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Japan Attempts To Overturn Food Export Ban As TEPCO Proceeds With Operation "Superglue"
Earlier today Japan Geiger counters had a brief scare following news that a second radioactive powerplant - Fukushima Daini briefly emitted smoke. Reuters reported: "smoke was reported to be coming from a second
damaged nuclear plant nearby on Wednesday, with the authorities saying
an electric distribution board powering a water pump was the problem. The Daini plant several miles from the stricken Daiichi facility has been put into cold shutdown." And while the incident was subsequently said to be under control, a bigger issue for Japan's export market is the attempt to overturn the food export embargo which many countries have imposed on the island nation out of radiation concerns. That this is a major issue for Japan becomes apparent following disclosure that the country is already pushing hard to overturn this ban: "Japan called on the world not to impose "unjustifiable" import curbs on its goods as French President Nicolas Sarkozy was due to arrive on Thursday, the first leader to visit since an earthquake and tsunami damaged a nuclear plant, sparking the worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986. In a briefing to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Japan said it was monitoring radioactive contamination to prevent potential food safety risks and would provide the WTO with quick and precise information." Alas, with Japanese credibility non-existent following the abysmal treatment of the catastrophe over the past three weeks, one can see why the world may be a little skeptical. Add to this earlier news that according to the IAEA there "might" be recriticality in the reactor, and we can't wait to see Japan's March trade balance when it is released in just over a month.
From Reuters:
Japan has ordered an immediate safety upgrade at its 55 nuclear power plants, its first acknowledgement that standards were inadequate.
A Reuters investigation showed Japan and TEPCO repeatedly played down dangers at its nuclear plants and ignored warnings, including a 2007 tsunami study from the utility's senior safety engineer.
Nuclear plants will now be required by mid-April to deploy back-up mobile power generators and fire trucks able to pump water, while beefing up training programmes and manuals.
Longer-term solutions such as higher sea walls at nuclear stations will be considered and Japan will review policy to encourage renewable energy.
Anger at Japan's nuclear crisis saw more than 100 people protest outside the Tokyo headquarters of TEPCO.
"We don't want to use electric power that can kill people," said Waseda University student Mina Umeda.
But the Japanese government says nuclear power will remain an integral supplier of power. Before the disaster, Japan's nuclear reactors provided about 30 percent of the country's electric power. That had been expected to rise to 50 percent by 2030, among the highest in the world.
TEPCO said it was inevitable it would have to scrap four of its six reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
But even just scrapping the damaged nuclear reactors may take decades, said Hidehiko Nishiyama, deputy director-general of the Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency (NISA).
"Even if they decide on scrapping the reactors, water spraying needs to be continued to prevent the fuels from overheating, and a sustainable cooling system needs to be established," said Nishiyama.
"It would be 10 to 20 years before the scrapping process runs its course and we see nothing but a flat piece of land at the plant site," he said.
Now that both project Irrigation and project Extension Cord have been failures, the latest strawman out of TEPCO is to sprinkle superglue.
TEPCO will test sprinkling synthetic resin in some areas of the Daiichi complex to prevent radioactive dust from flying into the air or being washed into the ocean by rain. The resin is water-soluble, but when the water evaporates, it becomes sticky and contains the dust.
"Radioactive dust from the hydrogen explosions in reactors No. 1 and 3 has drifted and is stuck on debris from the tsunami," said NISA's Nishiyama.
"We need to prevent that from spewing out into the sea along with the rain or from drifting away in the air." Pollution of the ocean is a serious concern for a country where fish is central to the diet. Experts say the vastness of the ocean and a powerful current should dilute high levels of radiation, limiting the danger of marine contamination.
We give this particular plan a half life of 2 days, and in the meantime we hope that Japan is ordering the concrete it will need for operation Trappuccino.
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I thought Japan had the best engineers.
WTF are they thinking?
"Japan called on the world not to impose "unjustifiable" import curbs on its goods"
unjustifiable, you must be pissed...
This stuff gets up and walks on its own...
Driving a Toyota will never be the same...
not when you don't need headlights at night...
All imported 2011 Toyotas now come with easy-to-find NiteGlow feature!
Japan's problem was that they trusted a United States company called GE. Today, GE is Obama's favorite company and will cover up whatever GE tells Obama to. No worries, BP is #2 on Obama's fav list as is #3 being Bahrain.
I would have to disagree.
I'd say their biggest problem was building and continuously operating an old school BWR nuclear clunker on one of the earth's most active seismic zones, and using a half-assed utility company (that can't apparently afford rubber boots or bottled water) to manage it.
