Latest Developments from Fukushima Japan:

[PearliePoo2]

TOKYO —
Some 8.5 tons of radioactive water leaked from a reactor at Japan’s crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant but it had not flowed outside the reactor building, Kyodo News said Wednesday, quoting the plant’s operator
Tokyo Electric Power Co said the leak occurred in the No. 4 reactor after a pipe connected to the reactor dropped off, the news agency reported.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/8-5-tons-of-radioactive-water-leak-from-fukushima-plant

TOKYO —
Leaks of radioactive water have become more frequent at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant less than two months after it was declared basically stable.
Workers spotted a leak Friday at a water reprocessing unit which released enough beta rays to cause radiation sickness, TEPCO spokesman Junichi Matsumoto said. He said no one was injured and the leak stopped after bolts were tightened on a tank.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/more-radioactive-water-leaks-found-at-fukushima-nuclear-plant

YOKOHAMA —
A vacant lot beside a canal near an elementary school in Yokohama’s Seya Ward, has been designated a no-entry area following the detection of high levels of radiative cesium.
According to Yokohama authorities, topsoil to a depth of 1 cm was found to be emitting 6.85 microsieverts per hour, almost 12 times the government’s legal limit of 0.59 microsieverts per hour.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/canal-part-of-elementary-school-in-yokohama-closed-due-to-high-radiation-levels

[Capitalocracy]

1. Hmm, no kicks.

I kick.

[PearliePoo2]

2. Japan Today's Website is in English......

...and they allow comments to their news articles.
It's VERY interesting to read the comments from people who are actually living in Japan (and living this nightmare 24/7)
Some of the posters are doing a very good job of educating themselves about all things Nuclear.
Most commenters are now wary of the government (and TEPCO) at this point and are not buying the official spin any longer.
The majority of commenters feel they have been lied to...they are pissed and frightened.

[Generic Other]

3. others too busy mocking those who think Fukushima's severity is being understated

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11275518

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Wow, they are still at it

Here in San Diego we were lucky the other day...and don't get me started.

But if we have an accident of any major consequence I expect the usual suspects to tell us why we shoud nt worry and trust the NRC and cal Edison.

[neverforget]

7. It's the usual nuke supporters catapulting the nuke industry

talking points.

[Art_from_Ark]

9. The severity of the situation depends on where one is in Japan

Much of Fukushima is in bad shape, especially areas downwind from the reactors, including the capital Fukushima City. Surprisingly, the city of Iwaki, which is just outside of the 12-mile exclusion zone, is showing radiation readings that are not much higher than normal, and the city of Kitakata, Fukushima is showing totally normal background radiation readings of 0.07 microsieverts per hour, slightly lower than here in the Tsukuba-Tsuchiura area 100 miles south of Dai-ichi.

Here's an interactive radiation reading map of Fukushima Prefecture where you can get the latest radiation readings from numerous measuring points located around the prefecture. The red X marks the site of the Dai-ichi nuclear complex. The colors of the dots denote the approximate radiation range of the respective localities. Clicking individual dots will give the latest radiation readings for those localities (most have been posted today, February 5th).

http://fukushima-radioactivity.jp/

[Generic Other]

11. 573 deaths in Japan have been certified as "disaster-related" seems severe to me

Last edited Mon Feb 6, 2012, 02:16 AM - Edit history (1)

"TOKYO -- A total of 573 deaths in Japan have been certified as "disaster-related" by 13 municipalities affected by the crisis at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, according to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey.

This number could rise..."

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120204003191.htm

I don't buy the argument that these are the only people who will be impacted. They are the known casualties. Future deaths will be downplayed or denied as being connected, don't you think? And to be fair, the death toll is low given the horrible situation. I guess these is reason for optimism. Nevertheless, those who simply brush aside the danger and use Japan's situation to underplay the dangers simply to promote the industry need to be challenged. That's all I am saying.

[Art_from_Ark]

18. You need to check your link

It leads to the story about the ex-slave's letter.

"Disaster-related" in Japan can also refer to the tsunami and earthquake.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. I don't trust anyone when they say it is not dangerous

they won't tell you if it has been polluting

[Warren DeMontague]

5. that's what's known as a "long-term nightmare"

I don't think our short-attention-span brains really get it.

[StarsInHerHair]

8. they need to turn the radioactive water into a solid 4 easier storage

Add lead dust to it, if it helps.

Also BUILD AN AIRCRAFT HANGAR OVER REACTORS 1 thru 4! CLOSED down to the ground on the Pacific side, solid roof, closed on north & south sides, only partially open on the eastern side for work. THIS may stop radioactive particles from flying up & spreading via the jetstream

[Bonobo]

10. I just wonder...

All this concern for the "future dead", right?

But, do you realize that 20,000 people were killed and an estimated 1,200 kids lost one parent and 200 lost both.

So if there is so much emotional pain for something that has yet to happen, where is all the pain for those that were killed, those that suffered and those that still suffer?

It just makes me think that it is people's own fears of a nuclear future that is behind all the angst and emotional expressions of the people that keep talking about the nuclear side of things only.

20,000 people.

Yes, the nuclear situation is very bad. Yes, there will still be repercussions for years to come.

But are you mourning for the future deaths or are you all projecting your own fears onto this situation?

[Generic Other]

12. Maybe a bit of both

As you say the real death toll from the tsunami is extraordinarily high.

Future death tolls from Fukushima are simply guesstimates based on Chernobyl.

The April 2006 IPPNW report

According to an April 2006 report by the German affiliate of the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear Warfare (IPPNW), entitled "Health Effects of Chernobyl", more than 10,000 people are today affected by thyroid cancer and 50,000 cases are expected. The report projected tens of thousands dead among the liquidators. In Europe, it alleges that 10,000 deformities have been observed in newborns because of Chernobyl's radioactive discharge, with 5000 deaths among newborn children. They also claimed that several hundreds of thousands of the people who worked on the site after the accident are now sick because of radiation, and tens of thousands are dead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster_effects

Is it really all just based on "projecting your own fears" ? The Chernobyl disaster's effects have not even been fully realized. It is not totally unreasonable to worry about future effects relating to Japan and the rest of the world due to Fukushima's disaster. Not only do I mourn the current death toll, I mourn the future ones as well, and yes I fear the consequences which is why I question the continued reliance on nuclear power. It has proven itself to be unsafe. How many deaths and contaminations do we need to see before we acknowledge that fact?

[proverbialwisdom]

13. Daily updates here:

http://enenews.com/

http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/

http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2012/02/japans-ministry-of-education-radiation.html

Japan's Ministry of Education Radiation Council: No Need to Have Stricter Standard for Radiation for Food for Infants
Because "we have to make sure producers are not inconvenienced".

The Radiation Council of the Ministry of Education and Science issued its response after deliberating on the new safety standard for radioactive cesium in food submitted by the Ministry of Health and Labor.

First, from Mainichi Shinbun (2/2/2012):

Report on new standard for radioactive cesium: 100 becquerels/kg for infant food http://mainichi.jp/select/wadai/news/20120203k0000m040092000c.html?inb=ra
.

[hankthecrank]

14. k&r

[bvar22]

15. Everybody RELAX!!! They're just venting a little steam,

Nuclear Power is perfectly safe.
These plants are "engineered" to withstand natural Disasters and Terrorist Attacks!
Did I tell you that I know Science and live in the Reality Based World!!!
.
.
.
.
Oh....and OWS is DEAD!!!
DEAD I tell you!

[proverbialwisdom]

16. K&R.

[BeFree]

17. Kick

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11352390

This post from the creative speculation, er, dungeon, is my latest observation and creative speculation.