NEWS IN RELATION TO JAPAN such as the QUAKE AND ENSUING TSUNAMI ON 11 MARCH 2011 but also other natu

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO JAPAN ON 14 FEBRUARY, 2012

 

 

POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE IN EASTERN JAPAN ON TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY

 

The epicentre of today's magnitude 6.0 earthquake was 166 north / north-east of Tokyo according to US Geological Survey (USGS).

 

Buildings were swaying during the quake.

 

No tsunami alert was issued.

 

No further damage to the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.

 

Source: Norwegian text-tv on NRK

[nancyk58]

JAPAN WAS NOT FAR FROM EVACUATION OF TOKYO

 

According to a new Japanese report, the Japanese government was not far from evacuating Tokyo in connection with the nuclear disaster almost one year ago - this out of fear of an extensive nuclear leak.

 

The most sensational part of the 400-page-long report is the information that for 5 days after the earthquake and ensuing tsunami the Japanese authorities did not know what had happened to 10,000 used fuel rods that were stored in the nuclear power plant. They were covered by cooling water, and if that water had leaked, then the accident had developed more dramaticically than it did. In that case an evacuation of many million people in Tokyo could have been a reality.

 

Source: Danish text-TV (DR + TV2 News)

 

 

The Japanese authorities and experts agree: One year after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima 1 million people are living where radiation is too high.

 

The consequences of this are unpredictable.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV (SVT Text)

[chuck kottke]

I would imagine the risks from living where radiation levels are above acceptable levels depend on a number of factors, including the energy levels of the radiation, if and how much of which types of radioactive matter get into the body, and what low level, long term exposure does.

Reducing one's exposure to other mutagens and background radiation from naturally occuring radon might help mitigate some of the exposure, and if there are any healthy dietary options that can help the body deal with the radiation as well - all things to consider.

93 million miles away, or 150 million km away - that's the safest nuclear power to use! ;)

[nancyk58]

The anniversary of that terrible nuclear disaster in Japan on 11 March, 2011 is almost here, and several TV channels have broadcast documentaries etc. about it.

 

On 7 March, I saw a shocking broadcast from German ZDF about Fukushima and the lies told by Tepco (broadcast on 7.3.12).

 

The essence:

 

The American General Electric constructed the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. And from time to time the plant is inspected by engineers.

 

A Japanese maintenance engineer from Japan, but stationed in San Francisco controlled the nuclear power plant in Fukushima from time to time. At one point a big crack was found in the containment around the reactor core - this was mentioned to Tepco. The engineer wrote very little upon Tepco's wish and was then asked - and accepted - to sign that he had examined / inspected the plant. Later Tepco forged his report (filled in what they wanted and forged something as well). A standard procedure for Tepco, he said.

 

If the maintenance engineers went further with criticism they were threatened that they would lose their job. At one point the governor of Fukushima was contacted and he was willing to listen. He brought the criticism to the attention of Tepco with a view to fixing the reported problem. Not much happened, and noone was made responsible.

 

The former prime minister Kan was interviewed. He found out - but NOT via Tepco - that already on 11 March in the evening the meltdowns in the reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant took place - and not (what the public was made to believe) some days later at the time of the explosions.

 

And he learnt about the reactor explosions by watching television - Tepco did not contact him.

 

The Japanese nuclear power plants are constructed to withstand 600 GAL, but the 2 latest strong earthquakes in Japan involved 4,000 GAL. So the plants cannot withstand earthquakes & tsunamis.

 

There is a high risk (57% to 75%) of new massive earthquakes and ensuing tsunamis in Japan. In that event the crippled nuclear power plant - in particular reactor 4 - is very dangerous. There are still fuel rods there, and in the event of a new massive earthquake / tsunami then a chain reaction / new meltdown could take place - now in the open air which would make a great part of Japan inhabitable!

 

In the past, Tepco managed to make everyone - including the government - believe that the nuclear power plants were safe. If anyone said otherwise, then their career was at an end.

 

Believing that the plants were safe, the protective walls around the plant were only 6m high and thus "more than enough to withstand any tsunami" according to Tepco. (The tsunami was much higher - at least 14m high).

 

The other day I saw another broadcast - this time from Danish DR1. Some people have been permanently evacuated by the authorities from their city and they have got some compensation. Others further away from Fukushima were recommended to leave, but received no compensation. The city where some of them went to got some money to get rid of the polluted / contaminated soil. The city was given some money, then it was up to the city to find out what to do - how, when and who to do it. Not very reassuring.

 

Children are playing inside in city shopping centres that have established some playing sites for the children.

 

Those living in that city - around 60 km from their original city - were longing for their return to their home, but maybe they will never be able to go home. There was an interview with a family who used to make a lot of pottery and painting it - a family business. Their son is going to study in Tokyo, and that might be the end of the family business.

 

People in many cities cannot sell their houses / homes due to contaminated earth. So they have to stay. The radiation is invisible, so it might be there even after the attempts to clean the city by removing the earth and washing the pavements.

 

On Thursday, 8 March 2012 there was another broadcast from Swedish SVT2 about the Fukushima disaster.

