Japan reports a likely setback in nuclear crisis
After a few days of cautious optimism, the nuclear crisis in Japan has taken a more grim turn. In a speech to the nation Friday evening, Prime Minister Naoto Kan called the situation “very grave and serious,” and residents within an expanded 19-mile radius of the plant have been advised to evacuate.
What changed? After two workers were hospitalized yesterday after wading through highly radioactive water, officials tried to trace the water back to its source. They now believe the water may be coming from Reactor No. 3, suggesting a breach of containment.
As the Christian Science Monitor reports:
If that turns out to be true, the devastated nuclear complex may be much more contaminated with radioactive materials than officials had previously thought.
The suspected reactor breach would mark a major setback for the crews racing to return power to the plant and bring its reactors and spent-fuel pools back under control.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Friday that the situation at Fukushima remained grave: “We are not in a position where we can be optimistic. We must treat every development with the utmost care.”
… An examination of the water the workers sloshed through showed its radiation level to be 10,000 times higher than normal, said NHK. The radiation almost certainly came from the reactor itself, not the nearby spent-fuel pools, according to officials.”
So what does it all mean? For one thing, public support here in the United States has fallen significantly in the wake of the accident, as documented by a CBS poll released this week:
But on the other hand, there’s this. It’s a graphic representation of the number of deaths attributed to coal, oil and nuclear power, adjusted by the amount of power each generates:
Source: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/03/the-triumph-of-coal-marketing.html
That’s certainly fodder to argue that public wariness of nuclear power outpaces the actual danger it poses. However, you could counter that with the observation that oil and coal don’t require an evacuation zone with a 19-mile radius, an area of more than 2,200 square miles. A Russian nuclear expert has predicted that the immediate area around the Fukushima complex would be inhabitable again in, say, five years. But that was before the latest setback.
– Jay Bookman
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269 comments Add your comment
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:23 pm
WOW…..now if only the left would realize that he cant walk on water.
jm
March 25th, 2011
3:24 pm
The biggest sign ever that our national debt and deficits are a problem: the do nothing until a crisis is upon us saucer Senate that is supposed to cool the teacup House is itching to do something about the deficit.
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:25 pm
“Looting is directly tied to character. A person of good character will not loot, even after a hurricane.”
I agree, that’s kind of a given, but are you saying that people in Japan have more character than those here?
“Surely the Left is smart enough to draw further conclusions.”
I don’t like to “read into” what people might think and what they might not think — so why don’t you just come out and tell us what “further conclusions” we should draw. I can draw plenty from what you’ve written, but it isn’t my statement, it’s yours, and I can only draw conclusions about the statements themselves, not your intent — so, what conclusions do YOU draw since YOU brought it up.
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:26 pm
Bosch…..actually yes I would say the Japanese have more class and character than some here in the US. Easy observation.
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:27 pm
“The biggest sign ever that our national debt and deficits are a problem”
You know, jm, the more I think about it, the more I’ve come to the conclusion that no one really cares about the deficit and the debt — because as I wrote earlier, we could pay off the debt very easily — it’s just that no one is actually willing to make the sacrifices it would take to do so.
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:27 pm
“Bosch…..actually yes I would say the Japanese have more class and character than some here in the US.”
Like who, George, just give us an example.
moonbat betty
March 25th, 2011
3:29 pm
I’ve done my part to kick start an alternative energy initiative for the Obama administration – the Moonbat2000.
What have all of you done?
Start now by purchasing the Moonbat2000 eco-friendly personal power supply. Unleash your inner power of mind, body and soul while saving the environment. The Moonbat2000 will revolutionize the alternative energy industry by giving the power to the people.
Yes, with the Moonbat2000, even you can have the ability to power any electrical device through the power of pedal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asZ2RHPHT4c
By the year 2015, moonbat2000 pedal farms will be developed where legions of unionized workers will power entire cities.
Millions of unemployed workers can now be unionized and given lifetime jobs generating clean energy for millions of Americans. The average fatassed American couch potato will be transformed into a svelte, clean energy producing machine!
So do your patriotic duty today and purchase a Moonbat2000. Amvet bought 3 yesterday!
/cue Star Spangled Banner
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:30 pm
Bosch….lets see…..N.O. (Katrina)…..L.A. (Rodney King Riots)….care for more?
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
3:32 pm
Disagree. Bosch, on the Pelosi comment. Here it is:
“But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.”
