Japan hit by powerful earthquake

[Mojo]

Just because we talk a lot about one specific part of the tragedy in japan does not mean we forgot about everything else. That said, while there is no evidence to support that any one outside of those near the actual plants are in any real long term danger due to radiation, the situation does seem to be getting worse, or at the very least more complicated, with each passing day. That is the sole reason why so many people who don't buy into the sensationalism are still as concerned about it as they are now. To say otherwise is just well, that's why I bought up Homer simpson earlier...It's still good! It's still good!

You don't think that a distraction from the issues that are clearly orders of magnitude more important than the nuclear crisis isn't going to have a negative impact on the people in those situations? How about the thousands of people who now have their jobs and futures jeopardized from unnecessary media sensationalism and fear? (SEE: Three Mile Island)

Yes, the situation is worsening, but most people with experience and understanding regarding these matters knew it was likely going to get a bit worse before it got better. It is still nowhere near the level where anybody other than the workers managing the crisis should be concerned about their health.

[bungiefan]

Already had one. USAF discontinued the research project early on in the 50's/60's. The plane never flew with the reactor actually operating but the reactor was operated on the ground and flown in the converted bomber.

Discovery Channel did a documentary on it.

[Kryssan]

Personally, I'm not seeing the 'getting worse' bit. I'm seeing reports that personally tell me 'getting stable'. Nothing I've seen from regulatory agencies has made me utter any explicatives - that's been an occasion reserved for the news.

We've known ever since the first explosion that some release was inevitable and that this wasn't going to be a quick cleanup. Yet it definitely has never been to a point where it deserved the reports we've received on it.

The latest reports from NISA, IAEA, TEPCO, and news agencies like Kyodo show us that we're probably nearing the end of the 'immediate disaster stage' and approaching the 'followup action stage'.

As for contamination, they have found some contamination in milk and spinach in areas near the power stations. Kyodo is reporting that levels were low enough that if the contaminated milk were consumed for an entire year you'd get about the same dose as a single CT scan, and a fifth that dose from consuming the spinach.

Again, that's not unsuspected or unusual considering the damage to the plants. While you should never intentionally expose yourself to contamination or radiation, that kind of dose isn't anything to cry over, and the fact that they're already out and about looking for and removing these things shows you that they are being very proactive in handling the situation.

As others have stated, and a few high-ranking members of government reported, the nuclear power plant episode is but a side-show for the main event that Japan will be recovering from for a great deal of time to come, yet it is receiving a disproportionate amount of news coverage. Also, however, not unexpected.

[popsiclestix]

Now, not to say what those plant workers is doing isn't noble, but maybe consider even more context. What seems worse, a select few people out of the 150 workers dieing a few years earlier than otherwise due to premature cancer development, or 4000~5000 people that died from the tsunami, the 60,000+ homes that have been destroyed, and the hundreds of thousands of people that have been displaced?

Its reported to be around 18,000+ missing or dead

[aduidarnenye]

Personally, I'm not seeing the 'getting worse' bit. I'm seeing reports that personally tell me 'getting stable'. Nothing I've seen from regulatory agencies has made me utter any explicatives - that's been an occasion reserved for the news.

We've known ever since the first explosion that some release was inevitable and that this wasn't going to be a quick cleanup. Yet it definitely has never been to a point where it deserved the reports we've received on it.

I barely know anything about the science behind the nuclear disaster and that's the feeling I got from even the reports on the news, despite the media working very hard to try to panic me into thinking it's worse and I will die glowing.

[Kaylia]

It seemed like the situation improved until a second blew up, only to improve again until a third blew up...and trigger a reaction in 4th reactor.

I don't know. At one point, it didnt seem like it was under control when they were fearing that a reaction was started in the 4th one.

[Salodin]

You don't think that a distraction from the issues that are clearly orders of magnitude more important than the nuclear crisis isn't going to have a negative impact on the people in those situations? How about the thousands of people who now have their jobs and futures jeopardized from unnecessary media sensationalism and fear?

Again, just because news agencies feed into it, and some/most people buy into it, doesn't mean everyone who is concerned about the plants has forgotten about the other issues or their magnitude. Is it unfortunate that this would get more attention then the other people suffering? Yes, it is, but at the same time we're sending the help that we can regardless of what the media decides to show on TV. It's pretty much expected at this point to happen; news is about ratings, not reporting all the other facts. Do I think the nuclear plant issues are distracting? Yes, absolutely. However, they are hardly irrelevant, and it's not like the world has forgotten about the other half a million people displaced by other events.

