Fukushima's Hidden Fallout

[nadinbrzezinski]

The Japanese government estimates that the damage from the March 11 earthquake alone will top $300 billion, already making it the costliest natural disaster in history. But its broader impact on the global economy may prove even more profound.
..
Since the 1980s, more and more companies, particularly in high-tech industries, have come to rely on Japanese-pioneered "just-in-time" manufacturing, maintaining low inventories and bringing in components as needed, thanks to cheaper shipping and modern tracking software. More often than not, those high-tech components are manufactured in Japan: The country produces 89 percent of the world's aluminum capacitors, 46 percent of lithium-ion batteries, and 87 percent of gaming software. One factory 40 miles west of the Fukushima plant accounts for 20 percent of the world's silicon wafers -- vital for computer memory. The factory is now shuttered, and high-tech firms like Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and Lenovo are bracing for shortages.

With factories still recovering from earthquake and tsunami damage, manufacturers have warned that products ranging from Apple's iPad to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner will face disruptions and possible shortage. The effects of the quake are evident in the popular Toyota Prius, manufactured entirely in Japan: In California dealerships, the car was selling for an average of $300 below invoice price before the quake. It's now up to $1,000 above invoice.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/13/fukushimas_hidden_fallout

[csziggy]

1. I've been wondering how the UPS "Logistics" ad campaign is going

With them pushing "just-in-time" stocking. I've got a feeling it will bite a lot of companies that will not be able to get goods and components in time any more.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. One casualty will be globalization

it depends on cheap power and just in time

[csziggy]

4. Yes - maybe we'll get local manufacturing again

Between worries about radioactivity and increasing oil prices.

[aquart]

6. I said something like that yesterday and got yelled at.

But I can't imagine a single product out of Japan my frail nerves would be comfortable with right now. So many industries with dependable, excellent products: Kobe beef? Mikasa fine china? Not just high tech is threatened here.

I once saw a vein of porcelain clay. It's beautiful stuff. Japan must have it if they have such a steady industry in it. Can you imagine if that clay goes radioactive?

[csziggy]

8. The products will be bad enough, but what about the people?

What kind of levels have they been exposed to? How many have serious levels already? If key agricultural areas are contaminated, how will they feed their population?

The only high end products I have from Japan other than tech stuff are my Japanese embroidery supplies, but I have enough to last me years if I ever get back to doing it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. We had to change a critical system in our hybrid

fortunately it happened the day after the quake... if not... I'd be out of that. Honda only produces those chips\battery in Japan.

And your Oxygen sensor in your Ford (assuming you have one), guess where it's made?

We are that tied.

[csziggy]

13. Both our vehicles are GMCs but I bet the newer one has computer chips

Made in Japan.

Sigh.

[aquart]

14. I don't know.

I'm assuming that some will get sick quickly and some not for years and some never. But if the industries have been destroyed by the radioactivity or just the reasonable fear of it, then the ones who never get sick are still ruined.

I have felt helpless for so many things in my life, but this is no act of god, this is stupidity and greed. And none of the people who sold and built these death machines will ever be punished.

[Autumn]

3. Good to see you back

It's going to be interesting to see what happens here with natural gas prices.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Peak oil and natural gas is a hydrocarbon

we really need to get on alternate sources.

[aquart]

7. You scared me out of salad on Twitter.

I'm worried and no one around me in real life seems to be worried.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I am sorry, most people are disconnected

and that is by design. Nobody wants a panic... and quite frankly there is not that much they can do... to a point.

If they tested it, we'd know if a product was "clean."

Wash it very well if you must... and tune in to Gunderson. If anybody will tell us what's up, it's him.

[Art_from_Ark]

9. The silicon wafer factory, in Shirakawa, Fukushima

has already started to ship products that had been in its warehouse just before the earthquake, and will be resuming some production operations in the next week or two

http://www.nikkei.com/news/latest/article/g=96958A9C93819696E3E3E291EB8DE3E3E2E6E0E2E3E38698E2E2E2E2

[defendandprotect]

12. K/R -- And no doubt Tepco and GE will pick up the $300 billion tab ... right?