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Be Afraid: Japan Is About To Do Something That's Never Been Done Before

Tyler Durden's picture




 

When the words "mothballed", "nuclear", and "never been done before" are seen together with Japan in a sentence, the world should be paying attention...

As TEPCO officials face criminal charges over the lack of preparedness with regard Fukushima, and The IAEA Report assigns considerable blame to the Japanese culture of "over-confidence & complacency," Bloomberg reports,

Japan is about to do something that’s never been done before: Restart a fleet of mothballed nuclear reactors.

 

The first reactor to meet new safety standards could come online as early as next week. Japan is reviving its nuclear industry four years after all its plants were shut for safety checks following the earthquake and tsunami that wrecked the Fukushima Dai-Ichi station north of Tokyo, causing radiation leaks that forced the evacuation of 160,000 people.

 

Mothballed reactors have been turned back on in other parts of the world, though not on this scale -- 25 of Japan’s 43 reactors have applied for restart permits. One lesson learned elsewhere is that the process rarely goes smoothly. Of 14 reactors that resumed operations after four years offline, all had emergency shutdowns and technical failures, according to data from the World Nuclear Association, an industry group.

 

“If reactors have been offline for a long time, there can be issues with long-dormant equipment and with ‘rusty’ operators,” Allison Macfarlane, a former chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said by e-mail.

In case you are not worried enough yet...

As problems can arise with long-dormant reactors, the NRA “should be testing all the equipment as well as the operator beforehand in preparation,” Macfarlane of the U.S. said by e-mail. Although the NRA “is a new agency, many of the staff there have long experience in nuclear issues,” she said.

 

Kyushu Electric has performed regular checks since the reactor was shut to ensure it restarts and operates safely, said a company spokesman, who asked not to be identified because of company policy.

 

“If a car isn’t used for a while, and you suddenly use it, then there is usually a problem. There is definitely this type of worry with Sendai,” said Ken Nakajima, a professor at Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute. “Kyushu Electric is probably thinking about this as well and preparing for it.”

It's not the first time a nation has tried this..

In Sweden, E.ON Sverige AB closed the No. 1 unit at its Oskarshamn plant in 1992 and restarted it in 1996.

 

It had six emergency shutdowns in the following year and a refueling that should have taken 38 days lasted more than four months after cracks were found in equipment.

*  *  *

Good luck Japan

 

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Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:21 | 6404983 gigadeath
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3/11/11, a day that will live in infamy...

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:24 | 6404998 remain calm
remain calm's picture

So this is how they celebrate Hirioshima and Nagasaki. What better way than a little more self inflicted radiation.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:25 | 6405013 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Ann Coulter says radiation is good for you. So, you know, just bask in it.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:30 | 6405029 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

Maybe that radiation can remove her adams apple.

I have a special boiled rope for Ann and that fuckin zionist Pam Geller.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:35 | 6405045 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

Thanks for the downvote Falconflight.

How's your lox and bagels this fine morning?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:43 | 6405070 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Boiled butts are no problem over there apparently.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:50 | 6405095 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

The mainframes running these things are going to be outdated as fuck. I think it was JuliaS who once told the story of having to bring up an 80s mainframe in a control center, and no one had been in there for decades.

If everything comes up and running, great. Otherwise, you're in debugging hell.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:58 | 6405118 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

Restarts?  Has anyone bothered to add the safety features that would have prevented the Fukushima disaster? passive cooling?  Hydrogen gas vents? Pressure reliefs? Tremmie walls to prevent groundwater contamination? Advanced sensors and radiation resistant monitors?

I didn't think so.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:01 | 6405129 rccalhoun
rccalhoun's picture

i wont need my sonar fish finder anymore. 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:44 | 6405237 Fukushima Sam
Fukushima Sam's picture

I'm sure this is going to work out just fine.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 15:09 | 6405307 WordSmith2013
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The nuke power generation model was forced on Japan post WWII by USA.

http://cosmicconvergence.org/?p=10819

Hiroshima & Nagasaki Atomic Bombings: Affirmed USA As Military Arm Of New World Order

 

 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:06 | 6405414 ParkAveFlasher
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Wake me when...when...omg MOTHRAAAAAH

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:31 | 6405581 Scooby Dooby Doo
Scooby Dooby Doo's picture

Scooby says this is great news. You don't start up reactors like this unless you need a lot of power. You don't need this kind of power unless your economy is BOOMING!

3 cheers for Japan.

Sun, 08/09/2015 - 01:19 | 6406314 old naughty
old naughty's picture

"forced on Japan..."

more like put 130M on the altar, along with other sacrificial stuff.

No accident, all according to agenda.

 

And radiation IS good for you, unless you are human.

Sun, 08/09/2015 - 09:24 | 6406660 N2OJoe
N2OJoe's picture

Maybe they should focus on fixing the one that is STILL uncontrollably pissing radiation into the Pacific first?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 20:38 | 6405914 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

Japan has already done something that's never been done before: covered up a triple fucking MELTDOWN, lost all three cores and killed damn near everything in the Pacific Ocean.

I'm really not interested in their next chimpish act - the show has become tiresome.

Sun, 08/09/2015 - 15:30 | 6407399 uhb
uhb's picture

OF COURSE NOT!

that would cost money...

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:58 | 6405122 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

"Please do not worry."

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:08 | 6405154 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

Exactly.  And why not build modern reactors?  Too expensive?  NIKKEI more important than safety?