 

A researcher who had been involved in measuring the radiation / contamination after the Chernobyl disaster was the central person in this broadcast together with another researcher who was a radiology expert.

 

Originally the central person - despite his expertise and experience with measurements of radiation - was told by the authorities that he was not to be among the measurement-takers. He thought that it was because his starting-point was that nuclear disasters can and do happen. But anyhow, he decided to take measurements in very places at varying distances from the Fukushima plant, and he consulted a radiology expert.

 

They travelled around with their equipment to make measurements within and outside the evacuation zone.

 

The results were surprising. The values measured varied - and did not necessarily fall with the distance to the Fukushima power plant.

 

There was a string with different colours dependent on the values measured. Some values were "green" (low, insignificant figures) then suddenly yellow, orange or even red spots with high, even higher and then very high and health-threatening values.

 

The explanation for this was i.a. the weather following the reactor explosions - it had been windy and snowing for 4 days in the period of measurements, and the snow & wind brought radio-active fall-out far away.

 

Measurements were taken very near the nuclear power plant, in the city of Fukushima and in Iwaki and in Akogi in Namie and in Litate (the latter with 6,000 inhabitants). The worst-hit area in Litate was the southern part towards Akogi that also had very high values. The wind after the explosions in the reactors brought radioactive fall-out to Iwaki and Tokyo.

 

They visited an evacuation centre in NAMIE where several people stayed. Measurements were taken there, and the result was scary - there were Becquerel values 100 to 1000 times higher than in the area from where these people had been evacuated. And noone had warned these people of the risk in that area even though official measurements had been taken also there, but the sites / places of the official measurements had been kept secret - officially to "prevent rumours", but that also meant that there was no information / warning to the people in the dangerous areas (more than 30 km from the nuclear power plant) because the local authorities were not aware of the danger / risk.

 

They also managed to take a sample of the soil surface inside the site of the Fukushima nuclear power plant at the road side, and it showed contents / levels of plutonium.

 

In one contaminated town / city the school yard was highly contaminated (4.2 Becquerel) - the surface of the soil was removed which reduced the contamination to 1.9. The local authority asked what to do with the soil that was stored on the school yard under a tarpaulin. The answer from the superior authorities was to leave the soil under the tarpaulin - on the school yard. (Let's hope that there is not another tsunami to wash the contaminated soil away).

 

There was an interview with a peasant family consisting of a woman, her son and then her daughter-in-law and grandchild (the daughter-in-law and the child had both been sent abroad). The family used to grow rice and tobacco plants, but with the contaminated soil that was no longer possible. Hopeless situation - and all they wanted was to have a normal life as peasants.

 

There was an interview with a man who started with 25 chicken. Until shortly after the disaster he had a poultry farm of 30,000. He used to sell a lot of eggs, but not anymore. And he could no longer feed the chickens. They came back a few days later, and now all the chickens had starved to death. Very sad indeed.

 

 

My comment to this: Very revealing, but also very sad. I feel for the Japanese people - not only hit by a gigantic earthquake (9.0), then the real devastation due to the tsunami and now the contamination due to Fukushima - and it was made worse due to the wind and snow. And then the government & TEPCO being linked together.

 

A Tepco man was elected to the parliament and was advisor to the government on nuclear power - after some years he stepped down and returned to Tepco. Lobbyism when it is worst.

 

Based on that I am very happy to read this piece of news posted on Danish TV2 News:

 

NO MORE NUCLEAR POWER IN JAPAN

 

One year after the tsunami and ensuing nuclear disaster at the Fukushima power plant, there is virtually no operative nuclear power plants in Japan.

 

Before the disaster, the Japanese received one third of their electricity from nuclear power plants, but next month the 2 last reactors will be closed, and then all Japan's 54 commercial nuclear power plants will be history.

 

The Japanese population is divided in the question of nuclear power. It is unclear whether the nuclear power plants will ever start producing power again.

 

Source: Danish text-TV on TV2 news

 

 

HIGH SUICIDE FIGURES IN JAPAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE AND ENSUING TSUNAMI ON 11 MARCH, 2011.

 

Figures published by the Japanese government today show this.

 

In May 2011, 3,375 committed suicide in Japan, and this was a 20% increase compared with the figures for the same period in May 2010.

 

More than 30,000 people committed suicide in Japan in 2011.

 

Japan is the country with the highest suicide rates in the world.

 

Norwegian text-TV / NRK + Swedish SVT

[nancyk58]

JAPAN IS FIGHTING ITS WAY BACK AFTER THE CATASTROPHE ON 11.3.11

 

NUCLEAR ACCIDENT. One year ago – on 11 March, 2011, Japan was hit by a triple disaster – an earthquake, several tsunamis and a nuclear accident. The rebuilding/reconstruction is in progress, but it is a gigantic task.

 

The city of Sendai is experiencing a boom. With about 1 million inhabitants it is the largest city in Tohoku in the north-eastern Japan. Here you can talk about an economic boost.

 

People move to Sendai, construction firms and contractors are shortstaffed, and the property prices are rising.

 

But everything is not good, because the good economic times are based on a tragedy.