In her previous remarks, she was talking about the controversies surrounding the bill, yes, but she addressed nothing else with this statement. Was she implying that we were too dumb to understand the bill as presented? That might even be worse than her original comment above.
And please note, I am of the firm opinion that she is a dumb as a sack of hammers, so my impression of her comments might be a bit biased . . .
AmVet
March 25th, 2011
3:32 pm
stands, somewhere Southern Comfort must be laughing his ass off…
“As I’m sure you know utilities play by different rules…”
I know they play with our people’s money.
Sorry, I won’t make excuses for welfare recipients. Exceedingly wealthy individuals, destitute individuals or corporate persons.
And since the blog’s pest/pariah on thin ice has showed up, I’ll bid you ladies and germs a good afternoon and weekend.
Party on like the righteous musical fools you are tonight though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZdPts3gEjg
And for the band…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk0dBZ1meio
Kamchak
March 25th, 2011
3:32 pm
No word from silly cons when Cheney said the Reagan proved that deficits don’t matter.
Even Amspec and The Weekly Standard concurred.
Now the deficit is all that silly cons can talk about.
Silly cons can’t be trusted.
Normal
March 25th, 2011
3:34 pm
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
3:14 pm
What the hell, Dave, governments are too big to fail…
——————
George,
From what I could see, there wasn’t anything left to loot, but I will tell you this, when your hungry enough…things could happen.
WOW
March 25th, 2011
3:34 pm
“WOW…..now if only the left would realize that he cant walk on water.’
They’re not smart enough to figure that one out, George. Looks like the resident agitator is back to doing what he does best which is spewing drunken nonsense and pretending like I am somehow on thin ice.
Can’t wait for music Friday.
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
3:35 pm
Kamchak, keep up with the rest of us here. As I showed earlier, Cheney said they didn’t matter in the context of electoral politics, and at the time, they didn’t. November 2010 proved otherwise due to their sudden increase.
Silly? That would eb those who cannot read – like you.
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:36 pm
Normal…..really….that is interesting. Seems more like worthless trash taking advantage of a bad situation. When was the last time you saw someone eating at plasma tv? Yet we all saw them carrying them out of stores during those events.
WOW
March 25th, 2011
3:37 pm
Off topic 1:
Thanks to Capt. Craptacular, Obama Hussein, we now Iran part 2. What is it with the left and effing up the middle east?
WOW…..now if only the left would realize that he cant walk on water.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/world/middleeast/25egypt.html?_r=1
HDB
March 25th, 2011
3:38 pm
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:30 pm
Bosch….lets see…..N.O. (Katrina)…..L.A. (Rodney King Riots)….care for more?
Let’s see….NO and LA were because of governmental INACTION (NO – non-evacuation of the poor; LA – the verdict)…in Japan, the government is ACTING IMMEDIATELY!! There IS a difference!!
Kamchak
March 25th, 2011
3:38 pm
All you showed was that you can make up caveats.
See dave spin.
Spin dave, spin.
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:38 pm
Yeah, Dave, but you know as well as I do, that it’s a favorite of the wingnuts to misquote that so it seems Pelosi didn’t know what was in the bill.
Dick
March 25th, 2011
3:39 pm
I said deficits do not matter. Electoral politics have nothing to do with deficits unless you are talking about the deficit in brain power in electoral politics and then deficits do matter because you run the risk of electing a Bush for president. I’m doing the best I can, Scooter.
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:39 pm
HDB….THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE…..OTHER THAN THE CLASS OF PEOPLE AND THE RESPECT THEY HAVE FOR EACH OTHER…..YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS BLAME THE GUBAMENT FOR YOUR SHORTFALLS…..KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!!!
Normal
March 25th, 2011
3:42 pm
George, I don’t remember much of that at Katrina…I remember them looting food and beer. As for LA, I don’t think you can compare a race riot to a hurricane or an earthquake…
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
3:43 pm
From commondreams.org:
“‘Reagan proved deficits don’t matter,” Dick Cheney told Paul O’Neill during a Cabinet meeting. “We won the (2002) midterms. This is our due.”
No one is disputing the words of the former Treasury secretary in the new book, “The Price of Loyalty.” Since Cheney had been responsible for bringing the “straight shooter” O’Neill into the Bush administration, we can take O’Neill’s words for the truth.
Cheney’s remarks bring this question to mind: What kind of a government is this? The idea that it is the Bush administration’s “due” to run deficits and leave the bills for future taxpayers is a startling one. Governments run deficits, but it is the rare one that believes they are its right.