These economic alchemists who see debt as an asset will be the death of a great many people.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:36 | 6405216 Son of Loki
Son of Loki's picture

But Japan's PM said, "It's only a tiny leak."

 

What's wrong with all of you?!

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:10 | 6405413 defender1be
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If you have 100% gaurantee that your reactor can run for its full lifetime (30/40 years or so), than no.

But thanks to all the environmental nutcase's that have 0 technical knowledge of these things in positions of power, you can't even be sure that you will be able to complete the construction of your multi billion dollar reactor.

Personally i blame tha environment wacko's for fukusima. There have been safe reactor desings for decades, with passife safety's and that are more efficient, so the produce less radioactive wast.

The mean reason that those old unsave and uneffecient reactors have not been replaced by the safe effecient one's is because those idiots, fukushima would never have happend if those idiots had not blocked all development in the '80.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:25 | 6405570 MeetTozter
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In ZH, the land of the purrfect Market, why in the age of endless QE has there never been a single Nuke Reactor built with private, non government, not monopoly capital, ever?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:31 | 6405579 wisefool
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and why are there zero private insurance companies that underwrite the risks of "clean safe nuclear power" Not even berkshire hathaway has the balls or money to do that. Coal plants are all insured privately.

Nuke plants are insured by the taxpayers. If you dont like it, a goon with a gun and probably 3 pensions will make you like it. raditation or gunshot wounds. well done there statists. well done.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 18:16 | 6405672 defender1be
defender1be's picture

Please go troll somewhere else, you lying environmental nazi.

The Olkiluoto unit 3 reactor being build is 100% privately funded and its not the only one. There are several reactors being build around the world with private money.

The same to "wisefool" troll, nuclear reactors are insured by private insurance companies.

here is a link with some info, http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of-Plants/L....

Go spread your FUD somewhere else.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 19:29 | 6405809 wisefool
wisefool's picture

Thanks for the link!

  • Liability is limited by both international conventions and by national legislation, so that beyond the limit (normally covered by insurance) the state can accept responsibility as insurer of last resort, as in all other aspects of industrial society.

Kinda like the GSEs, The Fed, Bear Sterns, etc. And don't forget the corporate veil. Hank Paulson was gonna roll tanks on the streets if we did not bailout the banks. Nuclear power is the same paradigm, but oerders of magnitude worse. Do you have any idea what the cost is to the human race of hundreds of thousands of lives. Permanent genetic defects ( caused by the DU we dumped on Iraq) and thousands of hectares of planet earth that are un-inhabitable till the end of time? Not including the waste depository costs?

Nuclear power has always been about the weapons, and the ability to force the people to pay for the upkeep till the end of time, or we all die. You can take a $10,000 auto insurance policy and claim you have private insurance, but the body work for 30 MPH fender bender will be twice that  Not to mention any medical. These nuclear plants can take out a billion dollars of insurance, but even little events like chernobyl is said to have been the reason the soviet union collapsed.

I am not trolling, but you might be.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 20:51 | 6405905 defender1be
defender1be's picture

Liability is always limited with big stuff like that. Do you realy think that the insurance for lets say a big chemical factory with realy dangerous products is unlimited?

Its even in the qoute you give "as in all other aspects of industrial society", what do you think the mean with "other aspects of industrial society"?

You say "Coal plants are all insured privately", wat do you think would happen if a batch of coal contaminated with toxic chemicals got through the quality checks.

An accident like that is possible and it will not be covered by the private insurance. And you wil have a disaster just as bad as a nuclear one.

Hey, even normal insurance is limited, in most insurance contracts there are exemptions that exludes liability in case of natural disaster or war and other stuff.

There is so mutch FUD (fear,uncertainty, doubt) being spread about nuclear power and everybody just accept the disinformation without question.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 22:36 | 6406095 wisefool
wisefool's picture

The nastiest of the nasty stuff. Benzine, Chorine, heck even warren buffets oil trans blow up and can kill a whole town. But 3 weeks later, it is dispersed, degraded, chelated. That is billions of dollars.

Nuclear power plants an Nuclear waste can never, ever be safe. They require maintence till the end of time. The particles degrade over 10,100, millions of years. riding the ocean currents and the airborne jetstream. bio-aggregated in our food. That is hundreds of trillions of dollars.

If you ingest 1 benzine molecule, you might get sick. if you injest a radioactive isotope you are dead, unless they cut it out of you. 

You are either very naive, or a shill if you think the liabilities nuclear industry is "privately insured". it has been around for 60 years, and we have had 10 major incidents. that is an absurd reate of failure. Do you think the entire nation of germany is getting rid of the reactors based on "Fear. uncertainty, doubt?" or because they have more I.Q. and respect for the planet than our elite tax farmers?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:51 | 6405096 0b1knob
0b1knob's picture

"never done before"

TM-1 (the undamaged reactor at Three Mile Island) was mothballed from 1979 till 1985 and then restarted.  Why is it that reporters always talk about some "unprecedented" event that one minute of googling could prove was not unprecedented at all?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:54 | 6405105 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

I know.. What a bunch of fucking shit

ITS A LOT MOAR DANGEROUS STARTING A REACTOR FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU MOE-RONS!

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 15:58 | 6405401 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

All too true... Ex-navy nuclear reactor operator...Pull into port, shut the reactor down on Friday night, Monday morning, start it back up. Rather routine procedure, but to people that have never done it before, they tend to think that it is some sort of "magic".

