Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Hamaoka, 'World's Most Dangerous' Nuclear Power Plant

My sentiments exactly

Yeah, baby.  It's on; now.  Now, one and a half years after the meltdown at Fukushima, after 80,000 evacuated, after grandmothers committing suicide in temporary housing, after 36% of Fukushima children present thyroid abnormalities (up from 0.5%), after 6,000,000 Bq/Kg measured in Tokyo soil; after mortality among high school students includes heart attacks (cesium-137), radioactive rain at 200 mSieverts/hr in Canada, a huge swath of Japan is 3.5 times the legal limit for radiation, and people all over Japan are suffering from nosebleeds, skin rashes, eye problems and hair falling out, after 35% more stillbirths in the NE of Japan, after the government forbade radiation exposure testing or treatment to hundreds of thousands, after Daiichi's fuel pool 4 caught fire, was recognized as a global risk with no solution in sight, and no plan for any of the millions of tons of spent fuel in Japan, after mutated plants are turning up all over Japan and even the U.S., after hundreds of nuclear workers died trying to save Fukushima nuclear power plant.  After all this...

Omaezaki fishermen, chillin' near the plant.
 ...Now, yes now, CEPCO (Chubu Electric Power Co.) is preparing to restart reactors 3, 4 and possibly 5 at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant in December 2013.  They're building an 18 meter (54 foot) high, six foot thick, one mile long steel and concrete seawall in anticipation of another possible tsunami, although according to recent calculations, a 21 meter high tsunami could hit this region.
But summing up the data obtained after the devastating earthquake in March 2011, an expert panel under Japan’s Cabinet Office came to a conclusion this April that a magnitude-9 earthquake could cause a 35 meter tsunami that might eventually hit Tokyo. Some districts of the Japanese capital would face a 30 meter wave, whereas urban areas of the city would be hit with 3 meter waves.  Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was hit by a 15 meter tsunami.

A proper caption for this is beyond my powers: Chubu seawall demo.
108 foot high waves submerging Tokyo?  The experts say so; and where Japan is concerned, absolutely, you mustn't rule anything out.  If this happens,  the entire plant will be washed out to sea, no debating allowed.  All the Uranium and Plutonium (Reactor No. 3 uses MOX fuel) would sit in the ocean undisturbed for millennia, leaching out radioactivity.  Say goodbye to the ocean. 
Hamaoka is particularly dangerous, explains local activist Yoshika Shiratori, because it is built on a seismic fault line where Japanese government experts have estimated that there is an 87 percent chance of a magnitude 8 earthquake within the next 30 years.

An aerial map, filed by CEPCO along with its government application to build and operate the plant, showed major faults going through Hamaoka, and revealed that the company recognized the danger of an earthquake. They had carefully placed each reactor between major fault lines.

The "bedrock" the plant is situated on, claimed by Chubu Electric to offer solid support even through an 8.5 magnitude quake, crumbles like sugar between one's fingers, as visitors to the site find.
“I am not reassured by the wall they are building,” says Mr. Shiratori, who led an unsuccessful 10-year legal battle to shut Hamaoka down. “The critical issue is the danger of an earthquake, not a tsunami.” 

The unrelenting Mr. Shiratori; thanks to you it's become an issue.
After accidents at the plant, critical articles were published by seismologist Dr. Kiyoo Mogi, and he had a visit from Chubu Electric, which is recounted here.  They wanted him to reconsider his negative views;
Dr. Mogi was unmoved.  He remarks: The Hamaoka nuclear power plants are standing on top of the area where a magnitude eight class earthquake could hit. This is just extraordinary. When I told this to Chubu Electric employees, they whined, "but we do not have any good place for siting nuclear power plants."

The men of CEPCO; nuclear energy is built on human foundations.