 

One year ago, the north-eastern Japan was hit by a gigantic catastrophe in 3 rounds.

 

At first the region was shaken by a gigantic earthquake measured to have magnitude 9.0 on the Richter scale. The quake occurred at sea off Japan, and it triggered gigantic tsunamis that washed ashore destroying entire (urban) communities.

 

An estimated 14-m-high tsunami washed over the defences in Fukushima and flooded a nuclear power plant. 3 of the plant’s 6 reactors experienced melt-downs.

 

The disasters cost about 19,000 human lives; many more were injured, and far more lost their homes and livelihoods.

 

More than 80,000 people were evacuated at the nuclear power plant.

 

The news agency Reuters writes that 320,000 victims of the disasters are still living in interim / temporary homes.

 

Japan is working its way through all that. The government in Tokyo has set aside the equivalent of 1,316 billion Danish kroner for the reconstruction of the destroyed region. A great deal of this amount is of use to Sendai.

 

Reuters writes that hotels are filled up, and that there are Gucci and Louis Vuitton shops. This seems very far away from last year’s disaster. Reuters also writes that the property prices are rising.

 

It is not like that everywhere. In many of the small towns and villages in the region including the small fishing communities and villages that were flooded one year ago, there the reconstruction has not really started.

 

Many of the people that recently came to Sendai are workers moving to Sendai from the small fishing communities and villages. This includes young people leaving the small (urban) communities – they may never return.

 

“What worries me most is that people are leaving town”, says Akira Kimurasom who leads an association of businessmen in the fishing village of Miyako.

He says to Reuters that now there are 1,300 fewer inhabitants than before the disaster when there were 60,000 inhabitants. 529 of the inhabitants died during the quake and the ensuing tsunami, but the rest moved.

 

The Fukushima region is also facing big problems. It is unclear when the region around the melted-down reactors will be inhabitable again. It might take several decades in some areas.

 

There is a 20 km zone around the nuclear power plant where no one is allowed to live. But outside this zone there are also big problems – for trade and industry, hotels, shops as well as for agricultural areas that are contaminated.

 

The French news agency AFP writes that up to 2 million people may be entitled to some kind of compensation. But AFP also writes that one year after the nuclear accident, Tepco – the operator of the crippled nuclear power plant – has only paid compensation in very few cases.

 

A Tepco spokeswoman says that the company tries to speed up.

 

RITZAU

 

This article was published in the 2 Danish free papers MetroXpress & 24 Timer on Friday, 9 March 2012.

 

Translated from Danish to English by Nancy Boysen

 

 

THE CATASTROPHE IN JAPAN

 

On 11 March, 2011 at 14:46 local time an earthquake occurred at sea 130 km off Japan’s north-eastern coast. It was a gigantic quake with a magnitude of 9 on the Richter scale.

 

Top-5. It is one of the 5 most powerful earthquakes ever measured, and it triggered powerful tremors in Japan.

 

Tsunamis. The ensuing tsunamis were however what caused the gigantic destruction in Japan. The quake triggered a number of tsunamis all about 10m high, and they washed ashore and destroyed entire fishing communities.

 

Height. Japanese scientists have examined the disaster-hit areas, and examinations show that many tsunamis were even higher when they washed ashore. One of them was 24 m high.

 

Fukushima. The nuclear power plant in Fukushima was flooded. A protective wall was not high enough. It has been estimated that the tsunami that hit the power plant was 14-15 m high, but according to the Japanese scientists it was 21 m high.

 

Melt-down. The flooding of the nuclear power plant resulted in melt-down of 3 of the plant’s 6 reactors. According to a recent official report, during the disaster the government was serious worried at the prospects of having to evacuate Tokyo with its many millions inhabitants – Tokyo is situated south of Fukushima.

 

Dead and missing. The disaster cost about 19,000 human lives. Almost 3,300 remain missing.

 

Rehousing. 320,000 people are still rehoused by the government. The about 80,000 people who were evacuated at Fukushima may never return home.

[nancyk58]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17326084

 

11 March 2012 Last updated at 09:16 GMT

 

Japan marks quake and tsunami anniversary

 

Japan is marking the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami which struck the north-eastern coast, leaving 20,000 dead or missing.

 

The magnitude 9.0 quake, Japan's most powerful since records began, also triggered a serious nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

 

Thousands of people were evacuated as radiation leaked from the plant.

 

There were memorial services, and a minute's silence was observed at the moment the quake hit, 14:46 local time.

 

The main memorial ceremony was held at Tokyo's National Theatre, attended by Japan's Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

 

"We shall not let our memory of the disasters fade," the 78-year-old emperor said in a brief televised address.

 

"I hope all the people will keep the victims in their hearts."

 

Prime Minister Noda pledged to rebuild so that Japan could be reborn "as an even better place".

 

Much of Japan came to a standstill as the minute of silence was observed.

 

Warning sirens sounded across the north-east of the country at the precise time the quake struck, 14:46 local time (05:46 GMT). Bells and prayers also reverberated across the country.

 

Nuclear fears

 

The earthquake struck about 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo on 11 March 2011.