Standard Disclaimer: What people don't know about a subject could fill volumes.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 18:31 | 6405699 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

You just have to kinda take 'er easy until all the neutron poisons are burned up..

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 20:12 | 6405873 Urban Roman
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Of course, your military reactor is a different design than the Fukushima reactors. Cooling is easier to come by, for example. Without knowing much about it, I'd say that your ship's reactor still needed to shed decay heat over that weekend, so it wasn't completely shut down.

The Fukushima reactors had a nameplate saying something like a gigawatt in service, meaning that they had to get rid of about fifty megawats of plain old waste heat when shut down, gradually tapering off with the decay. And the designers of those GE Mark I reactors unfortunately did not consider as possibilities, some of the happenings at Fukushima...

 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 22:41 | 6406111 wisefool
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They did not think 7.0+ earthquakes and tsunamis could happen on a massive island like japan, that literally rose out of the ocean because of one reason ... wait for it ... 7.0+ earthquakes and tsunamis.

Germany is not an earthquake prone region, but they are getting rid of them.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 15:17 | 6405319 Stuck on Zero
Stuck on Zero's picture

Starting reactors when you know they have multiple fatal unfixed flaws is just plain dumb.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:31 | 6405368 Rusty Shorts
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Here's is what a burning fuel assembly looks like - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtwI7niIuWI

 

tepco record was taken 13th september 2011

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:13 | 6405436 defender1be
defender1be's picture

Not only that, but the Oskarshamn reactor the are talking about is still in operation.

If the restart of that reactor was really that problematic, than i think that it would have been decomissiond by now.

Sun, 08/09/2015 - 11:34 | 6406886 Dave's not here
Dave's not here's picture

Surly they'er immune to radiation by now. 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:44 | 6405072 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Bunghole, the national past time of Turkey.  You work for their CofC?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:46 | 6405082 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Hate Lox, love cinnamon raisin bagels.  Not easy to come by in the Smokies.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 15:10 | 6405083 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Just so we are clear about Zionism specifically, and not Jew bashing generally, I can help you out with that rope...Ann has a high horse, I think we are good to go.

 

 

Edit: So is the problem that I am not willing to hate all Jews, just the ones who are hypocrites imprisoning Palestinians, and acting like their needs are the only needs on earth?

Or is the problem that you like Pam and Ann?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:26 | 6405423 Ms No
Ms No's picture

"Just so we are clear about Zionism"

Thank you for making that distinction. The Hedge is a pretty great place and I'd like to see it around for a minute.  These critical issues have to be discussed but it helps to have it in a proper context.  Most Jews are as ignorant of the Zionist banking sect as the average American.  There are Jews actively fighting this banking sect also.  There are so few aware of what is actually going on that statements that are percieved as simple racism will just discredit and destroy any opposition and collectively put a noose around all of our necks.

 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:50 | 6405492 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Thank you for spelling it out.

Never works to overgeneralize, indeed, that serves to hand them the rope for that collective noose you were talking about.  

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:07 | 6405527 cheech_wizard
cheech_wizard's picture

Speaking of Ann's acting... she did have a cameo in Sharknado3...

 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:07 | 6405419 phoolish
phoolish's picture

You can dissolve radioactive elements and make them safe.

 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:34 | 6405583 norecovery
norecovery's picture

Oh, good! Why don't you go over to Hanford and WIPP and Savannah and Sellafield and all the other nuclear waste repositories, where deadly toxic waste has been piling up for decades, and demonstrate your technique? I'm sure all the scientists and nuclear engineers that have unsuccessfully wrestled with this problem will appreciate your insights.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 22:58 | 6406131 WillyGroper
WillyGroper's picture

See what a guy in the industry from Finland  has to say about it.

Global in the skullduggery.

Gives an entirely different perspective on Hiroshima & Nagasaki.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dIr0MWYDwQ

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:41 | 6405059 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Complements of GE designed and built reactors along w/ GE designed and built back up generators, all of which failed miserably under duress. We have the same defects here on coastal reactors but we don't have a problem because of a lack of tsunamis, should that change, we would.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:44 | 6405236 TuPhat
TuPhat's picture

You have negative knowledge about US reactors, negative rates.  If you knew what actually happened at Fukushima, which is not available from any ZH articles, then learning a little bit about the design of US reactors would give you a different picture.  For example they aren't all GE designs.  Many are Westinghouse and I worked at some that were Combustion Engineering.  These designs are all significantly different in operation with completely different safety functions.  None of the ones I worked at had GE designed backup generators and the generators at Fukishima only failed went they lost fuel supply.  Learn a little before you spout off.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 15:16 | 6405317 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Any proof or are you just spouting the MSM media of the day, I have PROOF  of defective design, if you want to take blame for the FAULTY  design, be my guest, what improvements have you guys made since the back up's failed, twice? I'd like to know so the insurance co won't go bankrupt, they might too.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:34 | 6405588 Stumpy4516
Stumpy4516's picture

The backup generators were not even the issue.  The coolant pipes had seperated due to movement prior to the generators going off line.

The seperation of the piping is a clear design flaw and failure.  One or Two of the original design engineers quit the project because their concerns regarding safety short cuts were not addressed. 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:24 | 6405002 Thirtyseven
Thirtyseven's picture

As will the turrist 7/7/05 and the mossad attacks of 9/11/2001

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:38 | 6405036 gigadeath
gigadeath's picture

Maybe Magna BSP, the Israeli security firm "guarding" the Fukushima Facility, might just know a thing or two about the origin of the meltdown...