By “due,” Cheney meant that because Republicans won the midterm elections on a platform of more tax cuts and deficit increases, they could pass still more tax cuts and run up still more deficits. Voters knew that a Clinton surplus of $200 billion had been transformed into a $200 billion deficit under Bush (it is now $450 billion), and voted for Republicans anyway.
That’s what Cheney meant by “Reagan proved deficits don’t matter.” For Cheney, Reagan proved there was no political cost to big deficits.”
Making up caveats, Kamchak? I don’t think so. No spin as usual, Kammy-poo. Just cold, hard facts.
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:43 pm
Normal sure you can compare them…..looting is looting….Do you want me to post videos of both instances and show you where they were stealing electronics not food?
getalife
March 25th, 2011
3:43 pm
dave pretends to be smarter than Speaker Pelosi.
Talk about full of himself.
You are not dave.
The lobbyists know what is in that bill.
A VP of a health care company wrote it and our senate praised her on the senate floor.
Did you know that fact dave?
Normal
March 25th, 2011
3:44 pm
Has George resorted to shouting? Tsk, tsk…
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:45 pm
George,
The only articles I can find that has a picture of the “unemployed” is this one in an article from yesterday:
http://www.ajc.com/business/georgia-has-no-plan-884852.html
And I don’t see any trash there, so what’s up?
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
3:45 pm
“that it’s a favorite of the wingnuts to misquote that so it seems Pelosi didn’t know what was in the bill.”
I refer you back to my “sack of hammers” analogy, Bosch.
I’m not even sure she knows what she had for breakfast on any given morning.
Normal
March 25th, 2011
3:46 pm
Ok, George, you can compare them if you want, but you will be wrong.
JohnnyReb
March 25th, 2011
3:46 pm
Bosch – I did not bring up looting. I read several posts on looting, then gave my opinion. Obviously, you drew conclusions or would not be so hot about it.
There were record floods in the Mid-West after Katrina. No looting, no blaming the government for their situation. Now we have Japan, portions devistated by earthquakes and nuclear radiation. No looting, no crying about the government. But not so in New Orleans with Katrina. The same group who did not evacuate because the bus did not come by and blow the horn until they came out of the house are the same who loot, who constantly blame someone else for their life situation, and always have their hand out to the government. Clearly, they are not of good character. If you disagree, invite them to dinner.
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
3:47 pm
I know that one lone VP of a health care company didn’t write that bill, getalife.
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:47 pm
Bosch…..I see plenty.
getalife
March 25th, 2011
3:47 pm
w,
Meltdown.
Tick, tick, tick.
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:47 pm
“I’m not even sure she knows what she had for breakfast on any given morning”
Well Dave, if that’s your criteria of intelligence…..I’m in trouble
Normal
March 25th, 2011
3:47 pm
All I will say is that if Pelosi is so dumb, why do the Republicans fear her so much?
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:48 pm
Normal…..I am wrong? It seems to me like the ones doing the looting are wrong!
stands for decibels
March 25th, 2011
3:49 pm
There were record floods in the Mid-West after Katrina
fercryinoutloud
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:49 pm
Well Reb, all you had to do was say that you didn’t think those people in New Orleans had good character.
George, like what? You said there was trash — where’s the trash — I just four people standing around looking at papers. Are you talking about the papers? Like you are concerned that those papers may become trash?
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:50 pm
Normal….we dont fear her…..we hate her policies.
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:50 pm
Bosch….yep.
Normal
March 25th, 2011
3:51 pm
Well, time to shut her down for the week. Got an evening filled with Grand kids and a “Rabbids” game on wii. Have a great weekend all y’all and stay dry. Promise me no looting.
stands for decibels
March 25th, 2011
3:51 pm
Hey, conservadroids, don’t forget to bring up how the good white folks didn’t do any lootin’ (that you saw on the TeeVee anyhow) after them big blizzards as well.
getalife
March 25th, 2011
3:51 pm
She got the credit dave .
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
3:52 pm
“All I will say is that if Palin is so dumb, why do the Democrats fear her so much?”
Fixed your typo, Normal!
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:52 pm
NORMAL!! WAtch that video!!!
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:52 pm
Stands….your right for once….we didnt.
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:52 pm
George,
Yep, what?
George W
March 25th, 2011
3:53 pm
Yep
Dick
March 25th, 2011
3:54 pm
Like I said, monetary deficits don’t matter, as long as we have suckers ready to pay off the huge debt after we’re dead and gone. History will show who the fools are — the ones left to write out the tax payments. /Smirk
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
3:54 pm
“She got the credit dave.”