 

Shortly after the quake, an immense surge of water enveloped the north-eastern coast as a tsunami swept cars, ships, and buildings away, crushing coastal communities.

 

The twin natural disasters claimed more than 15,800 lives, and more than 3,000 people remain unaccounted for.

 

In the Fukushima prefecture, where the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is located, the impact of the disaster was particularly acute.

 

Radiation leaked from the plant after a series of fires and explosions damaged four of the plant's six reactor buildings, with serious failures in the plant's cooling system being at the heart of the problem.

 

A 20 km (12.5 mile) exclusion zone around the plant was put in place making tens of thousands of people homeless. Radiation means the area around remains uninhabitable.

 

The plant is in cold shutdown now and Mr Noda has promised that over the decades to come it will be decommissioned. He has also pledged to rebuild the devastated towns along the coast.

 

Slow recovery?

 

But correspondents say that Japan is still dealing with the economic and political fallout of the disaster. Japan's prime minister at the time of the disaster, Naoto Kan, resigned months later.

 

He had been criticised for failing to show leadership during the nuclear crisis after the quake. The nuclear crisis also revealed serious flaws in the nuclear industry's regulatory systems and safety standards.

 

Although much of the debris has been cleared, survivors from the devastated north-east have complained about slow recovery efforts.

 

The Japanese authorities believe the reconstruction will cost more than 23 trillion yen (£181bn) over a decade.

 

 

Roland Buerk / BBC News, Kesennuma

 

From early morning they came - the survivors clutching bunches of flowers to lay on the foundations of what were once family homes.

 

Pausing to remember, they wandered around a network of roads, all that remains of the port area of Kesennuma after the tsunami swept through.

 

Next to a huge fishing trawler dumped 800m inland, people lit incense sticks and prayed at a makeshift shrine. Then, at the precise moment the earthquake hit one year ago, the warning sirens sounded again, echoing off the hills and people stopped to observe a minute's silence.

 

Much of the wreckage along the coast has been gathered into huge piles, but rebuilding has barely begun.

[nancyk58]

JAPAN HIT BY MAGNITUDE 6.8 EARTHQUAKE TODAY - TSUNAMI WARNING WAS ISSUED AND LATER LIFTED AGAIN

 

The powerful earthquake could be felt far away according to Asger Røjle who is the reporter from Danish television / DR.

 

"Tokyo is relatively far away, but the quake could be felt very clearly in Tokyo anyhow. There is no doubt that it was powerful when it could be felt that far away."

 

A tsunami warning was issued. 10-cm-to-20-cm high tsunami waves washed ashore on Japan's north-eastern coast line after a powerful earthquake at sea off the island of Hokkaido.

 

The small tsunami waves hit 2 areas in the Aomori region that was one of the areas in the north-eastern Japan that was hit by massive devastation following last year's gigantic and devastating tsunami.

 

There were no reports of any damage after Wednesday's earthquake and ensuing small tsunami waves.

 

The tsunami warning has been lifted again.

 

Some hours later a weaker earthquake shook an area outside Tokyo, but there is no report of damage.

 

Source: Text-TV on Danish DR / Norwegian NRK / Swedish SVT

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO THE FUKUSHIMA DISASTER IN JAPAN ON 30 MARCH, 2012

 

 

Japan eases Fukushima exclusion zone

 

The Japanese government has eased the exclusion zone involving the greater part of the 2 communities on the border of the exclusion zone around the crippled nuclear power plant in Fukushima.

 

Up to 16,000 of the 100,000 displaced people from the evacuation zone should now be able to return home. The towns in the zone areas with the least amount of radio-activity have been divided into 3 categories.

 

For the two communities / areas Kawauchi and Tamura the new rules are valid from Sunday.

 

Parts of the towns remain blocked due to higher radiation / contamination. No decision has been taken in relation to 8 areas / communities.

 

Source: German text-TV / ZDFtext

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17562418

 

30 March 2012 Last updated at 17:08 GMT

 

Japan eases Fukushima exclusion zone

 

Japan is allowing back some of the 80,000 people forced to move following last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster.

 

Around 16,000 people who lived in towns close to or just inside the 20km (12.5 miles) exclusion zone will be able to visit their homes.

 

Parts of Tamura, Minamisoma and Kawauchi will remain out of bounds because of higher radiation levels.

 

But it is thought most residents will wait until conditions in the towns improves further before visiting.

 

Decontamination work and rebuilding of infrastructure in the prefectures around the plant is still taking place.

 

The tsunami killed 15,853 people and injured another 6,000. More than 3,000 people are still missing.

 

Depending on radiation levels residents will be able to visit their homes during the day, and return permanently once decontamination is complete, Reuters news agency says.

 

In December the government said the Fukushima Daiichi plant was in a cold shutdown condition, nine months after the massive tsunami triggered the worst nuclear meltdown since the Chernobyl disaster.

 

But relatively few people are expected to return next month when the restrictions are eased.

 

Most are likely to wait for more decontamination work to be done, and for more infrastructure to be re-built.

 

The announcement was made following a meeting of the government's disaster task force.

