Hazardous radiation dusts all of Japan

"Radioactive substances from the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant have now been confirmed in all prefectures [in Japan], including Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, about 1,700 kilometers from the plant, according to the science ministry," reports the Japan daily, the Asahi Shimbun. "The highest combined cumulative density of radioactive cesium-134 and cesium-137 was found in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, at 40,801 becquerels per square meter. That was followed by 22,570 becquerels per square meter in Yamagata, the capital of Yamagata Prefecture, and 17,354 becquerels per square meter in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward."
Read the full article.

Japan's deadly choice to buy into "Atoms for Peace."

An important article on Truthout.org by Satoko Oka Norimatsu, about the deadly choice post-WWII Japan made in buying into "Atoms for Peace" and the consequences of the Fukushima nuclear disaster on communities inside and beyond the exclusion zone. Norimatsu writes: "What particularly distinguishes Fukushima from Chernobyl is the large amount of radioactive material (3,500 tera-becquerels#7) released into the ocean, levels unprecedented among all past nuclear attacks, accidents and tests, raising concern about the effect on marine life and seafood."

He also reminds us of John Hersey's book, Hiroshima, then relates a story eerily similar in tone and content: "Sato Eisaku, former Fukushima Governor (1988-2006) reflects on what happened to people who trusted their Government: People of Namie Town stayed up all night, looking for missing people, but evacuation was ordered, so they went to Tsushima District [to the Northwest]. For three days from then, 6,000 people, one third of the town’s population, drank water, and ate food served there. When we looked at the contamination map released by the government much later, Tsushima was painted blazing red, indicating the highest contamination level. The [Namie] mayor had tears in his eyes as he told me the story." (Namie dog pictured.)

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Tepco ignored 2008 warning about tsunami risk at Fukushima Daiichi

The U.K. Guardian has reported that Tokyo Electric Power Company rejected an internal report in 2008 warning that a 10 meter high tsunami could threaten its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The March 11, 2011 tsunami that hit the 6 reactor atomic complex was closer to 15 meters tall. At the same time, Masao Yoshida, Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant manager since the catastrophe began, has been hospitalized for undisclosed health problems. Ironically, he headed the Tepco department that oversaw Fukushima Daiichi's management when the report was submitted in 2008. He is also credited with defying Tepco orders to stop sea water cooling at Fukushima Daiichi early in the catastrophe--which likely prevented an even worse meltdown.

What Do You Know About Nuclear Energy? Let's Learn Together! New York City, Dec. 7th

Yuko Tanaka of the NY Women's Network will host a "Learn from 3/11" event, entitled "What Do You Know About Nuclear Energy? Let's Learn Together!" on Wed., Dec. 7th at 6:30pm at the Japanese American Association of New York (15 W. 44th Street, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10036).
 
Doors will open at 6pm, and there will be books to check out, as well as informational handouts to take.
 
Gary Shaw of Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, Yuko Tonohira of Todos Somos Japon, and Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear will be speaking, and Aileen Mioko Smith of Green Action will skype in from Japan.
 
See the flyer for more information, or check out updates on Facebook:
 
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=211429102264216

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Learn-From-311-Lets-learntogether/287771747917483
 
ADMISSION is $10, plus any donation will be appreciated. A portion of the proceeds will go to ‘Fukushima Network for Saving Children from Radiation.’
 
Please RSVP to learnfrom311@yahoo.co.jp if you would like to attend. Please spread the word! Thanks!

Tepco cancels two proposed new reactors due to Fukushima nuclear catastrophe financial hardships

The Yomiuri Shimbun reports that Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has "pulled the plug" on the Higashidori nuclear power plant reactor unit #1 in Aomori Prefecture at the northern tip of Japan's main island, Honshu. Construction had begun on the proposed 1,390 megawatt-electric General Electric-Hitachi Advanced Boiling Water Reactor last January, which would have been one of the single biggest atomic reactors on the planet. Tepco likewise has cancelled reactor unit #2, still in the planning stages, at the same site. Tepco cited its financial hardships in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe as the reason why.