Japan Earthquake

Japan Earthquake | Page 2520

Bingo. Thanks.
by bo 10/18/2011 12:11:26 AM

@elainekirk - arrgh, I have return key fever. Oh, you meant the local national government, the government of Japan? Well, that's totally different. In the Japanese nuclear village, it's so hard to tell where TEPCO ends and the regulator begins. If TEPCO has the manuals, why bother passing them along to the people's reps? (sarcasm)
by Andrea C. 10/18/2011 12:11:42 AM

@Ian - thank you for reminding me that I failed to make my point in that endless screed. (This is why I've stuck to reading so far.)
by Andrea C. 10/18/2011 12:13:40 AM

I would say that the idea is somewhat problematic. There is very little tradition of mental health pathology and diagnosis here (my wife is a psychotherapist here) and so this could go in a lot of different directions. I would add to that that there is some concern about importing a western model of "mental health" into Asia and the problems it could lead to. Clearly people are deeply distressed, and many are depressed. I only hope that this is not just a pill dispensing operation.
by bo 10/18/2011 12:14:03 AM

Also, just wanted to tell you all that I am heading on the road again later today. To the US. So I've been away meeting some deadlines. But should have good access while traveling this time.
by bo 10/18/2011 12:19:53 AM

@bo i hope so we miss you
by elainekirk 10/18/2011 12:22:27 AM

@bo I think it may be a way off discounting parents future concerns for their childs health
by elainekirk 10/18/2011 12:23:26 AM

@bo , hello, can you take a dosimeter with you on your trip to Semipalatinsk?
by Peter 10/18/2011 12:23:37 AM

@elainekirk thank! I miss everyone here too. I had to get a few articles done before I left, so I have been awol for a few days. But thrilling to the OWS. I'll be at a conference in Cleveland while in the states where there will be some good nuke historians. I'll report what they say.
by bo 10/18/2011 12:23:46 AM

@Peter I absolutely plan to take a geiger counter. We will spend a week in the polygon and be staying at Kurchatov, so it will be essential. We are even going to go to...ugh...Atomic Lake. I'll be very nervous and will have geiger in hand!
by bo 10/18/2011 12:24:46 AM

Do you think I should also take a dosimeter?
by bo 10/18/2011 12:24:56 AM

@elainekirk, I agree totally.
by bo 10/18/2011 12:25:10 AM

@bo will you be seeing your family :)
by elainekirk 10/18/2011 12:27:38 AM

@bo, I'm doing a lot of Chernobyl-research reading, and there's what looks like an a priori agenda I believe originating with the UN (though I've not traced its origins) to impose a model of 'fear of radiation' as the cause of health issues -- radiophobogenic illness. So this 'mental health' check smells a lot like part of the same victim-blaming agenda, and effort to build the database necessary to support that model. What they need to do is show a correlation between those more worried about radiation and those with the most illnesses, which they can then call "stress induced." Not doubt stress does take a toll, so the model isn't per se bunk.
by Ian 10/18/2011 12:27:50 AM

@bo , yes if you can a film badge, a pen dosimeter or something more modern, would be best. Because you could read that twice a day and keep a log.
by Peter 10/18/2011 12:27:58 AM

@Ian - cont. To be as brief as I can. When I went to live in the motherland (which may or may not be E. Germany, Edano;);), I was already 100% against nuclear power. So, for six months, I observed my uncle carefully, looking for the smallest flaw - personal, psychological, intellectual, moral, family and financial relations, you name it. Honestly, I could find none: he was a dedicated scientist, a loving husband and father, not blinded by ideology or self-importance, calm, conservative and kind. Just the person I'd want to see in charge of such an important enterprise as nuclear safety engineering. But you know what? Despite my uncle being so freakin' great, he is still human. And humans make mistakes. And there's no going back on any nuclear mistakes. Only perfection, absolute perfection, is good enough for running a NPP, and nobody is perfect. I agree with you entirely, the only true safety is leaving the damn uranium in the ground. You've put it really well, as did the late, great Gil-Scott Heron in his straight-to-the-point anti-nukes anthem, "Shut 'em Down".
by Andrea C. 10/18/2011 12:28:47 AM

...the film badge would only give you the total dose for the whole trip. A pen or such you could read daily.
by Peter 10/18/2011 12:29:32 AM

