Japan earthquake
Worse Than We Thought
Apparently, the Japanese nuclear crisis was worse than we thought. The Guardian reports: Molten nuclear fuel in three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant is likely to have burned through pressure vessels, not just the cores, Japan has said in a report in which it also acknowledges it was unprepared for an accident of …
Continue reading “Worse Than We Thought”
CONTINUE READINGPolitical Fallout from Japan Hits Germany
According to HuffPo, BERLIN — German chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives have suffered a historic defeat in a state ballot after almost six decades in power there, partial results showed Sunday, in an election that amounted to a referendum on the party’s stance on nuclear power. The opposition anti-nuclear Greens doubled their voter share in Baden-Wuerttemberg …
Continue reading “Political Fallout from Japan Hits Germany”
CONTINUE READINGJapan Update
Not good, on a number of fronts: The official death count is now past 7000, as reported by CNN. Another ten thousand are still missing. The NY Times reports that the Japanese government has finally raised the level of the event to 5, the same level as Three Mile Island. Here’s a really scary statement …
Continue reading “Japan Update”
CONTINUE READINGJapan Nuclear Crisis — Another Worry
As at many plants in the U.S. and around the world, the Japanese plants have on-site storage for spent fuel rods. The reason is that no one has come up with a working permanent storage solution. These spent fuel rods are now beginning to pose a serious risk at the Japanese plants, according to the …
Continue reading “Japan Nuclear Crisis — Another Worry”
CONTINUE READINGToday in Japan
According to CNN, in addition to the loss of life (now confirmed at over 15oo but likely to rise considerably), the economic costs are huge: Losses from the quake, tsunami and fires will total at least $100 billion, including $20 billion in damage to residences and $40 billion in damage to infrastructure such as roads, …
Continue reading “Today in Japan”
CONTINUE READINGJapan Nuclear Update
The situation is continuing to deteriorate. The Washington Post’s coverage seems to be exceptionally good. Here’s their summary of the current situation: Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant haven’t found a way to stabilize overheated reactors and feared the possibility of partial nuclear meltdown, which could potentially cause a further release of radioactive material, …
Continue reading “Japan Nuclear Update”
CONTINUE READINGJoin Our Mailing List
Climate policy is changing rapidly. Stay in the loop with expert analysis via email Monday - Friday.
