On the ground in Japan

[Art_from_Ark]

I will be the first to admit that the nuclear situation here in Japan is VERY uncomfortable at this moment. I will also admit that it is very easy to get very worried about a situation if you are far away from it and all you hear are sensationalist media reports, or third-person anecdotes, or even outright rumors. I have seen American news reports of the situation here, and they make me skittish, and they are freaking out my family back in the States.

However, I would like to provide my own account of the situation here, as someone who is actually close to the danger zone. If you want to understand my approximate location, locate the city of Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan on Google Map (or some other map reference). Now find the intersection of Route 6 and Route 125. That is our point of reference. Now zoom out until you see the city of Iwaki to the north, on the Pacific coast. 20-25 miles north of that is the Dai-ichi complex. Total distance from the complex to me-- about 100 miles.

So as you can see, I have a very immediate stake in whatever happens at Dai-ichi.

Therefore, I want my information to be as accurate as possible. Scaremongering and inaccurate reports are a particular hot-button issue with me right now.

So I would like to report on the situation here in Japan, with the information and experience I have as someone who is actually living in the area.

First of all, ambient radiation levels in Tokyo are not particularly high. I saw a geiger counter demonstration yesterday in Tokyo at the office of a geological services company. Levels were around 0.16 microsieverts per hour-- lower than many places in the US. Indoors, the geiger counter showed no measurable radiation. Ambient radiation levels in my city are a little higher, and I am keeping abreast of them by following the readings posted on the web site of a local research organization. http://rcwww.kek.jp/norm/ Right now we are at 0.20 microsiverts per hour-- not bad. There are several organizations in this area that are providing such information.

Second, the State Department is not forcing Americans to evacuate Tokyo or Japan. The State Department has issued an advisory against travel to the main disaster areas (which is perfectly normal, since unless you can be part of relief efforts or have family up there, you'd probably only be getting in the way). The State Department has also issued an advisory to Americans living within 50 miles of Fukushima Dai-ichi to either evacuate, or stay indoors.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuJCNPTy1sw

If you are in a pinch and have to leave Japan without the ability to get a regular plane ticket, it is my understanding that the US Embassy can probably set you up with some travel arrangements to leave Japan-- they have done this earlier. But you probably have to travel on their terms.
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-warden20110317-02.html

Third, Tokyo tap water is considered safe to drink now. My geological services company confirms this, local news reports confirm this, and the US Embassy confirms this http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-20110325-74.html The brief spike was likely the result of rain brought in from the direction of the Dai-ichi complex. So the readings could possibly go up again if the wind switches around from the north and it rains again.

Today in the Tsuchiura area, it is chilly and partly sunny, with winds from the south (not from the nuclear complex).

The nuclear situation is still very much a concern with me. But right now, my more immediate concern is about aftershocks, which have been quite strong and nerve-wracking at times. But they seem to be decreasing in intensity and frequency. I hope that they continue this trend. I also hope that the nuclear power plant problems can be resolved as soon as possible, and that the survivors of this tragedy can quickly get back to normal lives.

[thereismore]

1. Thank you for the report! Best wishes! nt

[Art_from_Ark]

28. Thanks

[PoliticAverse]

2. 0.16 microSieverts per hour...

would be...

0.16 microSieverts/hour * 24 hours/day * 365 days/year = 1,402 microSieverts/year = 1.402 milliSieverts/year
which is lower than the world average background radiation of about 2.4 milliSieverts/year.

Best wishes for your continued safety.

[grahamhgreen]

6. Well, that can not be accurate, then.

[Bonobo]

8. Not necessarily.

Denver Colorado has much higher radiation levels than less highly elevated places.

The fact that you cannot accept the numbers that Art posted shows that you can only accept facts if they fit into your preconceived narrative.

That is a problem if you want to be rational and engage in non-religious type thinking.

[Hannah Bell]

57. "Average" = some places have lower, others higher levels.

The level of natural background radiation varies depending on location, and in some areas the level is significantly higher than average. Such areas include Ramsar in Iran, Guarapari in Brazil, Kerala in India,<6> the northern Flinders Ranges in Australia and Yangjiang in China. In Ramsar a peak yearly dose of 260 mSv has been reported (compared with 0.06 mSv of a chest radiograph or up to 20 mSv of a CT scan).

