Japan Earthquake

Japan Earthquake | Page 2343

@lillymunster Yes, I saw that too. Looks like a curtain?
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 2:14:34 AM

METI aims to wean nation off nuclear power: Edano
Renewable energy to replace atomic plants, ensure Japan's future By KAZUAKI NAGATA
Staff writer

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will take the initiative in promoting renewable energy so Japan will be less dependent on nuclear power, Yukio Edano said shortly after taking the METI portfolio. "What we have to do is to create a situation as soon as possible where society can function without nuclear power," Edano, 47, said Monday night during his first news conference in the new post.

But Edano was also cautious, saying he has to wait to see where discussions by the government's energy panel as well as public debate go before deciding whether nuclear power should be completely abandoned.

In the meantime, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power are key to reducing dependency on nuclear power, he said, adding that METI's role in national energy policy carries huge responsibility.

"Without the spread of this energy, there is no future for Japan in the 21st century," said Edano, who served as chief Cabinet secretary in Prime Minister Naoto Kan's Cabinet.

As for bringing nuclear power plants back online, Edano said the government will allow utilities to restart reactors once their safety has been confirmed through mandated stress tests and local governments grant approval.

Building new reactors will be "very difficult," he said.

Edano's appointment came after the resignation of Yoshio Hachiro over some gaffes. Hachiro described the area surrounding the badly damaged Fukushima No. 1 power plant, where residents have been forced to evacuate, as a "town of death."

He also reportedly joked that he would smear radioactive materials on garments that he was wearing onto a reporter's clothes after he returned from a trip to Fukushima.

During his last news conference as minister, Hachiro said he could not clearly remember making that joke.

Upon his appointment, Edano said he was hesitant to accept the post because he held a key position in the previous administration, which was criticized for not implementing effective measures fast enough following the March 11 disasters.

"I still have that feeling (that I should not take a ministerial position in this Cabinet), but the prime minister told me it is better to appoint someone who really knows the details of the Fukushima accident and (how national) nuclear power policy has been revised," Edano said.

As for the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership framework, Edano merely said he will watch which way discussions go while at the same time paying attention to international economic trends.
Tepco aid only for victims

KYODO

Industry minister Yukio Edano made it clear Tuesday that the government's financial aid to Tokyo Electric Power Co. will not be aimed at protecting the utility's lender banks and shareholders but to support compensation payments to those affected by the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

"The purposes of the aid do not include protecting creditors and shareholders," Edano said at a news conference.

When he was chief Cabinet secretary, Edano had said debt waivers by Tepco's lender banks would be necessary following the nuclear accident at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant.

The remarks caused a commotion in the financial industry.

Edano said Tuesday the government's financial aid is aimed at helping Tepco compensate those affected by the nuclear crisis, to end the crisis at an early date, and to ensure a stable electricity supply.

Edano also suggested his intention to seek a review of fuel and other costs at not only Tepco but other utilities as well.

Electricity charges in Japan are set by almost unconditionally reflecting fuel and other costs at utilities.

"It cannot be necessarily said that Tepco has made sufficient cost-cutting efforts," Edano said. "We could effectively assume that other utilities have similar problems."

A third-party panel tasked with overseeing Tepco's financial standing has pointed out that the utility's cost estimation to date has been problematic. search.japantimes.co.jp
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 2:21:47 AM

@Cryptococcus Oh I hope they record the Harvard Club talk. This is the first I have heard of the prosecutors office looking into things. This would explain TEPCO's recent bizarre behavior.
by lillymunster 9/14/2011 2:21:53 AM

@lillymunster But by October, many things could happen.
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 2:22:28 AM

pretty interesting article! Edano go!
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 2:24:04 AM

NRC urges safety changes at North Anna: www2.dailyprogress.com
by Peter 9/14/2011 2:24:39 AM

@Cryptococcus I forgot Japan has corporate malfeasance laws. I remember someone brought that up in March. I hope something comes out of this.

