Japan Earthquake

Japan Earthquake | Page 2515

Doubts over how to teach radiation www.yomiuri.co.jp
by Mid Valley 10/17/2011 3:53:41 AM

A RUSSIAN ship has found debris from the Japanese tsunami, including a fishing boat, floating adrift in the Pacific more than 3000km from the disaster zone, a Hawaiian research group said yesterday. www.theaustralian.com.au
by Mid Valley 10/17/2011 4:17:26 AM

@Mid Valley doesn't the debris make it to the CA coast next spring?
by RonD 10/17/2011 4:18:52 AM

@RonD Hawaii in one year. West Coast in three years.
by Mid Valley 10/17/2011 4:28:58 AM

good morning
by elainekirk 10/17/2011 8:53:12 AM

Unconfirmed customer statement:
IGLO-Products aparently sells frozen fish from Fukushima in german supermarkets. The product has Fishing zone FAO 61 stamped on the package.
www.dasgelbeforum.de.org
by Liz 10/17/2011 8:53:20 AM

@Liz ooh thx !!! no more fischstäbchen :(
by Edano 10/17/2011 9:36:54 AM

i really would like to know where my green tea comes from, there isn't any hint on the box.
by Edano 10/17/2011 9:39:07 AM

www.fao.org

FAO Major Fishing Areas
PACIFIC, NORTHWEST (Major Fishing Area 61) www.fao.org
by Edano via Fao.org 10/17/2011 9:41:43 AM

Japan mulls asking China to lease pandas to tsunami-affected city

TOKYO, Oct. 17, Kyodo

The Japanese government is considering asking the Chinese government to lease giant pandas to a zoo in the city of Sendai, which was hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, government sources said Sunday.

Sendai Mayor Emiko Okuyama told reporters on Monday that the city-run Yagiyama Zoological Park in the Miyagi prefecutural capital has already asked China for the lease.

''I think children in disaster-hit areas would be cheered up,'' said Okuyama, adding that she discussed the issue with Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cheng Yonghua in September at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo. english.kyodonews.jp
by Edano 10/17/2011 9:48:02 AM

Children return to schools in Fukushima amid radiation concerns

MINAMISOMA, Japan, Oct. 17, Kyodo

Children returned to their original schools in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, amid radiation concerns Monday after the government lifted its evacuation advisory for the city over the Fukushima nuclear crisis late last month.

Of the 12 municipal junior high and elementary schools located in what had previously been designated an evacuation preparation zone subject to the advisory, five reopened Monday at their original locations.

The municipal government had conducted cleanup work at the schools since August, decontaminating school buildings, yards and commuting routes for children within 200 meters of the schools. But radiation concerns are still lingering. english.kyodonews.jp
by Edano 10/17/2011 9:48:51 AM

english.kyodonews.jp

Fukushima woman honored as model farmer by U.N.
Satoko Anzai (L), a farmer from the city of Fukushima, northeastern Japan, is honored as a model farmer in the Asia-Pacific region by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Bangkok on Oct. 17, 2011, for her agricultural innovation and efforts to help nuclear disaster evacuees. (Kyodo) english.kyodonews.jp
by Edano via English.kyodonews.jp 10/17/2011 9:52:18 AM

hmmm, ehhh .... ? agricultural innovation ?
by Edano 10/17/2011 9:52:57 AM

Disaster-hit sake brewer celebrates 1st shipment

A sake maker in Iwate, northeastern Japan has celebrated the first shipment of its new products after losing its brewery in the huge tsunami 7 months ago.

Suisen lost its factory, office, and 7 employees when the tsunami hit Rikuzentakata City and devastated the region. Last month, it began producing "nigorizake" or unrefined sake after borrowing the brewery of a company in the inland city of Ichinoseki.

At a ceremony on Monday, employees observed a moment of silence and then loaded trucks with the new sake.

Forty-five thousand cans of sake were shipped to supermarkets and liquor stores in Iwate Prefecture.

