November 14, 2012

Nov 14, 2012 | Fukushima Accident Updates

  • The planned antinuke rally last Sunday in Tokyo fell far short of its desired attendance. The rally was called “Nov. 11 occupations by 1 million people against nuclear power plants” and was widely advertised across the Japanese internet. The rally took place, but the Tokyo metropolitan police estimated that 7,000 showed up. Some members of the Diet (congress) joined into the protest, including former People’s Party leader Shizuka Kamei and DPJ member Masako Okawara. Kenji Utsunomiya, who is running for Tokyo governor, also attended. It was the largest turnout for the weekly protest in many months. (Yomiuri Shimbun; Japan Times)
  • 181 residents living near the Hamaoka nuclear station have filed a lawsuit demanding the nuke’s decommissioning. However, the plaintiffs are planning to sue the Tokyo government as well. This will mark the first antinuclear legal action directed at Tokyo since the Fukushima accident. The Shizuoka residents have decided to begin their legal proceedings against the government in January. Tadakazu Shiozawa, a member of the plaintiff’s council, said “The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant disaster has highlighted the risk of the Hamaoka nuclear plant, whose operation has been substantially supported by the national government.” Shiozawa says the facility poses sufficient risk which imposes on the plaintiff’s legal right to the pursuit of happiness under the Constitution and Civil Code. (Mainichi Shimbun)
  • Vandalism with radiation monitors is Fukushima prefecture is becoming an issue. So far, five monitors have suffered damage that can only come from vandals. The radiation detectors inside the monitors have not been damaged or impaired, so they continue to provide on-going data. One monitor in Koriyama Park had damage to the external plastic housing. Another location outside the community hall in Motomiya had damage to its solar panel, apparently due to thrown rocks. Since 3/11/11, the government has set up more than 3,000 monitoring posts in Fukushima prefecture. Can anything be done to prevent future vandalism? “The monitoring posts have been set up at parks and other locations frequented by many people,” a Science Ministry official said, “And some local residents don’t want security cameras installed for the facilities. We can’t find any concrete countermeasures.” (Yomiuri Shimbun)
  • Forty-two countries continue to regulate food imports from Japan. The reason is the possibility of radioactive contamination being in the foodstuffs and fears of radiation among each nation’s consumers. An Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry survey identified the scope of the problem. The Ministry also says that nine countries have lifted all restrictions, including Canada and Mexico. (Kyodo News Service)
  • Researchers at the University of Wisconsin were surprised to find that low level radiation (LLR) exposure might not be hazardous, and conversely may stimulate health benefits! It was also found that some anti-oxidant vitamins, such as C and E, tend to reduce the positive health benefits stimulated by LLR. A certain breed of laboratory mouse has the “agouti gene” that causes obesity, diabetes and increased cancer rates. But, LLR exposure apparently shuts down the gene’s operation. In addition, pregnant mice exposed to LLR had larger litters and healthier off-spring. Team leader Randy Jirtle was skeptical of the results at first, “Nobody wants to think that low dose radiation could be advantageous and the stuff you put in your vitamin pill would be bad.” The team points out that laboratory mice are bred to have the maximum genetic similarity to humans as is possible. “What goes on at high doses is not very predictive of what happens at low doses,” says Edward Calabrese, a toxicologist at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. He adds that before antibiotics were discovered, people were successfully treated with LLR for arthritis and ear-nose-and-throat infections. He adds that LLR may also modulate the immune system and make it better-prepared to ward off disease. (Science News; FASEB Journal)
  • Respected American nuclear energy writer Rod Adams says it is time for a rational risk evaluation of energy-generating sources. He asks why numerous fires and explosions around the world caused by natural gas have not spawned the kind of public uproar we find with nuclear accidents. He says it is an “irrational contrast” since Fukushima has killed no-one and caused no physical damage to the surrounding communities, while gas fires and explosions since 3/11/11 have killed people and destroyed many nearby homes and businesses. For the full op-ed piece, go to… http://atomicinsights.com/2012/11/time-for-rational-risk-evaluation-of-energy-sources-natural-gas-versus-nuclear.html#more-13127