The highest levels of natural background radiation recorded in the world is from areas around Ramsar, particularly at Talesh-Mahalleh which is a very high background radiation area (VHBRA) having an effective dose equivalent several times in excess of ICRP-recommended radiation dose limits for radiation workers and up to 200 times greater than normal background levels.

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

[NYC_SKP]

3. K&R. (nt)

[Bonobo]

4. Thanks, Art.

Most Americans don't know just how much their Media depends upon providing ever increasing amounts of fear and disaster-porn to feed their ravenous appetites.

Japan's earthquake and tsunami were the much larger disaster and it is sad that many here on DU only see the nuclear situation as a way to prop up their position on the dangers of nuclear power.

I have seen people here claim that the nuclear situation here will kill half a million people, that 70 million Japanese will have to evacuate Japan.... etc, etc. Puke.

[Art_from_Ark]

29. I envy you in a way

I imagine you're out in a quiet area of the Inland Sea far away from the earthquakes and tsunamis and nuclear problems, just enjoying a nice weekend. :hi:

[Bonobo]

30. Yeah, Art, that's right.

We are entirely unaffected and I am so sorry for that.

You are welcome to come and stay for a while here if you want.

I have wi-fi too!

[Art_from_Ark]

82. I haven't been to the Inland Sea in ages

The last time I was in that area, I attended the Hiroshima Day services. I would certainly love to go back for another visit some day. :hi:

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[grahamhgreen]

7. Are you drinking the tap water?

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[uppityperson]

16. Giving info does not make one a "nuke pusher".

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[uppityperson]

19. Are you saying that is what the OP is doing?

[Kalun D]

20. I'm Trying to Reply

I'm not using any cuss words, I'm not attacking anyone personally

I'm just having a spirited discussion, but apparently that's not allowed around here

I'll repeat, I'm not talking about the OP.

I made some very valid points, but being PC is way more important

how you debate is more important than the content of that debate in this very serious and important discussion

this place is getting tiring, it's turned into bland milk toast

go ahead, milk toast yourself to your nuclear grave.

[uppityperson]

22. "go ahead, milk toast yourself to your nuclear grave." wtf?

Thank you for your reply that you were not talking about the OP. However, now you seem to be talking about me, doing some of those borderline insults. Am I now a "nuke pusher" for daring to question you, when you are the one who seems to want a "spirited discussion"? huh

However, I see that the poster you replied to up this subthread seems to think the OP is.

[Kalun D]

24. It's Unlikely

that the OP is a Nuclear insider

those guys are pretty obvious

question me all night and day, I'm not going to ask that your posts be deleted, I don't care about veiled insults, I'm here to argue a point, but they always avoid that.

so why are you arguing meaningless crap and not germane points Uppityperson?

What value is a report of someone that's monitoring another entity that's monitoring nuclear radiation levels? This is the information age, proximity is meaningless and in this case only unnecessarily dangerous.

[uppityperson]

25. Trying to get clarification of what you write is arguing meaningless crap? Huh

I find it better to get clarification than to jump to an assumption.

I also like hearing from people who are nearby a disaster and more immediately directly affected but hey, if you don't, your choice.

Why would you ask for my posts to be deleted since they aren't breaking the rules that they would be deleted for? Seems odd to me.

[kristopher]

27. .

http://geniusnow.com/2011/03/15/the-strange-case-of-josef-oehmen/

[Maru Kitteh]

26. "milk toast" LOL. That's so sad. For YOU.

Do yourself a favor and freakin' look it up.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Art_from_Ark]

32. I have been drinking tap water

that comes from Lake Kasumigaura, a large lake that is next to Tsuchiura and is also within 100 miles from the nuclear complex. I don't know what the radiation levels are in the water, to tell you the truth, but the water now has a much stronger chlorine smell than it did before the disaster.

