Japan ministers ignored safety warnings over nuclear reactors

Source: The Guardian

.... Several years ago, the seismologist Ishibashi Katsuhiko stated, specifically, that such an accident was highly likely to occur. Nuclear power plants in Japan have a "fundamental vulnerability" to major earthquakes, Katsuhiko said in 2007. The government, the power industry and the academic community had seriously underestimated the potential risks posed by major quakes

Katsuhiko, who is professor of urban safety at Kobe University, has highlighted three incidents at reactors between 2005 and 2007. Atomic plants at Onagawa, Shika and Kashiwazaki-Kariwa were all struck by earthquakes that triggered tremors stronger than those to which the reactor had been designed to survive.

In the case of the incident at the Kushiwazaki reactor in northwestern Japan, a 6.8-scale earthquake on 16 July 2007 set off a fire that blazed for two hours and allowed radioactive water to leak from the plant. However, no action was taken in the wake of any of these incidents despite Katsuhiko's warning at the time that the nation's reactors had "fatal flaws" in their design.

The trouble is, says Katsuhiko, that Japan began building up its atomic energy system 40 years ago, when seismic activity in the country was comparatively low. This affected the designs of plants which were not built to robust enough standards, the seismologist argues.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/12/japan-ministers-ignored-warnings-nuclear

---

They knew. Reactor 1 Unit 1, was due to be decommissioned last month, but TEPC obtained a ten year extension on it's operational life,

Probabilities.

Who I would blame is our own folks here in the US who would allow Fox News to report any horrible incident we ever have here to the advantage of the Banksters and Wall St. plus Oil Drillers, Coal Companies and the rest of the "Corporate One Person Crowd" who rule our whole Government.

Those are the people who would deny Americans access to Information! The Japanese seem much more OPEN and Above Board than anything we see here in the US.

Thank you --

Amazed that we're even seeing anything as honest as this rendition of what has been going on --

The trouble is, says Katsuhiko, that Japan began building up its atomic energy system 40 years ago, when seismic activity in the country was comparatively low. This affected the designs of plants which were not built to robust enough standards, the seismologist argues.

Inane to pursue nuclear weapons at all in earth-quake prone Japan --

HOWEVER - the Pentagon Warning to W included the information that Global Warming would lead

to increasing instances and severity of EARTHQUAKES.

That info was later scrubbed --

In the 24 hours after this massive 9.0 quake in Japan, they had 140 AFTER SHOCKS of such intensity

that many were over 8.0.

There has been so many aftershocks -- now rising to "hundreds" -- that many in Japan fear

another tsunami.

And, again relating to the "Warning" to Bush -- many now also think that increased volcanic

activity is also being created by Global Warming.


Needless to say, Global Warming is creating increasing storms, high winds, changing wind patterns,

more doughts and floods, cyclones, tornadoes --

and this particular earthquake has shifted the earth off its axis by 10cm.

1 inch = .0254 meters

"HOWEVER - the Pentagon Warning to W included the information that Global Warming would lead

to increasing instances and severity of EARTHQUAKES.

That info was later scrubbed -- "

Please post a link. That would help a whole lot, thanks

take your pick --

but again, as I've mentioned "earthquakes" was scrubbed from the report

eventually --

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oG7h3wSH1N4R4AvU1XNyoA;_ylc=X1MDMjc2NjY3OQRfcgMyBGFvAzAEZnIDZnAteWllOARob3N0cHZpZANRdXhUUmtvRzd2NDhYV1dmVFhiV2R3bmZZbTJEZWsxOVNQQUFBSkY3BG5fZ3BzAzAEbl92cHMDMARvcmlnaW4Dc3JwBHF1ZXJ5A1BlbnRhZ29uIFdhcm5pbmcgdG8gQnVzaCBvbiBHbG9iYWwgV2FybWluZwRzYW8DMQR2dGVzdGlkA01TWTAwNA--?p=Pentagon+Warning+to+Bush+on+Global+Warming&fr2=sb-top&fr=fp-yie8

And, many think that volcanic activity should have been included --

See Life Science on that -- if I find the link to that article, I'll add it --


Here's a Life Science link -- general and specific --

Global Warming Might Spur Earthquakes and Volcanoes

http://www.livescience.com/7366-global-warming-spur-earthquakes-volcanoes.html

http://www.livescience.com/search.html?cx=partner-pub-1894578950532504%3Aqaei7k190hq&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=ISO-8859-1&sa=&q=volcanic+activity+and+Global+Warming#1190




