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.
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.
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.
NHK reporting that officials said reactor 4 active rods had been temporarily stored with spent rods, while reactor 4 underwent maintenance, before the 9.0 quake. Earlier officials admitted reactor 4 exploded.
Japanese Self Defense Forces helicopters dropping water on reactor 3, Fukushima Daiichi.
Reactor 3 is the source of the white smoke that has been coming from the plant.
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.
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.
There are several stories on the internet which show that TEPCO, operator of the Fukushima nuclear plants, and business partner of General Electric (who built most of the plants), has a long history of covering up mismanagement, accidents, and disasters.
GE’s close relationship with TEPCO, and the fact that GE has been involved with many of Japan’s nuclear plants, might be the real reason why U.S. officials are so quick to “help”.
Articles reporting TEPCO’s lies go back to 2002. In fact it was a General Electric employee that revealed to the Japanese government, in 2002, that TEPCO was bullshitting them. But why has the Japanese government put up with it? Could it have something to do with the connection to big and powerful GE?
Most of the cover ups involved earthquake safety violations. It is now clear that TEPCO never stopped that shady behavior. In fact, in one case TEPCO was ordered to post on their website a list of “..Cases of Misconduct”. (I wasn’t able to find it, but there is a disclaimer on the English site that says it doesn’t have everything that’s on the Japanese site)
The unfolding nuclear disaster in Japan, probably due to shady corporate operators, has French officials ordering immediate inspections of all nuclear plants in France. Germany’ Angela Merkel, who’s political party is pro-nuclear power, is now going fourth with closing down nuclear plants in Germany.
The lesson here, as always, is that you can not trust corporate authorities, you can not trust government authorities who might be in the pockets of those corporate authorities.
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.
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.