[Art_from_Ark]

87. Update on tap water

According to the Ibaraki prefectural water agency, the tap water from my city is OK. Also, readings taken at various water purification plants in Fukushima, Ibaraki, Chiba and Tokyo prefectures all indicate that radioactive iodine levels are below maximum tolerable limits for infants. However, the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare advises that levels could rise again the next time it rains.

http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00196170.html

[Thunderstruck]

9. K&R for eyes-on-the-ground reporting.

[Suich]

10. Thanks for a first-hand account, Art!

The media here has been all over the place.

Best wishes...

[uppityperson]

11. thanks Art and best wishes for you and yours and all

[uppityperson]

12. How is the assistance to tsunami survivors going? Is food/water/shelter getting to people?

Reading the news I cannot tell much, wondering what you who are nearer can tell us.

Edited to change "search for" to "assistance to".

[Art_from_Ark]

35. I've heard varying reports about relief efforts

Of course, in the beginning it was really difficult to bring anything in, because the port facilities and roads were in terrible shape, not to mention the largest airport in the region, at Sendai, was also rendered unusable for a long time. And we're talking hundreds of miles of coast here-- essentially stretching from Hachinohe in the north to Oarai in the south. I have seen reports that some shelters still do not have running water and/or electricity, but at least food and bottled water are being brought in. In other places, pre-fab housing is being constructed for survivors.

Some people have the chance to go somewhere else but they do not take it because they are still looking for lost family members, etc. There was a particularly wrenching story about a man who discovered his daughter's wrecked car, but he firmly believes she was not in the car at the time because the keys were not in the ignition. So he vows to stay in the devastated area until he finds her.

There was an interesting item on a TV program a couple of days ago about a student who got the brilliant idea of photographing messages at shelters and posting them on the Internet. Then another person transcribed the names in the messages into a database and they have been able to reunite some families that way.

[uppityperson]

48. Transcribing and posting the names in a searchable database seems a great idea

Thanks for the report, anything I can say will sound trite or not enough to express how I feel so simply thank you and best wishes to all.

Living where I do, it will happen to us someday. Being prepared as best as one can, still sometimes it is not enough.

[Gemini Cat]

13. Thanks for the report Art!

Stay safe.
K&R

[Kablooie]

14. Here's a live geiger counter reading from Azabujuban, Tokyo

http://www.denphone.com/denphone-tokyo-office-geiger-counter

[Art_from_Ark]

38. The readings seem much higher than what I saw

and what is being listed on the website of the High Energy Physics Lab in Tsukuba, 45 miles closer to the nuke complex. I wonder if the Azabujuban readings are being taken near a granite building?

[Kalun D]

17. OP is a Sitting Duck

Seriously, do you think periodically looking at some web site that is monitoring readings is going to give you enough time to get away if there's a sudden explosion/meltdown?

Twice they've had to totally abandon the site, who's monitoring it at close range when it's abandoned?

How many pounds/tons of Plutonium are on site? Do you realize how toxic that stuff really is?

[Mojorabbit]

51. I agree

I lived in Japan years ago and still have many friends there. I would be drinking bottled water at the very least and I certainly would not let my children drink tap water.

[Hannah Bell]

53. unbelievable.

[AtheistCrusader]

58. In 1957 Chelyabinsk nuclear complex blew 80 metric tons of uranium and plutonium over a quarter mill

ion people. They made a halfhearted attempt to evacuate about 1% of those exposed, 3 years later.

Most of that 80 tons of material fell out right around the complex. Killed a couple hundred people, and injured a couple thousand. Bad, but compare to Bophal, eh?


Keep in mind, the storage pools at Fukishima cannot explode like the storage tank at Chelyabinsk. It literally went off like a bomb, with the force of between 75 and 100 tons of TNT.

Chelyabinsk, 150km away, still has over a million people living there.

[Taft_Bathtub]

60. No, no he is not.

Your Radiationphobia is pretty awesome though; I'm guessing you live near a coal power plant or a oil refinery that pumps way more radiation and "tons of toxic stuff" that will actually kill people.

