Outrage as Japan lifts radiation limit for kids

[robdogbucky]

Outrage as Japan lifts radiation limit for kids

By Tokyo correspondent Mark Willacy
Posted Tue May 24, 2011 12:43pm AEST

Outraged parents have held a rowdy demonstration outside Japan's education ministry in Tokyo to protest against the government's decision to weaken nuclear safety standards in schools.

Under new guidelines, Japanese children are allowed to be exposed to 20 times more radiation than was previously permissible.

The new regulation means children can now be exposed to as much radiation as a German nuclear worker.

The government argues the change is essential to keeping schools open in the Fukushima region…

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/24/3225435.htm


Tepco admits two more meltdowns
Temperature readings indicate melted cores are being cooled
By KAZUAKI NAGATA and MASAMI ITO
Staff writers

…"Right now, the most important thing for reactors 1 through 3 is to continue cooling them," Kudo said. "I will not say that there is no need to worry, but I don't think the situation will deteriorate as long as they continue to be cooled."

Tepco conducted the computer simulation for units 2 and 3 after discovering last week that the water level indicator for the pressure vessel in reactor No. 1 was not working properly, and that coolant water had not fully covered the fuel rods.

After fixing the indicators, the utility found the water level was much lower than believed, and that the rods were fully exposed and likely melted down.

Consequently, Tepco said it began to doubt that the water level indicators for the pressure vessels in reactors 2 and 3 were working…”

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110525a1.html




TEPCO still looking into emergency cooling system

The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is still unable to determine how long an emergency cooling system at the Number 1 reactor remained off after the March 11 earthquake.

Officials of Tokyo Electric Power Company spoke to reporters on Tuesday about the system, which can function without external sources of power.

Operating records at the plant show that the system turned on automatically 6 minutes after the earthquake, at 2:52 PM, and halted 11 minutes later, at 3:03 PM. The system was back on more than 3 hours later, at 6:18 PM.

TEPCO says that based on hearing from workers, it has confirmed that the system was manually shut down at 3:03 PM. It said this step was made based on a manual, in order to prevent damage to the reactor, because the temperature of the water to cool the No.1 reactor had dropped sharply...

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/24_18.html


Whistleblower slams Japan nuclear regulation
By Quentin McDermott for Four Corners

"...But Dr Goto says the Fukushima crisis shows Japan has not yet learned the lessons of history.

"At Three Mile Island the nuclear fuel melted. Fuel is melting here now," he said.

"We have to design reactors to withstand melting fuel rods. Right now the reactor will break down due to the heat generated by the melting rods."

Dr Goto alleges that in Japan's nuclear industry profits take precedence over safety standards. "No-one says it officially or openly. When setting standards for future earthquakes, the thought is of money - how much is it going to cost?" he said...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/21/3168926.htm


Cattle moved out of evacuation area

Residents in an evacuation area near the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have started moving their cattle to a neighboring city.

Katsurao village is helping livestock farmers move their animals as it aims to complete the evacuation by the end of May. More than 400 cows are still in the village.

The transfer of about 170 cows from the village to neighboring Tamura City started on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, small amount of radioactive cesium was detected in beef processed from cows carried from Katsurao Village to Aomori Prefecture...

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 19:11 +0900 (JST)
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/24_33.html

[damntexdem]

1. Japan: a country so fucked over by nukes that it cannot, or will not, protect its children.

But no need for the U.S. to worry about identical nuke plants here. After all, we could always follow Japan's lead and raise the exposure limit for American kids.

[tnlefty]

3. I wish that I could remember where I saw the article as it would

help with providing a link, but it was about someone resigning from the health ministry (?) and 2-3 weeks ago this gent mentioned that it was unconscionable to have Japanese children attending school while kids in S. Korea were being kept at home.

I used to think that Japan had a semi-decent government, but I've changed my mind. The nuke industry has a lot of money, bluster and bullshit and that seems to win the day. :puke:

[robdogbucky]

8. tnlefty, here you go...

Nuclear Adviser to Japan’s Prime Minister Quits Over Crisis

By Naoko Fujimura and Michio Nakayama - Apr 30, 2011 2:34 AM PT

"A nuclear adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan resigned because of a misunderstanding with the government over setting radiation limits in schools.

The government accepted the resignation of Toshiso Kosako, a professor at the University of Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said at a press conference in the capital today. The adviser disagreed with the maximum annual radiation exposure allowed in elementary schools, Edano said, adding there was a “misunderstanding.”

Japan is struggling to contain the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986. Four reactors at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant were damaged by hydrogen blasts after a 9-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami March 11 knocked out backup power and cooling systems, and radiation leaks have forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people. At least one worker at the plant has been exposed to radiation levels near the maximum allowed by the government, Tokyo Electric said today.

Kosako resigned in protest against the government’s “impromptu” handling of the crisis and delays in bringing the situation under control, Kyodo News reported, citing comments made by the adviser at a press conference yesterday. Kosako disagreed with the maximum annual radiation exposure of 20 millisieverts allowed by the government in elementary schools, according to Edano..."

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-30/nuclear-adviser-to-japan-s-prime-minister-quits-over-crisis.html



rdb

[tnlefty]

9. Thank you very much,

and this will kick your thread again! :hi:

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. radioactive beef????? It's what's for dinner.

and keeping the schools open is more important than the kids health?????

[Raschel]

6. Gotta keep the economy going, even though who knows how old the kids will survive to be.

I mean really, is that any different than Hitler-type crap. Keep them productive until they die.

[PearliePoo2]

4. Is there a problem with nuke reactor meltdowns in Japan??

You'd never fucking know it if you rely on the news here.
The media blackout..it's CRIMINAL.

[truebrit71]

5. No shit....

:grr:

They want to increase the acceptable levels 20 times the previous number? Are they mad??

[Harmony Blue]

7. Meanwhile the U.S. EPA has decided they don't want to monitor

radiation levels on the West coast when it has been confirmed to be rising near Fukushima.