The METI article is a good sign, maybe Edano can actually make some change being in that office.
by lillymunster 9/14/2011 2:24:48 AM

@lillymunster Yes. Edano seems to be acting bold. Maybe also a good sign they brought him back because he is so familiar with the whole story. Interesting indeed.
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 2:26:28 AM

@Cryptococcus I would assume he may have a few grudges or at least wariness after dealing with this mess and the people involved for six months. It also ended up putting him out of a job while we are finding out they were dealing with some really messed up things going on. I hope he sees this appointment as an opportunity to make things right.
by lillymunster 9/14/2011 2:29:26 AM

@lillymunster Ah corporate malfeasance laws. I wonder if the government realizes they can't let the nuclear industry continue as they have. If the government does not take charge...maybe they get it. Edano certainly sounds confident. Hadn't thought of his experience, but sure. He's got to know who is lying. He's the perfect person to inform Prime Minister of what's really going on. I hope he is trying to do the right thing too.
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 2:33:48 AM

australiancannonball.com If you know a reporter please help.
by AustralianCannonball 9/14/2011 2:37:02 AM

Edano's comeback ruffles feathers in industry ministry, power industry www.asahi.com
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 2:40:53 AM

@Cryptococcus The nuclear industry has had lots of influence on the govt. in Japan, there is lots to undo.
by lillymunster 9/14/2011 2:48:56 AM

@lillymunster The nuclear industry has a lot to apologize for. Edano doesn't.
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 2:52:16 AM

Edano as Japan Trade Minister May Take Tougher Stance on Tepco news.businessweek.com
by lillymunster 9/14/2011 2:53:07 AM

Seen circling TEPCO's corporate offices www.strideup.org
by lillymunster via Strideup.org 9/14/2011 2:57:55 AM

Translation under the video: "In the nuclear accident and fuel prices have increased attention, "renewable energy". Event was held to promote the establishment of the foundation that natural energy. The lead Softbank president, Masayoshi Son. Large-scale solar power plants 'mega solar' seed has an axis, we also face the wall and securing regulatory and land come here. On the other hand, tries to break through that wall, trying to promote small-scale solar power plants rather than mega-solar, the company began to move." www.tv-tokyo.co.jp (lol lilly san)
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:03:09 AM

Noda pledges new basic energy plan by next summer www.asahi.com
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:07:19 AM

Perry sidelines critic of Texas nuclear waste site (Reuters) - Texas Governor Rick Perry has sidelined a state commissioner opposed to expanding the scope of a nuclear-waste landfill while appointing a new board to oversee a project owned by one of his biggest political donors. www.reuters.com
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:08:21 AM

Westerners: Don’t dump nuclear waste on us www.sltrib.com
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:10:06 AM

Guess Texas wants nuclear waste while rest of the western states say...um no thanks.
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:10:32 AM

TEPCO blasted over 60-page compensation application forms TOKYO (majirox news) — Nuclear disaster victims are blasting Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) over Japanese cyberspace for producing compensation application forms they say are too complicated and onerous to complete.

TEPCO’s application forms sent out this week run to 60 pages and only cover the period from March 11, the day an earthquake and tsunami triggered the nuclear crisis at the utility’s Fukushima Daiichi power plant, through the end of August.

To explain the complicated application process is a 156-page manual, which includes agreements, application forms and the lists of required documents to be eligible to receive compensation for damages incurred during the nuclear crisis.

“I’ve received TEPCO’s application forms, and it’s one application book per person,” one woman tweeted. “The instruction manual is too thick. Is this some kind of harassment? Filling this out is a pain.” read the rest: www.majiroxnews.com
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:11:52 AM

Japan: Ground Self-Defense Force Preps for Mass Evacuations in Case of Further Meltdown of Fukushima Reactor 3 Core midnightwatcher.wordpress.com
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:20:39 AM

@Cryptococcus that is concerning. Does the govt think there is a significant chance of that? We have known the risk is there with the way things are going. Sort of goes agains the IAEA "stable" statement.
by lillymunster 9/14/2011 3:24:43 AM

@lillymunster I thought that was interesting too. Japan has always been focused on preparedness for earthquakes. Now focus has shifted to another possibility...just as likely. Could be local efforts, not government related. If I knew I was likely to be called in such an event, I'd want to be prepared. I suspect it's local concern.
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:30:48 AM

@lillymunster What IS the latest on likelihood of hot corium hitting water? Seems like water everywhere still.
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:32:31 AM

Making it not sound so bad. Apples and oranges aren't the same though. Fukushima cesium contamination widespread but less than Chernobyl www.asahi.com
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:38:45 AM

Radioactive Cesium; secretly scheduled reclamation at South Honmoku, Yokohama city Yokohama city is scheduled for a reclamation at South Honmoku wharf with sewage sludges contaminated with radioactive cesium.

Under direct orders of the Mayor of Yokohama city, Fumiko Hayashi and the council committee 13th of September, the reclamation will start late October of 2011. No announcements were made to the residents.