[cutlassmama]

23. Is there "yellow rain" falling as I've heard on the radio?

[Art_from_Ark]

67. I haven't seen any "yellow rain"

According to reports, there were higher levels of iodine in the light rain that fell on the 22nd, and ambient radiation levels increased, but it looked like regular drizzle to me. There was also a bit of drizzle that fell on the night of the 25th, but the wind was blowing from the south and west on that night (not from the direction of the reactors) and may have helped to clean up the air a bit.

[Generic Other]

31. My relatives are between Tskuba and Tsuchiura

I have been worried about them. You all seem too close. And the news never sounds good.

Like you the relatives claim the shaking has been non-stop and nervewracking!

[kristopher]

33. My sister in law says the subsonics are making her ill and causing loss of balance.

They're in Tokyo and they wont leave either.

[Art_from_Ark]

37. Oh, wow

It sounds like your relatives may be somewhere near my neighborhood!

I don't know how their home held up, of course, but in this area most of the exterior damage to homes seems to have been to roofs, with some broken windows. A lot of people have told me that things on shelves inside their homes were broken when they were tossed about by the shaking-- classified as "6-lower" in Tsuchiura and Tsukuba by the Japanese seismic intensity scale, which means major damage could occur.

[OneGrassRoot]

85. Thank you for sharing your experience.

Best wishes to you and all in Japan...

:grouphug:

:hi:

[joentokyo]

34. Thank you for this report; I live in Tokyo and panic inspiring rumors flying around

this and others sites really are disgraceful.

[Art_from_Ark]

69. How was the earthquake in your part of the city?

Were you affected by the halt in train/bus service?

[malaise]

36. Thanks

Stay safe :grouphug:

[TBF]

39. Best wishes for your continued safety -

I don't believe most of what the M$M reports here so I'm very happy to read your "on the scene" report.

[lins the liberal]

40. Glad to see your post!

I had been wondering if you were okay ever since the earthquake.

[Art_from_Ark]

72. Hi, Lins

As you can see, I'm still around. I guess I should go in for a health check soon. And another one next time I go back to the States.

I was wondering what had happened to you as well.
How are things in the Heart of the Ozarks? :hi:

[LupinSansei72]

41. I'm glad you're doing fine

This is Zech Marquis, I've had to set up a whole new account since I changed computers and moved around a bit recently :-) I graduated from Yokota AB High School back in 1990, so naturally I consider Tokyo being my hometown. One of my clasmates there was dealing with the long gas lines and water shortages, but besides that and the first massive earthquake on the 11th, she's doing okay. I've been through earthquakes in Japan, but NOTHING like a 9.0...I don't think the mobile earthquake simulators the Japanese fire department had us practice in on base went that high...

I'm praying for the victims and all of Japan to get over this tsunami/earthquake/nuclear reactor crises, and I'll keep you in my thoughts!

Lupinsansei72, formerly known as Zech Marquis :-)

[Art_from_Ark]

68. I was wondering what had become of you

:hi:

Of course, the full force of the 9.0 was in the coastal areas of Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, and Tokyo was somewhat less shaken. Nonetheless, there was still a lot of shaking in Tokyo as well, with many things falling off shelves and a few fires in some areas.

I have heard many stories from people who were in Tokyo during the earthquake. One man said that he was giving a presentation in Tokyo when it hit, and he was knocked off his feet. A woman told me she ducked under her desk in her office as books were falling off shelves. Another one told me he was stuck in a train station, and people there were temporarily evacuated to a nearby cemetery. Nearly everyone who was working in Tokyo at that time ended up being stranded in Tokyo that night, as most trains and buses going out of the city were canceled.

[Octafish]

42. Thank you for the heads-up!

For an unfiltered perspective from someone not in Corporate McPravda:

Slowly but inexorably worse and worse...

Stay safe, Art_from_Ark!

[flamingdem]

43. That article is pretty much where we are now

It's not under control so it's too early to be nonchalant. Everyone has their risk level. Some people are older and not concerned about having cancer shorten their lives by a decade or two. Some people smoke cigarettes and chose to shorten their lives, how could they be worried about some stray isotopes?

thanks to the OP for his perspective, I imagine that living in the midst of things is very different than reading about it. But in my opinion the MSM is not covering this as much as they should. The reason is that thousands if not millions of people will die from cancer due to what is happening because it will continue and exposures will accumulate especially in children.

