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Japan Reacts to Worsening Fukushima Disaster By ... Reopening Nuclear Plant Next to Active Volcano Which Is About to Blow

George Washington's picture




 

Scientists warned that an earthquake could take out Fukushima. The Japanese ignored the warning ... and even tore down the natural seawall which protected Fukushima from tidal waves.

Fukushima is getting worse. And see this and this.

Have the Japanese learned their lesson? Are they decommissioning nuclear plants which are built in dangerous environments?

Of course not!

Instead, they're re-starting a nuclear plant near a volcano which is about to blow ...

A month ago, there was an eruption at Mt. Ontake:

Ontake2 Screenshot from Youtube Video shot on September 29th of Mount erupting. 57 hikers were killed by the explosion

 

Embedded image permalink

 

But - as Newsweek reports - a nuclear plant only 40 miles away will be re-started anyway:

Local officials have voted to reopen a nuclear plant in Japan, despite warnings of increased volcanic activity in the region from scientists.

 

The decision comes despite a warning on Friday that Japan’s Seismological Agency had documented an increase of activity in the Ioyama volcano, located 40 miles away from the power station.

 

***

 

Sendai will become the first Japanese nuclear plant to reopen in since 2011.

 

However the decision comes as scientific authorities warned of increased seismic activity on the island. Volcanologists have warned that the 2011 earthquake, which measured 9.0 on the Richter scale, may have increased the likelihood of volcanic activity throughout the region. [Background.]

 

***

 

The Sendai plant is also situated only 31 miles from Mount Sakurajima, an extremely active volcano which erupts on a regular basis.

 

The documentation of new activity comes barely a month after the eruption of Mount Ontake, when 57 hikers were killed on its slopes. There were no accompanying signs of seismic activity prior to the eruption which might have alerted Japanese authorities to the impending disaster.

 

The vote has been seen as an attempt to resurrect the country’s nuclear industry, which the Japanese government hopes to restart despite public opposition to nuclear energy in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.

 

***

 

Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) approved Sendai's safety features in September, but the plant must still pass operational safety checks before it will be able to reopen.

What could possibly go wrong?

Here's a hint:

A cauldron eruption at one of several volcanoes surrounding the Sendai nuclear power plant could hit the reactors and cause a nationwide disaster, said Toshitsugu Fujii, head of a government-commissioned panel on volcanic eruption prediction.

Ene News explains:

Wall St Journal, Oct. 23, 2014 (emphasis added): One major volcanic eruption could make Japanextinct,” a study by experts at Kobe University warns… “We should be aware… It wouldn’t be a surprise if such gigantic eruption were to take place at any moment.”

Japan Times, Oct. 24, 2014: Colossal volcanic eruption could destroy Japan at any time: study — Japan could be nearly destroyed by a volcanic eruption over the next century that would put nearly all of its population of 127 million people at risk… “It is not an overstatement to say that a colossal volcanic eruption would leave Japan extinct as a country,” Kobe University earth sciences professor Yoshiyuki Tatsumi and associate professor Keiko Suzuki said… A disaster on Kyushu… would see an area with 7 million people buried by flows of lava and molten rock in just two hours [and] making nearly the entire country “unlivable”… It would be “hopeless” trying to save about 120 million

Japan Times, Oct. 24, 2014: Volcano near Sendai nuclear plant is shaking and may eruptAuthorities warned on Friday that a volcano a few dozen kilometers from the Sendai nuclear plant may erupt. It warned people to stay away… Ioyama [shows] signs of rising volcanic activity recently, including a tremor lasting as long as seven minutes… the Meteorological Agency’s volcano division said… [T]he area around the crater is dangerous, he added… On Friday, the warning level for the Sakurajima volcano was at 3, which means people should not approach the peak… Experts warn [the] earthquake in March 2011 may have increased the risk of volcanic activity throughout the nation

Japan Times, Oct 18, 2014: Sendai reactors vulnerable to eruptions [and] could cause a nationwide disaster, said Toshitsugu Fujii, University of Tokyo professor emeritus who heads a government-commissioned panel… [R]egulators ruled out a major eruption… [Fujii] said at best an eruption can be predicted only a matter of hours or days. Studies have shown that pyroclastic flow… at one of the volcanos near the Sendai plant… reached as far as 145 kilometers away, Fujii said. He said a pyroclastic flow from Mount Sakurajima… could easily hit the nuclear plant, which is only 40 kilometers away. Heavy ash falling from an eruption would make it impossible to reach the plant… he said. Many nuclear power plants could be affected

Asahi Shimbun, May 12, 2014: Now is the time to rethink the risk of operating nuclear power plants… it is the first time that Japan has seriously evaluated… the danger posed by volcanoes… Nuclear power plantswould suffer devastating damage from catastrophic eruptions… radioactive materials will continue to be scattered throughout the world

University of Tokyo professor Toshitsugu Fujii, head of government panel on eruption prediction: “Scientifically, they’re not safe… If [reactors] still need to be restarted… it’s for political reasons, not because they’re safe, and you should be honest about that.”

