The weekend marks the one year anniversary of the massive 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami off the northeast coast of Japan. The event, which occurred at 14:46 local time on 11 March 2011, resulted in the Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown.
A team formed here at Daily Kos to cover this crisis and combined their numerous talents and time to participate in a truly stellar example of citizen journalism, which included live reports from the ground, translations, interpretations by experts, a compilation of the best resources for following the event and 24x7 coverage. Their work was included in one of the most prestigious compilations of sources to follow for the most up-to-date and accurate information on the disaster and can be located now archied in the Japan Nuclear Incident Liveblogs and Nuclear Free DK groups. Several of the participants remain vigilant reporters of events at Fukushima, most notably Joieau.
News updates following the publication of this diary early this morning come from some of those who followed this story from the onset:
@Joieau
The 'event' isn't over until all the fuel in the 5 spent fuel pools that continue to leak and spew straight to atmosphere, and the water pumped into reactors with no bottoms stops running straight out into the sea. And until the corium flows are no longer interacting with rising groundwater to erupt from fissures in the rock as geysers and fumaroles. And until the entire mess is safely isolated from the environment with a well-sealed thousand-year tomb, complete with instructions for future monitoring, upkeep and replacement paid for entirely from the profits of the parasitic worldwide nuclear industry and its host governments.
It is likely that none of us here will live long enough to see all that. We can hope to live long enough to pull the ropes that ring the tower bells tolling the long overdue death of this insane technology, though. And perhaps our children and/or grandchildren will live to see humanity harness the abundant kinetic forces of this planet to supply their energy needs.
@skywriter Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (2+ / 0-)
Fukushima in review: A complex disaster, a disastrous response
If the above link does not work (because it is a u-pay site) go to
The Bulletinand click on the following article where you can read full text in PDF.
Fukushima in review: A complex disaster, a disastrous response
Yoichi Funabashi and Kay Kitazawa
An independent investigation panel, established by the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, reviewed how the government, the Tokyo Electric Power Company, and other relevant actors responded. In the March/April issue of the Bulletin, the panel's program director writes about their findings and how these players were thoroughly unprepared on almost every level for the cascading nuclear disaster.
@rja
EXSKF - Radioactive Cesium in Urine from Children in Miyagi, Iwate, Chiba
ACRO in France has been monitoring levels in Japan. They contributed to the Greenpeace "Lessons from Fukushima" (2.5MB PDF) report. (see comments below for this link)
Here is a link to the latest measurements, with other test results, such as food and vacuum cleaner dust, above it.
ACRO - Urine from various prefectures of Japan (February 2012)
Early this morning GCCA issued a memo in which they assembled resources and activities from partner organizations and solicited input from others.
Some highlights:
• Greenpeace has designed an interactive “Are You At Risk”map, which includes an open letter to World Leaders, materials about an action on Mount Fuji, a new report on lessons learned from Fukushima, and Fukushima fact sheets, If in Asia, you can sign “No to Nukes” petition, targeting ASEAN governments:
• WWF Japan. Sunday events. "e-shift"(English page: ). joint press conference today). Activities on the No Nukeswebsite (English page).
Sunday events in Tokyo:
• “Peace on Earth”in Hibiya Park (Japanese only website:)
• Tokyo Big March (a rally from Hibiya Park to the Japanese Congress, Japanese only website: )
• and a Human Chain around the Congress and event in Fukushima (Japanese only website:)
•World Conference for a Nuclear Free World (English page)
•Japan Renewable Energy Foundation
Friday and Saturday (March 9 and 10): hosts an international symposium on renewable energies, (English page)
• A bilingual Greenpeace video showcases various Japanese NGOs' scenarios (in Japanese) on meeting the countries 25% target as they reduce nuclear dependence. ( CASA press release.
Again, hats off to an outstanding body of work and to the relentless dedication of a phenomenal team.