@Ian that sounds very accurate, and you can hear shades of that in the current talk that the fear of the radiation was worse than the actual radiation. @Peter, thanks for the suggestion. I'll do that. I won't be going to Semipalatinsk until next summer, so I have time to prepare. I'll get a pen dosimeter. I have a few vintage ones from the 50s! But will get a new one.
by bo 10/18/2011 12:30:05 AM

@Andrea C. Greifswald :)
by Edano 10/18/2011 12:31:11 AM

i like "mr meltdown" :)
by Edano 10/18/2011 12:34:23 AM

@bo , we used those vintage Victoreen ionization chamber dosimeters. They are probably very suitable for an endeavor like this, because they are small, low tech, and you can read them any time. On a long trip, you need to take a charger with you, though. The advantage of the film badges is that they are low tech and almost indestructible, unless you break them open, ;)
by Peter 10/18/2011 12:35:44 AM

@Andrea C., great insights you share, thanks! Busby made some valuable observations yesterday about comparative psychology of pro- and anti-nuke folks : www.youtube.com I think it's particularly wise that he didn't demonize them as evil (so common when two sides are in a fierce battle), but instead sees them as simply humans who are more of the bravado male-dominated risk-taking type, and easily entrapped in idealized mathematical models of a perfect world.
by Ian 10/18/2011 12:36:03 AM

@Peter do know of a good source to buy them?
by bo 10/18/2011 12:36:57 AM

@Ian , Bo is right. Forget about western psychology/psychiatry in South East Asia.
by Peter 10/18/2011 12:37:15 AM

@bo , just the other I saw them on e-bay.
by Peter 10/18/2011 12:39:01 AM

@Peter thanks.
by bo 10/18/2011 12:44:06 AM

www3.nhk.or.jp

TEPCO identifies risks that could cause meltdown

The operator of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant says the water-injection system, which has external pipes, is the area that's most likely to cause possible problems in future.

The external system was built as an emergency response to the meltdown that occurred after the March 11 disaster.

Tokyo Electric Power Company has calculated the risks to the water-injection system which could lead to the cooling water supply being stopped, resulting in another meltdown.

TEPCO analyzed 7 scenarios where the state of a reactor in cold shutdown is undermined due the water supply stopping for more than 18 hours.

Cold shutdown means the temperature of the reactors is below 100 degrees Celsius, and stable.

The cases include damage to the water-injection system and external power outages.

TEPCO found that the highest risk involves a case where the water-injection system is swept away by a massive tsunami and the water supply to the reactors stops.

The second most dangerous scenario is where the water-injection system is destroyed and the resumption of the system fails.

The company found that outside pumps and pipes that were built as an emergency solution after the nuclear accident are 10-times more likely to sustain damage than conventional ones inside the building.

TEPCO plans to reinforce the emergency facilities to maintain the water supply in case of a huge tsunami.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011 08:50 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp
by Edano via Www3.nhk.or.jp 10/18/2011 12:46:03 AM

What you see on the left side: www.ebay.com . I hope the pic is not too small: thumbs3.ebaystatic.com
by Peter via Thumbs3.ebaystatic 10/18/2011 12:46:42 AM

@bo, this pic shows the pens up front and the charger behind them.
by Peter 10/18/2011 12:48:04 AM

@Peter thanks. Watch listed, virtually purchased!
by bo 10/18/2011 12:48:31 AM

@Edano so the external pipes are all lagged then? and they won't fracture in a quake? marvelous stuff they must be made off
by elainekirk 10/18/2011 12:51:07 AM

@bo , lilly and I even found a company in Texas that calibrates this old equipment. They also sell you a personal nuclear shelter size of propane gas tank,:). @Lilly I can't remember the link.
by Peter 10/18/2011 12:52:09 AM

@Bo, found it back: www.radmeters4u.com
by Peter 10/18/2011 12:55:27 AM

Great @Peter, thanks so much.
by bo 10/18/2011 12:58:17 AM

Also, check out my review of two new atomic documentaries at Japan Focus: japanfocus.org
by bo 10/18/2011 12:58:32 AM

My big concern with the mental evaluations is they seem to be part of the study & public record rather than something more typical like offers of referrals or free mental health care if needed. This seems to lack privacy and appears it would be part of the study and possibly part of any compensation determination.
by lillymunster 10/18/2011 1:01:06 AM