Tag Archives: disaster

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.

Fukushima

Can Not Cool 514 Spent Fuel Rods

NHK reporting that Fukushima Daiichi officials say 514 spent fuel rods at reactor 3 overheated, and they can not cool them down.  This is why they asked the JSDF  to use helicopters to dump water on them.

Plant officials said they would prefer to pump sea water from the ground, but they do not have that capability, currently.

Fukushima

GE sending gas turbine generators to Fukushima

General Electric is sending gas turbine generators to help provide power to the Fukushima nuclear plants.

GE stands to lose $1 billion in sales, due to the fact that GE designed the Fukushima reactors. Three General Electric scientists resigned from their jobs, 35 years ago, because they realized the nuclear reactor design (used at Fukushima Daiichi, and at several U.S. nuke power plants) could lead to a catastrophe.

Their concern is that the rapid loss of coolant could make the containment structure fail. This is exactly what is happening now.

The situation in Japan continues to influence other governments view of nuclear power; Switzerland has put on hold the renewal of three old reactors.

Fukushima

Japanese Military Preparing to Assault Nuclear Reactors

At latest press conference by plant officials, they said the JSDF are preparing helicopters to drop water on the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Reactor 1 core has been exposed. Sea water being pumped in.

Reactor 2 separation pool damaged. Spike in radiation levels likely came from reactor 2.

Reactors 5 & 6, spent fuel pools overheated, attempting to cool down.

Fukushima

People Struggling to get out of Northern Japan

Russia Today reporting that people who can leave northern Japan, are doing so as fast as they can.

Emergency shelters are full, and people do not trust what their government, and nuclear power plant officials, are telling them.  In fact TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima nuclear plants, has a history of out right lying about violations of Japanese regulations.

 

Fukushima

Radiation Will Affect Food Chain

Radioactive particles spewing from Fukushima Daiichi will affect the food chain.  Particles will collect on crops, and will end up in the ocean affecting sea life.

Taiwan has already started testing their own crops for signs of radiation contamination.  Russia has increased radiation monitoring from weekly, to daily.

Cows will graze on grass that is contaminated with radiation, and it will show up in the milk.

Thailand, South Korea and Singapore are testing food products from Japan.

Chinese officials have expressed concern about radiation levels in the ocean.