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News & ArtsMonday, September 19, 2011
Panic Japan's New Normal
Posted by Goldy on Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 3:57 PM
Even as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant continues to leak radiation, independent scientists claim to have found "hotspots" in Tokyo where radiation levels are as high as those in the Chernobyl evacuation zone. Sound improbable? Maybe. But whether it's the radiation itself that presents the biggest threat to Japanese health, or the anxiety over it, this is Japan's new normal.
2
The quality of information in this story is a **teeny** baby step above Michele Bachmann and the HPV immunization. Just shows a bunch of scared people (understandable), but basically nothing but one stressed mom and her nervous kid. Goldy's insane NOOOOOOOOK! jibbering is ridiculous. At least Germany just bit the bullet, and slated them all for shutdown. The fatcat utilities have already devised means to cash in on the inevitable shortages & turmoil.
3
@1 Well, itīs been 25 years since that one Ukrainian reaktor exploded and large parts of southern Germany are still affected by the radioactiv fallout that went down there.
Up to the present day a lot of forest soil in Bavaria is still highly contaminated with cesium-137. As a result mushrooms and wild berries are contaminated as well. In fact, 1 in 5 shot down wild hogs that feeds on this stuff has to be declared nuclear waste, so that the hunters canīt sell the meat to butcheries or restaurants. Losses totalling a couple 100,000 Euro every year.
Soo, dealing with the aftermath of a nuclear catastrophy - not pretty!
Up to the present day a lot of forest soil in Bavaria is still highly contaminated with cesium-137. As a result mushrooms and wild berries are contaminated as well. In fact, 1 in 5 shot down wild hogs that feeds on this stuff has to be declared nuclear waste, so that the hunters canīt sell the meat to butcheries or restaurants. Losses totalling a couple 100,000 Euro every year.
Soo, dealing with the aftermath of a nuclear catastrophy - not pretty!
5
As far as I'm concerned, Japan's New Normal began in 1854 with the Convention of Kanagawa forcing the ports open to trade and putting the people in unwanted contact with the rest of the world. Life has been unrecognizable ever since.
7
wow - a couple hundred thousand euro a year - in the context of global energy - that's quite the (non) catastrophe! I have a lot of family and friends in Bavaria, Franconia, etc. - and none of them are stupid or ill informed - and I haven't heard anything about contamination being a serious issue...
8
Dear God-- that reporter is holding A CUP OF RADIATION!! And he TOUCHED it!!!
No wonder kids are getting sick, if people stand out on the street like that showing off their radiation.
No wonder kids are getting sick, if people stand out on the street like that showing off their radiation.
9
This is unsurprising. I recall the basement utility rooms back at the university had sometimes high levels of radiation; I don't recall the exact mechanics that allow that phenomenon to occur, but apparently you will find much the same in the basements of other large buildings.
10
It's been months and nuke fundies here are still in denial. Of course they'd turn all NIMBY if it happened less than 100 miles away from their home, but nevermind.
11
@9: Minerals containing traces of radioactive uranium or thorium (granite and shale especially) release radon as a product of radioactive decay. Since radon is a gas, but a heavy gas, it tends to seep into low-lying places, such as basements. It's been estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer, right after cigarettes.
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