Japan Earthquake

Japan Earthquake | Page 1909

@lilly I think Kan, who knows his days are numbered, wants to take them with him.
by bo 7/13/2011 1:42:19 AM

"Goshi Hosono, state minister in charge of consumer affairs and food-safety, said he hoped to head off any overreactions.
"If we were to eat the meat everyday, then it would probably be dangerous," Hosono said at a news conference Tuesday. "But if it is consumed only in small portions, I don't think it would have any long-lasting effects on the human body."
by RadioGuy 7/13/2011 1:47:30 AM

Someone should send him a cow
by RadioGuy 7/13/2011 1:47:39 AM

@RadioGuy we have to support our farmers and ranchers. Much more important than supporting our citizens.
by bo 7/13/2011 1:50:08 AM

Actually, I've been glad since I got here 6 years ago that Japan doesn't import US beef. I feel confident eating beef here. But I fear that this will be the nail in the coffin to that ban and that US beef will flood in. Oh well, been eating primarily vegetarian since this happened. More reason all around.
by bo 7/13/2011 1:51:10 AM

The facepalms and headdesks have given way to utter disbelief they can even say such things with a straight face.
by RadioGuy 7/13/2011 1:52:02 AM

by bo 7/13/2011 1:52:34 AM

He obviously missed the part when one badly placed particle can kill you.
by RadioGuy 7/13/2011 1:53:15 AM

Testing meat would seem easier than trying to convince people to suspend reality.
by lillymunster 7/13/2011 1:53:26 AM

@all It gives new meaning to the California Happy Cow commercials. They're not so happy now.
by LM 7/13/2011 1:54:21 AM

Poor Clover.
by RadioGuy 7/13/2011 1:55:05 AM

@lillymunster so true!
by bo 7/13/2011 1:55:35 AM

@LM happy three eyed cows
by bo 7/13/2011 1:55:48 AM

I saw one of those billboards over past Petaluma the other day. I found it sadly ironic.
by RadioGuy 7/13/2011 1:57:49 AM

@Bo LOL. I found this article in regards to Geiger counter use for rad contamination in food. I'm not sure if this is set in stone. I noticed some YouTube videos about home food testing. Dean or edano might know more. I hope this answers some questions. www.bloomberg.com
by LM 7/13/2011 2:00:27 AM

@LM thanks. I remember that discouraging article. I know that there is only so much we can do on the consumption end. Thanks.
by bo 7/13/2011 2:02:39 AM

@Radioguy The TV ads ended awhile ago but I think they might not be as effective now....although most Californians are oblivious to what's happening in Japan anyway.
by LM 7/13/2011 2:03:16 AM

Two articles, about radiation and infant mortality. The second link is a 'correction" to data in the first article. Is the increase in baby deaths in the northwest U.S. due to Fukushima fallout? How can we find out? sfbayview.com Question marks, the elephant in the room and the refusal of nuclear power defenders to consider what has happened to people and the environment since Fukushima and Chernobyl sfbayview.com
by Deb 7/13/2011 2:05:18 AM

@Bo I worked in labs for years and still don't know much about Geigers. Unfortunately, most research is fairly cavalier about it's use. That's one of the reasons why I left the field. I really wish I could be of more help!
by LM 7/13/2011 2:05:28 AM

I think that anyone who has driven by that huge cattle holding and slaughter area off of I-5 near Bakersfield knows that those cows are not happy.
by bo 7/13/2011 2:06:38 AM

@Bo True...the ads were definitely fiction.
by LM 7/13/2011 2:09:18 AM

@Bo Yet more evidence of the 'out of sight, out of mind' philosophy.
by LM 7/13/2011 2:10:28 AM

@LM and more evidence that PR counts for more than reality. Ooohhh! Look at that shinny commercial!!
by bo 7/13/2011 2:14:56 AM

Plus, Temple Grandin has convinced us all that cows don't mind being slaughtered now.
by bo 7/13/2011 2:15:20 AM

action on tepcam
by M.I.A. 7/13/2011 2:17:46 AM

@bo @bo only if you walk them in a circle before killing them. :-)
by lillymunster 7/13/2011 2:18:12 AM

@Bo @Lilly I never saw that movie. Maybe I'm glad I didn't..
by LM 7/13/2011 2:25:54 AM

hello everyone. deb thanks for posting the articles.
by Jo 7/13/2011 2:27:40 AM

Hi Jo!
by LM 7/13/2011 2:32:48 AM

Going to make it an early nite. Later all!
by lillymunster 7/13/2011 2:34:17 AM

@Jo Your welcome :)
by Deb 7/13/2011 2:34:28 AM

Nite Lilly! Enjoy the rest.
by LM 7/13/2011 2:34:47 AM

@bo, I'd take my counter to a well-shielded place with low counts, and place the sample at a fixed distance in front of the window. Try to keep the distance short between sample and window short, perhaps 10 cm. Best would be to mount it on a small tripod and mark the feet with tape. Also mark the spot for the sample. In this way you can reproduce the procedure. Collect a solid background count over perhaps ten minutes. Repeat the measurement with your sample. Wear gloves, when handling the sample, or use a plastic spoon. Never touch the sample and then the counter. Keep the sample as small as possible, something like 1 cm cube. If the count rate is low, you may have to use a bigger size. I'd prefer to count longer, if he counts a too low. Your best bet is measuring gamma-radiation. So, use that counter first. Let me know, how the project goes.
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 2:35:32 AM