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:58 | 6405120 Thirtyseven
Thirtyseven's picture

Question becomes: What have they TAKEN AWAY from the "disaster" site.

No doubt material with which to make a dirty bomb which they will then blame upon Iran.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 15:05 | 6405295 European American
European American's picture

"3/11/11, a day that will live in infamy..."

3/11/11, a day that we will die in infamy...

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:56 | 6405635 pine_marten
pine_marten's picture

Soon we will refer to the recent past as either pre or post Fukushima.  I buy only pre Fukushima wine (2010 or earlier) from California.   Mostly I stick to Southern hemisphere vineyards. 

Sun, 08/09/2015 - 08:27 | 6406601 Hot Shakedown
Hot Shakedown's picture

Fukushima was an elaborate hoax:

http://www.jimstonefreelance.com/fukureport1b.pdf

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:23 | 6404990 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

You need power this bad?

The pressure in play must be stunning. Either that, or greed.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:32 | 6405031 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

They aren't really set up for conventional systems since they've been heavily nuclear for a long time, plus the conventional systems they have were designed as stop-gaps during nuclear refueling and are inefficient and expensive to operate. They can't afford to keep them running and this is their only other choice, in the short term at least.....

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:59 | 6405125 Thirtyseven
Thirtyseven's picture

Yeah, can't imagine resource-poor Japan wanting to use coal/oil fired plants at any point if they didn't have to.  They just wouldn't really have that policy.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:26 | 6405197 Countrybunkererd
Countrybunkererd's picture

We have a war on coal power because of unfounded, faked, tweaked... no flat out cheating to push for CO2 globl warming i mean climate change standards and taxes.  Then we are forced into NUCLEAR power that causes very real, very deadly, very long term damage to our world.  I am all for coal power and eliminating nuclear power.  Humans have always been trapped by "elites" with hubris pushing hard and causing death to the plebs...bring back the guillotines, but in the plebs hands.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:40 | 6405226 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture

I am always surprised by how many relatively intelligent people fall for the Global Warming Al Gore Hoax. The only good that's come from it in my corner of the universe is those protests and demonstrations are a great place to pick up chicks whose hormones are raging about these issues.

 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:49 | 6405254 TuPhat
TuPhat's picture

They are not forcing us into Nuclear with the climate change crap.  They are just increasing control and taxes over coal while at the same time they have been making it much more expensive and difficult to keep nuclear power online.  The whole idea is to deprive the masses of any form of energy we don't beg them for and pay dearly for.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:39 | 6405473 techpreist
techpreist's picture

Personally, I'm thinking of living in an Earthship, and semi-burying it so the A/c bills stay low:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthship

Given that these don't need a lot of heating and cooling, and given that LEDs are getting cheap, I figure that with the right architecture a renewable system would actually be pretty feasible.

On he policy side... From what I've seen firsthand in the university system, we have a cult of true believers who think that by just chanting 'SOLAR' a few times and throwing around a few bill in other's money, that suddenly it will all work. Personally I see that the industry is sucking down silver and indium pretty fiercely (panels require both), so silver is a great buy. Neodymium (generator magnets for wind) is also in high demand.

These are the same people who said that ethanol is a great idea, except that the first generation of ethanol plants produced more CO2 emissions net than burning gasoline did (hint: corn doesn't just fall out of the Sun and right into the fermenter). Just slap a picture of a leaf on it and 90% of the professorial class will believe you, while plenty of corporate farmers and corporate handout recipents laugh all the way to the bank.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 15:03 | 6405292 wisefool
wisefool's picture

correct. it is always about control. being able to classify things as "top secret" or "national security." means that our rulers can not be questioned in dominating the slaves. people have heated their homes with coal, wood, gas, oil, for thousands of years we are all still here.

"the government could barbeque babies on live T.V. and we could do nothing about it" has a very real potential to happen in our lifetmes.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:22 | 6404992 booboo
booboo's picture

So......... maybe California, Washington State and Oregon should be included in on the discussion.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:28 | 6405023 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Hawaii, Alaska...there are some little islands on the way too..

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:15 | 6405554 JimmyCDN
JimmyCDN's picture

Is there anything between Alaska and Washington State, geographically speaking?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 21:30 | 6406000 Mad Cow
Mad Cow's picture

There's some beavers up north that could use some attention.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 22:40 | 6406106 mkkby
mkkby's picture

I was on the coast of oregon this past month.  I saw the same groups of whales in the same locations, as when I went there 25 years ago.  Any sane, intelligent person knows the radiation from fuku is negligable to life beyond the area around the reactors.

Where are the nutters who said the whole northern hemisphere would be wiped out by now?  Speak up if you have the balls.

Sun, 08/09/2015 - 00:06 | 6406228 buzzkillb
buzzkillb's picture

A lot of news about random dead sealife washing up on the California coast. A few different stories of animals coming up from the ocean and running around the streets. Starfish destroyed. None of it is ever linked to anything. But its odd.

Also my bro lives in Hawaii (Oahu) and says the junk is making its way to their beaches.

But like most pseudo science people on the internet, I wouldn't take anything posted on the www as anything more than entertainment. Follow some engineering forums and you can see different engineers with very different opinions on somewhat known things.

