Fukushima updates on Wednesday

[robdogbucky]

Risk of tsunami underestimated: IAEA

By KAZUAKI NAGATA
Staff writer
Japan underestimated the risks of tsunami that led to the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a preliminary summary Wednesday, while pointing out the need to reinforce the independence of its nuclear regulators.

"The tsunami hazard for several sites was underestimated. Nuclear designers and operators should appropriately evaluate and provide protection against the risks of all natural hazards," reads the IAEA summary

The IAEA team of experts — which arrived in the country May 23 — visited the Fukushima Nos. 1 and 2 plants, as well as the Tokai No. 2 plant in Ibaraki Prefecture, to investigate the sites in an effort to glean lessons on nuclear safety from the ongoing crisis.

The summary hints that the government needs to review the current nuclear regulatory structure, saying the system "should ensure that regulatory independence and clarity of roles are preserved in all circumstances in line with IAEA Safety Standards."

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110601x2.html



Where do the people advertise anyway? Why should the promoters have free reign to propagandize and not the interests of those affected the most by the disaster of nuke power? Disaster Capitalism right in front of us. Money doesn't talk, it swears. Happy now?

These two Google ads are found on the Japan Times page with this story:


Diablo Canyon Safety
Learn about PG&E's fully-staffed seismic department at Diablo Canyon
www.PGEcurrents.com

Uranium After Japan
Warren Buffett: Japan Disaster Presents A 'Buying Opportunity'
www.IntelligentEnergyInvestor.com




And in other news:


Utilities report 342 faults near nuclear plants

Japan's electric power companies have reported 342 faults and geographical changes near nuclear power plants that they previously did not consider to be risks. The companies filed the reports with the industry ministry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.

An aftershock of the March 11th earthquake on April 11 th is known to have shifted a fault about 50 kilometers from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The fault had been believed to be inactive.

The agency instructed the utilities to reassess their plants' earthquake resistance and reexamine faults and geographical changes where plant operators had said the risk of earthquake damage was little or none...

...The agency will assess the companies' reports and conduct field studies if necessary. The utilities are to reconsider the possible risks these faults may pose to their plants.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011 10:32 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/01_19.html



UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE They have known, OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THOSE FAULT LINES, for a long, long, time. They chose to ignore those facts in favor of profits. Just ask the former governor of Fukushima:

http://english.aljazeera.net/video/asia/2011/05/2011541001713134.html



Snow on Fukushima peaks found to be radioactive

Snow in the mountains in Fukushima Prefecture is showing radioactive contamination at levels above the safety limit for drinking water.

Researchers from Fukushima University performed the analysis with a local environmental group. They sampled snow in 31 locations and at different altitudes from 7 peaks around Fukushima city, from mid-April through early May.

The results showed that snow in 14 locations contained more than 200 becquerels per kilogram of radioactive cesium, the adult safe limit for drinking water. A sample of snow from an altitude of 1,300 meters contained 3,000 becquerels of cesium...

...He is urging mountain climbers not to drink river water or gather edible wild plants, now that high levels of radioactivity in the snow have been confirmed.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011 15:40 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/01_27.html




10,000 children flee Fukushima over nuke fears

Japan's education ministry says about 10,000 children have moved out of Fukushima Prefecture following the March 11th disaster and crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

On Wednesday, the ministry announced that the number of school-age children who have left Fukushima -- from kindergarteners to high school students -- reached 9,998 as of May 1st...

...The Fukushima board of education attributes the exodus to the nuclear accident, as the number of children who left the prefecture accounts for about 85 percent of the total from the 3 hardest-hit regions of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.

An additional 5,500 children have changed schools within Fukushima Prefecture.

Wednesday, June 01, 2011 16:52 +0900 (JST)

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/01_29.html