Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster In Japan

[buckethead]

The scenes of destruction did resemble the scenery in the epic cinematic triumph know in intellectual circles as Zombieland.

[BridgeTroll]

How do you even begin to clean up?  Thousands of destroyed houses and buildings... thousands of destroyed cars... literally mountains of debris.  Entire towns... gone.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1366395/Japan-tsunami-earthquake-Haunting-images-450-Britons-feared-missing.html

[peestandingup]

Well graphs and oh I don't know 'facts' seem to be the most important part in detailing a catastrophe. Not rumors / hearsay "I read the news and shit and people are like zombies all dead & stuff".

Well, you never linked to any source for that little Q&A session you quoted (which looks to be days old & obviously doesn't take into account recent developments). So are those the "facts" you're talking about??

To be fair, I didn't link to anything either, but I figured you (and anyone else here) would be smart enough to use Google & see for themselves. This stuff isn't a secret. But I guess you were too busy posting away & doing damage control all day to be bothered with any of that nonsense.

I guess I'll help you out again (seems you have a real problem with this):

http://www.cnbc.com/id/42083048

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/world/asia/16fuel.html?hp

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/304677

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/15/us-japan-quake-nuclear-france-idUSTRE72E3UB20110315

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/14/japan-quake-iodine-idUSLDE72D1XF20110314

How's that??

Oh, and about the workers. That's pretty much anyone's guess, as they're not releasing much info about that right now (imagine that). I also made it clear that that was pure speculation on my part & just what I've read & heard. But judging from the explosions, the radiation levels around the area & all hell breaking loose, you can probably put 2 & 2 together & figure it out that it's very likely a grim situation for them. Or hell, maybe you can't. But here's something:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/20110315/ts_yblog_thelookout/japanese-nuclear-plant-workers-emerging-as-heroic-figures-in-tragedy

Anything else, or any other seriously potential catastrophes you'd like to downplay today?? Lemme know dude.

[Shwaz]

You may consider facts & expert opinion as 'downplaying'... and ummm how do you 'google' rambling speculation? Maybe you should pinch off that pee, sit down and read the articles you linked above... even if 3 of the 5 links are identical in content... or just look into the problem more objectively by seeking further understanding.

Here is my link to above mentioned expert / facts.
http://energyfromthorium.com/


Regarding the pools:

The good news is that the Japanese have a relatively long time to deal with the problem. Nuclear experts estimate the timeline for serious problems that could lead to a reactor meltdown as minutes to hours, and put the comparable time for cooling pools at days to weeks.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/42083048

Just a little more research and you would've found (at worst case scenario) this would not be as bad as the Chernobyl disaster or as you so intellectually speculated "the daddy of all nuclear disasters".

[peestandingup]

You may consider facts & expert opinion as 'downplaying'... and ummm how do you 'google' rambling speculation? Maybe you should pinch off that pee, sit down and read the articles you linked above... even if 3 of the 5 links are identical in content... or just look into the problem more objectively by seeking further understanding.

Here is my link to above mentioned expert / facts.
http://energyfromthorium.com/

LOL, good freakin' God. You mean the link (that doesnt seem to be fully working ATM) that leads to a shoddy looking (and what looks to be a personal) WordPress blog who's author has a major hard-on for nuclear power? That one?? Yeah, I'll get right on that, chief. I can't wait for whatever Kirk Sorensen (whoever the F that is) has to say on the subject.

Oh, and I see we've jumped the shark & have now resorted to making fun of user names. Yeah, that's usually the last step. So looks like we're about done here.

Seriously, do yourself a favor & just don't respond back. You clearly have an agenda & don't know WTF you're talking about, quoting some random pro-nuclear blog like it's fact. I mean, you can if you want, but I'm done with this waste of time just so you know. Have at it!

[Coolyfett]

You may consider facts & expert opinion as 'downplaying'... and ummm how do you 'google' rambling speculation? Maybe you should pinch off that pee, sit down and read the articles you linked above... even if 3 of the 5 links are identical in content... or just look into the problem more objectively by seeking further understanding.

Here is my link to above mentioned expert / facts.
http://energyfromthorium.com/

LOL, good freakin' God. You mean the link (that doesnt seem to be fully working ATM) that leads to a shoddy looking (and what looks to be a personal) WordPress blog who's author has a major hard-on for nuclear power? That one?? Yeah, I'll get right on that, chief. I can't wait for whatever Kirk Sorensen (whoever the F that is) has to say on the subject.

Oh, and I see we've jumped the shark & have now resorted to making fun of user names. Yeah, that's usually the last step. So looks like we're about done here.

