Fukushima update - 10/30/2013

Japan Professor: Pregnant women get free new houses if they move back to Fukushima —

Physician/Mayor: Children being severely harmed, must be evacuated; World has never come across situation like this

ENENews,

30 October, 2013

Physician Akira Sugenoya, mayor of the city of Matsumoto interviewed by VoR, Oct. 30, 2013: “Immediately following the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, I started saying that children should not be allowed to live on the contaminated territory [it] weakens children’s immune system and severely harms their health [...] Children are a lot more vulnerable to radiation than adults. [...] I want to repeat once again that children should be relocated to clean, radiation-free areas at least temporarily. [...] is it feasible to quickly and effectively do away with radioactive pollution? I am absolutely certain that it is unfeasible. [...] Compared to Chernobyl, the situation in Japan is further aggravated by radioactive water leakages. The world has never ever come across this kind of situation. [...] We should admit that radioactive water is a grave problem. The threat that children may have been contaminated with radioactive materials still looms large. We shouldn’t remain indifferent to the challenges we are facing.”

Hiroko Goto, Professor at Chiba University School of Law & Vice President of Human Rights Now, Published June 29, 2013 (At 10:00 in): The second one is very problematic — New residential support plan for evacuees from outside Fukushima — this mainly focuses on the pregnant women and the children. If the pregnant women or children decide to go back to Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture will offer a new, very good house without payment. And this kind of policy they introduce means that the local government wants the people back to their area. So this is a very not good situation for the women’s and children’s health.

Warning from Japan’s Top Nuclear Official: I am “much more worried” about fuel in Fukushima Unit 4

• Rods may break open and release highly radioactive material 
• Beware risks from debris, a disaster if damaged
• Removal may start Nov. 8

ENENews,

30 October, 2013

Associated Press, Oct.  30, 2013: Japanese regulators on Wednesday gave final approval for the removal of fuel rods [to] start in November [...] About 200 of the rods that are unused and safer are expected to be the first [...] Nuclear regulatory chairman Shunichi Tanaka, however, warned that removing the fuel rods from Unit 4 would be difficult because of the risk posed by debris that fell into the pool during the explosions. “It’s a totally different operation than removing normal fuel rods from a spent fuel pool,” Tanaka said at a regular news conference. “They need to be handled extremely carefully and closely monitored. You should never rush or force them out, or they may break.” He said it would be a disaster if fuel rods are pulled forcibly and are damaged or break open when dropped from the pool, located about 30 meters (100 feet) above ground, releasing highly radioactive material. “I’m much more worried about this than contaminated water,” Tanaka said. [...]

Channel 4 (UK), Oct. 15, 2013: The worst case scenario is if the fuel assemblies are dropped, which could ultimately lead to a partial meltdown [...]

VoA News, Oct. 15, 2013: That hydrogen explosion [...] left the inside of the pool littered with debris. [...] TEPCO’s first task is to remove the debris. [...]  The fuel rods must be kept submerged and must not touch each other or break. Nuclear experts warn any mishaps could cause an explosion many times worse than in March 2011.

NHK WORLD, Oct 30, 2013: [...] The firm hopes to begin the removal at the facility’s Number 4 reactor on November 8th. Tokyo Electric plans to check whether the rods are damaged by debris that fell into the pool in March 2011, and to ensure that they do not get caught in the debris during the removal process. [...]

Japan Gov’t:“Unprecedented situation of radioactive pollution” from Fukushima disaster

“Intensive Contamination Areas” designated near downtown Tokyo, and officials there say health assistance for kids and pregnant women is needed

ENENews,

30 October, 2013

Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan: The “Act on Special Measures Concerning the Handling of Radioactive Pollution” was enacted in August 2011, in response to the unprecedented situation of radioactive pollution after the accident at TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. [...] a new policy framework for the off-site decontamination has been arranged [...] There are two categories of contaminated areas under the Act. The first one is the “Special Decontamination Area”, where decontamination is implemented by the national government. It includes 11 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture. The second one is the “Intensive Contamination Survey Area”, where decontamination is implemented by each municipality with financial and technical supports by the national government. [...]