Would love to hear what people think that are studying, in person, the ocean since Fuku happened.

Sun, 08/09/2015 - 04:06 | 6406440 Mad Cow
Mad Cow's picture

I was referring to Jimmy's avatar. Oh nevermind ;)

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:43 | 6405232 jo6pac
jo6pac's picture

My thought also

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:23 | 6404999 falconflight
Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:24 | 6405006 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Are you sure the correct word is not hypocracy?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:30 | 6405027 falconflight
falconflight's picture

That's a fine descriptor as well.  Seems like the Japanese people's will, and the gov'ts promise after the accident has been openly thwarted without any consequence to Abe's gov't. 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:25 | 6405009 Amish Hacker
Amish Hacker's picture

When it gets serious, you have to lie.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:25 | 6405014 Abitdodgie
Abitdodgie's picture

Nuclear power will make eletricity so cheep it won't be worth metering. that worked out pritty good.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:32 | 6405033 silverer
silverer's picture

I'm told if you wrap some wire around a magnet and hold it up to the radiation, you can generate your own electricity.  Standing closer gives you higher voltage.  Afterwards, you won't need light bulbs anymore either, because you will glow in the dark.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:52 | 6405260 TuPhat
TuPhat's picture

If you stand close enough you won't need anything at all anymore but for that you would need a security clearance and permission from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  I'm pretty sure you don't want that.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:22 | 6405452 GMadScientist
GMadScientist's picture

Maybe people would understand the threat more concretely if you replaced "glow in the dark" with "shit blood until you die".

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:26 | 6405015 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

How they are going about it will make all the difference. They need the power output, but most of their reactors are semi-obsolete designs at best and we don't how clean their shutdowns were. the government should be slow and careful about this and be very demanding in their requirements. Unfortunately I don't think they are going to follow best practices and we could have anything from a circus to a major oopsie......

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:26 | 6405016 falconflight
falconflight's picture

A nation and world governance body of murderous fools.  The econazis have effectively banned coal, so here we go.  

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:29 | 6405025 wisefool
wisefool's picture

Oil at $43/BBL and they are forced by the global central planners to use nukes, just like before WWII   ...

the only dark upside to this is that another fukishima, or fukishma itself with another 7.0 quake, will kill the elites anywhere in the world as easily as it does us debt/tax slaves.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:32 | 6405030 Berspankme
Berspankme's picture

actually may be worth it to see some elites on fire

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:34 | 6405041 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Simply glowing...

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:39 | 6405056 wisefool
wisefool's picture

Its not pretty. but even their exposed scales, fangs, poision glands, tax lawyers and enforcers won't protect them from aerosolized spent MOX fuel. ( as shown in the thumbnail)

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:34 | 6405038 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Because you are correct, you would think the elites would be trying to get this shut down.

Great conspiracies keep being proposed here on ZH, but this kind of thing is the reason I cannot buy into most of them. Keeping everyone on the same page of the plan, never mind keeping everyone from changing their mind about the plan itself or wanting to be a part of it, and greed seem to be places where, if there was a conspiracy, it could not hold together that long without circumstances getting in the way.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:04 | 6405136 wisefool
wisefool's picture

My theory goes into what makes the elites "elite." These people are not the smartest, strongest, spiritual. They hold power because they create systems like the nuclear power and weapons that can not possibly funded by their own resources. Nor would people volentarily fund it if they knew the true dangers. Progeganda and taxes collected by pensioned thugs. That is what makes them elite. It has always been this way.  They know it could kill them too, but they only care that they can remain on top, even in the last few months in their bunkers. that is why it holds together. and there is nothing we can do to stop it now.

We could chain the gates of every coal plant in ths world and in 400 years you could not tell they existed. The stacks would crumble. the iron and steel would rust. the aluminum and copper would be broken down by wind, rain, gravity and vegitation. the plastics and other exoctic componds derade to dust. The piles of coal simply form back into viens like before.

The exact same thing is happening to these aging nuclear plants, everywhere in the world, but there is a big difference. Unlike coal, natgas, oil the spent fuel is going to be around for millions of years and it will kill and/or mutate everything till the end of time. That type of power is what the psychopaths crave.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:30 | 6405206 Socratic Dog
Socratic Dog's picture

I suggest you pick a couple and do a lot of reading on them Ms.  I fell into 9/11, and before that the Kennedys.  When you realize that something as vast and murderous as 9/11 was an inside job, you realize that most anything can be.  Doesn't mean everything is, but you get to the point where you don't reject anything as too outlandish.

As for your operational doubts, it does look like a good conspiracy will have many layers and many involved parties, all with their own interests.  The final outcome is never known till the end.  Witness Oswald being nailed as the patsy for Kennedy.  George Bush made a weird phone call to the FBI that day where he seemed to be trying to establish an alibi.  It likely occurred to him that he was a potential patsy and he was heading it off.  The future president may have been just as much in the running as Oswald to be nailed as the patsy.  I fucking love that.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:54 | 6405268 TuPhat
TuPhat's picture

Actually there are a lot of conspiracies but you are right and everything does get in the way.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:37 | 6405052 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

I don't know,  I'm guessing the elites have nicer fallout shelters than you or I.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:53 | 6405103 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

Good sir, I am well equipped with ample space under my desk and an emergency pair of scissors.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:16 | 6405174 Big Corked Boots
Big Corked Boots's picture

What no duct tape or plastic sheets?