Here's general info --

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0oG7h0bSX1NkSkA3AVXNyoA;_ylc=X1MDMjc2NjY3OQRfcgMyBGFvAzAEZnIDZnAteWllOARob3N0cHZpZAN3RWNNaFVvRzd2NDhYV1dmVFhiV2R3ODJZbTJEZWsxOVNSc0FCem9iBG5fZ3BzAzAEbl92cHMDMARvcmlnaW4Dc3JwBHF1ZXJ5A0luY3JlYXNpbmcgdm9sY2FuaWMgYWN0aXZpdHkgZHVlIHRvIEdsb2JhbCBXYXJtaW5nBHNhbwMxBHZ0ZXN0aWQDTVNZMDA0?p=Increasing+volcanic+activity+due+to+Global+Warming&fr2=sb-top&fr=fp-yie8


Unfortunately, don't have time to single this out for you -- but I've posted a lot on this

the last two days -- unfortunately didn't always add to my Journal!!


:)

No luck.

However, the original existed for probably more than a year or so --

and I checked it and double checked it -- and triple checked it --

not to rely on my memory alone. And, earthquakes were there.


:)

of websites? I'm sorry - I cant think of it right now...But it might be there?

Waybackmachine maybe?

But -- afaik -- when something is "scrubbed" that changes all copies of it????

On the net, that is - ?

I used to have an actual copy of it -- but lost it along the way, unfortunately.


For instance, sometime last August, Yahoo had an article up where obama was calling

the economic meltdown a "depression" ---

I picked it up and was going to post here -- and started reading other stuff and didn't

do it right away -- and later when I went back to look at it "Depression" had been

changed to "Recession."

I found no way to trace the original in that case, either --

So if you find something like that, make sure you post it immediately, or copy it in whole!!

I've never heard of any solid science tyeing increased earthquakes and volcanoes to climate change, and in fact I believe any link between them is dubious. We all know that climate change is causing a lot of bad stuff to happen, but we need to be careful what all we blame it on, lest we give the naysayers more ammunition against us. If there are any articles explaining the link I'd love to see them.

And, as scientists have constantly reminded us re Global Warming ...

No one can say how all of this will compound.

The Pentagon memo sent to W outlined all of the chaotic weather we would suffer --

in increasing numbers and intensity -- it included earthquakes which has since

been scrubbed from the report.

Many others think that volcanic activity should have also been included - me, as well!!



I'll include some links I've used in the last few days -- back in a few!


And sad to say I have to comment on this --

but we need to be careful what all we blame it on, lest we give the naysayers more ammunition against us.

When it is so primary in your mind that YOU have to cnsider what the right wing will say about

what you think and believe -- when you're that FEARFUL of the right -- I think you might as

well forget about questioning anything!!


Here's one link that might help you -- I've posted a lot on this over the past two days --

if I come upon any more of my links I'll try to include them for you.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4768711&mesg_id=4769174

In the 24 hours after this massive 9.0 quake in Japan, they had 140 AFTER SHOCKS of such intensity that many were over 8.0.

That is flat out wrong. Here is the list of activity. There is only one above 8, which some are claiming is a 9.

Next on the list is that those reactors have nothing to do with nuclear weapons, but they were designed against a smaller quake, and who in their right mind would locate a plant like that in a tsunami flood plain?

-Hoot

Your list is very general -- if you're trying to say something specific about

Japan and THIS earthquake and aftershocks then you'll have to pull it out.

Meanwhile, I'm not saying that ALL the aftershocks were 8 or over -- the first

few certainly well --

HOWEVER, I am saying that the aftershocks have been of such intensity that Japanese

citizens are worried about another tsunani. You can see interviews son CNN or BBC on that.

I also recall seeing reports on the aftershocks reported here at DU as being 8 and over --

again not all of them. Plus the aftershocks are also creating more damage.

Next on the list is that those reactors have nothing to do with nuclear weapons, but they were designed against a smaller quake, and who in their right mind would locate a plant like that in a tsunami flood plain?

Of course they're connected to nuclear weapons -- it was the production and expense involved in

making atomic bombs that gave us this technology. But, it's also part of the PR that we don't

really have to be that afraid of nuclear stuff! Otherwise ... eh ... "ban the bomb" -- !!

You'll also notice that psychology at play in the Cheney/Bush regime where they pushed for

"smaller" nukes -- to be more generally used in combat!

These nuclear plants were designed for a time before we were feeling the immense effects of

Global Warming -- which is bringing us increasingly chaotic weather -- and increasing numbers of

earthquakes and more intense earthquakes. Again, some think -- and I agree -- increasing volcanic

activity.

If you're interested, you can look above at some other links I've included.

Or check my journal.

To the current Japan Earthquake. It show the last 10 days of activity 4+ on the scale. There are NO magnitude 8+ save one, the 8.9 which technically is an aftershock from the 7.2 that started it all on the 9th.