Nuclear plants should be phased out immediately and I believe that is why this story is not getting more attention in the news, MSM is owned by some of the same folks that brought us nukes.

Physicians for Social Responsibility notes:
According to the National Academy of Sciences, there are no safe doses of radiation. Decades of research show clearly that any dose of radiation increases an individual’s risk for the development of cancer.


“There is no safe level of radionuclide exposure, whether from food, water or other sources. Period,” said Jeff Patterson, DO, immediate past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility. “Exposure to radionuclides, such as iodine-131 and cesium-137, increases the incidence of cancer. For this reason, every effort must be taken to minimize the radionuclide content in food and water.”

[tavalon]

44. You are wonderful

Thank you! So much of the problem is we know that the powers that be haven't been straightforward but you're there on the ground. I trust you over any media person. Thank you so much for being willing to talk from the ground like this.

[TNLib]

45. My advise would be don't drink the water

It's seems like your taking way too many chances with your health.

Don't believe the US government you may think they that they are impartial, but they're not. They have an agenda as well.

I lived int North Hollywood during the North Ridge earth quake and the after shocks can rattle you but in my opinion the Nuclear disaster that is unfolding is far more dangerous, for your long term health, than the after shocks that are occurring.

[Art_from_Ark]

66. Tap water

This image was taken from the web site of an organization that is campaigning for immediate halt of nuclear power generation and shows cities in Ibaraki Prefecture that have water supplies that they consider to have radiation levels that may be harmful to infants (as of 7:00 pm March 24, local time). The municipalities in Ibaraki that are considered to have especially risky tap water are Toride, Koga, Kasama, Hitachi, Hitachinaka, and Tokai. the small town of Nogi in Tochigi Prefecture is also shown on the map. Interestingly, the two municipalities that are closest to the Fukushima complex, Kita Ibaraki and Takahagi, are not shown on the map.

http://ameblo.jp/ander-the-sky/image-10841496402-11125742402.html

[ensho]

46. you wear rosy glasses

nt

[Overseas]

47. Thank you for your report.

I have been impressed with how Japanese TV has provided as much information as they can to keep people safe and give them courage to handle the continuing crisis.

[Art_from_Ark]

75. Most of the commercials I've been seeing on commercial TV

here in Japan are not commercials for selling things, but for "rallying the troops", as it were. Here is one example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4kVPW24zKE

The title can be translated as "I believe in the strength of Japan"
The guy at the very end says

"Japan is a strong country.
We might have a long road to travel, but if we all give it our best effort, we will absolutely make it.
That's what I think.
(I) believe in the strength of Japan".

[Overseas]

80. That's really lovely. Very earnest. Gives people courage.

The tsunami and aftershocks and nuclear danger are such a heavy combination to endure.

I am glad in times like this that endurance is a cultural value.

Working together has also been a strong cultural value, so I am glad to see that spirit called upon to give people courage to face the uncertainties.

I hope the people have enough strength and courage to push their country and the world beyond nuclear power.

[barbtries]

49. thank you

and all the best to Japan and her people.

[jwirr]

50. Thank you. Do you have any insight to the food and agricultural issues

that are happening in that area? That is another issue we have only MSM to tell us what is going on.

[Art_from_Ark]

65. Food and agricultural issues

There was a local report about samples of spinach, leeks, and a type of winter green called kakina collected on March 22 and 23 (local time) from 7 farms scattered around the city of Tsukuba (next to Tsuchiura). The samples were subjected to analysis without being washed. Iodine levels were higher than normal in spinach from one farm for one day (March 22) and one farm for 2 days (March 22 and 23), while the others were deemed to be OK. (Note: one farm that had samples that failed on March 22 had other samples that passed on March 23 after they were washed). Nevertheless, while Ibaraki spinach would be a common item in the produce section of most local supermarkets here, it has been removed from the shelves in the 3 supermarkets that I have visited so far (each in a different city in southern Ibaraki).

This is kakina:



Here is the website showing the results of the analysis (unfortunately it's all in Japanese)

http://sakurant.tsukuba-ibk.com/2011/03/hp-10.html

The yellow highlighted areas show readings that were higher than national government maximum recommendations.

