Wait for it…
Well, with the advantage of time and more data, we know now that while the tsunami and quake were deadly, as far as economic loss, and loss of habitat, the nuclear disaster is not only far worse, it’s going to last for decades. Or longer.
The real danger now is another earthquake/tsunami, both of which would seriously fuck the efforts up to contain the three reactors. Until they can shore up building four, stop the radiation leaks in all three reactors, repair the damaged fuel ponds, and do something (nobody knows what yet) with the melted cores, it’s a huge time bomb.
If any of the spent fuel goes up in flames, we now know the radiation damage will make a single core meltdown look like a walk in the park.
Until they get the new containment structures done, it’s all touch and go. Even then, it’s a long long road until anyone can rest easy.
Look, I work in the industry. You’re full of shit and embarrassing yourself.
Go the fuck away. Now.
Good heavens, man, why did you even bother? He’s impervious.
How scientific your argument. You have won!
Of course now we have an expert who “works in the industry”. So tell us, what is the solution? What do you do with a damaged fuel rod? Or a damaged pool full of them?
Please, we would all love to hear the answer.
I do think we could use more of his ilk.
Can you imagine how useful they could be for shielding? Denser than Tungsten and so much cheaper!
Sadly the density is only metaphorical.
Triceratops.
Tell the nearest Tea Partier that they can be a wizard if they can retrieve the Glowing Rod of Power from the pool, of course.
New report from Tepco says they possibly could have prevented the melt through and explosion in reactor two if reactor three hadn’t blown up and fucked up their efforts to get water into two.
The huge explosion damaged the fire trucks they were trying to use to pump water. Also, they had to abandon the plant due to radiation after three blew up.
Meanwhile, reactor building one is getting ready to vanish from view as they complete the new structure around it.
Fukushima Dai-Ni, the other nuclear plant damaged by the quake and tsunami is never going to start up again. They are still trying to vent pressure and prevent hydrogen explosions there.
It is feared three of the reactors are damaged. They can’t know because nobody can enter the buildings still.
While the plant has received almost no attention in the western media, of course, the situation there is still very bad.
[gets out concertina and plays sea shanty]
Oh, what do you do with a damaged fuel rod,
What do you do with a damaged fuel rod,
What do you do with a damaged fuel rod
Ear-lay in the morning?
Meanwhile both cesium-134 and cesium-137 have increased in the latest San Francisco Bay Area milk samples.
Nuclear ratshit crazies of course will tell you it doesn’t matter.
But then, they are insane of course.
Big new report on Fukushima out
The whole thing is worth a read, for anyone interested in the disaster.
No kidding? I wonder what happened to all that radioactivity when the building blew the fuck up? Oh right. It blew all to hell. Fortune had it the wind was out to sea that day.
Reuters reports that preharvested rice, in Nihonmatsu city 35 miles west of the Fukushima Daiichi, has radioactive cesium of 500 becquerels per kg. This exceeds the 200 becquerels per kg threshold which prompts more thorough testing of the rice in the area. If the levels exceeds 500 becquerels per kg then rice shipments from this area will be halted.
Tepco estimates the radiation released during the first half of September to be 200,000,000 Bq/hour which is a lot less than the 800,000,000,000,000 Bq/hour that was happening at the start of the disaster.
Somehow this seems like good news.
Deconstructing the zero-risk mindset: The lessons and future responsibilities for a post-Fukushima nuclear Japan
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
OMG! So many zeros! The world is doomed! I’m screaming in terror!
Or, not.
::: Shakes fist at johnpost :::