Katsuhiko Ishibashi, professor emeritus of seismology at Kobe University said a restart of the No. 3 reactor was "out of the question" until Chubu had fully implemented emergency steps, reports Asahi Shimbun, a nationwide Japanese newspaper. "It is the world's most dangerous nuclear power plant. All its reactors should have been shut down," he said, warning that the ground on which it sits could rise 10-20 feet if struck by an earthquake.

Possibly, reactor no. 5 will be out of service for good.  After 3/11, PM Naoto Kan, in an unprecedented move, ordered the plant to shut down. As the shutdown of the seven-year-old unit, with a capacity of 1,380 MW started, saltwater used for cooling steam from the boiling water reactor entered the core after a burst pipe damaged one of its heat exchangers.  About 400,000 litres (88,000 gallons) of corrosion-causing sea water entered the turbine building, with 5,000 litres getting into the reactor itself.
This extremely rare event set off an investigation that has unearthed widespread corrosion in the labyrinth of piping, pumps and steel partitions in the reactor building and secondary units.


Chubu Electric says no radiation has leaked to the environment but the discovery of radioactive cobalt below a 13-meter-high cooling tank beside the reactor confirms unusually fast corrosion through the walls of the stainless-steel tank.

To aid in facing the expected upcoming challenges, the plant has held "power-out" drills, simulating a complete loss of electric power, to see how operators will respond during the first two hours.  According to Tokyo Shimbun, simulations show that in a nuclear accident, fallout would reach Tokyo in half a day.

If Cepco wanted to destroy the world this would be a fine place to start; a last-ditch desperate effort.  In all  of Japan (or the world), could there not be any better candidate than this for a restart?  Apparently not..

 
There is a huge wealth of information on the epic failure that is Hamaoka nuclear power plant, here: http://www.stop-hamaoka.com/english/english.html

A civic group in Shizuoka Prefecture, led by Mr. Shiratori, collected the signatures of 178, 240 Shizuoka residents in two months, starting from May — far more than the legally required minimum of around 62,000–– in order to request a referendum on the restart of the Hamaoka plant.

If the committees verify the signatures as clearing the requirement, which is set at more than one-fiftieth of the eligible voters, the group plans to ask Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu in August to adopt an ordinance to hold the referendum.

Kawakatsu said he intends to submit a referendum proposal to the prefectural assembly in September after verifying the signatures. But he has not clarified whether he will support it.

Activists at Hamaoka shore release balloons to predict the spread of radioactive materials in the event of an accident.


Now, it's time for our referendum.  Two simple emails should start things going.

Firstly, a local initiative in Omaezaki, offers this:

http://stophamaokanuclearpp.com/en/?p=50

Then, send an email to Chubu Electric Power Company here:

https://www.chuden.jp/a/e/top.html?sn=9XlrpDYKflE&li

Send an email to Shizuoka Prefectural Government here:

web-kokusai@pref.shizuoka.lg.jp

Thanks

Friday, August 10, 2012

Sunday, July 22, 2012

The Art of Writing Letters



On the good advice of a friend; the short version:  The spent fuel pool at Fukushima Daiichi's Reactor No. 4 is perhaps days away from buckling; one major earthquake will wreck the pool, the water will drain, and 262 tons of fuel will melt down, and we'll have a nuclear disaster that will end all life on Earth.  No joke.


Email the President and tell him to intervene personally in this matter; it's a matter of national security, as well as a humanitarian and ecological crisis: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

And tell the Secretary of State the same: http://contact-us.state.gov/app/ask


Note: I've changed my thinking about the direction to take.  If you're Japanese, perhaps the following will give you some ideas. If you're from another country, it's best to contact your own President, Prime Minister, Monarch, et al. and ask them to intervene. In every case, the rules of etiquette should be observed.

