Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dale Stiller on March 17, 2011 at 9:14am

The conversation continues

Comment by Colin J Ely 11 hours ago

Roger, Ian et al

What is the BED of the Japanese Nuclear Plant damage? (BED=Banana Equivalent Dose) You would be surprised how much radioactivity you ingest from one banana! Fellow I work with used to work on Nauru, which is in The Doldrums. Winds mix very slowly across the equator, so any effects on Australia will be very little, very slowly. Why aren't we hearing of the damage, death toll from conventional Coal/Gas Fired Power Stations. Can't imagine cold Tsunami water engulfing a hot boiler would have done it much good? 

Comment by Bob Stewart 3 hours ago

 

Colin et al,

In a science magazine years ago some scientist with nothing better to do but range deeper into the unknown than anyone else before him, was measuring the radioactivity from glow worms.

I can recall when I was a kid and Gran gave me a Westclox Pocket Ben. Remember them? You had it on a silver chain attached to the belt of the pants and when the kid standing there looking your way obviously wanting to know the time because he didn't have a Gran to give him a Westclox Pocket Ben, and he was watching the silver chain threshing about. It was only then flourished from the pocket, the knobby end given a push and the lid flew open to reveal the face with those radio active dots.

I wonder. Will Bob Brown and his senatorial harem suggest that we, that is us, should not keep those pocket watches in the pants pocket because we might get sterile? The way they are that is possible......the Greens I  mean, not the pants or the watch.

I wonder too.Was that why the pocket watches became smaller and they were then hung a bit higher up from the nether region in  a vest?

The sky is falling.

Comment by pennie scott 1 hour ago

 

To have life there has to be death.

What we would like to know is how we are going to die but that's not often possible.

Having a belief system, philosophy, faith or any other thing which fills this gap can be helpful.

We are all going to die - simple.

Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on March 17, 2011 at 9:49am

The freezing cold, snow and sleet, still out in the cold or  confined indoors from the risk. No water, no heat, poor communication, poorer sanitation for a society that is scrupulously clean and the loss of family and neighbors and recovery impossible until way into the future, if at all.

Gillard and Burke have less than a week to  act. I can take a family that has lost everything to my place. Never again this moment, never.

 

Bob Stewart

 

Permalink Reply by Ian Macrae Yeates on March 17, 2011 at 9:56am

It is the worst disaster to hit Japan since the Second World War.

 

And the pictures of the devastation following Friday's tsunami bear a chilling resemblance to shots taken after the country's worst catastrophe-the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

 

Shinto shrines represent the spiritual connection between the people and the land. The traditional Toril entrance gates to those shrines were among the few structures to survive in Hiroshima 66 years ago (where 70,000 people were killed) and the village of Otsuchi last Friday.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366126/Japan-earthquake-ts...

Permalink Reply by Dale Stiller on March 17, 2011 at 10:14am

Over on Catallaxy Files they have a discussion up called, Watching Fukushima [click here]

Some good links not only in the original posting but in the comments to sites with useful information of the failing of the Fukushima reactor.

Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on March 17, 2011 at 11:57am

I guess it is a case of "Watch This Space" What we need is the situation today up until midnight. But I can imagine how difficult it would be even for the 50 employees if the geiger counter is chattering away in any of the damaged areas to get the real picture. Let's hear it from the Japanese Nuclear Chief because if he is known to have bent the facts then the Samurai have a way to straighten them

Ilana Yael Leeds said:

B"H

On that site mentioned, this was said which contradicts what is being said on the tv and radio. I am confused.

 

All Fukushima Daini units in cold shutdown

All four units at the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant have now achieved cold shutdown - where coolant water is at less than 100ºC - with full operation of cooling systems, Tepco reported. All the reactors shut down automatically during last week’s earthquake and have remained safe. While unit 3’s shutdown went as expected, damage to the emergency core cooling systems of units 1, 2 and 4 led to the announcement of emergency status. These three reactors were prepared for potential pressure release, but this was never required. Unit 1 announced cold shutdown at 1.24 am on 14 March and unit 2 followed at 3.52 am. Tepco has now announced that unit 4 achieved cold shutdown at 7.15 pm on 15 March. Water levels are now stable in all four reactors and offsite power is available, the company said.

Permalink Reply by Dale Stiller on March 17, 2011 at 2:54pm

Have a read of this account that gets it down to a very real personal level of facing a disarster such as a tsunami. From Asian Correspondent, Japan tsunami: Nothing to do but run [click here]

Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on March 17, 2011 at 3:36pm

Ilana,

I have reviews some of the footage. It makes no sense for the power company to divert attention from the reality of explosions and the discharge of what must be radioactive debris and smoke and steam into the atmosphere. Then  within 24 hours employ a large water bomber to pick up sea water in the bay to  dump it on the exposed rods of the reactor to cool them in an attempt to avoid a meltdown because the cooling pumps are without power to run them. The comments from the power company are not consistent with the visual timeline.

Bob Stewart

Ilana Yael Leeds said:

B"H

On that site mentioned, this was said which contradicts what is being said on the tv and radio. I am confused.

