Browsing the "fukushima" Tag

Downwind from the bomb… how we nuked Utah

In the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster – in which both Japanese and American authorities have consistently downplayed the dangers – it’s worth taking a look at where we have come from.

For the past 60 years, our government has over and over again insisted that there was nothing to worry about, that radiation levels were too low to cause any harm, and there was no cause for alarm.

Years later, often after battles in the courts, it has turned out that they were lying through their teeth. Their priority wasn’t public health and well-being – it was to preserve their atomic program at all consts and to prevent panic – justifiable panic, as it turns out.

Japan admits total meltdown, says it was unprepared for Fukushima disaster

Considering that the Fukushima nuclear reactor complex is still leaking high levels of radiation nearly three months after the disaster and meltdowns, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to learn that Japan was totally unprepared to deal with it.

But it’s encouraging that, after months of downplaying the dangers and offering uberoptimistic assessments of progress, the Japanese government is finally admitting the truth:

Fukushima radioactivity highest in three months

It’s been three months since the crisis began at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear reactor complex, and they’re no closer to cleaning up the radioactive mess. In fact, things may be getting worse.

Japan’s NHK TV broadcast a hellish image of radioactive steam billowing out of cracks in the reactor floor. They also reported high levels of radiation.

Tokyo Electric Power Company inspected the inside of the No.1 reactor building on Friday with a remote-controlled robot.

TEPCO said it found that steam was rising from a crevice in the floor, and that extremely high radiation of 3,000 to 4,000 millisieverts per hour was measured around the area. The radiation is believed to be the highest detected in the air at the plant.

Fukushima radiation found in California milk, fruit, vegetables

As the crippled reactors in Japan continue to emit radiation into the environment, the risk grows that it will appear in our food. Radiation has already been detected in trace amounts in milk across the U.S., and in strawberries, kale and other vegetables in California.

Germany also says nein to nuclear power

Following on the heels of Switzerland, another uber-tech country says nuclear power is just too dangerous – no matter how many supposed safeguards you put in place. How long before America wakes up?

After Fukushima, Japan says no more nukes

Japan is scrapping plans to get half its power from nuclear reactors. Leaving us to wonder what took them so long.

Two months after the earthquake that trashed the Fukushima reactor complex they appear no closer to getting that mess cleaned up, while the experts debate whether this disaster is as bad as Chernobyl, or worse.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan told a news conference that his country will now focus on renewable energy such as wind and solar, and conservation.

Japanese nuclear disaster: Radioactive water leaking

Why is it bad that they’re now finding radioactive water leaking out of the reactor? 1) They have no idea where it’s coming from. If that doesn’t disturb you, nothing else will. But do keep in mind that every assurance about the safety of nuclear power revolves around “We know what we’re doing, we have […]

Japanese Nuclear Disaster: Now they’re finding plutonium

Tests have turned up plutonium in the soil around the trashed Fukushima reactor. It appears that leaks have been worse than we’ve been told.  But true to form, authorities still insist it’s no big deal. “It is not a health risk to humans,” Tokyo Electric Power Company told CNN late Monday. But it added, “Just […]