Now, the long version; with more ways to act:
We have very little time to act, to ensure that SFP4 stays solid, stays full of water.  We have no one to turn to, we feel; or do we?  We will turn to ourselves.  Many people are petitioning the United States government, asking them to intervene.  I did this also (I got all of 78 signatures. I think worldwide, to date, about 3,500 signatures have been collected).  Assuming we can get through to the President, what can he do?  He can appeal to the Prime Minister of Japan, His Excellency Yoshihiko Noda (I'm going to get tired of typing this, so from now I'll refer to him as Noda).  He can ask Noda to accept help from the U.S. and other countries, and to allow an international team of nuclear engineers in to study the problem and devise a solution -quickly.  And then, we proceed to implement said solution.  A heartwarming scenario, with one roadblock:  Tepco and Noda have so far refused all offers of outside help.

We seem to be far from this option this moment, in fact we are left with few options.  We  are scared (at least I am).  It seems to me though, that the nexus of this problem is Noda and Tepco, specifically their reluctance to accept help.  Help would be given, readily, were they to advertise the need for it.  We can help.  It is our job, as writers, to convince Noda and Tepco and also Goshi Hosono and Yukio Edano (and I will mention others here as I find them) that it is no great disgrace to accept help from outside; it does not denote failure.  We might even allude as to how they will be seen as heroes for making sensible alliances.

In writing to the PM (Prime Minister) or the Chairman of Tepco, or the Minister of the Environment (Mr. Hosono, who's also Nuclear Disaster Minister), or even yet the His Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito (it's important to learn proper addresses here, your propriety will pass muster with the letter-readers employed by these folks), we must endeavor to understand them, their character and motivations, and at all costs, no matter your upset or your anger or directness of character, we must be polite.

Politeness is the soul of Japanese society; putting the needs of the group before one's own personal needs the backbone.  We have a lot to learn from the Japanese on the subject, as most of us are used to entirely polarized polemic, enjoy controversy, and engage in  heated rhetoric; we want to bludgeon, to be heard raw, uncut, out loud and in the street.  Politess however ensures that your listener actually listens, as opposed to hears.  The gentle approach is the soul of both jiu-jitsu, aikido, judo -and of successful business meetings.  Conclusion: there is nothing inherently weak in being polite; it ensures that others are at ease, enough to let down their guard and consider you a possible friend.  We might meditate at this point on our intentions, which I am sure include good wishes for our readers, the Gov't. and business leaders, whatever we think of their past decisions; we are doing this for everyone and we are sincere in our wishes for their happiness and safety. You could conceive of your interaction as a quiet performance of sorts, weaving a gentle spell that will be appreciated by your reader as a momentary escape from the stresses of everyday life.  Government officials and Tepco bosses are under attack all day, every day.  If we can make them feel that we are on their side, and just happening to be offering some friendly advice, that is all to their benefit, we can be heard.

At this time (or long before perhaps) you will be asking, since when is the PM or MOE or Emperor going to be reading my letter? Fat chance of that!  Of course, you are right -at first. Your letter will be read by an underling hired to make a general assessment of the trend of thought out there, log any threatening messages, look for any opportunity for their boss to look good ie: a chance for a photo op as a result of some citizen's satisfied desire, etc.

Your job is to give these readers pause; to make them read it again; to say to the fellow in the next cubicle, Hey, look at this.  The most you can hope for is that someone will look at your letter twice, and perhaps comment on it, or make a detailed note on it.  Remember you will be competing (not exactly competing, but..) with very many gentlemen and ladies of Japan who also feel that this, SFP4, and the entire nuclear industry there, is a pressing, troubling matter.  And they are well practiced in the art of conversation and etiquette, though they may be emotional on this issue.