[nancyk58]

CONTINUED RADIATION FROM FUKUSHIMA

 

The damage at the nuclear power plant Fukushima in Japan is far worse than initially assumed. 3 of the plant's 4 reactors were crippled during the earthquake and ensuing tsunami disaster.

 

According to BBC, a measurement Tuesday inside one of the reactors revealed continued radioactive radiation in deadly amounts. The measurements showed the so far highest level of radiation at the plant since the disaster one year ago and that the cooling of the reactor is considerably slower than expected.

 

Source: Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende at the end of March, 2012

 

 

WRECKAGE FROM JAPANESE TSUNAMI UNDERWAY TO THE USA

 

Wreckage from destroyed Japanese coastal towns destroyed by last year's devastating tsunami - including refrigerators, washing-machines, television sets, roofs and fishing nets - is underway to the USA and may wash ashore on north-American coasts earlier than expected, so is the message from USA's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aka. NOAA according to Reuters.

 

"Powerful winds move the things fast, and they may soon wash shore", says Nancy Wallace, director of NOAA to Reuters.

 

One week ago, Canada's Department (Ministry) of Transport announced the discovery of a Japanese fishing boat about 150 sea miles south of the Queen Charlotte Islands. "The ship confirms that wreckage generated by the tsunami is going to wash ashore on North-America's western coast", says Nicholas Mallos, biologist at Ocean Conservancy.

 

Source: Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende on 28 March, 2012 (citing the news agency Reuters)

[nancyk58]

Typhoon costs 5 human lives in Japan

 

Stormy weather and massive rain has so far cost 5 human lives.

 

Typhoon-like gusts of up to 162 km per hour resulted in chaos.

 

In addition to 5 deaths, 4 people have been reported missing.

 

In all of Japan a great part of the train systems is closed down - and rescuers have been called to assistance because of many overturned cars.

 

Up to 600 flights have been canceled.

 

 

Norwegian NRK: AT LEAST 4 DEAD IN MASSIVE STORM IN JAPAN

 

The northern parts of japan were hit by a massive storm Wednesday, and at least 4 people died.

 

All of the northern part of the main island, Honshu and the greater part of Hokkaido was hit by strong winds and massive rainy weather.

 

Among the 4 people who died was a 96-year-old man who fell down from a roof and a 28-year-old woman who was hit by a falling tree.

 

Hundreds of flights were cancelled, and the traffic was stuck on roads and railways according to NTB.

[nancyk58]

RADIO-ACTIVE WATER ENDED IN THE PACIFIC

 

About 12 tons of radio-active water has leaked out of the crippled Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima and some of the water may have run out into the Pacific according to the operator of the plant, Tepco.

 

The leak was detected Thursday in a tube that is connected to the plant's temporary wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Some of the radio-active water has run through the WWTP and out into the sea.

 

The water used for cooling of Fukushima's melted-down nuclear reactors contains large amounts of radio-active material after having been through the cooling process.

 

The leak is said to have stopped.

 

Source: Text-TV on Danish DR

[nancyk58]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17927045

 

2 May 2012 Last updated at 14:54 GMT

 

Tsunami survivor claims Harley-Davidson found in Canada

 

The owner has been found of a Harley-Davidson that drifted to Canada after being swept out to sea in the 2011 Japanese tsunami.

 

Details from the motorcycle's licence plate helped to locate Ikuo Yokoyama.

 

According to CBC News, Mr Yokoyama lost his home and three family members in the tsunami.

 

The shop that sold the motorcycle to Mr Yokoyama is now hoping to ship the Harley-Davidson back to Japan and restore it.

 

The motorcycle is among the first items in a wave of debris heading to the west coast of North America. Most of the debris is expected to arrive in 2013.

 

'Unmistakably mine'

 

The Harley-Davidson motorcycle was discovered by Peter Mark on 18 April on the coast of an island in British Columbia.

 

Mr Mark said it was caked with "a lot of corrosion, a lot of rust", but that he could see the manufacturer's distinctive logo.

 

The Canadian realised that the bike could be part of the tsunami debris after he noticed that license plate was from Miyagi prefecture, the area hardest-hit by the March 2011 disaster.

 

Mr Yokoyama's bike was inside a large white container he was using as a storage shed, which eventually washed away, leaving the bike partially buried in sand.

 

"This is unmistakably mine," Mr Yokoyama told Nippon TV when shown photos of the motorcycle. "It's miraculous."

 

He told the Japanese TV station NHK that he wished to thank the man who found it personally.

 

In February, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officials said currents would carry much of the debris 4,000 miles (6,400km) to the coasts of Alaska, Canada, Washington and Oregon between March 2013 and 2014.

 

Lighter items, such as buoys and bottles, have been among the first to wash ashore on the continent.

 

In March, an Alaska man found a football and later a volleyball from Japan.

 

Last month the US Coast Guard sank a Japanese fishing boat that had drifted to the Gulf of Alaska, after authorities deemed the ship a hazard.

 

Japanese Harley washes up in Canada 30 APRIL 2012, US & CANADA

Tsunami 'ghost ship' sunk off US 06 APRIL 2012, US & CANADA

[chuck kottke]

:bandana::wacko: congrats to Ikuo!

