Tag Archives: war

Fukushima, International, Technology

Radiation NOT an IMMEDIATE Threat? What do they mean?

The Japanese government has told people not to eat the vegetables, and not to drink the water, because of radiation contamination.  At the same time they say “There is no immediate threat.”

What they mean by that is, that the levels, and types, of radiation contamination is such that you will not notice any bad effects “immediately”.  However, if you continue to eat, drink, or expose yourself to even the lowest levels of contamination, over time you will suffer bad effects.

For example: Iodine-131 is a short life span radioactive isotope. It collects on your thyroid glands (just like iodide), and if it builds up will cause cancer. Even low levels of iodine-131 will build up on your thyroid if you keep eating, drinking, or exposing yourself to the contamination.  This is why the Japanese government is telling people to stop eating the vegetables, and stop drinking the water, even though there is no “immediate” threat.

In other words, it’s still bad, bad, bad!

Fukushima

Do NOT boil radioactive water, update

Japanese have been told that tap water is contaminated. They’ve also been told not to feed the water to their babies.

The level of contamination is too high for infants.  The contamination is mainly short life span Iodine-131.  Iodine-131 collects on your thyroid gland, and can cause cancer.

The Japanese government will be issuing clean water to parents with infants, who are, I believe they said, 12 months and younger.

Some people think they can boil the water. The problem is that the radioactive isotopes in the water then become air born in the steam rising from the boiling water, and you breath them in.  Also, if you boil for a only a short time there will still be contamination in the water.

The Consumer’s Guide has a web page that explains how to make water safe to drink. Scroll down until you get to the title “More Rigorous Purification Methods”. This section talks about distilling to get rid of radiation fallout in water.  It’s more complicated than just boiling.  When you distill you’re basically capturing the steam rising off the boiling water, then funneling it into a cup, or pot, to collect it.  The article then suggests you filter the water as well. 

Fukushima

Airborne Radiation levels based on computer assumptions

Japanese Cabinet Secretary, Edano Yukio, explained that the atmospheric radiation levels being published are based on air samples not taken near the nuclear plant, and a computer model.

Edano said the radiation levels at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, are too high to take air samples there.  Air samples have been taken in surrounding areas. Then a computer program is used to make radiation level assumptions, based on the samples and possible wind speed and direction.

In other words, it’s a best computer guess.

International, U.S.

Brazil demands ceasfire in Libya

Brazil, China, India, Germany and Russia abstained from passing UNSCR 1973.

Now Brazil wants a ceasefire: “After regretting the loss of lives because of the conflict in the country, the Brazilian government hopes that an effective cease-fire be implemented as soon as possible to allow the protection of civilians and the start of dialogue.”

The statement was made hours after President Barack Obama left Brazil.


Business/Economics, International, Opinion, U.S.

While our government has no budget, Obama spending money around the world

The U.S. government continues to pass temporary budgets.  Political leaders have stated “We’re broke”.  State governments continue to enact austerity measures, cutting funding for social programs.  Yet, President Obama is tripping around the world starting fights and making promises of money.

The current attacks on Libya are costing the Unite States hundreds of millions of dollars every day.  It’s expected to cost a billion dollars in one months time.

On his Latin American trip Obama just promised the Central American countries $200 million dollars to fight drugs trafficking.   Obama signed a deal with Brazil that involves $1 billion dollars of financing. From where, us?

Critics say Obama’s promises to Latin America have to be false because we’re broke.

Many people in Latin American countries say they don’t trust what Obama said anyway. They point to the UN approved, and currently U.S. lead,  attacks on Libya as proof that you can’t trust the United States.

Fukushima

No tap water for Babies

Japanese officials have asked people to not give infants tap water.

This is based on government limits on radiation levels that are considered harmful to infants. Radioactive iodine is one of the contaminants found in the water. Radioactive iodine causes thyroid cancer.

The official says the source of the radiation is not clear.  Can you say, Fukushima?