It seemed like the situation improved until a second blew up, only to improve again until a third blew up...and trigger a reaction in 4th reactor.

I don't know. At one point, it didnt seem like it was under control when they were fearing that a reaction was started in the 4th one.

This. We'll see in a couple of days when things either improve, or another unplanned event sets back the efforts at the plants.

[Kaylia]

Tsunami = people who were unlucky and died
plant = people willing to give their own life to help other

Yes, there is people suffering in both case, but it doesn't have the same emotional impact. Althought, the only reason why the nuclear accident is covered is because Media can scare people more easily with it.

[Salodin]

I felt tsunami was over and we're now in recovery parts, but plant is still an on going problem that might not have had it's climax already. At least, that's how I'm justifying this news coverage to myself =\...

[jmc]

The iRobot company here in MA, has sent 4 robots over to japan to help thier situation with the plants.

2 small robots are going to be used to get accurate nuclear readings of each reactor, while the other 2 are going to be big enough to carry fire hoses into the reactors to help spray water in the fuel rods.

[Binkie]

The iRobot company here in MA, has sent 4 robots over to japan to help thier situation with the plants.

2 small robots are going to be used to get accurate nuclear readings of each reactor, while the other 2 are going to be big enough to carry fire hoses into the reactors to help spray water in the fuel rods.

Future robot overlords to the rescue.

[Gwynplaine]

I think that the Japanese central bank inflating the currency and making their economy even worse is a much greater threat than this nuclear reactor.

[Olo401]

Tsunami as seen by Japan Coast Guard ship 5mi off the coast

Wyld..

[Kryssan]

The iRobot company here in MA, has sent 4 robots over to japan to help thier situation with the plants.

2 small robots are going to be used to get accurate nuclear readings of each reactor, while the other 2 are going to be big enough to carry fire hoses into the reactors to help spray water in the fuel rods.

I'll assume you meant going into the Units, since going into the reactor would be impossible for a variety of reasons.

NISA has released a new report detailing plant status as well as an explanation on determination of INES levels at the plants themselves. The report on the INES levels is here for the lazy.

[aethyr]

It's Getting Worse in Tokyo

Saw this article shared by my crazy aunt on Facebook today. In the second paragraph, it says: "Top U.S. officials have testified before congress this week that the situation in Japan has reached catastrophic proportions on par with Chernobyl."
...when did this happen? Maybe Kryssan can tell me how much of that article is trying to incite panic and how much of it is fact.

[Corrderio]

It's Getting Worse in Tokyo

Saw this article shared by my crazy aunt on Facebook today. In the second paragraph, it says: "Top U.S. officials have testified before congress this week that the situation in Japan has reached catastrophic proportions on par with Chernobyl."
...when did this happen? Maybe Kryssan can tell me how much of that article is trying to incite panic and how much of it is fact.

Maybe there's something I missed, but that's a lot of bullshit A lot of media has been screaming "Chernobyl" but unless I missed an update or something, it's nowhere near that bad and starting to get stable.

[Kerberoz]

Tsunami as seen by Japan Coast Guard ship 5mi off the coast

Wyld..

The guy filming sounded like he was having an orgasm, lol

[Binkie]

It's Getting Worse in Tokyo

Saw this article shared by my crazy aunt on Facebook today. In the second paragraph, it says: "Top U.S. officials have testified before congress this week that the situation in Japan has reached catastrophic proportions on par with Chernobyl."
...when did this happen? Maybe Kryssan can tell me how much of that article is trying to incite panic and how much of it is fact.

Read the about the author at the bottom

[aethyr]

Read the about the author at the bottom

Exactly, this guy isn't exactly a scientist..

[Lhyet]

In Chernobyl there is a large explosion that released core parts into the environment. It wasn't just a little crack that leaked some radiation, it was a bloody big hole that was gushing radiation and core parts. I remember seeing a picture of parts of the control rod holding-mechanism-thing laying on the floor.

I am a complete layman when it comes to nuclear plants and nuclear power but from all I've read on this forum and more reputable sites I believe I can safely say that there is no chance of Fukushima pulling a Chernobyl. The reactors no longer have the ability to create an explosion that would physically release core parts into the surrounding area.


It's been said plenty and plenty of times here already, so anyone who reads some bullshit article saying anything that resembles the 'C' word and is worried, simply read back through this thread. All of the information is here.