Seriously, do yourself a favor & just don't respond back. You clearly have an agenda & don't know WTF you're talking about, quoting some random pro-nuclear blog like it's fact. I mean, you can if you want, but I'm done with this waste of time just so you know. Have at it!

Aww man, dont give up so fast, keep wring him done. He will give in....just keep up the debate.

[Shwaz]

You may consider facts & expert opinion as 'downplaying'... and ummm how do you 'google' rambling speculation? Maybe you should pinch off that pee, sit down and read the articles you linked above... even if 3 of the 5 links are identical in content... or just look into the problem more objectively by seeking further understanding.

Here is my link to above mentioned expert / facts.
http://energyfromthorium.com/

LOL, good freakin' God. You mean the link (that doesnt seem to be fully working ATM) that leads to a shoddy looking (and what looks to be a personal) WordPress blog who's author has a major hard-on for nuclear power? That one?? Yeah, I'll get right on that, chief. I can't wait for whatever Kirk Sorensen (whoever the F that is) has to say on the subject.

Oh, and I see we've jumped the shark & have now resorted to making fun of user names. Yeah, that's usually the last step. So looks like we're about done here.

Seriously, do yourself a favor & just don't respond back. You clearly have an agenda & don't know WTF you're talking about, quoting some random pro-nuclear blog like it's fact. I mean, you can if you want, but I'm done with this waste of time just so you know. Have at it!

Check your dial up connection... the link is working just fine... and try actually reading some. The content does pertain to nuclear energy. However it mostly focuses on using Thorium as a means for safer, environmentally friendly fuel in smaller reactors with zero chance for melt down. Kirk Sorensen is only an aerospace engineer at NASA with an advanced degree in nuclear engineering. I would say that his life's work - pushing for a 'Nuclear Renaissance' and away from current methods makes him unbiased. But you’re right, the page I linked is to his blog… here’s a more in depth look at him and his ideas from Wired Magazine.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/

I’m not claiming to be an expert in the field of nuclear energy… that’s why I read objectively and don’t beg others not to post opposing views & theories. 

[Shwaz]

It appears charitable donations are trending low in comparison to Katrina / Haiti. Yesterday on NPR I caught a piece on how monetary donations are the most effective concerning the quake / tsunami relief effort. Japan is much better suited to accept and allocate money quickly with their current infrastructure vs. Haiti who weren’t prepared for the huge dollar amount that poured in. As always beware of scams 

http://blogs.reuters.com/prism-money/2011/03/15/7-safe-ways-to-donate-to-japan/

[heights unknown]

Why is there no looting in Japan?
The landscape of parts of Japan looks like the aftermath of World War Two; no industrialised country since then has suffered such a death toll. The one tiny, tiny consolation is the extent to which it shows how humanity can rally round in times of adversity, with heroic British rescue teams joining colleagues from the US and elsewhere to fly out.

And solidarity seems especially strong in Japan itself. Perhaps even more impressive than Japan’s technological power is its social strength, with supermarkets cutting prices and vending machine owners giving out free drinks as people work together to survive. Most noticeably of all, there has been no looting, and I’m not the only one curious about this.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/edwest/100079703/why-is-there-no-looting-in-japan/

I was thinking about this watching the vid shot by the guy on the bike. Not a single person carrying a TV.

Japanese people seem to be more civil though they don't claim to be a "christian" nation. All of us would agree that if this were in the U.S. there would be rioting, looting, anarchy, martial law, the whole bit and then some, vids and pics of people toting off TV's, DVD's, and other appliance and the such. I was thinking the same thing of how civil, calm, and pristine the conduct of the people are.

"HU"

[Timkin]

Seems like the world could take lesson from this .

[buckethead]

I choose this picture.

[BridgeTroll]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703899704576204230382157122.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

Fishing Town Suffers, Caught in Waves' Wake

By ERIC BELLMAN

SAKANAMACHI, Japanâ€"As fat wet snowflakes started to fall Tuesday on Sakanamachi, Japanese for Fish Town, one of the few sounds in the area was the cackling of crows converging to feast on the thousands of fish spread along miles of its muddy streets.

Sakanamachi, once a long line of sea-facing houses, factories and warehouses, is now a tangle of steel, boats and nets. Friday's tsunami waves destroyed thousands of homes and swept away hundreds of cars full of people trying to flee. Waves chewed up the buildings of the area's main industries, fishing and shipbuilding, leaving most beyond recognition or repair.

The reminder of all that has gone bad here is ever-present and visceral: Rotting tuna, squid, bonito and breamâ€"some whole or cleaned, some filleted and wrapped in plastic by the town's plantsâ€"dot the landscape. Freezing temperatures have slowed but haven't quelled the rising stench.