Tepco is in survival mode.....they obviously have a vested interest in minimizing the cost (just to survive). At what point do they get over-ridden and replaced in dealing with this crisis? A proper solution most probably bankrupts them. Tepco's survival hinges on finding a super-glue solution. That simple.
TEPCO will not survive. They are already a dead company. They WILL be nationalized. They have already tried to abandon this clusterfuck but, reportedly, were ordered back on the scene to avoid public (and probably Capitol) punishment.
Capital or capitol? I guess either way it makes sense. :)
ING Banker Bonuses Axed By People Power: 100% Bonus Clawback Tax Passed Retroactive To 2008
http://dailybail.com/home/ing-banker-bonuses-axed-by-people-power-100-bonus-clawback-t.html
Hurray for no rule of law!
Now, where to apply this retroactivity power next?
actually I'd prefer we let them keep their bonuses here in the U.S. but hang them all by the neck retroactively to 2008.
I would settle for hanging them today, along with the treasonous pols who gave them our money.
Youre a dickweed
Awww, you like Congresscritters so much that you pop up to defend them againt charges of treason?
And "youre a dickweed" is the best you can come up with.
Move on, Billy the Retard. We know your game, and we can spot you a mile away.
Aww c'mon, if you're going to use the proper spelling of "you're" at least throw the apostrophe in there, too.
I agree, where to apply this newly found power next. /sarc
Hmmmm, retroactive immunity for TBTFs who have a ton of toxic MBSs that can be put back and that they severed the deed and note so cannot foreclose?
Just like superman spinning the world to undo things.
Not a good thing, no matter who is on the receiving end.
pods
Go long Japanese seafood and tap water?
Im never eating or drinking anything again! Radioactive iodine in Colorado now at 3,300% above 'acceptable standards', should be no problem EPA will raise standards up around 3,300% quickly.
link
http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1325
Doesn't mention Colorado Iodine levels ...
Greed is a terrible thing...
'tis the worst crime one can commit against one's self because it keeps one working when one otherwise would not...one...
Hmmm...
Beer on the other hand is a marvellous thing, 'cos it keeps one typing when one otherwise would not...
Hmmm...
I am reassured to know that TEPCO said Daiini was smoking today because of an electric distribution board.
Oh, and they at least called the fire department this time.
TEPCO is the best.
/sarc
The Top Ten U.S. Corporate Tax Avoiders
http://dailybail.com/home/bernie-sanders-the-top-ten-us-corporate-tax-avoiders.html
Please include a fat stack of yen with each item and I'll consider eating it.
I much prefer food imported from China.
Personally I have a rule that bars me from eating anything that isn't dead...
No yogurt for you, eh?
Never, I'd die first...
What about cheese? Cured meats (the animal is dead, but the meat is lit up with microbes)?
Sour cream?
Oh....C'mon!
What about putana?
Raw garlic is an excellent medium with which to grow Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
better death...
never touched the stuff, trust me, I'm a doctor...
All good for the Dow and S&P though...wheee!
(sarcasm off...)
DavidC
I see that. Long live Weisenthal and Blodget
I agree... total madness. The worlds 2nd largest economy (or 3rd, depending who you believe) is literally crumbling and all is well. Gives you an idea of the true value of paper assets at this point.... and how growth is reaching such lofty levels unchecked. Total BS.
The Japanese are efficient and disciplined. I'm sure they can complete all of their work in the two hours/day they have electric power. Works for public servants;)
Corexit all over again.
This is just a way to get you and your children to get your required daily dose of radiation.
remember it's good for you, brings out that healthy glow that supermodels yearn for...
though why I might want tits like a supermodel being a bloke is beyond me...
that's if I was a bloke, which I'm not admitting to...
That made me laugh Harlequin001! Excellent!
DavidC
This is where the American Ambassador will visit to negotiate that America will accept food with risk of radiation contamination in return that Japan accepts beef which may have risk of mad cow disease contamination.
Edit: let's do business
Just like gulf schrimp, if it passes the "sniff" test, then it must be good.
Just think if this spreads then the alaska kings will be big as arms and legs.
As if Deadliest Catch wasn't dangerous enough.
Fuck that. Let the Japaneese eat their own food.
Yeah, you'd think that a place with empty store shelves might want to keep the food for their own consumption.
Then again, all of the exporters are probably owned/controlled by Western interests (Rockyfellers and such).
The spice must flow!
Cloth and resin to cover the meltdown...hmmm, I can hardly wait to see how well that will work. How does that work on the tons of 1000 millisievert water? I'm sure cloth and resin won't melt when applied to fission products. Sounds good guys like you really planned for this.
Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the Shroud of Turbine.
It's like a frickin' miracle and shit...CB
Excellent! [/mr. burns]
LOL, I've been waiting to see what names would emerge for the shroud. I bet there are a few Japanese words that might fit as well.
On a previous thread I suggested the "KI Kimono"
how about
'great big lump of concrete'...
just a thought...
edit of dup by dope
Regarding the resin, the Soviets did something similar in Chernobyl and Pripyat, spraying a sticky black goo from helicopters meant to capture and trap radioactive dust on the ground.
That was actually from the helicopter pilot shitting his pants at 150 feet altitude....tends to stick to everything after the downdrafts.
The inventor of Super Glue, Harry Wesley Coover Jr., died this week. A crowning achievement for a prolific inventor.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/28/business/28coover.html
Cyanoacrylate is great stuff, and fortunately it is not used in excessive amounts.
Anyone wanna take a wild guess at the inorganic byproducts of combustion when Super Glue is burned or heated?
More of a Krazy-glue person. But,that's just me.
Try that gorilla glue. It is serious stuff. It is not just cute to glue you fingers together, but it will take the skin off, pulling them apart.
ZH/TD
Thank your for making this site like an entertaining riverboat ride through the jungles of misinformation.
This site has the most up to date information coupled with commentary and analyses that is second to none.
It is a most refreshing escape from the offensive and pugnacious pile of modern day journalism.
"This site has the most up to date information coupled with commentary and analyses that is second to none."
Are you referring to my reference regarding the inventor of Super Glue?
Bravo! No T.V. anymore and Zerohedge a daily must.
Anyone seen articles about possible radioactive rain forming from the polluted seawater? Could that be a real threat?
(Fix the CAPTCHA, please: some answers require long negative numbers and currently the page doesn't understand them).
yeah...CAPTCHA and negative signs is a negative experience
But then a negative times a negative is positive!
No, the CAPTCHA works just fine. Negativity is our last line of defense.
+ (-1)(-1)
+ (-1^-2)(-1^-2)(-1^-2)(-1^-2)
or alternatively:
+ (-1^-2)^4
I love this: ""Japan called on the world not to impose "unjustifiable" import curbs on its goods". The nerve of these scummy slime suckers. These are the very characters who will ban imports of any food items from the U.S. for any reason. Japan banned US beef imports because they might have BSE contamination. They banned apples because there might be a "coddling moth" invasion. They banned long grain rice imports in 2006.
Translated: Japan is a mercantilist nation that will never trade fairly. The U.S. should ban all of their products until the power plant is cleaned up.
+1.
The bloody cheek of it. They are turning away their own evacuees (like lepers) because they don't want radiation contamination:
From today's Telegraph.co.uk
By Julian Ryall, in Tokyo 3:54PM BST 30 Mar 2011Hospitals and temporary refuges are demanding that evacuees provide them with certificates confirming that they have not been exposed to radiation before they are admitted"
They've done this before...
http://www.eggdonor.com/blog/2011/03/23/fukushima-evacuees-allege-discri...
Geiger counters made in Japan bitchez! They go off constantly because they are radioactive. BREEHEEHEE!!
nice one!
The irony is truly epic. It's ok to block imports for protectionism but not public health.
$$$$$$ rule all.
Long concrete and resin sprinklers, bitchez.
These are the same Aholes that put a ban on US beef because of mad-cow disease. F*** these clowns.....we're already being radiated enough....my dog is pissing florescent.
Yea they ban the hell out of our exports, but now say 'Ah so, no problem with glowing green lettuce and 3 eye sashimi...you buy NOW'!! And the farce plays on...
TEPCO
PETCO
hmmm
:: chuckle ::
I still remember that jingle...
PETCOooooo has it all for creatures great and small.
This isn't good. I spilled superglue on my jeans a few years ago and they started smoking. Some sort of chemical reaction I reckon. I'm still wearing one of the pockets.
What that stuff they are talking about actually is looks like PVA which you paint on fibreboard before glossing over. Glossing over. Glossing over......
but did you manage to change your underwear from time to time, or was it glued to your ass...
I spilt superglue in my wallet and now I can't get my money out...
when i opened this piece and began reading, i started laughing.
once i was tiling in a bathroom with a Henry's product, some kinda waterproof mastic. it was over 100 degrees and i was perspiring freely, and having trouble seeing, from the sweat in my eyes. i had protective gloves on and tried to wipe my right eye on my shoulder. glued it shut! i was on the last, top line, and finished, but the stuff had hardened up pretty good, and i couldn't get my eye unglued! plus, the pain was exquisite, due to the chemo's. after i discarded my "acetone?" thought, i did a little self-medicating while facing the task before me. it took all my strength, both lids were tore up, bad, and i almost passed out, but these religious experiences do not come along, every day.