 Have you been ignoring DHS? 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:34 | 6405211 Skateboarder
Skateboarder's picture

Technically WD-40 and duct tape should be able to solve any problem, ever. But you are correct, the plastic sheets are must-have survivalist equipments, almost as important as cable teevee.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:16 | 6405175 Big Corked Boots
Big Corked Boots's picture

What no duct tape or plastic sheets?

 Have you been ignoring DHS? 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:30 | 6405028 silverer
silverer's picture

Japan is on track to do more nuclear damage to itself than was inflicted upon it in WWII with two nuclear bombs.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:36 | 6405049 KnuckleDragger-X
KnuckleDragger-X's picture

They have no natural resources to cover it and has to import everything. If they are smart, this will be short term with new generation nukes being built as soon as possible, but I'm not betting on it......

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:37 | 6405051 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Those two cities were immediately rebuilt, as that radioactive element was all but decayed in a couple of weeks. The thousands of square miles surrounding fukishima will never be re-inhabited.  Well, absent some unforeseen amazing invention that can remediate the contamination that has a half life of thousands of years.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:33 | 6405037 SmittyinLA
SmittyinLA's picture

Maybe they were a lil rash to shut down all their nuclear power and commit national economic suicide.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:34 | 6405039 Son of Loki
Son of Loki's picture

Mothballs make my head hurt.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 18:16 | 6405670 Urban Roman
Urban Roman's picture

Nuclear mothballs doubly so.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:38 | 6405040 Fahque Imuhnutjahb
Fahque Imuhnutjahb's picture

I'm all for 2nd amendment rights and all, but I'm a little uneasy about the National Rifleman's Association wading in on

nuclear issues.  Hell, this is scarier than Godzirra.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:49 | 6405250 tenpanhandle
tenpanhandle's picture

Typical anti NRA response.  We should be able to have and carry our own personal nuclear devices.  We need them for hunting;)

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:35 | 6405044 Bunga Bunga
Bunga Bunga's picture

If successful I wonder what it will do to the oil price.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:36 | 6405047 I Eat Your Dingos
I Eat Your Dingos's picture

Well there's only 493 nuclear reactors running altogether daily, its a miracle we haven't had more nuclear disasters. Japan you might be putting your foot in your mouth

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:41 | 6405065 silverer
silverer's picture

Well, I guess if Japan totally screws up and contaminates their entire country, they can always bail out to the US.  Just come in over the southern border, they'll hand you a license and stamp your hand for other freebies.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:36 | 6405048 viator
viator's picture

In all, over160 power reactors with a total net capacity of some 186,000 MWe are planned and over 300 more are proposed. Energy security concerns and greenhouse constraints on coal have combined with basic economics to put nuclear power back on the agenda for projected new capacity in many countries.

In the USA there are plans for five new reactors, beyond the five under construction now. It is expected that some of the new reactors will be on line by 2020.

In Finland, construction is now under way on a fifth, very large reactor which is expected to come on line in 2017, and plans are firming for another large one to follow it.

France is building a similar 1600 MWe unit at Flamanville, for operation from 2016, and a second may follow it at Penly.

In the UK, four similar 1600 MWe units are planned, and a further 6000 MWe is proposed.

Romania's second power reactor istarted up in 2007, and plans are being implemented for two further Canadian units to be built.

Slovakia is completing two 470 MWe units at Mochovce, to operate from 2017.

Bulgaria is planning to build a large new reactor at Kozloduy.

Belarus is building two large new Russian reactors at Ostrovets.

In Russia, six reactors and two small ones are under active construction, one large one being a large fast neutron reactor. About 30 further reactors are then planned, some to to replace existing plants. This will increase the country's present nuclear power capacity by 50% by 2030. In addition about 5 GW of nuclear thermal capacity is planned. A small floating power plant is expected to be completed by 2016 and others are planned to follow.

Poland is planning two 3000 MWe nuclear power plants.

South Korea plans to bring a further further four reactors into operation by 2018, and another eight by about 2030, giving total new capacity of 17,200 MWe. All of these are the Advanced PWRs of 1400 MWe. These APR-1400 designs have evolved from a US design which has US NRC design certification, and four been sold to the UAE (see below).

Japan has two reactors under construction but another three which were likely to start building by mid 2011 have been deferred.

In China, now with 26 operating reactors on the mainland, the country is well into the next phase of its nuclear power program. Some 24 reactors are under construction, including the world's first Westinghouse AP1000 units, and a demonstration high-temperature gas-cooled reactor plant. Many more units are planned, including two largely indigenous designs – the Hualong One and CAP1400. China aims to more than double its nuclear capacity by 2020.

India has 21 reactors in operation, and six under construction. This includes two large Russian reactors and a large prototype fast breeder reactor as part of its strategy to develop a fuel cycle which can utilise thorium. Over 20 further units are planned. 18 further units are planned, and proposals for more - including western and Russian designs - are taking shape following the lifting of trade restrictions.

Pakistan has third and fourth 300 MWe reactors under construction at Chashma, financed by China. Two larger Chinese power reactors are planned.

In Kazakhstan, a joint venture with Russia's Atomstroyexport envisages development and marketing of innovative small and medium-sized reactors, starting with a 300 MWe Russian design as baseline for Kazakh units.

In Iran a 1000 MWe PWR at Bushehr came on line in 2011, and further units are planned.