Those reactors were certainly not in use for the production of fissile materials for any weaponization. Following the logic you are using in your claim puts an lcd TV as producing the space shuttle.

The nebulous hype and FUD you are spreading is not useful.

-Hoot

Meanwhile, what I'm saying is that citizens are saying the 140 aftershocks have

been of such great intensity that they are worried about another tsunami.

Additionally, the 140 aftershocks -- reported by CNN or BBC -- in the first 24 hours

are now reported to be in the "hundreds."

And statistics never change -- ?

Or are never gimmicked -- ?

Take it all with a grain of salt, however, I'm telling you what CNN/BBC have reported.

I'm pretty sure I heard on Fox news that monkeys are flying out of your ass.

-Hoot

and YOUR own "ass" --

And perhaps it is you watching FOX?

And likely you should be on IGNORE --



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4769073&mesg_id=4769330

just as good as IGNORE --

Sunday, 03/13/2011 06:21

Elvan Dany Sutrisno - detikNews
Jakarta - Aftershocks continue in Japan after an earthquake measuring 8.9 Richter that followed the tsunami. More than 140 aftershocks measuring around 4.5 magnitude shook the Japanese to this day.
Once the survey results of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as quoted by AFP from CNN, Sunday (13/03/2011).
Aftershocks that continue to occur is disrupting train services and flights in Japan. At least 23,000 people detained at Tokyo Airport. Train services are also still available in limited quantities in anticipation of accidents caused by the earthquake.


http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/8457210-post-japan-tsunami-140-aftershocks-shook-japan



also --

Japan hit by aftershocks after powerful earthquake
TOKYO – A series of powerful aftershocks shook the eastern coast of Japan early Thursday ... - An explosion has been reported at a nuclear plant in ... ( 10383 Comments )
news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110310/ap_on_re_​as/as_japan_earthquake - Cached

Rescuers Scramble to Save Lives as Aftershocks Jolt Japan
Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan said more than ... also braved an seemingly endless barrage of aftershocks. The U.S. Geological Survey reported more than 140 ...
www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-japan-​earthquake,0... - Cached


Aftershocks and nuclear threat keep Japan's ...
Aftershocks and nuclear threat keep Japan's residents in fear More than 275 aftershocks ... were still unaccounted for Sunday, Kyodo reported. Japanese Prime ...
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/​la-fg-0313-quake... - Cached


on and on --

Seriously pitiful -- !!

I'm having trouble telling the Gulf coast and Japan's NE coast apart.

that was really a "GUSHER?" And whatever happened to that? Feingold (the Fixer) made sure the Little People on LA Coast got some "pay in their pockets" to shut 'em up and, in the meantime, BP made out like BANDITS!

I don't think Japan works like that. It would be a good thing to know if Japan has "Privatized" it's Nuke Industry like US has Privatized Coal, NatGas, Oil and the rest of our Energy we use.

I think that Japan has the best systems in the world...and if they failed ...then we need to Wake Up and have Great Caution as we move forward with more Seismic Occurences and meltdowns in Arctic Ice and Envoronmental Stresses all over the world.

Japan is a WAKE UP CALL for all of us. Their buildings are "high tech" as they could make them given the calculations they had at the time. Their Nuke industry was highly monitored (according to what I've read) and YET...THIS HORRIBLE happened.

Japan is not Haiti....Japan is an incredibly tech oriented country who chose all those Nuclear Plants becaused they believed they could make them SAFER than anyone else. If they have failed...then think about the rest of the plants all over the world who have less supervision in highly densley occupied countries.. France comes to mind...with this.

This will have an impact.

....exactly....if the Japanese can't operate nuclear power plants safely, nobody can!

If the best Techno Society in the WORLD can't protect their Nuclear Facilities...then WHY ARE WE RUSHING TOWARDS IT?

SAD...that it has come down to this.

That's what I've been reading over on the other side.

They are the most idiotic, clueless, blind sheep I've ever been exposed to.

Sheesh.

and that's all that matters.

:sarcasm:

- Now http://247wallst.com/2011/03/11/nuclear-plant-extension-underwhelms-entergy-etr-exc-duk/">where have I http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_Creek_Nuclear_Generating_Station#License_extension">heard that http://www.ect.coop/power-supply/power-plants/iowa-nuclear-plant-gets-extension">idea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRxl2cVFTLw">before?

K&R

How about a direct nuclear strike?

Such designs simply do not exist, so instead, designers aim for worst plausible case.

Until this event, a 9.0 quake, followed by total electrical grid failure, followed by a 30 foot tsunami, was simply not a plausible scenario to design for.

But what the hell does he know? He's just an academic expert, not some asshole elected or appointed official who needs money to maintain their tenuous hold on graft and corruption!