Radiation

Update #63: Sept 22 & 23

by Nelle Maxey

At the Plant Site

Before we go to our first story, I need to correct an assumption I made regarding the gas decontamination systems that TEPCO announced a few days ago. I thought they were talking about filtering the radioactive gas out of the vent systems. This not the case at all.

Update #63: September 21, 2011

by Nelle Maxey

This article was posted on CounterPunch today. (H/T to Kevin Logan)

It concerns many questions about how the Japanese government and TEPCO have handled the Fukushima disaster. It is an excerpt from a recently published book. The most shocking question posed is about the magnitude of the earthquake itself.

Update #62: Sept 17 & 18

by Nelle Maxey

Contamination

Excellent interviews in this 3- minute video from Al Jazeera on Sunday.

Experts say Fukushima ‘worse' than Chernobyl

"At least one billion becquerels of radiation continue to leak from Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant each day even though it is now more than five months after the March earthquake and tsunami that damaged the facility.

Update #61: Sept 13, 2011

by Nelle Maxey

No Disclosure

Remember the blacked out report Tepco presented to the government committee investigating Fukushima accident last week? Looks like it will be awhile (if ever) before we learn what actions were actually taken at the plant in those critical hours following the earthquake. The saga continues as NHK reported today.

Update#60:  Sept 12, 2011

by Nelle Maxey

More and more voices are speaking up about Fukushima. Over the last 3 days there have been a myriad of stories on what really happened, what is continuing to happen and what may happen. As I reported last week many are questioning what is really going on inside the reactors with the melted fuel, the water cooling and so forth. If you read nothing else in the report today read this short, concise statement on the situation at Fukushima by Hiroaki Koide of Kyoto University published in Mainici on Friday. I have snipped a few of his statements from the report below. Then watch the new Chris Busby video (below) on the health effects on children.

Update #59: Sept 7, 2011

by Nelle Maxey

This is the first update in over ten days. In that time, I have collected 30 pages of stories on Fukushima (and related topics). The new format with new headings will, I hope, make it easier for readers for follow the main topic streams from many different sources. I will only synopsize sources and readers can then go to the links which interest them to read full articles or hear audio programs or see videos.

Update #58: August 29 & 30, 2011
by Nelle Maxey
Yesterday, SKF reported this story on soil contamination results. There is a map at the SKF link.

Monday, August 29, 2011
Soil Contamination in 34 Locations in Fukushima Exceeds Chernobyl Confiscation/Closed Zone Level

"In one location, the contamination level is more than 10 times the Chernobyl level.

Update #57: August 29, 2011

by Nelle Maxey

Since NHK English is no longer regularly posting stories on Fukushima, the format of these updates will change to lead stories from EX-SKF (SKF) with supplemental stories from other sources.

Update #56: August 27, 2011

by Nelle Maxey

Not one story on Fukushima at NHK today. In case you are led to believe the crisis is over the following stories are in the international press today. There is much in the international Press.