The label of the 180-millliter can has a picture of a pine tree that has become the symbol of Rikuzentakada's restoration. It is the only pine tree among 70,000 that survived the tsunami. The trees were in an area of the city called Takadamatsubara considered a scenic spot in the region.

Suisen President Yasuhiko Konno says the company was driven by the passion to recreate their sake rather than rebuilding their brewery. He said their new products are perfect although the flavor is a bit different from their previous sake.

Suisen is a leading brewer in Iwate that was founded in 1944.

Monday, October 17, 2011 15:10 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
by Edano 10/17/2011 9:56:34 AM

www3.nhk.or.jp

Back to School in outside 20-kilometer no-go zone

Some schools in Minami Soma City, Fukushima, have resumed classes after being closed during the earthquake-triggered nuclear crisis.

Five of the city's 12 elementary and junior high schools reopened at their original locations on Monday, following the lifting of an evacuation advisory.

The government lifted the advisory last month for 5 municipalities located outside the 20-kilometer no-go zone around the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Minami-Soma is the first to restart classes.

At one elementary school, students wearing face masks were driven to school by their parents.

Trumpet shells from a traditional local festival were sounded in a ceremony celebrating a fresh start.

Students are supposed to wear face masks to and from school and to limit outdoor activity to 2 hours a day.

But school officials say that only 4 in 10 students have come back, as many evacuated families remain outside the city.

Monday, October 17, 2011 14:53 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
by Edano via Www3.nhk.or.jp 10/17/2011 9:57:38 AM

@Edano how can school children in masks be good propaganda the world has gone mad
by elainekirk 10/17/2011 10:10:13 AM

@elainekirk It is not propaganda, in my opinion. It is only the reality they are facing.
by Pedro Jesus 10/17/2011 10:14:06 AM

@Pedro Jesus yup
by elainekirk 10/17/2011 10:15:24 AM

it reminds me of a greenpeace tv spot in the 80s where children in silver body suits and oxygenic helmets played football/soccer outside in a dusty atmosphere and the mother said: "only two hours, boys".
by Edano 10/17/2011 10:31:25 AM

@Edano I wonder if it is still circulating?
by elainekirk 10/17/2011 10:46:28 AM

@elainekirk i have searched it in vain. i think it was pre-digital.
by Edano 10/17/2011 10:47:36 AM

@Edano that's a shame a side by side would have been good
by elainekirk 10/17/2011 10:51:22 AM

I have to venture out , nothing new from tepco that I can find
by elainekirk 10/17/2011 11:07:05 AM

New Fukushima news site : fukushimaupdate.com
by Ian 10/17/2011 11:28:54 AM

@Edano your early morning green tea comment. I was restocking a few things yesterday. Noticed no country of origin on the sesame seeds I bought. Grabbed a bottle of sesame oil, made in Japan, no manufacture date, put it back. The hubby and daughter are on a green tea kick, that has been my big concern is origin. There is a loophole used in the US that the distributor can be used as the "origin" but the distributor is the importer so no clue of origin.
by lillymunster 10/17/2011 11:53:38 AM

@lillymunster Suggestion: By Made In China if you can find. Here in Portugal is a lot easier to find Chinese green tea than Japanese.
by Pedro Jesus 10/17/2011 11:56:40 AM

i think the importers make blends of several origins. but i demand they must be forced to reveal the origins. there is no reason why the consumers should not be enabled to make their choice, not only on tea.
by Edano 10/17/2011 12:00:03 PM

Usually if it says origin from China on the box it is made in China. They are world's green tea biggest producers. And they have more variety than any other country. I also buy Chinese green tea. Having said that, I've just realized I've run out. One more item for my shopping list.
by Pedro Jesus 10/17/2011 12:02:34 PM

This mentions a DoE report on fallout in the US from Fuku. It would be a good find. www.marketwatch.com
by lillymunster 10/17/2011 12:02:56 PM

Btw, is TEPCO planning to cover units #3 and #4 now that they've finalized #1?
by Pedro Jesus 10/17/2011 12:04:16 PM

That was my first thought it try to find a brand that is Chinese. It is a bit surreal how it impacts food choices everywhere. Sort of a "first world problem". I have other options on the shelves. Many in Japan don't right now.
by lillymunster 10/17/2011 12:05:07 PM

Picture of the giant pile of used tyvek. www.jiji.com
by lillymunster via Jiji 10/17/2011 12:06:24 PM

@Pedro Jesus

"TEPCO is considering installing covers on the No. 3 and 4 reactors which were also damaged.