 

All Fukushima Daini units in cold shutdown

All four units at the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant have now achieved cold shutdown - where coolant water is at less than 100ºC - with full operation of cooling systems, Tepco reported. All the reactors shut down automatically during last week’s earthquake and have remained safe. While unit 3’s shutdown went as expected, damage to the emergency core cooling systems of units 1, 2 and 4 led to the announcement of emergency status. These three reactors were prepared for potential pressure release, but this was never required. Unit 1 announced cold shutdown at 1.24 am on 14 March and unit 2 followed at 3.52 am. Tepco has now announced that unit 4 achieved cold shutdown at 7.15 pm on 15 March. Water levels are now stable in all four reactors and offsite power is available, the company said.

Permalink Reply by Ian Macrae Yeates on March 17, 2011 at 8:57pm

Personal letter from Japan - March 2011>>>>    Dear Everyone: here is an e-mail from the friend of a friend>>    presently in Japan.>>    She very movingly describes the way people are coming together in>>    the course>>    of this disaster. This sort of personal report is worth so much more>>    than what>>    the msm puts out>>>>    Hello My Lovely Family and Friends,>>>>>>    First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am>>    very touched.>>    I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it>>    seems the best way>>    at the moment to get my message to you.>>>>    Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very>>    blessed to>>    have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is >> even>>    more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We >> share>>    supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up>>    in one room,>>    eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and >> beautiful.>>>>    During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes.>>    People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens,>>    or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone>>    has water running in their home, they put out sign so people can come>>    to fill up their jugs and buckets.>>>>    Utterly amazingly where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in>>    lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an>>    earthquake strikes. People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be>>    in the old days when everyone helped one another.">>>>    Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes.>>    Sirens>>    are constant and helicopters pass overhead often.>>>>    We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it >> is for>>    half a day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come>>    on.>>>>    But all of this is by area. Some people have these things, others do>>    not.>>    No one has washed for several days. We feel grubby, but there are so>>    much>>    more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling>>    away of>>    non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition,>>    of caring,>>    of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire >> group.>>>>    There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some>>    places, yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun.>>>>    People lining up for water and food, and yet a few people out walking>>    their dogs. All happening at the same time.>>>>    Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No>>    cars. No one out on the streets. And the heavens at night are >> scattered>>    with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is>>    filled.>>>>    The mountains are Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see>>    them>>    silhouetted against the sky magnificently.>>>>    And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my>>    shack to>>    check on it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity>>    is on,>>    and I find food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from>>    whom, but it is there. Old men in green hats go from door to door>>    checking>>    to see if everyone is OK. People talk to complete strangers asking>>    if they>>    need help. I see no signs of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or >> panic,>>    no.>>>>    They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes,>>    for another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls,>>    shaking, rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai>>    that is>>    a bit elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this>>    area is>>    better off than others. Last night my friend's husband came in >> from the>>    country, bringing food and water. Blessed again.>>>>    Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is>>    indeed>>    an enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the>>    world>>    right at this moment. And somehow as I experience the events>>    happening now>>    in Japan, I can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me>>    if I>>    felt so small because of all that is happening. I don't. Rather, I>>    feel as>>    part of something happening that much larger than myself. This wave of>>    birthing (worldwide) is hard, and yet magnificent.>>>>    Thank you again for your care and Love of me,>>>>    With Love in return, to you all,

Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on March 18, 2011 at 4:03am

Should be read out in Parliament to show that the corrupt morality of our politicians are destroying the values that have made Australia. Fish rot from the head. If we do not restore community values in the primary years of the education system we will never cope ,as a nation, with anything like the Japanese have to cope with.

Bob Stewart

Ian Macrae Yeates said:

Personal letter from Japan - March 2011>>>>    Dear Everyone: here is an e-mail from the friend of a friend>>    presently in Japan.>>    She very movingly describes the way people are coming together in>>    the course>>    of this disaster. This sort of personal report is worth so much more>>    than what>>    the msm puts out>>>>    Hello My Lovely Family and Friends,>>>>>>     But I am very>>    blessed to>>    have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is >> even>>    more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We >> share>>    supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up>>    in one room,>>    eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and >> beautiful.>>>>    During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes.>>    People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens,>>    or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone>>    has water running in their home, they put out sign so people can come>>    to fill up their jugs and buckets.>>>>    Utterly amazingly where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in>>    lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an>>    earthquake strikes. People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be>>    in the old days when everyone helped one another.">>>>   ........

Permalink Reply by Dale Stiller on March 18, 2011 at 11:30am

From the New York Times agood pictorial explanation called, How a reactor shuts down and What happens in a meltdown. Open the link up to this article & keep clicking on next tab to view the short explanation & diagram.  [click here]

Permalink Reply by Cate Stuart on March 18, 2011 at 6:30pm

Mikko has also had an article published on MH - i think it is important here to lend some perspective. Please comment if you feel it is worth while

http://www.menzieshouse.com.au/2011/03/trolls-take-a-toll-after-jap...

Cheers Cate :)