Mainichi, Sept. 24, 2013: Municipalities criticize gov’t agency for limiting Fukushima disaster aid [...] At least 13 municipalities in Chiba, Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures have sent critical comments to the Reconstruction Agency for its basic policy to limit the scope of assistance to only areas in Fukushima Prefecture [...] Those municipalities are: Noda, Kashiwa [~10 miles from downtown Tokyo], Kamagaya [~10 mi], Matsudo [~5 mi], Shiroi [~10 mi], Nagareyama [~5 mi], Sakura [~20 mi], Abiko [~10 mi] and Inzai [~20 mi] in Chiba Prefecture; Toride [~15 mi], Moriya [~15 mi], and Joso [~20 mi] in Ibaraki Prefecture; and Nasushiobara in Tochigi Prefecture. [...] The central government sets the maximum permissible amount of radiation exposure per year for the general public at 1 millisievert (0.23 microsieverts per hour). The government designated those areas (municipalities) that were exposed to radiation exceeding the permissible limit as “Intensive Contamination Survey Areas,” and has since been providing assistance to them. Currently, 100 municipalities in eight prefectures are designated as “Intensive Contamination Survey Areas,” and the 13 municipalities are among them. [...] all of the 13 municipal governments called for attaching importance to health assistance for children and pregnant women. They are critical of the government for applying “double standards” with the decontamination law and the nuclear disaster aid law. [...]

World Nuclear News, Sept. 18, 2013 (Emphasis Added): [...] In the Intensive Contamination Areas, decontamination work is being implemented based on plans developed at the municipal level, with some municipalities setting targets of five years to complete the work and others choosing a timescale of two to three years. [...]

Tokyo Mother: “Total media blackout” in Japan of lots and lots of people developing symptoms related to Fukushima disaster —

“Many cases of sickness and death among young generations” not reported

ENENews,

30 October, 2013

World Network For Saving Children From Radiation, Oct. 26, 2013: [...] A case like this is just a tip of iceburg [...] IKKO is a Buddhist monk. His life is ending. He is only 34 years old and lives in Hiwada town [near Koriyama] in Fukushima. He had a heart attack two days ago, and his doctor announced brain death. He is now connected to life-support. My sister in Fukushima knows him through her student [...] She and IKKO got engaged and were planning to get married next year. She has just lost her father from cancer last April. He had worked at Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant [...] My sister was present when IKKO had a heartattack and is in disbelief of what is taking place since he was fine before this [...] There have been many cases of sickness and death among young generations in Fukushima although it is not reported by media.

Mother from Tokyo, Japan during Q & A at Cinema Forum Fukushima, Published July 3, 2013 (at 2:20 in): In Japan, it’s really a total blackout of media, even though there are lots and lots of people who have been developing symptoms. That information itself cannot come out because of the control of the media and the doctors, like the Society of Medicine in Japan, are denying even now that there have been health damages [...] I just wanted to remind you that this is really a real thing. It’s not only the anxiety, it is happening. I think this is the most important thing. But there are very few people who talk about this […] I was outside on the 15th of March in Tokyo, and then about 1 month later, I had fever of like 103ºF for 8 days. And this [baby] boy, he was totally healthy, now he’s OK, but at the time he had 101ºF fever on and off for 13 times in the duration of 3 months. He had rash all over and he was really, really sick [...] he became real skinny and he stopped growing for 3 or 4 months. It is really happening. I have 2 nodules in my thyroid, and my boy has countless number of minor nodules. So what I wanted to stress most, the most important thing is the symptoms are happening. I want you to know, and I want you to spread this information.

Other headlines -

11:03 AM EST on October 30th, 2013 | 85 comments

Why are they ‘speeding up’ at Unit 4? — Expert in 2010: Megathrust quake to hit Fukushima ~Nov. 2013… Recurrence interval of 75 years with last rupture Nov. 1938 — Planet’s most powerful type of seismic event — WSJ: Top official concerned quake to destabilize fuel pool



06:57 PM EST on October 29th, 2013 | 10 comments


For first time, officials admit to ‘shortage of workers’ at Fukushima — Tepco promises ‘additional efforts’ to get more — BBC reveals homeless people cleaning reactors and “modern slavery” in Japan nuclear industry… exactly 14 years ago

Fukushima: Beyond Urgent ☢ (Platos Cave Mirror)

A great compilation of info for those who are new to Fukushima Nuclear Meltdown (and/or a quick synopsis) and the probable catastrophic outcome. More date to follow. However, this is a great intro for those who know nothing about the damage to the nuclear plant, the radioactive fallout coming across the pacific. I suppose you could call this "class" of information sharing: Getting to know you radioactive fallout (sorry I showed up tardy to class). Teacher then informs student: sit down and listen....