I'm rushing to the beach right now, in case another motorcycle washes up!!

bye!:escaping2:

[nancyk58]

News in relation to JAPAN on 4 May 2012

 

JAPAN: [/b][/color]Thousands in north-east Japan have been forced to leave their homes after cloudbursts: 344 mm of rain fell in the prefecture of Iwate in the north-east according to Japan's Meteorological Institute.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT

 

Japan's only remaining operative nuclear reactor at the Tomari plant in north Japan was closed Saturday 4.5. The reactor is to undergo a 70-day-long thourough maintenance check. That means that Japan is now without nuclear power for the first time for 4 decades.

 

News from Danish text-Tv from TV2 News

[nancyk58]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17967202

 

5 may 2012 Last updated at 09:06 GMT

 

Tomari shutdown leaves Japan without nuclear power

 

Japan is switching off its last working nuclear reactor, as part of the safety drive since the March 2011 tsunami triggered a meltdown at the Fukushima plant.

 

The third reactor at the Tomari plant, in Hokkaido prefecture, is shutting down for routine maintenance.

 

It leaves Japan without energy from atomic power for the first time for more than 40 years.

 

Until last year, Japan got 30% of its power from nuclear energy.

 

Hundreds of people marched through Tokyo, waving banners to celebrate what they hope will be the end of nuclear power in Japan.

 

Power shortages

 

Since the Fukushima disaster, all the country's reactors have been shut down for routine maintenance. They must withstand tests against earthquakes and tsunamis, and local authorities must give their consent in order for plants to restart.

 

So far, none have.

 

Two reactors at the Ohi plant in western Japan have been declared safe. The government says they should be restarted to combat looming shortages.

 

However, regional authorities would still have to give their approval.

 

Ministers have warned Japan faces a summer of power shortages.

 

The BBC's Roland Buerk, in Tokyo, says the government could force the issue, but so far has been reluctant to move against public opinion.

 

Organisers of the anti-nuclear march in the capital estimated turnout at 5,500.

 

Demonstrators carried banners shaped as giant fish. The "Koinobori" banners, traditionally the symbol of Children's Day, have been adopted by the anti-nuclear movement.

 

"There are so many nuclear plants, but not a single one will be up and running today, and that's because of our efforts," campaigner Masashi Ishikawa told the crowd.

 

Engineers began the process of shutting down the final Tomari reactor, inserting control rods to bring the fission process to an end.

 

All operations at the plant will have stopped by 14:00 GMT, a spokesman told Associated Press.

 

Japan will then be without nuclear power for the first time since 1970.

 

Businesses have warned of severe consequences for manufacturing if no nuclear plants are allowed to re-start.

 

In the meantime, Japan has increased its fossil fuel imports, with electricity companies pressing old power plants into service.

 

If the country can get through the steamy summer without blackouts, calls to make the nuclear shutdown permanent will get louder, our correspondent says.

 

The six-reactor Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was badly damaged by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

 

Blasts occurred at four of the reactors after the cooling systems went offline, triggering radiation leaks and forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.

 

A 20km (12m) exclusion zone remains in place around the plant.

 

 

World's worst nuclear incidents

 

Level 7: Chernobyl, Ukraine, 1986 - explosion and fire in operational reactor, fallout over thousands of square kilometres, possible 4,000 cancer cases

 

Level 7: Fukushima, 2011 - tsunami and possibly earthquake damage from seismic activity beyond plant design. Long-term effects unknown

 

Level 6: Kyshtym, Russia, 1957 - explosion in waste tank leading to hundreds of cancer cases, contamination over hundreds of square kilometres

 

Level 5: Windscale, UK, 1957 - fire in operating reactor, release of contamination in local area, possible 240 cancer cases

 

Level 5: Three Mile Island, US, 1979 - instrument fault leading to large-scale meltdown, severe damage to reactor core

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8 HIKERS FROZE TO DEATH IN JAPAN / TORNADO KILLS 1, MORE THAN 40 INJURED

 

8 hikers have frozen to death due to a massive weather change. The hikers died in the Japanese Alps on the island of HONSHU. Their clothing was insufficient as they suddenly ran into icecold rain showers and snow storms. A mountaineer found them dead close to the 2,932 m high Shiroumadake.

 

In east Japan - in the town of Tsukuba, a 14-year-old boy died in a Japanese storm, and more than 40 were injured . A tornado swept through Tsukuba which is situated 6 miles / 60 km north-east of Tokyo.

 

Up t0 100 houses were damaged, and 30-50 houses destroyed by the storm. There was a temporary power cut.

 

Sources: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text + German text-TV (ARDtext)

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A tornado swept through East Japan causing massive destruction. 890 houses were damaged. Roofs were blown away, cars destroyed and trees uprooted. The devastation covers a region of 12 km. More than 20,000 houses were without power for some time.

 

The worst affected town was Tsukuba north of Tokyo where a 14-year-old boy died under the ruin of his parents' house as the tornado swept through the provinces Ibaraki and Gumma. 48 additional people were damaged - some of them severely.

[nancyk58]

Yesterday I read a few lines about a new earthquake in Japan:

 

Magnitude 4.8 - no casualties - no material damage reported.