The disposal site using incinerators to absorb the sludges with zeolites will be established around the wharf, and purified (absorbed) soil will be used for reclamation. The rest will be dumped in the ocean.

First time ever in history to use contaminated soil for reclamation of land, and the second time since Fukushima to dump radioactive waste into the ocean.

Another unacceptable action taken by the Nuclear Mafias...

Source:
The Tokyo Shimbun
www.tokyo-np.co.jp
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:40:16 AM

logging off. domo minnasan!
by Cryptococcus 9/14/2011 3:42:26 AM

Nite Crypto!

@all. Deepwater Horizon is leaking oil again
by lillymunster 9/14/2011 3:44:26 AM

english.aljazeera.net
by lillymunster 9/14/2011 3:44:27 AM

The Fukushima Syndrome
Broadcast: 13/09/2011 ABC (australia) news video - www.abc.net.au Good program.
by Mid Valley 9/14/2011 4:21:06 AM

@lillymunster @Mid Valley You guys are awesome. I'm a true fan. TY for most excellent posts. :)
by M.I.A. 9/14/2011 4:42:41 AM

@M.I.A. - YW. I really enjoyed The Fukushima Syndrome program - inspiring stories of life long protest. They are all heros!
by Mid Valley 9/14/2011 4:46:12 AM

BBC news video www.bbc.co.uk Inside Japan's nuclear ghost zone (they could have done so much more with this piece - too bad)
by Mid Valley 9/14/2011 4:53:36 AM

A bump - from Twitter. Contamination map "How people think where is contaminated" from upper left to right, bottom left to right : People in Tohoku, People in Kanto, People in Hokkaido, TEPCO, People in Kansai, People in Okinawa, People in other countries, Japanese politicians livedoor.blogimg.jp
by Mid Valley via Livedoor.blogimg.jp 9/14/2011 6:12:41 AM

@Mid Valley coffeeeeeeeeeeeeee
by elainekirk 9/14/2011 6:15:33 AM

tepco video www.tepco.co.jp
: "Installment and Operation of Water Injection System to the Reactors"
by elainekirk 9/14/2011 7:00:23 AM

So of course to all my friends and fellow Facebookers, I am the crazy guy always doomsdaying everyone with nuclear stuff. But one of the ones I debate with is actually fairly knowledgeable. He is a Safety Softtware engineer, and has worked for many of the large Pittsburgh area companies like Phillips (now Seimens, I believe), Westinghouse, and Bombardier. He is a fellow outside the box thinker (he doesn't vaccinate his kids either), and so I think if presented with the right information he would make a good "convert", but is fairly pro-nuke...he just thinks we should switch to Thorium reactors (apparently taking a non-fissionable material and making it fissionable is better than the other way around), or this new Westinghouse design which he says is perpetually self-cooling, as long as you can get a pumping truck there, and pebble bed reactors, which he claims are virtually non-meltdownable because of some physics quirk I don't really comprehend. Anyway, what I really need help with is that he claims the only thing you really need is the potassium iodide because he says the boady will hoard the radioactive version of that, vs say neptunium, cesium,graphite, etc., which he claims the body will get rid of. I know from these boards that cesium attacks muscles much like potassium binds to it, etc., but I don't have my ducks in a row enough to effectively refute him. Can anyone offer me some assistance in this matter? Thanks!
by wrshpr 9/14/2011 7:52:33 AM

@wrshpr you have gone way past my knowledge area but somebody will know
by elainekirk 9/14/2011 7:54:19 AM

gotta venture forth :)
by elainekirk 9/14/2011 8:01:40 AM

by Edano via Pawsru.org 9/14/2011 11:17:10 AM

Expert panel starts discussing decontamination

An expert panel has begun discussing effective ways to remove radioactive materials from areas near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Experts on radiation and soil pollution on Wednesday attended the first meeting of the panel set up by the Environment Ministry.

Environment Minister Goshi Hosono told the panel that decontamination is Japan's top priority, and that the country faces the challenge of decontamination on an unprecedented scale.

In Fukushima Prefecture, municipalities near the plant have launched their own efforts to decontaminate buildings and soil.

The government plans to launch a model decontamination project in 12 of the prefecture's municipalities before focusing on severely contaminated areas early next year.

The panel is to discuss how much topsoil must be scraped away for effective decontamination, as well as standards and methods for municipalities' temporary storage of radioactive soil.

The ministry plans to draw up basic guidelines for decontamination, including specific methods, this year, based on the panel's discussion.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 18:06 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
by Edano 9/14/2011 11:37:23 AM