The United Arab Emirates awarded a $20.4 billion contract to a South Korean consortium to build four 1400 MWe reactors by 2020. The first three are under construction.

Jordan has committed plans for its first reactor, and is developing its legal and regulatory infrastructure.

Turkey has contracts signed for four 1200 MWe Russian nuclear reactors at one site and four European ones at another. Its legal and regulatory infrastructure is well-developed.

Vietnam has committed plans for its first reactors at two sites (2x2000 MWe), and is developing its legal and regulatory infrastructure. The first plant will be a turnkey project built by Atomstroyexport. The second will be Japanese.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:39 | 6405057 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Thanks.  Still no permanent solution to spent fuel though...I guess the temporary storage is a permanent consequence in the making.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:40 | 6405058 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

That's terrifying.

I'm sure they will be very well built and none of those places listed have been known to cut corners to keep costs down.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:50 | 6405092 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Yeah, because first world nations have a proven model for avoiding these all too human pitfalls.  Funny, this industry is barely hanging on in the US.  Are any plants in the construction pipeline?

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:57 | 6405114 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

They all scare me. Perhaps I am being ethnocentric, but if they are going to happen, I would rather see Germany or France building them. Not sure I trust the US anymore.

Give me my choice, I don't want any of them. As you mentioned elsewhere, the spent rod problem has not been and cannot be resolved. If there is a major brown out or Carrington event, EMP, etc. we have BIG problems. 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:08 | 6405152 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Nothing is more frightening than a Carrington event and Nuclear power plants.  We actually bought some iodine a couple of months ago, we're down wind from a Tennesse plant.  Would hate to have to bug out from our bug out.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:58 | 6405277 tenpanhandle
tenpanhandle's picture

Lucky for us, here in Nevada, Obozo the clown just created a national monument where proposed rail lines would have carried radioactive waste into the Yucca Mountain site, adding one more nail into the coffin of that location ever becoming a waste depository.  Yee Haw and whew; wouldn't want to store radioactive waste in the middle of the desert where they prolifically blew off atomic bombs in the past.  Better to keep them wastes in barrels on the banks of the Columbia river where they belong.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:41 | 6405609 Amish Hacker
Amish Hacker's picture

Or send them to the WIPPS facility in New Mexico, because that has worked out so well.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:15 | 6405439 Benjamin123
Benjamin123's picture

Dude, you are a confirmed 1% per center, seduced a cop to take out a neighbor and now came out as an aryan supremacist.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 15:05 | 6405297 monad
monad's picture

Hw many of those are thorium reactors? This is bad.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 17:49 | 6405622 Stumpy4516
Stumpy4516's picture

You forgot Saudi Arabia, they have plans for multiple reactors.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:38 | 6405054 CHC
CHC's picture

...and good luck world!

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:42 | 6405060 no1ninja
no1ninja's picture

The biggest problem with Japan is that Yakuza skims money off of big projects, and the Japanese accept that as part of their complex culture.   

 

The problem with Nuclear ractors is that safety is the easiest area to skim, becasue large expenditures are made for cases that may never ever happen... but when they do, and you are cought skimming you end up  Fukashima'd.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:53 | 6405104 falconflight
falconflight's picture

I had no idea that Japan had Joooos too. Hat tip to the Turk poster "BungHole." ;)

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:10 | 6405422 Benjamin123
Benjamin123's picture

Everybody has joos. Just point at any asshole and call it a joo, and a joo he will be. So japan now has joos.

Legend goes that jews actually dissapeared as a culture 2000 years ago. But that never stopped random people from using their name and reputation, something no one can kill.

And how would anyone notice the difference? All identities are lies.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:42 | 6405066 thunderchief
thunderchief's picture

kamakaze culture. ..

Japanese would prefer a society of robots rather than foreign blood staining their irradiated shinto holy land.

Haruki Miazawa should crank out another Castle in the Sky, with this very theme.

Still love Japan, cool place...

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:42 | 6405067 thunderchief
thunderchief's picture

kamakaze culture. ..

Japanese would prefer a society of robots rather than foreign blood staining their irradiated shinto holy land.

Haruki Miazawa should crank out another Castle in the Sky, with this very theme.

Still love Japan, cool place...

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:44 | 6405075 Consuelo
Consuelo's picture

Mothball...?

Mothra...?

 

 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:44 | 6405076 Joebloinvestor
Joebloinvestor's picture

All one has to do is to look at who is in charge.

Japan, you are so screwed.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:48 | 6405090 Pancho de Villa
Pancho de Villa's picture

This sounds like a recipe for More Disaster, this Time of the Completely ManMade Sort!

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:49 | 6405091 Turdy Brown
Turdy Brown's picture

The Japanese are some asshole, arrogant, no good, mother fuckers!

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:52 | 6405098 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Seems like it's a cross-cultural phenom without regard to any demographic...human nature.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:54 | 6405106 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

My guess is it will be no problem. Just because it is nuclear, does not make it a complicated technology. That is why a nuclear accident should never happen, it is basic plumbing, the reaction is easily controlled, it is the back up cooling that causes the problems, and that is something agood plumber can do. Where I see the problem with nuclear power is in the spent fuel. Fukushima spent fuels nearly ended Tokyo, and Japan. The crisis was the spent fuel ponds, the Tokyo Fire department saved the country. And it should never come down to that, having the right kind of fire truck close at hand, if your nation hangs on that, you have a problem.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:04 | 6405137 falconflight
falconflight's picture

Redundancy was the ultimate systems failure at Fukushima, no?  And allegedly, this complex of reactors was the gold standard since they were located in a major fault and tsunami zone.  100 year actuarials all too often have occurred in back to back years.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:30 | 6405157 Infinite QE
Infinite QE's picture

Problem at Fukushima was that they were running a secret mox fuel plant for the israelis, who were providing security. The Japs were loathe to bring in outside advice, which was sorely needed as this would have exposed the secret project.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:55 | 6405108 VooDoo6Actual
VooDoo6Actual's picture

Banzai !