OMFG -- ouch!
that's like trying to steam your nuts apart with an old kettle...
OMG...
...AND...TA DAH!
DOW +100!!!
pig vomit
Personally I have a rule that bars me from eating anything that isn't dead...
If they are looking for a resin to control the problem, I'd suggest hair spray.
Maybe they have a resin that when applied to rad elements produces a variety of skittles.
A little story about "sticking it to the man"(wood shop teacher) in 8th grade:
I superglued all the locks to my 8th grade wood shop class because my teacher was a tyrant. Of course, I was ratted out and summarily marched to the office by my ear. In a moment of glorious love for my father, I heard my father tell the principal that if I was ever accosted by anyone of authority again, my father would come down to the school and twist some ears of his own.
I just reached back dog knows how many years to pull that story forward. Thanks for the memories. Cheers.
When will Moody's downgrade them?
Can't make this shit up....wow
Who needs to eat when you have iPad's?
Sarkozy's visit sponsored by AREVA? ;)
Still wonder how they feel about closing those US bases now......although I think we should've already left, I bet they've had a change of heart.
TEPCO's way of remaining alert in a sticky situation
"TEPCO will test sprinkling synthetic resin in some areas of the Daiichi complex to prevent radioactive dust from flying into the air or being washed into the ocean by rain. The resin is water-soluble, but when the water evaporates, it becomes sticky and contains the radioactive dust."
"what happens if people inhale that sticky evaporating water containing that sticky radioactive dust ? "
something tells me the TEPCO should be put into maximum security,
somewhere far away, so they can cause no more harm to people
and the planet earth.
duct tape, bitchezzt
TEPCO disclosed, in the same press conference, that the Plant's radioactive waste processing facility is flooded, and equipments submerged under water in the basement. As usual, they found that out 2 days ago, didn't bother to tell until March 30.
http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2011/03/fukushima-i-nuke-plant-radioactive_30...
If the Fugu doesn't get you, the plutonium/iodine/cesium/radnium/glownium will.
Experts say the vastness of the ocean and a powerful current should dilute high levels of radiation, limiting the danger of marine contamination.
Don't believe a word of that:
High levels of radiation in juvenile and 1 year old bluefin tuna being spawned and swimming off Honshu right now, and migrating together over 3 months this fall to the US westcoast, will have some radiation that is not diluted by crossing the Pacific, and the 2012 westcoast bluefin tuna harvest should be tested, and probably banned from sale. If they're glowing blue-green underwater in the dark, skip the testing and stay out of the water.
Every other day I can't resist picking up 5 more cans to add to my 6 tuna cases, staledated 10/2014, but sometime soon I'll switch to adding canned salmon, with longer staledates of 06/2016.
Very sorry for the Japanese, in a world of hurt that may be spreading and not safe because of distance and dilution.
I would like to see the tuna population recover.
Too bad this is the way it will have to happen.
Rather than genetically-mutated, super-sized fish, I fear next season's tuna harvest will feature fascinating specimens of highly irradiated fish that will possess a wide variety of malignant growths and other non-benign tumors.
Sounds yummy.
Something I picked up on NHK earlier. The frequency of electric current is 50 Hertz in Eastern Japan and 60 Hertz in Western Japan, The western power grid has a surplus but cannot supply it to the stricken east, whose industry is getting butt-fucked by the rolling blackouts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Power_Grid_of_Japan.PNG
Sounds like a good time to standardize on 60Hz to me.
TEPCO's investment in East Texas Nuke Plant, that TEPCO chairman mentioned in the press conference yesterday. They were going to use TEPCO and Toshiba's expertise in building advanced boiling water reactor designed by GE - Hitachi.
http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-on-tepcos-south-texas-nuke-plant...
Plan will work about as well as Corexit in the Gulf.
The longer these idiots masturbate over incremental solutions, the less chance that a final solution, entombment in concrete and lead, will actually work. If the reactors re-achive criticality, then the lead and concrete won't work...it'll be too fucking hot at that point.
This is a comedy of errors big time. The longer this goes the higher the probability that nothing will work in regard to containing this, and in fact I think it's already at that point. I think what may happen is that all 6 will go into full meltdown and just become a radioactive volcano which will continue to spew for a long time. And make hundreds of miles if not 1/3 of Japan uninhabitable.
Translation -- let us export all our contaminated food so we can import your safe(r) food.