restart of the Oi Reactor. The Kansai Denryoku is arguing is needed to cover a predicted lack of electricity in western Japan. A lot of us here believe it's not necessary and would be willing to conserve our asses off if it means not having another potential Fukushima, 100 miles from Osaka-Kobe, 80 miles from Kyoto, and 35 miles from Lake Biwa.
Lastly, pray. For my Buddhist-inclined flisters, Green Tara prayers are recommended for natural disasters.
Buddhist Lama Yangthang Rinpoche recommends that we do 100,000 of the 21 Homage prayer to Tara. The benefits of reciting the praise are explained here.
I've got my ice cream, my links, my garden (well, it's just strawberries now), the prayer--now all I need are the petitions.
TEPCO's finally admitted that there were three separate meltdowns at Fukushima.
Remember all that "Well, this isn't Chernobyl" that we heard a year ago? Turns out, yes, it was. Yes, it is (and they knew it all along), it's been three Chernobyls, and it's been continuous for thirteen months.
TEPCO's just been pouring water over the fuel rods, letting that leak into the groundwater and steam off into the jetstream, and then pouring more water over it. Senator Wyden visited the site, found it much worse than the press reports, and learned TEPCO doesn't plan to move the spent fuel rods for another ten years. Which just shows that TEPCO has its collective head in the sand ... or somewhere darker and smellier.
The US west coast is affected, even my beautiful Seattle. Boulder, Colorado is affected. Hell, the pollen in California is radioactive right now. The sea kelp according to Scientific American has 40,000,000 bcq/kg of radioactive iodine.
I'd like to scream massive cover-up, but it seems more a case of the situation being so bad, so out of control, no one knows what to do. And no one in Japan wants to show the world the giant Homer Simpson sized hole in the image of "nuclear experts" (is there a Japanese Homer Simpson?).
What to do? First, get informed.
Second, I got ice cream, but that's my coping mechanism.
Third, the Hopi Indians say plant gardens, which is probably more practical than my ice cream plan.
Fourth, mobilize. Start Change.org petitions. Push for TEPCO to get help and cooperate with the international community. If TEPCO's planning to deal with this in ten years, they're not planning to deal with it: they're hoping to pass it on to future management. In the nuclear community early on recommended early on that we use a Chernobyl solution at the Fukushima reactors.
Fifth, protest the restart of the Oi Reactor. The Kansai Denryoku is arguing is needed to cover a predicted lack of electricity in western Japan. A lot of us here believe it's not necessary and would be willing to conserve our asses off if it means not having another potential Fukushima, 100 miles from Osaka-Kobe, 80 miles from Kyoto, and 35 miles from Lake Biwa.
Lastly, pray. For my Buddhist-inclined flisters, Green Tara prayers are recommended for natural disasters.
Buddhist Lama Yangthang Rinpoche recommends that we do 100,000 of the 21 Homage prayer to Tara. The benefits of reciting the praise are explained here.
I've got my ice cream, my links, my garden (well, it's just strawberries now), the prayer--now all I need are the petitions.
no subject
Date: 2012-04-30 07:48 am (UTC)Fifth: Have as many people as possible protest the restart of the Oi Reactor, which Kansai Denryoku is arguing is needed to cover a predicted lack of electricity in western Japan. A lot of us here believe it's not necessary and would be willing to conserve our asses off if it means not having another potential Fukushima, 100 miles from Osaka-Kobe, 80 miles from Kyoto, and 35 miles from Lake Biwa....
no subject
Date: 2012-05-01 05:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-01 06:32 pm (UTC)http://www.change.org/
I'll sign and share it around.
Here's my Chernobyl solution for Fukushima petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/the-tokyo-electric-power-company-incorporated-masataka-shimizu-take-the-chernobyl-option-now-entomb-the-fukushima-reactors#
Please sign and share.