Monday, October 17, 2011 05:54 +0900 (JST)" www3.nhk.or.jp

i don't know what else they should do to contain the emissions.
by Edano 10/17/2011 12:07:52 PM

@lillymunster It's easier for us outside Japan because Japan doesn't export much green tea (only .6% of their production). China exports 200 fold more green tea than Japan.
by Pedro Jesus 10/17/2011 12:08:14 PM

Good morning, as to tea, Oolong seems fairly safe. When you check this wiki out Japan is not mentioned on the list of producers: en.wikipedia.org
by Peter 10/17/2011 12:08:30 PM

@Edano So no decision has been made yet. Lets hope the cover works though.
by Pedro Jesus 10/17/2011 12:09:22 PM

@Edano duct tape :-)
by lillymunster 10/17/2011 12:10:44 PM

@lillymunster ah yes true
by Edano 10/17/2011 12:11:17 PM

@Peter i just fear that the importers buy the cheapest leaves on the market and sell it in their "blend". so temporarily the tea might be of japanese origin if they dump the price.
by Edano 10/17/2011 12:13:46 PM

well, anyway it won't kill us and my children prefer juice. :)
by Edano 10/17/2011 12:15:05 PM

rice would be another product of concern. and sushi :)
by Edano 10/17/2011 12:17:19 PM

www3.nhk.or.jp

Revising evacuation status

Japan will begin discussions earlier than originally planned on redefining which areas are subject to evacuation orders.

Such discussions became feasible on Monday when the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company, at their monthly progress review, revised their timetable for bringing the nuclear crisis under control.

According to the revised plan, the second stage, involving a state of cold shutdown of the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, will be achieved by the end of this year, one month earlier than originally targeted.

The revised timetable says temperatures around the Numbers 1, 2, and 3 reactors are less than 100 degrees Celsius, and that the amount of radiation being emitted has dropped to about 100 million becquerels per hour.

This is about one 8-millionth of the level when the crisis began, and about half that of a month ago.

It also says additional radiation exposure in areas just outside the plant is estimated at 0.2 millisieverts per year at the most.

But many problems remain, as the government has yet to announce the details of the decontamination work that must be done in areas affected by the evacuation orders.

Monday, October 17, 2011 20:20 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
by Edano via Www3.nhk.or.jp 10/17/2011 12:21:05 PM

0.2 mSv/year outside the plants ??? WTH ?
by Edano 10/17/2011 12:22:29 PM

The only imported rice I buy is Thai. Sushi, however, is a major concern around here because most comes from Japan. The best sushi house in town closed soon after the disaster. I'm sure it wasn't a coincidence. They reopened a few months later as a pizza place. :/
by Pedro Jesus 10/17/2011 12:23:42 PM

TEPCO reports measures to ensure cold shutdown

Tokyo Electric Power Company has submitted a report to the government on the steps it will take to ensure a state of cold shutdown at its crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency had asked TEPCO to outline its nuclear safety measures over the coming 3 years.

The utility aims to bring temperatures at all its reactors to below 100 degrees Celsius over the next few months.

It said on Monday that additional pumps to inject water into the nuclear reactors would be set up inside turbine buildings, and existing hoses replaced with stronger ones.

The utility maintains that even if an earthquake and tsunami were to halt the water-injection systems, they could be resumed within 12 hours to prevent major accidents.

Monday, October 17, 2011 20:02 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
by Edano 10/17/2011 12:24:50 PM