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.
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.
NHK reporting that reactors 5 & 6 overheating. Coolant levels dropped. Fukushima Daiichi workers trying to cool them down with sea water.
Reactors 5 & 6 were supposed to be shut down before the 9.0 quake hit.
Here is another perspective on radiation levels: 1,000 millisieverts will cause radiation sickness, a single dose of 10,000 millisieverts is likely fatal.
Winds are currently blowing southeastward from Japan.
Emergency shelters are reaching their limits, due to people trying to flee possible radiation exposure.
Three concepts to think about when protecting yourself from radiation: Time, distance and shielding.
The less time you spend in a radioactive environment the better. The further away you are from a radioactive event the better. If you can’t do those things then you need to be shielded, and the type of shielding depends on the type of radiation.
Alpha particles can be stopped by a sheet of paper.
Beta particles can be stopped by thick aluminum, and in the case of more potent Beta particles thick plastic, wood, Plexiglas or water.
X-ray and gamma radiation can be blocked with lead, depleted uranium or barium sulfate.
Neutrons can not be blocked, this type of radiation was detected at the Fukushima nuclear plant. This is why the Neutron bomb is so bad.
It is not practical for most people to pack lead lined clothing, or line their house with lead, or to dig a deep underground shelter, etc. Also, some forms of radiation contamination will remain for decades. Practically speaking, for most people it is impossible to protect yourself from radiation contamination.
Officials at latest press conference have made statements that make it clear that there is confusion as to what is going on at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Statements made include the fact that there is confusion over types of units of radiation measurement. Also, confusion over what is causing smoke coming from reactor 3, and confusion over what is causing some radiation readings to go up.
Now saying that reactor 4 actually exploded yesterday (not just fire). Photos presented as proof, and to explain how spent fuel rods were exposed.