And Hope & Change got credit for getting health care passed, but are you going to argue he had a majority of the skin in that game? Reality sucks sometimes, getalife, but you still have to acknowledge that it exists.
Dick
March 25th, 2011
3:55 pm
That Palin even scares me. Her gun is bigger than mine and I hear she knows how to aim hers. Mine was an accident, honest.
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
3:56 pm
“Hey, conservadroids, don’t forget to bring up how the good white folks didn’t do any lootin’ (that you saw on the TeeVee anyhow) after them big blizzards as well.”
Well it’s kinda tough to run away real fast through 6 foot high snow drifts . . .
Just sayin’
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:57 pm
Off topic, but Elizabeth Taylor was in a lot of freaking movies. Damn.
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
3:58 pm
“Well it’s kinda tough to run away real fast through 6 foot high snow drifts . ”
He’s got a point there, stands, he has a point.
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
4:04 pm
Bosch, I think of all the big-time stars, the Duke is all-time champ for sheer numbers. He used to do a lot of what they called two-reelers, sometimes as many as 10 per year. Even when he made it big, he still sometimes filmed 3-4 features per year. Most stars these days can barely get through one.
getalife
March 25th, 2011
4:04 pm
You are a palin fan dave.
You will not hear my opinion.
You are in hopey, changy, palin land.
Bosch
March 25th, 2011
4:07 pm
” Most stars these days can barely get through one.”
Isn’t that the truth, and after that, it seems their only goal is to become tabloid fodder after that and we have to watch their poor pathetic lives for all eternity. I really don’t buy the “but the press just won’t leave me alone!” Please….
getalife
March 25th, 2011
4:14 pm
The end of con lies is here.
Music thread.
1811/1801 - 0311/0317
March 25th, 2011
4:15 pm
Elizabeth Taylor is in the movie of “eternity” now.
Kamchak
March 25th, 2011
4:20 pm
Making up caveats, Kamchak? I don’t think so. No spin as usual, Kammy-poo. Just cold, hard facts.
Amspec didn’t even mention electoral ramifications.
The Weakly Standard only gave it three sentences.
Now you silly cons come in with afterthink, and say it was all about electoral politics.
Harry Callahan
March 25th, 2011
4:36 pm
I guess Bookman is likely to start a blog regarding just about ANYTHING in order to avoid a discussion of Pbaam’s clownish foreign policy. The Libya thing could easily be turned into a Marx Brothers movie.
Adam
March 25th, 2011
5:17 pm
So, 64 senators signed a petition to get Obama to support reducing the deficit.
64 Senators? Would not a more useful solution be for them to introduce and PASS a bill to reduce the deficit? Who cares what Obama thinks when you have over 60 senators agreeing on something?
Dave R.
March 25th, 2011
5:37 pm
You’re an idiot, Kammy-poo. I GAVE you the entirety of the conversation as quoted by Paul O’Neill.
It must suck to be you.
Kamchak
March 25th, 2011
5:52 pm
Name calling.
The last refuge of the desperate.
Silhouette
March 25th, 2011
8:18 pm
The Japs are gonna keep screwin around with all this nucular stuff until they reawaken Godzilla and Megalon, then there’ll be hell to pay fer sure.
Dave R.
March 26th, 2011
10:01 am
Ignorance.
The FIRST refuge of the ignorant.
Kammy-poo
March 26th, 2011
4:20 pm
Dave R., you appear to be in a coprophilous state. Seek medical attention immediately.
Independent
March 28th, 2011
9:05 am
“An ancient design in a poor location suffered a 9.0 earthquake and a massive tsunami, and nobody died. This proves nuclear power is unsafe?”
I think you had better wait before saying “nobody died”. Radiation kills slowly – how many deaths will be attributable to this accident 100 years in the future? How many years of life have been cut from the area residents because of the radiation?
Independent
March 28th, 2011
9:12 am
Your graphic about death rates is useless unless you explain where the nubers come from. Does the coal square include mining deaths? Or does base its numbers on number of people dying of emphysema near a coal-fired plant? My wife worked in a uranium mine when she was 22 and she died of breast cancer at 42, did her death get counted as one of nuclear power’s fatalities? Also, the final total may be much higher if 100,000 people get exposed to radiation in Japan and that leads to their eventual death (even at 80). Nuclear power is one of those situations where it is very safe until you have an incident, then it is a catastrophe.