 

Buildings were swaying in Tokyo.

[nancyk58]

NEWS IN RELATION TO JAPAN ON 6 AND 8 JUNE 2012

 

Some news agencies mentioned that a floating dock had washed ashore in the USA - it came from Japan and has travelled the ocean since the terrible earthquake and tsunami on 11.3.11. News reported on 6.6.12

 

 

JAPAN INTENDS TO RESTART 2 NUCLEAR REACTORS

 

Japan will restart 2 of Japan's nuclear reactors to save workplaces and to prevent financial losses - so Japan's PM says.

 

Yoshihiko Noda says gthat he has decided to open reactor 3 and 4 at the OHI plant in Fukui in western part of Japan.

 

- If all reactors that used to represent 30% of Japan's energy supply remain closed, then the Japanese society will not survive, says Noda.

 

After last year's earthquake and tsunami disasters, all Japan's 50 reactors were shut down.

 

Source: Norwegian text-TV / NRK Nyheder (News)

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18366398

 

8 June 2012 Last updated at 12:50 GMT

 

Japan 'must restart' two nuclear reactors, Noda warns

 

Japan must restart two nuclear reactors to protect the country's economy and livelihoods, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has said in a televised broadcast.

 

Measures to ensure the safety of two reactors at western Japan's Ohi nuclear plant have been undertaken, he said.

 

Since last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan's 50 reactors have been shut down for routine maintenance.

 

The crisis fuelled immense public opposition to nuclear power, but Japan is facing a summer of power shortages.

 

Japan's last nuclear shut down for routine maintenance was in May. When the third reactor at the Tomari plant in Hokkaido prefecture was switched off, Japan was left without energy from atomic power for the first time in more than 40 years.

 

Public confidence in nuclear safety was shaken by the meltdowns at the Fukushima power plant, triggered by last year's devastating earthquake and tsunami.

 

"Cheap and stable electricity is vital. If all the reactors that previously provided 30% of Japan's electricity supply are halted, or kept idle, Japanese society cannot survive," Mr Noda said.

 

He added that some companies could possibly move production out of Japan, losing vital jobs as a result.

 

"It is my decision that Ohi reactors No 3 and No 4 should be restarted to protect the people's livelihoods," he said.

 

Controversial move

 

Mr Noda and members of his cabinet could make a formal decision by next week if the governor of Fukui prefecture, where the reactors are located, agrees.

 

But the move is extremely controversial, reports the BBC's Roland Buerk.

 

Earlier this week, a third of governing party members of parliament petitioned Mr Noda, urging him to exercise "greater caution" over the issue.

 

Protests met the prime minister's announcement in central Tokyo, with people waving placards stating, "We oppose restarts".

 

His statement was made only a few hours after the former president of the Fukushima plant operator testified before a high-profile investigative panel appointed by parliament.

 

Masataka Shimizu said that he did not consider a pullout of the plant's workers during the height of the crisis as had been alleged.

 

In April, the government set stricter safety guidelines for nuclear plants in a bid to win public confidence for restarts. These include the installation of filtered vents and a device to prevent hydrogen explosions.

 

Last month, the government asked businesses and households in parts of the country to cut electricity usage by up to 15% to avoid possible blackouts.

 

 

ANALYSIS

 

Roland Buerk / BBC News, Tokyo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In making the television address, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has very publicly taken responsibility for restarting the nuclear reactors.

 

Indeed, it was a condition set by the governor of Fukui, which hosts the Ohi plant, before he gives his blessing.

 

The government had hoped to build more of a national consensus. Ministers have spent weeks wooing local leaders.

 

But nuclear power is a hugely controversial issue in Japan. Mr Noda warned Japanese society cannot survive without cheap and stable power.

 

He could now make a formal decision to restart the two reactors at Ohi. They are the first to have gone through new stress tests to check their resistance to natural disasters.

 

But any decision by Mr Noda could unleash strong criticism.

 

Opinion polls show many Japanese would rather try to get through the summer by cutting back on their electricity consumption.

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Article in Danish free paper Metro Xpress on 8 June, 2012

 

PART OF JAPANESE HARBOUR (FLOATING DOCK) WASHED ASHORE IN THE USA

 

A big floating dock that was torn away from Japan's east coast during the extremely powerful tsunami last year (on 11 March 2011) has now washed ashore on the other side of the Pacific.

 

The 20 m long construction hit a beach at OREGON on USA's west coast about 160 km south-west of Portland.

 

"4 floating docks were washed away in connection with the tsunami. This is one of them. We do not know yet whether the 3 other floating docks are still floating around in the Pacific", says one spokesman for the Japanese consulate in Portland.

 

He explains that the floating dock managed to travel the long way due to its special construction.

 

"The surface is made of concrete and steel cables, but there is foam inside. Therefore, it managed to stay afloat on the Pacific. The dock itself does not contain harmful material" according to the spokesman.

 

The stranded floating dock is the latest example of wreckage that has travelled across the world's greatest ocean since the powerful natural disaster shook Japan almost 15 months ago.

 

The disasters cost about 19,000 human lives. Many more were injured, and far more lost their homes and livelihoods.