Postscript: The U.S. isn't much better. Moreover, the U.S. is forcing Japan to re-start it's nuclear reactors ... and the U.S. almost wholly controls Japanese nuclear policy.

 

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Wed, 10/29/2014 - 16:43 | 5391302 angryBuddhist
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It's a twisted logic but perhaps completely destroying the country will jump-start the economy, just like it did after WWII.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 19:59 | 5391821 mjcOH1
mjcOH1's picture

"It's a twisted logic but perhaps completely destroying the country will jump-start the economy, just like it did after WWII."

Mmmm.....no.   Leveling the country didn't jump start the economy.   The survivors among those we didn't kill jump-started the economy.   And they be dead now, along with yamato-damashii.  Tentacle porn and hello kitty fans won't be rebuilding Japan.   But to be fair, selfie posters and the FSA won't be rebuilding America when our turn comes.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 16:37 | 5391273 are we there yet
are we there yet's picture

Poor Japan. Fukashema, little arrable land even before the radioactivity. China and Korea as neighbors. Low reproduction rate.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 16:15 | 5391223 pupdog1
pupdog1's picture

We have a president who is doing everything possible to import the world's worst disease into his own country, as the whores of congress stand idly by.

Who are we to criticize Japan.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 16:04 | 5391195 ironmace
ironmace's picture

maybe Mothra can stop it by destroying Tokyo.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:35 | 5391093 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

Shakee, Shakee, Bakee, Bakee - sayonara...

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:59 | 5391176 Stoploss
Stoploss's picture

If you're going full FTMFW, might as well kick the door open.

At least the hollywood "elite" will die of cancer first.   

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:29 | 5391070 Mi Naem
Mi Naem's picture

Really, REALLY sad. 

This archipelago will end up as a big green-glowing lighthouse for mainland China. 

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:21 | 5391036 dvfco
dvfco's picture

With their current reproduction rates, well below replacement, the country is not going to have anyone under the she of 60 soon. Their population is going to plummet one way or another.  I'd prefer it was due to use of condoms rather than nukes, but who am I to tell them how to fuck themselves?

 

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:16 | 5391019 Joebloinvestor
Joebloinvestor's picture

The island is FUCKED anyway.

 

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:07 | 5390981 LFMayor
LFMayor's picture

And here I thought we'd all be dead by now!

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:05 | 5390970 One World Mafia
One World Mafia's picture

Indeed, mainstream Japanese newspaper Nikkei reports that it was President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton who have pressured the Japanese to re-start that country’s nuclear program after the Japanese government vowed to end all nuclear power in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/10/it-is-the-american-not-japanese-g...

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 17:38 | 5391469 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

That Nikkei reporter should have done a little more digging into how the Clintons deal with their critics.

Yakuza? Don't make me laugh - we got Hillary to 'take care of business'.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:56 | 5390945 TrumpXVI
TrumpXVI's picture

Well, what do you expect from the country that brought the world; Seppuku, the Ohka bomb, the Kamakazi, etc......the Japanese never wanted to live anyway.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 20:27 | 5391895 silverliberty
silverliberty's picture

The eat BLOW FISH for fuck sakes.  Talk about a death wish.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 16:12 | 5391213 forexskin
forexskin's picture

what about bukakke - that's got to count for something.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:55 | 5390941 silentsock
silentsock's picture

I would think it'd take one HELL of a volcano to mess with a nuke plant from 40 miles away. Of course, I'm no expert of Volcanoes or Nuclear Power Plants. lol

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 18:11 | 5391550 Bay Area Guy
Bay Area Guy's picture

Erupting volcanos tend to have a pretty fair amount of seismic activity. Thinking locally (for me), the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was centered at least 50 or 60 miles from San Francisco and Oakland. While a lot of destruction in SF and Oakland was due to the effects on landfill and substandard construction, there was still plenty of damage to seemingly well constructed buildings. Volcanic eruptions also tend to have more than just one off seismic events. I don't know about you, but a reactor or anywhere near an active volcano, much less one with a very recent ruption, seems to be the makings of pure hell in Japan and, eventually, most of the rest of us.

And I was just feeling safer about Ebola.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 16:16 | 5391228 americanspirit
americanspirit's picture

Hi SilentSock - it's actually 38 kilometers, which is about 20 miles. And it isn't at all unusual for strong eruptions to send massive pyroclastic flows that distance and more. Plus any large eruption routinely throws chunks of molten rock 50-100 miles. When the supervolcano in New Mexico erupted millions of years ago it threw house-sized rocks as far as Eastern Kansas. So the Sendai nuke isn't exactly outside the zone of possible, even likely destruction depending on which way the eruption blows..

