Japan Finally Seeks International Help with Fukushima Crisis

October 9th, 2013

Via: CBS:

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Japan is open to receiving overseas help to contain widening radioactive water leaks at the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima, with leaks and mishaps reported almost daily.

Abe made the comments Sunday in a speech at an international science forum in Kyoto in western Japan.

“We are wide open to receive the most advanced knowledge from overseas to contain the problem,” Abe said in his English speech to open the conference on energy and environment.

“My country needs your knowledge and expertise,” he said.

Despite Abe’s reassurances to the International Olympic Committee last month that the leaks were “under control,” many Japanese believe he was glossing over problems at the plant.

Abe did not say whether he still thinks the leaks are under control, or give any specifics about foreign participation.

His comments come just days after the plant’s operator acknowledged that highly contaminated water spilled from a storage tank as workers tried to fill it to the top.

Officials have acknowledged that the groundwater contaminated with radioactive leaks has been seeping into the Pacific since soon after meltdowns following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Recent leaks from storage tanks have added to public concerns.

Japan has been criticized for its perceived reluctance in accepting foreign assistance to fight the problems at the plant, where the ongoing water leaks are hampering decommissioning work that is expected to last decades.

One Response to “Japan Finally Seeks International Help with Fukushima Crisis”

  1. LoneWolf says:

    Not to mention the very outbreaks of nose bleeds in Japan … there is this new story 🙁

    “Canary in the coal mine” analogy?

    “Alarming” mass die-off of starfish in areas along Canada’s Pacific coast — “They’ve disintegrated, now there’s just goo left” — “Appeared to melt” — “Single arms clinging to rock faces, tube feet still moving” — Similar reports as far away as California

    Vancouver Aquarium Blog: Area with ‘rivers’ of body parts from sea stars — ‘Strange behavior’ reported in sea otters

    http://enenews.com/alarming-epidemic-mass-die-off-of-starfish-on-canadas-pacific-coast-theyve-disintegrated-now-theres-just-goo-left-appeared-to-melt-arms-just-detach-single-arms-clingi

    Might be a good time to invest in a hand held dosimeter to start testing west US coast food & products? Salmon, tuna, NAPA wines, produce?

    Periodically testing food purchased at oriental markets as well as the major corporate groceries.

    I recently purchased a Russian version off eBay.

    Radiation Detector «SOEKS» 01M is intended to estimate the level of radioactivity and detect objects, foodstuffs, construction materials contaminated by radioactive elements. Radioactivity indicator evaluates radiation background on the amount of power of ionizing radiation (gamma and beta-particles) with taking into account X-rays.

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