 

More than 80,000 people were evacuated from the area around the nuclear power plant.

 

The owner of the exiled floating dock does not want to get it back.

 

RITZAU (news agency).

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18468685

 

16 June 2012 Last updated at 05:31 GMT

 

Japan PM Noda orders nuclear reactors back online

 

Japan has announced that it will restart two nuclear reactors - the first to go back online since all the country's plants were closed following last year's Fukushima crisis.

 

Reactors at the Ohi plant in central Fukui prefecture will be switched on in three weeks, officials said.

 

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has urged support for the move, saying Japan faces a summer of power shortages.

 

But widespread public opposition to nuclear power remains.

 

Japan's 50 reactors were shut down for routine maintenance after the meltdown at the Fukushima power plant, which was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami.

 

'Stabilise livelihoods'

 

Prime Minister Noda made the announcement after meeting the governor of Fukui prefecture, Kazumasa Nishikawa, who gave his approval for the decision.

 

The prime minister then held talks with the minister of economy, the minister in charge of the nuclear accident and the chief cabinet secretary, before making the announcement.

 

"Now that we have the approval from the autonomous body where the reactors are relocated, the four ministers concerned made the decision to restart the reactors," Mr Noda said, according to AFP news agency citing local media.

 

Mr Nishikawa told reporters the agreement was reached to "help stabilise livelihoods and industry".

 

He said he had given his approval because he had been "assured of the government's safety efforts".

 

But Mr Noda still faces stiff opposition from lawmakers and the public, says the BBC's Mariko Oi in Osaka.

 

According to the latest poll by Jiji news agency, 46% of the public is still against the move to restart the reactors in Fukui, she says.

 

Nuclear power used to provide one third of Japan's electricity.

 

The government has asked households and businesses in parts of the country to cut electricity usage by 15% to avoid possible blackouts.

 

 

ANALYSIS / Mariko Oi, BBC News, Osaka

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The owner of the Ohi nuclear power plant, Kansai Electric Power, has been asking residents to save electricity ahead of a hot summer and it has been planning rolling blackouts to cut energy usage.

 

But blackouts were extremely unpopular, especially among factory owners, when they were imposed in Tokyo last year and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has repeatedly said that it's crucial for the nation's economy to restart some nuclear reactors.

 

Despite the severe power shortages that Japan faces, many people are still against today's decision to restart the two Ohi power plant reactors and there have been protests against the decision.

 

Some local politicians, including Osaka mayor Toru Hashimoto, say their approvals have been limited to the Ohi plant and only during the hot summer months.

 

But the prime minister has said he will continue to assess whether other nuclear reactors are safe to be restarted.

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A powerful earthquake - magnitude 6.4 - shook Japan late Sunday evening central European time.

 

The quake had its epicentre 115 km south-east of Morioka that is located at the Japanese coast. It occurred at a depth of 31 km.

 

There is no information on any casualties or substantial material damage.

 

Japan is often experiencing earthquakes because Japan is situated on the 40,000 km long Ring of Fire where the ocean - and continental plates meet.

 

Source: Danish text-TV on the main public service channel DR

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NEWS IN RELATION TO JAPAN ON 19 JUNE, 2012

 

 

TYPHOON SWEEPING ACROSS JAPAN

 

Today (19.6.12), a powerful typhoon swept across Japan carrying with it enormous amounts of rain and strong winds.

 

The typhoon reached the mainland at 10 o'clock central European time and is expected to pass the capital TOKYO during this afternoon.

 

In the town/city of ISHINOMAKI that was hit by last year's earthquake and ensuing tsunami, 10,000 people have been urged to seek higher ground.

 

In Nachikatsuura, southwest of Tokyo, the inhabitants have been urged to leave their homes.

 

All air traffic has been affected - 400 flights were cancelled.

 

Source: Swedish text-TV / SVT Text

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TYPHOON IN NORTH-EAST JAPAN RESULTED IN 1 DEAD AND AT LEAST 50 INJURED

 

1 person has been killed and more than 50 injured by a powerful typhoon.

 

The typhoon named "GUCHOL" passed during the night i.a. the northeastern part of Japan and thus the region that was destroyed in March 2011 by the mega-powerful earthquake and ensuing tsunami.

 

The state-run broadcaster NHK reported that there have been injured people in about 15 prefectures.

 

More than 150,000 people were urged to seek higher and safer ground.

 

Hundreds of domestic flights were cancelled.

 

Source: ZDFtext (German text-TV on channel 2)

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PROTESTS IN JAPAN AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER

 

Ten thousands of people have gathered in Tokyo for one of the so far biggest protests/ demonstrations against nuclear power in Japan. They prostested against the restart on Sunday of the first of 2 nuclear power plants.

 

The protesters demanded an exit = a stop to the use of nuclear power for electricity purposes. Many policemen were present.

 

PM Yoshihiko Noda had decided to restart reactors 3 and 4 in the nuclear power plant OI after having completed safety / security tests.

 

It is the first time since the nuclear disaster in Fukushima on 11 March 2011 that nuclear power is used for generation / production of electricity.

 

Source: German text-tv / ARDtext