Interesting how they are playing down the Japanese radioactive situation

[Rosa Luxemburg]

The nuclear situation in Japan is horrific and seems to be played down. I worry that they aren't telling us the full story. I hate having to take their word for it.

[neverforget]

1. I agree that's it being played down.

[enough]

2. Yes Rosa, I've just been thinking how the tenor of the coverage on the NY Times has changed recently

At the beginning they were a pretty good source for timely reporting. Now it's one story a day, usually on a soft or reassuring topic. I've gone to checking other sources for updates.

Just by not covering it, the media is suggesting that things are basically okay.


ON EDIT, the NYT has just now put up an article called "U.S. Sees New Threats at Japan’s Nuclear Plant," which contains some pretty hair-raising details that I have not seen before.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/world/asia/06nuclear.html?hp

[Rosa Luxemburg]

12. I think it is worrying

[DCKit]

3. Shut Up! Shut Up! Shut Up! Shut Up! Shut Up!

nothing to see here, move along.

[DCKit]

4. Delete

[Turbineguy]

5. There isn't much blood

It's no longer sensational. It's turning into one of those boring engineering problems where people stand around while somebody takes something apart and then holds a broken piece triumphantly in the air and the others nod knowingly.

It's not going as as well as the pro-nukes hope for and it's not going as bad as the anti-nukes hope for.

It's like a war that just drags on.

[GReedDiamond]

7. I'm anti-nuke, for the last 35 years or so, and I...

...DO NOT want it to go bad, just to make a "point."

In fact, I'd be a whole lot happier than I am now if this nuke disaster had never happened.

I would have loved it if the pro-nukers' insistence on the safety of these water boiling crazy machines had turned out to be true, at least as far as their ability to stand up to scenarios such as which occurred in Fukushima.

Believe me when I say, I would prefer to be wrong about nuclear power, but, unfortunately, I am not.

I suspect that 99.9% of my fellow anti-nuke proponents feel the same way.

[Turbineguy]

8. I'm not in favor of nukes either

but I am tired of the gloating around here. But I also accept that it's only a few.

[GReedDiamond]

11. I haven't seen any gloating posts about this tragedy...

...from anti-nuke people.

But I also probably haven't read every single thread on the subject.

If you have a link or two to any examples, I'd be very interested in having a look.

[Atman]

6. I don't think anyone really knows now. Oh, and Nuke/media giant GE...

Giant defense/nuclear energy/media company has a lot of asses to cover, a lot of potential shareholder lawsuits to stave off. Reporting the truth would not be fiscally prudent at this juncture.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. One wonders how many leaks we don't hear about in the US

[L0oniX]

9. I will bet you that at least one melt down is in progress.

[riderinthestorm]

10. "Interesting?!" No way!! Fucking scary on any level. nt

[FogerRox]

13. I dunno, the releases of isotope data was, um, fairly "Oh snap"

Info on reactor temps and water levels was pointing to partial meltdown, 25% to 50%.

The report on workers observing 13 neutron beams between March 13th and the 16th was sort of..... critical, as in Mudder FUggin crap!

You see, when I see reports of Cesium 137...during that first week... that means that temps are high enough to start impacting the fuel rods. Maybe its because I understand some of the science involved, and these 4 or 5 things pop out at me. To me it started to look worse than TMI after 5 days. about 20% of the fuel rods crumbled or fell to the floor at TMI, after 5 days I figured 1/3 to half the fuel at Fukushima was impacted. During the second week, I guessed it might as much as 7/8th's. Recent reports say 1/3 to 70%.

But we really dont know, even the experts dont really know, they're making educated guesses. Once everything cools down and they get video in the reactors, then we'll know. I do think those guesses will be fairly close.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

16. do they know what they are doing?

[FogerRox]

17. The corporate execs making decisions, no way

They waited to the 18th to lay out new electrical cable to hook up to the grid. That was only 1km away (3000 ft). After they spent a week trying to get the diesel generators back on, they should have done both at the same time.

Since then its been mis step after mis step. They had 72 hrs after the quakes to return power to the cooling pumps, after that they were fooked.

[lonestarnot]

14. Sho nough is.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. why was this thing built on the beach?

how many are built on the beach in the US? Calvert Cliff?

[AsahinaKimi]

19. Letting radiation leak, but never information

By DEBITO ARUDOU

March 2011 has shaken Japan to the core. The earthquake, tsunami and nuclear incident in Fukushima have given the world cause to pause and reflect on the fragility and hubris of human existence. My condolences to the victims, and their families and friends.

But it's time for some assessments, however premature.

First, some praise. I thought the government did a much better job than in the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Back then, several days passed before Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and the military arrived on the scene, due to collapsed infrastructure and communication snafus. Yet while thousands of people lay dying in rubble, our government famously rejected aid from overseas. They refused provisions and medicine from nearby American aircraft carriers, even tying up Swiss sniffer dogs in quarantine. People died from the bureaucracy's belief that Japan was too rich and developed to need foreign help.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110405ad.html


Japan asks foreign media to report objectively on nuclear crisis
TOKYO —

Japan has been asking foreign media to objectively report on the evolving crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday, as reports deemed sensationalist or based on incorrect information have fanned concern and led to import restrictions on Japanese products.

State Foreign Secretary Chiaki Takahashi told a press conference that Tokyo believes some reports by foreign media on the Fukushima crisis were ‘‘excessive’’ and has urged the organizations responsible for the stories through Japanese diplomatic missions abroad to correctly and objectively disseminate information.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japan-asks-foreign-media-to-report-objectively-on-nuclear-crisis

[hayu_lol]

20. Most westerners have heard the term but fail to understand...

how important FACE is in the Asian sphere of influence.

As to a dearth of current info, my hunch is that most journalists are sitting around waiting for official handouts(as they did in Nam for the most part)to update their stuff. Most do not understand the actual terms used which has caused much confusion.

At this point, few journalists are even close to any of the scientists/engineers who are working around the clock to find the solutions that they need 'right now.' They are speaking to mostly minor officials...and that through a translator who may or may not understand the terms being used.

Asahina-San...a previous thread you posted, that no one is discussing the loss of life, the loss of homes and livelihoods, the uprooting of an entire population which is the major tragedy in this situation--really, the major story. 25,000 dead and maybe more just gets a passing glance by most journalists.

[AsahinaKimi]

24. You will notice

that posting didn't get much attention here either. Maybe people are tired about hearing about Japan, ne?

[Art_from_Ark]

28. Where is your thread that the other poster was referring to?

I might have missed it. I would like to take a look at it if you can give me a link.

:hi:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

27. Haiti is still devastated but the newsmedia moves on

[Bonobo]

29. Arudo Debito is a vile individual.

I have long despised him for his anti-Japanese punditry.

His very name is a reflection of his lack of respect for the country that he "swore allegiance" to.

He takes what he can get from Japan and makes a buck off his trouble-making and petty criticism.

[nc4bo]

21. Wow - they fixed them already or no news is good news?

They've been downplaying since day 1 then we got a good long glimpse at Apocalypse; radiation showing up here, there, everywhere, hot water dumped into the sea, fishes glowing in the dark, $12 hushup money per person in the deadzone, a few nuke plants in various stages of meltdown and now more silence. Of course there's still the tsunami victims which are also getting the silent treatment too.

Uncomfortable silence and it's very noticeable.

[readmoreoften]

22. I can't believe we agree about something... but we do.

[Logical]

23. American Idol is on, who cares abour Nukes in this country? n-t

[joentokyo]

25. Well, Rosa, why don't you come over and see for yourself. Chicken Little.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

26. OK