As for other foods, it seems like different stores are out of different items.
One store was out of canned fish, fresh meat, milk and most dairy products, instant ramen, bottled water.
Another store was out or short of rice, milk, dairy products, instant ramen, bottled water.
The latest store (which I visited yesterday) was out or short of heat-and-serve rice products, bread products, bottled water. (I didn't check for instant ramen). There was some milk, but not a very large selection.

Interestingly enough, all stores had ample supplies of canned and bottled juices/ tea/ coffee, as well as a variety of alcoholic beverages.

[Art_from_Ark]

84. More information about food/agriculture

I was talking to a green grocer today. He said that even though most locally-grown (Ibaraki Prefecture) produce is still quite safe, no one seems to want to buy it. He has been forced to get his produce from other sources, particularly the island of Kyushu, which is very far from the nuclear problems. But even though Kyushu is as far from the reactors as Seoul, South Korea, East Asian customers for Kyushu-grown produce are canceling orders because Kyushu is in Japan.

[Hannah Bell]

52. thank you.

[Hannah Bell]

54. kr

[Celebration]

55. Is the Japanese government

giving information on the various isotopes, their half lives, etc.? "Radiation level" is a very general term.

Are the stores well stocked with food? A Facebook friend from Japan put up a picture of his convenience store shelves, from Tokyo..........hardly anything there.

Are the trains running on time? What are the blackouts like?

I am really, really pulling for a turnaround in the nuclear situation. Hopefully the fresh water will make a huge difference.

[Art_from_Ark]

70. I have found one web site about half-lives, isotopes, etc

but can't seem to locate it right now. I will continue to look for it and post it when I find it.

The food situation is getting better. There are still a few empty shelves in most stores here in southern Ibaraki, but you can probably find what you are looking for if you split your shopping between stores (You have to arrive early to buy bottled water, though).

Some trains are running on time. JR East has said that my local line (Joban Line) will be returning to a normal schedule (for trains going to and from Tokyo) on Monday. As far as I know, there is still no train service to points north of here.

My area has so far been spared the rolling blackouts (although the mayor said today that we should prepare for them). They have caused problems in other areas, especially for traffic (many accidents because of non-working traffic lights, for example).

Yes, hopefully the fresh water will make a difference. The US Navy is said to be bringing (have brought?) large amounts of fresh water to the reactor area.

[Art_from_Ark]

74. Here is a web page with TEPCO's monitoring data

for the Dai-ichi complex. The data are recorded every 10 minutes and the most recent entry was at 12:00 noon JST (about 5+ hours ago as I write).

http://www.tepco.co.jp/nu/monitoring/11032703.pdf

Translations of the headings in the chart (from left to right):
Time data recorded
Measurement location (all are "West Gate")
Gamma rays
Neutron rays (the characters after the numbers mean "less than")
Wind direction (that is, the direction the wind is blowing from). Most listings are either west, north, or a combination thereof)
Wind speed (meters per second)

The following is a link to TEPCO's main page for its monitoring activities (of both Dai-ichi and Dai-ni complexes). It's in Japanese.

http://www.tepco.co.jp/nu/monitoring/

[Art_from_Ark]

83. Isotope readings

Here's a web site from the National Metrology Institute of Japan which is a research institute that is very near me that provides a little more data about the various isotopes. Readings are taken daily between 1:20 and 2:20 in the afternoon (except for March 21, when no readings were taken because of rain, and March 22 and 23, when readings were taken at different times because of rain).

http://www.nmij.jp/~quant-rad/measurement/measure2.html

The top line in the chart is the isotope name.
The second line shows the half-lives. The first two isotopes have half-lives measured in days, the second two are in hours, and the third two are in years.
Below that is the date and time of measurement (left side), and the radioactivity level measured in Becquerels (right side).

The graph below that shows trends in detected radioactivity. There was a big spike in I-131 on the 20th (and no readings were taken on the 21st).

[Lucky Luciano]

56. Next couple weeks starting Thursday, I wIll be in Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Ise, Nagoya, Awaji

with a stop over in Shikoku for some noodles after the on-sen at Hotel New Awaji.

