Fukushima Finally Upgraded from a Level 1 to a Level 3 Threat

by Robert Wilkinson

After consulting with the IAEA, the Nuclear Regulation Authority in Japan just classified the toxic water leak at Fukushima as a Level 3 “serious incident.” This is the “gravest warning since the meltdowns at the nuclear plant in 2011.” I believe the government may have figured out they cannot dress up this mess and call it beautiful.

In the CNN story by Jethro Mullen and Junko Ogura titled Japan Fukushima toxic water leak a Level 3 'serious incident' we read that “the Japanese regulator made the decision after consulting with the International Atomic Energy Agency.” This action is the result of “the leak of hundreds of tons of radioactive water from a storage tank” I reported on 9 days ago.

In my linked article, I have other links to a report from the UC Berkeley Nuclear Engineering Department that makes it clear this is far more serious than they have let on before now, since it’s affecting infants in the US, Canada, and God knows where else. Here’s the short form: From the ABC story, "In a study of states in the West Coast and in the Pacific, infants born soon after the nuclear disaster were 28 percent more likely to develop congenital hypothyroidism, which can lead to stunted growth. In California, that number jumped to 39 percent."

This newest report seems to confirm that the government and TEPCO cannot be trusted to tell us what’s going on until after it’s already affected thousands of people and millions of other life forms. You will note in the past we were told it was nyet problema but as of August 26 it seems that ALL Pacific Bluefin tuna are now testing radioactive. Of course, in a nod to “experts” propping up the fishing industry, just 12 weeks ago we were told that Bluefin weren’t significantly radioactive and there is no problem eating them. Right. We can glow in the dark and save money on lightbulbs.

Regardless of how much or little radiation is found in this or that tuna, we do know that given the widespread Mercury contamination, those who eat any significant quantity of Bluefin over a long period will probably see problems related to Mercury poisoning, such a brain damage and nervous system damage in young children, as well as those in the womb. So hopefully these issues will finally result in fewer Pacific Bluefin being caught for food, which is good since they’ve been overfished as it is.

A final note from this latest news:

The operator has stored hundreds of thousands of tons of the contaminated water in huge tanks at the site. There are now about 1,000 of the containers, 93% of which are already full of radioactive water.

Around 350 of the tanks were built as temporary storage units in the aftermath of the meltdowns. But more than two years later, they are still being used.

It was one of those makeshift tanks where the leak was detected, setting off the latest crisis.

Tepco says it has transferred the remaining tainted water from the faulty tank to another container. But it hasn't said what caused the leak in the first place.

Wow. Putting something with a half life of hundreds of years in “temporary storage units?” And they still won’t say what caused the leak in the first place. This seems to be a combination of criminal incompetence layered with obfuscation of the highest order. But what else can we expect when we read that the Japanese government is trying to brainwash the population into believing if they just smile, they will not be susceptible to radioactive poisoning. From that story: "...the Japanese government's Fukushima Radiation Health Risk Advisor uses a hypnotic, droning speech pattern to try to convince his audience of absolutely bizarre quack science beliefs like "people who drink aren't affected by radiation" or that "laughter will remove your radiation phobia."

If you’re anywhere on the Pacific Rim, boost your kelp levels and stop eating Bluefin. By all means keep laughing and if you drink, send up a toast to ridiculous assurances and remember that it doesn’t hurt so bad when you’re laughing.

© Copyright 2013 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Diane S]

Arrgghh! This is a living horror story. Did anyone really believe Tepco had a handle on these meltdowns all this time? And if they're just now admitting it's a "serious incident", it's got to be wayyy worse than that. Serious incident is an understatement if there ever was one. WHY OH WHY is it easier for nations to consider striking Syria than coming together and working on what in the H to do with radioactive waste that affects this entire planet - which is hellooo people, our home. This makes me crazy. This makes me soooo sad. We need to get our heads out of our arses and wake up!

[Jean]

LEO 2: The infectious spread of individual experiences, "An Epidemic Of Mumps". I have noticed more and more how the symbols have been more reflective of external world events. They more than likely have always done this, just more so when a crisis calls our attention and we connect the dots so to speak. I am not even going to mention Leo 1 and current events elsewhere and the synergy of the opposite symbols Aquarius 1 and 2. Whew!

Namaste

[Micheline]

Oh boy. I love Japan but this is too much!!! I am having a glass of wine now. Going completely veg. Avoiding everything from the sea! Not sure what else I can do for the time being!!! Oh ya smile, stay calm and try keep good spirits. I had a weird feeling and now I know why!!!

[RodJM]

I think I'll be abstaining from consuming Bluefin Tuna. But then again, wouldn't everything else in the marine environment get contaminated too? In time, we might be seeing some freaky sea creatures evolving... and then us?

[Robert]

Hi all - Here's the latest, and it's clear this is really not good. The world needs to pull together to stop this mess. It's obvious the Japanese government is more focused on saving face than fixing what will probably go down as the worst nuclear disaster in history. Why Fukushima is worse than you think

"Meanwhile, the soil around the leaking tank delivered a dose per hour equivalent to the legal limit for nuclear workers for five years. No remote radiation measuring devices, no remote handling."

"The tank leak is just the latest in a long list of signs that things are going fundamentally wrong at the site of what could still turn out to be the most serious radiological event in history. And the situation could still get a lot worse. A massive spent fuel fire would likely dwarf the current dimensions of the catastrophe and could exceed the radioactivity releases of Chernobyl dozens of times. First, the pool walls could leak beyond the capacity to deliver cooling water or a reactor building could collapse following one of the hundreds of aftershocks. Then, the fuel cladding could ignite spontaneously releasing its entire radioactive inventory."