If Reactor 4 Spent Fuel pool collapses, we are screwed…

By: James Burge
May 9th, 2012

Okay so the deepening crisis at Fukushima continues to cause concern for the majority of people who tour the area. Recently US Senator Ron Wyden was at the site and said things were much worse than what has been reported. He urged Japan to accept international help to get the situation under control, but what exactly would something like this entail?

The major issue at Fukushima is with the spent fuel pool (SFP) at reactor 4 is that the structure has been heavily damaged by the earthquake and hydrogen explosions in reactors 3 and 4.  This combined with the risk of another magnitude 7+ quake is possible the time to deal with this could be running out.

From what I have heard, some have said the cleanup could take  30 years to complete, especially when you consider reclamation of Tokyo. Earthquake experts have said there is a 70% chance Japan will receive a 7+ earthquake in the next 4 years. I hate to say it but if it takes that long to secure the spent fuel, we are all in for it.

So what can we do if this happens? Anti-nuclear physician Dr. Helen Caldicott and nuclear expert Arnie Gundersen both recommend moving to the Southern Hemisphere.

Oh is that all…

So the question is what can be done to prevent the collapse of SFP 4, well probably nothing. They have reinforced the floor of the pool with concrete, but the concern is that the building which houses the fuel pool is damaged and could fail, taking the fuel pool down with it.

The only solution is to reduce the amount of radioactive material in the SFP when it does finally collapse. The process of moving the spent fuel (SFP 4 contains 1500+ fuel rods) and placing them into dry cask storage off site is not simple, nor cheap, some have estimated it to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The current plan is to create a concreat building around the damaged structure to operate a large crain in order to aid in the removal of spent fuel as the dry casks weigh tonnes.

But I guess the question to ask yourself is, if we do not spend the money now to avoid such a situation, what would it cost to deal with the fallout?? I would think that to be impossible.

Keep in mind, Tokyo has been found to have multiple hotspots from multiple independent sources, but instead of evacuating people, which of course would cost a lot of money, people are left to develop whatever cancers and just deal with it. Children, who are much more radiosensitive than Adults are playing in contaminated playgrounds in Tokyo, and a recent study showed 1/3 of japanese children tested, had lumps on their thyroid, only 10 months into the crisis.

Can we actually expect the nuclear industry to pay to clean up this business?? It was recently brought to my attention that when these plants are licensed, the owners are not required to even look at the costs associated with mass evacuations in the event of an accident similar to what has occurred in Japan. And another scary fact, the US has 31 Mark I or Mark II reactors, and experts have said they store much more spent fuel in the SFP than what we are seeing in Japan, the only bonus is that earthquakes aren’t as likely, but obviously not impossible.

From what I understand the issue is in deciding where to put the spent fuel, back when these plants were constructed there was supposed to be a large storage facility, I believe in Texas to house spent fuel. But surprise surprise, Texans don’t want that shit in their back yard. So instead we are risking irradiating the entire planet to save a few hundred million. Do you think some of these multi billionaires could spare a couple million or two to help the world out??

Another issue raised is that the collapse of SFP 4 could affect the common fuel pool, which has 6,375 more fuel rods located only 50 m from reactor 4, and would no doubt contain MOX fuel which has plutonium (the most deadly compound known to man). This would certainly cause a global catastrophe. The total number of fuel rods in the Fukushima site not in pressure vessels is 11,421. Are you scarred yet?

It amazes me in a time when governments seem to be falling over themselves to incite fear in the electorate, why isn’t this crisis being used to force legislation though using the fear to distract from the insanity of the legislation (ala patriot act). I guess that wouldn’t be condusive to the nuclear industry, and who do you think gives millions to congress.

Here are a few more facts I recently learned from Arnie:

- Spent rods only have to be cooled for a few years after being used, but reactor 4 has recently used fuel meaning that 4 more years of cooling is required in the spent fuel in reactor 4 SFP

If the water in the SFP goes dry, the spent rods will catch fire. Once the fire starts you cannot use water to put it out as this will cause the water to break into Hydrogen and Oxygen likely leading to another large hydrogen explosion.

- If a large release were to occur, workers at the site also risk radiation due to what is called “sky shine” where gamma rays are reflected of air molecules bathing the site in gamma radiation which goes right through the protective suits worn on the site.

Mouseland…

By: James Burge
May 7th, 2012

Wow, ideals behind the act of schooling…

By: James Burge
April 30th, 2012

I just watched an amazing video where a school teacher looks at how what we learn in school is only a part of story of the rise of the National Socialist party in Germany. We mostly learn everything past the first major event of the war, when in 1939 Germany invades Poland. But there is much more to the story than the “who”, “what”, and “when” of the situation. This video follows the school teacher as he attempts to answer the why and how in the 100 years before the invasion of Poland, what set the stage not only for the Nazi’s rise to power, but the acceptance, and encouragement of the German population and how the use of “schule” to indoctrinate German children so that they lost their sense of individuality and would embrace the greater good that their death might provide to their nation, instead of doing something as reprehensible as running from gunfire.

The birth of the modern-day brainwashers, I mean teachers. And as much as I support teachers and the task they take on themselves to mould the young minds of tomorrow, it is probably first worth understanding what the initial goal of ‘schule’ was, and to ask yourself, if their modern day form don’t achieve just what they were designed to do, create good citizens, some of which will not only volunteer, but feel pride in giving their life for the aims of their nation.

Ron Paul in Time 100 Most Influential…

By: James Burge
April 19th, 2012

Looks like, with the response they got in the online poll, they couldn’t leave him off the list. Although, people seem to be talking more about Adele, Rihanna, and Kate and Pippa Middleton being on the list. Should they do two lists, those who are important in world politics and then do a list of 100 most popular artists. It is kind of amazing to think that our society sees pop starts as influential, really because of their fan base. I mean didn’t Rihanna jump on the Kony bandwagon?? I’m not trying to diminish their impact on social consciousness, but most influential, not so sure I agree.

Here is a link to Ron’s Page (http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2111999,00.html), although if this is your first introduction to “Dr. NO” you must have been living under a dinosaur media rock.

What a smart Girl, 12 Year old explains Debt based currency

By: James Burge
April 12th, 2012

Just as I was starting to think our education system is broken, this girl opens her mouth and destroys my concerns. The video below is of a 12 year old Canadian girl, giving a speech on the issues surrounding debt based monetary policy and the systematic looting of the middle class with the help of the Canadian Government and its failed monetary policies.

Amazing!!!

America Loves Israel. Why???

By: James Burge
April 5th, 2012

Awww… “Israel Loves Iran” let us hope this catches on…

By: James Burge
April 4th, 2012