Sisters are doing it for themselves in Japan; take on "nuclear village"

6.29 "One Vote Rebellion! Women Will Change Politics, Livelihoods and Nuclear Power!"Women’s Appeal in Front of the Japanese Parliament

From our colleague, Kaori Izumi (pictured) in Japan: "On June 7^th, Fukushima women carried out a ‘Die-In’ in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, demanding an end to the plan to restart of Ohi nuclear power plant. Prime Minister Noda’s answer on June 8^th to these women’s outcry was “We will restart Ohi in order to protect people’s livelihoods and its safety has been secured.” Noda is now trying to restart Ohi, ignoring a possibly active fault crossing right under the nuclear power plant. We, however, have never handed over our lives to you; Noda, your political life is over.

To the members of the Parliament, are you doing your best as representatives of Japanese citizens? Despite the fact that more than 70% of Japanese are against the restart of Ohi nuclear power plant, the Noda government is forcing its restart. We support you, the MPs who empathize with the people of Fukushima and who are making all their efforts to ensure the safety and the livelihoods of the people and children in Japan at the expense of your own political lives. In all of Japan’s areas we are going to ask each and every MP if they have agreed or disagreed to the restart of the Ohi.                   

Women in Fukushima have since 3.11 appealed to the world: “Please do not repeat Fukushima! Do not let anybody suffer like we are doing!” The decision to restart Ohi is indeed blaspheme against the Japanese people. Women got outraged, stood up and got together. To women in Japan, please send your representative to the 6.29 Women’s Action. We appeal to women in the world to please continue your protest at the Japanese embassies until the day when the restart of Ohi is withdrawn. 

More great reporting from Mark Willacy in Japan: radiation killing fishing industry

Mark Willacy reports from Fukushima for the Australian Broadcasting Company. An excerpt: "As Akira Kaya lowers his trawling nets he explains how he used to haul in magnificent catches of octopus, horse mackerel and flatfish. And today again a decent catch spills from his nets onto the deck. But none of these fish will ever make it to market. Here, just 20 kilometres out to sea from the shattered remains of the Fukushima nuclear plant, nothing can be sold to the public."

Wallacy concludes the segment: "A few days after our expedition off Fukushima the results of our haul came in - about a quarter of the catch has radiation levels exceeding the safe limit, with one fish 16 times over the limit, more bad news for Akira Kaya and his fellow Fukushima fisherman."

Listen here or read the transcript.

Waiting for the worst: a fuel pool fire at Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4

Interviewed by Radio Australia, Institute for Policy Studies' Bob Alvarez addressed what could happen if another major earthquake rocked the coastal Fukishima area. "The drainage of water caused by an earthquake or the toppling of the pool, which would be the worst possible consequence, could result in essentially the cladding around the spent fuel, which is made of an alloy of zirconium, to heat up and catch fire. And then there would be a massive release of radioactivity," he said. "The spent fuel pool in number four at Fukushima contains roughly ten times more caesium 137 than released by the Chernobyl accident," he pointed out.

Mitsuhei Murata (pictured left), a former Japanese ambassador to Switzerland and a career diplomat who fears for the future of his nation, was also interviewed on the show. He also fears that inaction could spell further disaster. "I call it the sickness of Japan," he said. "Colloquially it can be explained that first, we hide; then we postpone; and then we assume no responsibility." When asked by show host, Mark Willacy, whether a problem with the fuel pool at Unit 4 could spell the end of Japan, Murata replied: "Yes. And there is no one who denies that." Read the full transcript or listen to the show.

Update on June 29, 2012 by admin

Writes Bob Alvarez: In a recent report by the Holophi company in Switzerland, "Estimating the Potential Impact of Failure of the Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4 Spent Fuel Pool: A Local Problem for Japan or a Global Mega Crisis?" http://www.holophi.ch/resources/Holophi-Special-Report-on-Fukushima-SFP-4-r.pdf , the authors conclude: "The results of this analysis suggest that a nominal release of 10% of the SFP 4 inventory of cesium and strontium would represent 3-­10 times the March 2011 release amounts, substantially increasing risk levels in Japan and impacting marine life. Release of 100% of the SFP 4 inventory, or 30-­100 times the March 2011 release amounts, could result in significant global impact." The Bellona Foundation has reported and commented on this story.

San Onofre = Nuclear Lemons!

Inspired by the words of Donna Gilmore at a recent Friends of the Earth sponsored press conference in San Juan Capistrano near the San Onofre nuclear power plant, local Laguna Beach artist J. DeStefano created the image to the left!

U.S. Senate confirms Allison Macfarlane as NRC Chair

Today, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) issued the following statement:

“I am pleased that the Senate quickly confirmed Dr. Allison Macfarlane as the next chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Her experience and focus on the safety and security of all Americans will serve the Commission well. 

“I also would like to thank Chairman Greg Jaczko for his steadfast commitment to the safety and security of our nation's nuclear facilities.  His leadership during the Fukushima nuclear crisis was instrumental in ensuring our nation’s safety in the wake of that disaster. He has served our nation honorably.”

Dr. Jaczko worked as Sen. Reid's Yucca Mountain staffer, before being appointed to the NRC Commission in 2005. In 2009, President Obama named Jaczko NRC Chairman. NRC Chairman Macfarlane (pictured above left), a PhD. geologist, co-edited the book Uncertainty Underground, listing the many scientific unsuitabilities of Yucca Mountain as a high-level radioactive waste burial site. Sen. Reid has devoted his political career, after being steamrolled as a rookie Senator in 1987 by the "Screw Nevada" bill, to stopping the dump.

Update on July 4, 2012 by admin

The Las Vegas Review Journal, a paper of record on the Yucca Mountain issue, has also reported on this story.