buenas noches
by Edano 7/13/2011 2:36:27 AM

@lilly good night. And Peter thanks so much for the informed advice. I'll let you know what I find. One question, what do you mean by window? A window between the sample the detector?
by bo 7/13/2011 2:37:30 AM

www3.nhk.or.jp

New cooling devices set for Fukushima fuel pools

The operator of the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is to set up two more cooling systems for reactors' spent fuel storage pools.

The planned devices are to start operating in late July at the No. 4 reactor pool and in early August at the No. 1 pool.

Spent fuel rods are currently kept in the storage pools of each of the 4 reactor buildings. The No. 2 and No. 3 reactor buildings already have cooling systems and water temperatures in these pools is at the normal level of below 40 degrees Celsius.

The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has instructed Tokyo Electric Power Company to report details of the installation plan by Wednesday.

TEPCO also needs to report the earthquake-resistance of the new systems and measures to prevent water leakage.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 10:25 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
by Edano via Www3.nhk.or.jp 7/13/2011 2:38:06 AM

Kan to propose reduced dependence on nuclear power

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is expected to propose a fundamental review of the country's energy policy and call for reduced dependence on nuclear power.

Kan will hold a new conference on Wednesday, 2 days after the government announced a unified policy on stress tests for Japan's nuclear power plants.

Kan says he will explain the significance of the proposed tests and ask for public support.

He is expected to explain that decisions to restart idled plants should not only involve the government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency but also an independent nuclear watchdog, the Nuclear Safety Commission.

Kan will also call for a fundamental review of how the government oversees nuclear energy. This would include a plan to detach the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency from the industry ministry.

The prime minister is likely to propose a ground-up review of Japan's basic energy policy and to call for reduced dependence on nuclear power.

He will also address concerns raised by the business sector that a delay in restarting nuclear plants could cause electricity shortages. Kan will urge companies to make better use of private power generation.

On Tuesday, Japan's prefectural governors criticized the central government, saying its nuclear policies are difficult to understand. Kan's news conference is apparently aimed at easing such concerns.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 09:48 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
by Edano 7/13/2011 2:41:50 AM

kan is on amphetamines apparently.
by Edano 7/13/2011 2:43:59 AM

Keidanren: Nuclear power continues to be vital

Japan's largest business organization is suggesting that the country should continue to use nuclear power as an essential energy source.

The Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, will son submit this and other recommendations to government offices.

The move comes amid mounting debate on Japan's energy policy following the March 11th nuclear disaster in Fukushima.

Keidanren says power shortages caused by the disaster are pushing up operating costs for businesses, creating an obstacle to corporate activities and employment.

It warns that if there is continued uncertainty about the stability of power supplies, companies will shift their manufacturing bases overseas, further accelerating the hollowing out of the Japanese economy.

The organization says nuclear power continues to be vital for stable supplies of electricity. It adds that nuclear power needs to be promoted steadily by winning public understanding on the condition that its safety is secured.

Keidanren also calls for quickly restarting nuclear reactors that remain suspended after regular inspections.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 07:34 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
by Edano 7/13/2011 2:46:13 AM

well, fuku's safety was secured, wasn't it ?
by Edano 7/13/2011 2:47:08 AM

@Edano, amphetamines would explain it! lol
by Lurking 7/13/2011 2:47:15 AM

@bo , the detector window. You could set the experiment up in a large plastic storage container (like they use for seasonal stuff here in the US) and put the lid on when you count. That will reduce the beta background and contain the mess. But rinse the container well, before you use it, and again check the background. Good luck.
by Peter Melzer 7/13/2011 2:47:33 AM

On July 9 in Japan, the news broke that the meat from a meat cow from Minami Soma City was found with radioactive cesium of 2300 becquerels/kg, almost 5 times the provisional safety limit (500 becquerels/kilogram).

The councilman's post on July 9:

All Fukushima-grown beef that was served in school lunches in Yokohama City was contaminated. The contamination that was checked at the time of shipment from Fukushima Prefecture was only the surface radiation of a live cow, and there was no information as to the contamination after the cow was processed into meat. School children have already ingested this meat.

There was a leak from some school nutritionists of this fact. But the city, the city's Board of Education and the school principals "lied" by saying "food items for school lunches are safe, because they are sold in the market." As the result, elementary school children in Yokohama City have been internally irradiated. ex-skf.blogspot.com This just makes me mad as a mom!
by Lurking 7/13/2011 2:48:33 AM

@Bo & @ Peter, when I received my geiger I did that so to speak. I checked our "green recycle bin" for yard waste. Just opened it up and placed the geiger in then shut the lid. The readings were much higher than just normal outdoor readings.
by Lurking 7/13/2011 2:51:34 AM