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Fukushima, International

List of countries banning food from Japan grows

Most Asian countries have banned food from specific Japanese prefectures, some Asian countries banned all food from Japan.

The United States has banned products from radiation zones.

The European Union is the latest group of countries to announce testing and bans of foods from 12 Japanese prefectures.

The food ban will probably not affect Japan’s export business, unlike electronics and cars, because food products make up only 1% of Japan’s exports.  Where it will hurt most for Japan, is domestically.  Japan will now have to import more food to make up for any loss at home.

Fukushima

Now using fresh water at Nuclear Plant, USN involved

Tokyo Electric Power Co is now using fresh water, pumped in from fire truck water tankers.

It turns out that many problems at the Fukushima Daiichi plant were being caused by salty sea water. Experts had been warning TEPCo officials to stop using sea water.

The U.S. Navy is also sending a tanker ship full of fresh water.

Fukushima

All possibilities explored, still don’t know where radiation leak is coming from

Japanese Cabinet Secretary, Edano Yukio, says they have “…explored all possibilities…” regarding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.  So far officials are at a loss as to where the radiation leak is coming from.

At this point they can’t tell if the leaking radiation is coming from spent fuel pools, or reactor cores.  This is why, earlier in the day, officials announced that they have no way to stop radiation leakage in the short term, and asked people to voluntarily evacuate.

Fukushima

Tokyo Electric admits they are not sure how to “proceed” at this time

In response to a reporter’s question, of how they are going to proceed with reactor 3 (with possible core damage), the TEPCo official said they do not know at this time.

This might be another reason why voluntary evacuation has been announced.

Business/Economics

Tokyo Electric speculates that reactor core is leaking

TEPCo officials speculate that the contaminated water in the basement of reactor 3, might have come from the reactor core.

It might have been caused by high pressure inside the reactor core.  It could have been caused by valves, or the core was “compromised”.

Fukushima

Tokyo Electric joins with Government calling for evacuation preparations

TEPCo officials are echoing the Japanese government’s calls for people to prepare to evacuate.  TEPCo officials now say there is no short term chance that they can stop the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant from emitting radiation.

Also, some media are reporting that work on reactor’s 1 & 2 has been stopped because of highly contaminated water, however TEPCo officials say that is not so.  Yesterday, 3 workers were sent to the hospital with Beta Burns, caused by highly contaminated water in reactor 3.  The water has 10,000 times the radiation levels that are considered normal for the reactor.

 

Fukushima

Reactor 3 severe damage, people need to voluntarily evacuate

Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, that were rushed to the hospital after being exposed to 10,000 times the normal radiation levels, might have been exposed due to previously unknown damage in reactor 3.

The workers were in the basement of reactor 3’s turbine building, trying to reconnect electricity.  The basement was flooded with radioactive water, that held contamination 10,000 times normal.

TEPCo officials are now worried that there is unseen damage to the reactor, because there was no water in the basement the day before.

Because of the continued problem, after problem, with trying to get the Fukushima Daiichi plant under control, the Japanese government has told people outside the 20km (12.4 miles) evacuation zone, to voluntarily evacuate, and prepare for mandatory evacuations.

Business/Economics, Fukushima

Japanese companies say main reason for shutdown is damage to buildings

A survey of Japanese businesses that shut down, or reduced production, because of the 9.0 quake/tsunami, shows that at least half blame it on damage to their buildings.

The next biggest reason is destroyed infrastructure: Lack of electricity, destroyed roads/rails.

Fukushima

Japanese Government telling people outside current evacuation area to prepare to Evacuate

Cabinet Secretary, Edano Yukio, has told Japanese living outside the current 20km (12.4 miles) evacuation zone, to prepare for mandatory evacuations.

Edano has also told people, that if they wish, they should voluntarily evacuate now.  The concern is that it looks like efforts to get the reactors at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant under control, are not working.

Also, advisers from the United States, have told TEPCo officials that the use of salty sea water is doing more damage than good. A U.S. Navy tanker ship with fresh water, is on its way to the nuclear plant.

Fukushima

Did you ever think to check your mail for radiation? Taiwan is

Taiwan is checking mail from Japan for radiation.

They are also testing imported goods such as electric appliances and household utensils.

Taiwan started monitoring radiation levels on farm produce, marine products and processed food from Japan on March 15th.

So far no abnormal radioactive material has been detected.