Tag Archives: debt

Fukushima

Massive Melt Down if Fuel Rods Can Not be Cooled

There are more than 1,000 spent fuel rods at Fukushima Daiichi plant.  So far attempts to cool the rods down with water is failing.

To show how hard it is to cool down spent fuel rods: It takes 3 to 4 years under normal conditions.

The large amount of spent fuel rods, at the plant,  means a massive melt down could occur if temperatures can not be brought down.  As one U.S. nuclear engineer said, even a fuel rod fire would be like “…Chernobyl on steroids.”

No wonder many countries are telling their people to get out of Japan.

Fukushima, U.S.

U.S. Military issuing Iodide Pills to Aircrews, U.S. taking Radiation Readings

The United States military is issuing Potassium Iodide pills to helicopter crews flying operations in Japan.  The crews take the pills before their missions.

U.S. nuclear experts now in Japan will start taking their own radiation readings.  Officially this is to “help” Japan with the Fukushima nuclear disaster, but I think it’s because U.S. officials don’t trust what TEPCo, and Japanese officials, are reporting.

Fukushima

Survivors being Stressed by Lack of Info, Confusing Reports, being Forced to Move

An NHK interview has revealed failures in Japan’s emergency plans. Possibly lack of planning, or implementation.

Survivors are being stressed by confusing reports, lack of reliable information, and due to being forced to move from one shelter to another.

Many survivors from smaller cities and towns say no emergency drills were ever practiced where they lived.  Others say the emergency drills they took part in never addressed anything like the current situation.  This contradicts the accepted belief that Japan is the best prepared for natural disasters.

Survivors say it has become clear to them that they can’t trust what their officials are saying, especially since the survivors have witnessed, or experienced things that don’t match the official statements.

Survivors being moved from one shelter to another is the result of lack of food and water, fear of radiation exposure, and lack of heating capabilities.  Temperatures in northern Honshu are still around freezing.

Fukushima

Using Water to Cool Rods is just a Time Buying Action

In an NHK interview, an official said that using water on the Fukushima fuel rods is meant to buy time, until other alternatives to cooling the rods could be figured out.

Plant officials say they’re going to attempt to use boric acid.  They’ve received a sample from Korea.  If the test is successful South Korean officials say they are prepared to send the bulk of their boric acid to Japan.

Business/Economics, Fukushima, U.S.

Toyota stopping operations in United States

Toyota announced that not only is it halting operations in Japan (due to the Fukushima disaster), but in the United States as well.

This is because most of the parts used in U.S. factories come from Japan, and parts production has come to a halt.

Fukushima

South Korea agrees to send Boric Acid to Japan

South Korea is willing to send Japan 53 tons of Boric Acid to Japan, to help fight the nuclear disaster.

That amount of boric acid is almost all that South Korea has.

Boric acid is an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, and it’s used in nuclear power plants to control the fission rate of uranium.

TEPCO officials want to use it at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.  They said they will test a one kilogram sample from Korea on Wednesday.

Fukushima

Airlines adjusting to Japan disaster

Airlines from around the world are adjusting to the situation in Japan.

Many airlines are shifting to airports that are further away from Tokyo.

A photographer who flew to Tokyo from London said “I’ve never been on such an empty flight. It was a (300-seat Boeing) 777 with barely 20 people on board.”

Flights out of Japan are packed.  More and more foreign governments are telling their staff to leave, as well as foreign companies.

Business/Economics, Fukushima

Official says Japan’s Economic situation now a matter of National Security

NHK interviewed an economic official (analyst?) who said the economic situation in Japan is now a matter of national security, as a result of the Fukushima disaster.

Some Japanese companies have announced plans to re-start operations, but that is contingent upon the ongoing situation with aftershocks, infrastructure issues and nuclear problems.

Toyota announced that its Japanese factories will remain closed for another week. Toyota will not increase production at foreign factories.

Three prefectures are asking for 33,000 temporary homes. The emergency shelters are overwhelmed.

The Bank of Japan continued to flood billions of cash into the finance and investment markets.

Electronics industry analyst are warning that if parts supply from Japan is down for a few weeks it will drastically raise prices for electronic items.

Economic losses for Japan are predicted to hit $200 billion.

Fukushima

Foreign Embassies Closing or Moving away from Tokyo

A number of countries are closing their embassies in Tokyo, due to fears of radiation exposure.  Other countries are moving their embassy staff away from the Tokyo area.  Travel bans and warnings have also been issued.

Iraq, Bahrain and Angola are closing their embassies.  Austria and Panama are moving their staff.

The Japanese government is asking foreign governments to remain calm.

Fukushima, U.S.

JSDF stops helicopter water drops, U.S. sending water trucks

Japanese Self Defense Forces stopped dropping water by helicopter because radiation levels above the plant are too high, exceeding 50 millisieverts.

The United States military said it was sending two water trucks to help spray water on the reactors from the ground.