I appreciate your post!

[Art_from_Ark]

73. You'll be in a safer area

I envy you-- it sounds like you will be going to a lot of nice places.

What particularly caught my attention with your itinerary was the reference to Kobe and Awaji. Does that have anything to do with that large earthquake the occurred there? Just a pleasure trip? Pearl/onion-buying trip? It sounds interesting, at any rate :hi:

[Lucky Luciano]

79. I am marrying someone from Kobe...and we will travel around that

area of Japan together. It feels weird to be going there with the backdrop of such a mega disaster, but if my going there helps support Japan, then so be it. We will donate a few hundred dollars while there - where do you think the best place to donate is? We have donated to the Red Cross, but if you think there may be other useful outlets, would be happy to know.

[Art_from_Ark]

81. The Red Cross is the most visible organization

Most city halls will have a place to make donations (which are often forwarded to the Red Cross).

There are also various stores that have donation boxes at the check-out counter. I have donated this way, although I'll probably make a direct donation to the Red Cross as well.

[indimuse]

59. Thank you! knr! n/t

[liberation]

61. Geiger counters are good mainly for detecting radiation from beta particles

Some models may also be able to measure certain levels of gamma-rays. And are all but useless for alpha and most importantly they can't detect radiation from neutrons at all.

BTW, neutron beams have been observed from one of the reactors multiple times, which pointed to a possible breach in the containment structure. Such radiation will go totally undetected by Geiger counters and it is incredibly deadly. Hopefully the crisis is managed, esp. regarding the plutonium reactor. Pu particles released onto the atmosphere, even in minimal levels, would be really really really really really bad news. :-(

Stay safe, and hopefully things will resolve positively.

[DRoseDARs]

62. Being exposed to 3 Hiroshimas daily has fried your brain. The teevee box and Chicken Littles here...

...and no where near Japan CLEARLY know better than you on the ground, as you say.
:sarcasm:

Thank you for telling us that you're alright over there and telling the fearmongers over here to put a sock in it.

[Dappleganger]

63. Thanks for the report. Is there a high incidence of cantagious illness right now?

There are so many elderly who are in shelters and that's a concern of mine. My hope and prayers are with the elderly in particular, but with everyone who has had loss. :(

[Art_from_Ark]

71. Some reports indicate influenza in some shelters

Most people in the shelters in the programs I have seen seem to be wearing surgical masks in an effort to prevent the spread of diseases. Of course, people who were physically weak before the disaster are still highly vulnerable.

There was one program about a day-care facility for the elderly in, I believe, Kessennuma. It had no electricity and no running water, but people were still going there because they felt it was better to be there than to be alone.

[Maru Kitteh]

64. Happy to kick this.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

76. Hi, Art, I was wondering how you were doing out there in Ibaraki.

Your account is in accordance with what I'm hearing from Tokyo-based translators, including the ones who are knowledgeable about radiation, etc.

[Art_from_Ark]

77. I think I've set a DU record for experiencing aftershocks

I'm getting really tired of feeling "the earth...move...under my feet".

[Art_from_Ark]

86. I'm trying to get information from as many sources as possible

I have heard that when school starts up again next month, students at the local university are going to set up some sort of system for monitoring environmental radiation. It will be interesting to compare their readings with those of government organizations, research institutes, etc.

I'll probably also go in for a city-sponsored health exam within the next couple of months.

[Llanojake]

78. Radiation Data From Japan / Measuring Radiation

The safety limit for microSieverts per year is 50,000.  In
areas northwest of Fukushima the readings are in the 100 per
hour range which would mean that the Annual Allowable Intake
would be absorbed in @ twenty days.
Although not trained in the science, I have put together
"The Radiation Report  - Data From Japan" on my FB
page.
It contains data on radiation in the environment , drinking
water, sea water, fallout, and by Prefectures of Japan, as
well as info on the status of the reactos
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=202967499732820
My most recent update in March 25, but the links in the report
will take you to the most current data and reports.
If you have any suggestions how to make this better,
especially in terms of allowable radiation limits, please let
me know.