ScribbleLive

well of course it is not possible to get acute radiation symptoms from fuku in the us. even in japan it is impossible.

#1 temps still rising, and #3 is back at 89° again. close to boiling.

Nuclear disaster drills held near Genkai plant

Two prefectures have held major preparedness drills that assume an accident at the Genkai nuclear power plant in western Japan.

Sunday's exercises were the first comprehensive nuclear disaster drills held by prefectural governments since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March.

In Saga Prefecture, the drill was based on the scenario that an earthquake caused an automatic shutdown of 2 reactors, triggering a total loss of power at the plant and possible leakage of radioactive substances.

Workers at the nuclear plant practiced restoring the supply of electricity using generator vehicles acquired after the Fukushima accident. A record-high number of people -- about 25,000 -- took part in the drill.
The other drill in the adjacent prefecture of Nagasaki simulated a scenario in which a quake caused a leakage of nuclear materials.

The prefecture expanded the evacuation zone to areas within 30 kilometers of the plant from 10 kilometers in previous drills.

On the small island of Takashima, which lies entirely within 30 kilometers of the plant, all of the more than 2,300 residents evacuated by bus, going over a bridge to the mainland, or by ship.

But the bridge could be blocked if evacuation orders are issued to areas within 10 kilometers of the plant. In such an event, the authorities would have to prepare many ships for the evacuation effort.

Sunday, November 20, 2011 14:49 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp

ah, sorry i did not refer to genkai. i meant another nuke.

Gov't reform body calls for drastic review of nuclear policy

TOKYO, Nov. 20, Kyodo

A government body tasked with reforming public policy began a four-day review session Sunday, with ruling party lawmakers and private-sector experts proposing a sweeping review of long-running nuclear research programs in the wake of the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.

In the first such screening sessions under Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, all seven members engaged in reviewing energy policy told an open-door screening session that a program to develop nuclear fuel recycling technology using the Monju prototype fast-breeder reactor needs radical revision.

They recommended the cancellation of 2.2 billion yen of Monju-related spending included in the fiscal 2012 national budget request. english.kyodonews.jp

Voting under way to pick Fukushima Pref. assembly members, local leaders

FUKUSHIMA, Japan, Nov. 20, Kyodo

Voting got under way Sunday in quake-hit Fukushima Prefecture to select prefectural assembly members as well as local leaders, including the mayors of the towns of Okuma and Futaba, straddled by the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

The elections, which were originally to take place in April as part of nationwide local elections, had been postponed under a special law after the prefecture was seriously hit by the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which also damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, forcing many voters to evacuate their homes.

The Fukushima assembly election, however, has lacked momentum as all the parties and groups concerned in October called for dropping nuclear power, leaving few issues to contest. The turnout rate was low, standing at only 12.81 percent as of 11 a.m. english.kyodonews.jp

Govt panel seeks to revise nuclear projects

A Japanese government panel says a project to build an experimental fast-breeder nuclear reactor should be thoroughly reviewed before a decision is made on its future.

The 7-member panel focused on the country's nuclear projects on Sunday, the first day of its 4-day policy screening.

Some panel members said it would be difficult to gain public understanding for the resumption of the Monju project. They added that it is not clear if the reactor can be put into commercial service by 2050 as originally planned.

Some members also said that the Monju project to build a fast-breeder nuclear reactor should be scrapped and a next-stage fusion reactor should be developed instead.

The Monju reactor uses plutonium extracted from spent nuclear fuel to generate power, and has been regarded as a prototype for Japan's next-generation nuclear plant.

The panel concluded that a budget of 29 million dollars for next summer's test-run of the Monju project should be cut along with various maintenance costs, except for the crucial portion.

It also questioned an allocation of 292 million dollars for an international nuclear fusion project, ITER, as the amount is about 5 times the total for the current fiscal year.

Some panel members said the funds should be used to rebuild the area around the Fukushima plant by decontaminating soil and installing radiation-monitoring systems.

The panel concluded that Japan should try to reduce the financial burden of the project by negotiating its suspension or cancellation with the other 6 participating countries.

The Science Ministry, which is in charge of nuclear projects, says it will consider the next step after seeing the results of the discussion by a panel of Cabinet members on the country's nuclear policies, including the fast-breeder reactor project.

Sunday, November 20, 2011 23:27 +0900 (JST)
www3.nhk.or.jp

they are all cowards,it's so sad.

i have never heard of a japanese nuke scrapping scenario, a plan like the german one. nothing.

@Edano there are plenty of citizens that want them all shut down or gradually shut down. The government acts like they didn't just have one of the worlds worst disasters. They should be putting that money into the alt energy technology being developed now.

i wonder if nuclear deterrent capability is causing this

@lillymunster thank you, that's what i meant.

in english:

"§ 17 Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 16 are prohibited

First
To develop nuclear weapons, establish, carry trade with them to purchase from another or others to leave, import, export, transit through the federal territory, or else to spend in the federal territory or the federal territory or otherwise to exercise actual control over them ,
1a.
another to lead to an act specified in item 1 or
Second
to promote an act specified in item 1.

(2) nuclear weapons as defined in paragraph 1 are

First
All kinds of weapons, nuclear fuels or radioactive isotopes contained or specifically intended to have such a record or to use, and cause mass destruction, mass injury or mass poisoning
Second
Parts, devices, components or substances which are specifically intended for a person referred to in paragraph 1 weapon.

For the definition of nuclear weapons also apply Theorem 2 of the Introduction and Section I, point C of Annex II to Protocol III of the revised Brussels Treaty of 23 October 1954. "

@Peter The hubby was stationed as part of the cold war border forces in Germany in the early 80's. Their life expectancy was about 7 seconds if something happened. The whole border thing was just bizarre in hindsight. The two sides patrolling the border would do things to mess with the other side.