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 16:40 | 5391286 George Washington
George Washington's picture

"38 kilometers, which is about 20 miles". Greatful for link ...

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:42 | 5390882 pine_marten
pine_marten's picture

Who thought the nuke plants and their waste would eclipse thermonuclear war as the ultimate threat to humanity?  

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:50 | 5390928 Bastiat
Bastiat's picture

 

 

The poet Gary Snyder for one:  The poem "LMFBR"  in Turtle Island, 1974.

The title is the acro for Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor.  I remember the lines "grinning death" and the poem ends with:   "Kali Yuga/end of days."

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:44 | 5390877 alexcojones
alexcojones's picture

One way or other, GW, the PTB elites want us all

Fooked.

And in other Nuke News....

Has the US Nuked Syria?

 

 

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:31 | 5390843 bbq on whitehou...
bbq on whitehouse lawn's picture

Japans dead already. They just dont know it yet.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 17:35 | 5391463 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

Dead? Then the only decent thing to do is bury it. 

Nature and it's infinite wisdom...

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:24 | 5390802 stewie
stewie's picture

Ice wall... WTF!  What about concrete?

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:31 | 5390838 George Washington
George Washington's picture

Maybe we need Gamera, Rodan and Mothra to protect the plants from Godzilla?

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:41 | 5390879 BigJim
BigJim's picture

  Japan Times, Oct. 24, 2014: Colossal volcanic eruption could destroy Japan at any time: study — Japan could be nearly destroyed by a volcanic eruption over the next century that would put nearly all of its population of 127 million people at risk… “It is not an overstatement to say that a colossal volcanic eruption would leave Japan extinct as a country,” Kobe University earth sciences professor Yoshiyuki Tatsumi and associate professor Keiko Suzuki said… A disaster on Kyushu… would see an area with 7 million people buried by flows of lava and molten rock in just two hours [and] making nearly the entire country “unlivable”… It would be “hopeless” trying to save about 120 million

I guess they figure if it's that bad they might as well have cheaper power for a while.

Is here any reason to believe a 'colossal' volcanic eruption is any more imminent now, than (say) the thousands of years that Japan has been inhabited?

A supervolcano anywhere would probably kill hundreds of millions of people. Imagine if Yellowstone finally blew? Love to see yields on long-dated US treasuries in that event...

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:52 | 5390930 0b1knob
0b1knob's picture

Isn't any random place in Japan next to:

 

 

1.) An earthquake fault line.

2.) A volcano which has been active within recent geological times.

3.) A coastline subject to periodic tsunamis.

4.) Some combination of the above.

 

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 18:14 | 5391556 blindman
blindman's picture

keyword: geothermal.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 14:55 | 5390942 George Washington
George Washington's picture

QED ... nukes in Japan = stupid idea.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:40 | 5391118 MeMadMax
MeMadMax's picture

Hey george washington(the author of this article):

 

Who gives a shit...

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 23:08 | 5392315 Buster Cherry
Buster Cherry's picture

are you serious?

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 19:12 | 5391716 Bay Area Guy
Bay Area Guy's picture

Hey MeMadMax, the world SHOULD care.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 16:50 | 5391319 PhilofOz
PhilofOz's picture

MeMadMax.... dickhead!!!

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 16:17 | 5391233 pupdog1
pupdog1's picture

It's where the tuna comes from.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 15:55 | 5391165 Radical Marijuana
Radical Marijuana's picture

Anyone on the West Coast of North America has reason to care, since the prevailing winds and ocean currents all cross the Pacific Ocean from Japan towards North America.

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 19:21 | 5391732 boogerbently
boogerbently's picture

Fukashima, Syria, Ukraine, REAL inflation, Russia, Israel, FED, DC corruption, immigration, diluted U$D, peak gold (mining), ebola......

(In a sane/normal market) Shouldn't gold be about $10,000/oz by now ?

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 20:15 | 5391856 El Oregonian
El Oregonian's picture

"Hari-Kari" on a national scale?

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 22:50 | 5392265 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

Putting a nuclear plant on the slopes of a volcano is brilliant.  When it's old and leaky you simply wait for 50 meters of lava to entomb it forever.

 

Thu, 10/30/2014 - 10:42 | 5393591 max2205
max2205's picture

Same as Iceland couple of million years ago

About wiped out the planet

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 20:41 | 5391934 screw face
screw face's picture

Zero hedge @ #Fukushima....bitchez

Wed, 10/29/2014 - 23:39 | 5392379 The Blank Stare
The Blank Stare's picture

Godzilla got the hell out a couple of years ago. Last seen hanging out in San Fran.

There was an article about Mothra going to New Zealand and Rodan heading to Ukraine, but it disappeared.

Thu, 10/30/2014 - 09:00 | 5393122 old naughty
old naughty's picture

only the muppets stay to face the wrath of Gaia, no?

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