The devastation in Sakanamachi, a neighborhood of the city of Ishinomaki, offers a window into the broader problems Japan will face in rebuilding. Though the economic impact of suspended production at big outfits like Honda Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and Sony Corp. gets the bulk of attention, much of the destruction was borne by smaller businesses, including this community's fish traders and processors. While they aren't Japan's greatest concern today, in the long run the government will be judged on whether it can help these companies bounce back.

Analysts at Barclays Capital say the towns and cities damaged by the earthquake and tsunami account for about 6% to 7% of the overall Japanese economy and about 7% of its businesses. An early estimate by National Australia Bank put the total damage cost as high as $200 billionâ€"compared with about $10 billion in economic damage from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people across 13 countries.

Back in the Sakanamachi for the first time since the tsunami, Yoshi Kameya, 43 years old, stood next to his cherry-red station wagon and stared down a lumpy lane of industrial rubble, seemingly stretching to the horizon, beneath which once ran the road to the frozen-food processor where he worked.

Japan's emergency-warning system sounded tsunami alarms in many locations, but with power knocked out in areas such as this, residents didn't recall hearing it. The 30 employees in Mr. Kameya's office, knowing a tsunami was likely to follow such a massive earthquake, all left to move inland immediately after the shaking stopped.

Their cars joined hundreds of others fleeing the factories of other small and midsize companies here, all headed for the same tunnel about a mile from shore. Traffic stopped.

Mr. Kameya tried to find his way around it. When he realized his escape time could be running short, he drove up a hill and pulled his car into a parking lot. At that elevation he was safe, and had a front-row seat to the churning carnage below.

"When the first wave hit, it lifted all the cars up and dragged them out," he said, before pulling out his iPhone to show photos of the sludge, stones and lumber the waves left as they retreated. "The waves kept coming until there were no more cars."

It took two days for the water to recede and the military to clear the tunnel. During that time, Mr. Kameya and more than 100 others lived in the parking lot, eating food they took from a convenience store he said they had broken into. Of his firm's 30 employees, he said, five still haven't been heard from.

Halfway between the industry row and the tunnel is the home of Sadayuki Abe, 32. He sleeps in a small upstairs room with his nephew, niece and sister, because there is a truck in his living room.

Mr. Abe had run home from his job at a nearby shipbuilding company after the earthquake hit. He watched from his balcony as a massive refrigerated truck floated toward him, sheared off much of the front of his house and came to rest against the ground floor.

He has been drinking water from bags of ice from fish-packing facilities, but he is struggling to feed his family. The fish that have washed out of local plants have been exposed to gasoline and oil, he says. Tuesday he tried to make rice, but the wood fire didn't generate enough heat to boil water.

The factory that employed Mr. Abe has been destroyed and he doubts it can be rebuilt. "I'm not thinking about the future yet," he said. "I am just trying to survive right now."

Nearby is a lane of crooked old pine trees that survived the wave and now form a break of plastic boxes, fishing buoys, a small car. Walking past with his girlfriend, Hokuto Suzuka, 21, toted home bags of groceriesâ€"soft drinks and snacks, all they could find at the last functioning store in the area.

Mr. Suzuka said the shipbuilder where he was working at the time of the quake and tsunami was destroyed. He said he had been working on a high floor when waves rushed beneath. The big container ship that was under construction at the company's drydock washed out to sea, he said, along with what he said were 100 people working on it.

"I don't know whether we can rebuild," he said. "Without government help, it will be impossible."

Back at Mr. Kameya's car, some colleagues who had made the long trek to their former office returned, shaking their heads. They had found no evidence that the five missing employees were alive.

"This has taught me to feel happy to be alive," said Mr. Kameya, whose family all survived. He looked toward a big fishing boat balanced on the manmade sea wall that was supposed to protect the harbor. "It has also taught me that life is painful."

[wsansewjs]

Considering the fact that Japan is one of the most technological advanced nations on this planet, they still got whipped by the power of the Mother Nature. It's a battle between the complex and simple. This should be a lesson taken by every human on this planet including myself of how things can be taken away.

Remember the Lost City of Atlantis...

-Josh

[Shwaz]

Dog in Japan stays by the side of its ailing friend in the rubble 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout/dog-in-japan-stays-by-the-side-of-its-ailing-friend-in-the-rubble

[simms3]

Here is what a professor of Nuclear and Radiological engineering at my alma mater has to say about why the current nuclear disaster would not have happened in a modern day reactor.  It's an interesting read.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/03/16/sjoden.nuclear.japan/?hpt=Sbin#

And here is an app created by students from the same school that has apparently been downloaded by 500,000 Japanese since Friday to assist with the efforts to rescue people.  It uses the iPhone's camera/flash as a flashlight that can also signal in Morse Code.

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=183034&catid=3