It's been about this for thousands of years until we figure it out & decide to change the program they wrote.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CL53t1oVEAA6X-N.jpg

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:56 | 6405109 Racer
Racer's picture

Considering now is the 70th anniversary of nuclear bombing of Japan, why on earth they are even considering nuclear fuel is beyond reason especially if they put them on a fault line!

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:05 | 6405134 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

So your saying they are all at fault?

 

Okay, that was bad...

 

No one's fault?

Everyone's fault?

Faulty logic?

 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 13:59 | 6405124 Infinite QE
Infinite QE's picture

Israel needs to get their mox fuel from somewhere.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:19 | 6405446 Ms No
Ms No's picture

Yeah, what was their excuse for having all of that weapons grade fuel stored on site anyway?  That certainly will make this situation much worse and yet nobody seems to want to talk about that. 

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:11 | 6405153 Westcoastliberal
Westcoastliberal's picture

Why hasn't an international group been formed to put heavy pressure on Japan to KEEP these reactors offline until Fukushima, the greatest ongoing technological disaster in the history of mankind, is solved?  Each day since 3/11 the Japanese have been spewing all types of radiological agents into the air, and into the Pacific ocean.  Sure seems to have had significant impact on both Human and Marine life.  And why aren't the 30 or so U.S. reactors with the same design as the 3 G.E. Mark I reactors that melted down, taken offline as a precaution?  Most of these are downstream of dams and near population centers; a mega-disaster waiting to happen.

http://enenews.com/usa-today-millions-fish-dead-pacific-northwest-salmon...

http://enenews.com/govt-dont-whats-going-pacific-dozens-dead-walruses-ma...

http://enenews.com/govt-erosion-undermining-foundation-major-dam-upstrea...

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:49 | 6405252 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

Dude, don't you get it?

We're sick of you guys ruining the rest of the country, so we're cutting off your air supply.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 21:47 | 6406018 wendigo
wendigo's picture

Are you willing to reimburse japan the difference in cost between running their nuclear plants and importing expensive natural gas?

Didn't think so.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:13 | 6405167 Caleb Abell
Caleb Abell's picture

Much ado about nothing.

 

Tepco said it's safe, so we can all rest easy.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:16 | 6405173 dondonsurvelo
dondonsurvelo's picture

Fire 'em up!

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:22 | 6405191 ivana
ivana's picture

Zed's (Japan) dead baby ... Zed's (Japan) dead

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:36 | 6405214 Bitcoin Meiser
Bitcoin Meiser's picture

Japan is dying.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:48 | 6405248 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Except that it is not, that line is serious haiku.

Very emotive, sad, complex, chilling.

The people and place are beautiful.

And the next thing to realize is we are all Japanese. Printing, debt, power, corruption, denial, an aging population without enough young to sustain them...

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:37 | 6405217 Caleb Abell
Caleb Abell's picture

Everything is relative.  If you are in Nanking, China, say the word Fukushima and you will get a smile.  Perhaps even a chuckle.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:39 | 6405220 Heywood Jahblohmee
Heywood Jahblohmee's picture

The radiation headed for the West Coast (already there ) gets you a smile from Japanese.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 16:01 | 6405406 Benjamin123
Benjamin123's picture

Dafuq you care dutchboy, you have solar panels. You get checks.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:39 | 6405221 imbrbing
imbrbing's picture

When you turn a lightbulb off, you never know if it is going to turn back on without making a "tink" sound with a somewhat bright

flash as it goes dark again.

 

Same with puter equipment,

Same with cars,

Nuclear plants are on a whole nother level.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:54 | 6405265 monad
monad's picture

The materials in an operating nuclear power plant wear as in disintegrate, at a much higher rate than average. If they do it right it is cheaper and safer to build new, state of the reactors than to go through and replace everything that needs to be replaced.

This is guaranteed to fail.

A premptive military solution is also cheaper and safer.

Sat, 08/08/2015 - 14:56 | 6405267 Shadowman377
Shadowman377's picture

THIS IS ABSOLUTLY OUTRAGEUS!! WTF JAPAN??!!! THE WORLD NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOW OR ELSE THIS WILL BE THE END OF EVERYTHING WE HAVE EVEN KNOWN! JAPAN MUST HAVE BEEN PAID OFF TO DESTROY THE WORLD THROUGH NUCLEAR FALLOUT.. GEORGE SOROS MAYBE?? THE WORST IS THAT I LIVE IN CALI AND EVERYONE HERE IS SO FUCKING IGNORANT AND JUST OBSESSED WITH MONEY, I FEEL SICK JUST WATCHING THESE IDIOTS WALK AROUND AIMLESSLY LOOKING FOR THE NEXT FIX OR BUY THEY CAN MAKE...THANK GOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE KEVIN BLANCH AND DANA DURNFORD!!!

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