If by some chance your letter gets past the first barrier and is read by a higher-up, or even passed to the addressee, great; it happens, occasionally.  But you can be contented to know your letter is part of a collection of letters of the same mind, to be taken seriously.  Occasionally when there are enough such letters, the official in question will ask to see some of them; will read a few for reference.  Make sure your letter is up to the occasion, just in case.
                                             *                             *                             *
Noda is a tough, shrewd, self-made man, with a black belt in Judo. About Hosono, there is very little information; his public "face" seems determinedly remote, though congenial. Yukio Edano, Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry leaves us not much to go on either.  We know he stayed up for weeks dealing with the Fukushima crisis, although he may have been involved in holding back valuable radiation data. The new Chairman of Tepco, Kazuhiko Shimokobe, is a cipher; one can find word only of the high points of his resume. Naomi Hirose, President of Tepco, likewise.  Emperor Akihito is a different story; for a man in such an isolated position, his story is far more accessible.  This quiet yet outgoing man who wants to bridge the gap to the common people is a respected biologist, was tutored by an English librarian and author, and after 311 gave a speech to Japan that was censored by NHK.  His words? These: "As this earthquake and tsunami caused the nuclear power plant accident, those living in areas designated as the danger zone lost their homes and livelihoods and had to leave the places they used to live. In order for them to live there again safely, we have to overcome the problem of radioactive contamination, which is a formidable task."
The Emperor is obviously not beholden to a paranoid nuclear industry.  The others are pragmatic businessmen/politicians whose prime aim in all this is to look good.  So we proceed accordingly.

It's important to maintain the correct tone with the Prime Minister in your correspondance.

I think by now you have an idea what I'm talking about so I'm not going to labor the point.  I will merely offer and example of my own writing as an outline of the concept.  Feel free to copy, revise, ignore or edit and return.  Writing is a game of mental chess, you're trying to see three steps beyond any impression you have of your reader, to foresee any possible objections or sensitivities you may offend, keeping aware that your reader doesn't wish to be manipulated.  Here's my letter to the former Chairman of Tepco, a Mr. Katsumata:

Chairman Katsumata,

I know you are concerned about the possible dangers associated with the status of the spent fuel pool at Reactor No. 4, Fukushima Daiichi. It is a problem that concerns us all. I want to commend the steady effort made by Tepco to address the situation, and the attention given to the condition of the pool at all times. Workers at the plant do their very best to bring the situation to a safe conclusion. There is no question in my mind that Tepco is doing their utmost.

With respect to the predictions of seismologists that Fukushima will be struck by a M.7+ earthquake within the next few years, there is still a need for a cogent, timely solution; given the timetable you are working with, it seems reasonable to explore every avenue of available resources. It is reasonable to think that with the right planning and resources the fuel can be safely removed and stored, even before any such eventuality is slated to occur.

It is with this in mind that I wish to respectfully suggest that you approach Prime Minister Noda to consider a request to other nations and to the international scientific community for assistance with the engineering, construction and nuclear-scientific solutions with regard to the moving and storage of the spent fuel. There are many nations, scientists and engineers ready to help; and sufficient sponsors to provide whatever means or materials
are needed.

I respect Tepco's heroic efforts during and after the tsunami, and I understand the wish to prevail in the current circumstances by relying on one's own strengths to meet one's responsibilities. History shows that heros have traditionally done whatever was necessary for their people, forming alliances at will to ensure their continuous protection; with regard to such achievements it is desirable that your plans also make the widest possible
allowance for a wise council and a satisfactory outcome.

I hope you will take these matters to heart and begin to engage with the international community. Thank you for taking your valuable time to read this.

Sincerely yours,

                                             *                            *                      *

A letter to  Mr. Goshi Hosono:


    Mr. Hosono,

    I want to thank you for your attentions to the Fukushima plant, the concerns of the country and the world. We are assured that you are doing your best, with full concern for the welfare of the people and the environment. However, I still feel fear, an anxiety caused by the knowledge that the timeline for repair of the damage to the reactor and spent fuel pool may be very limited. Even with Tepco's good work, there is still so much to be done to escape danger, before a crippling earthquake, or hurricane, or groundwater explosion destroys the fuel pool, that I think a reassessment may be in order. To properly devise a plan that could ensure safety in the limited amount of time to spend, we could look at enlisting the skills of other experts at nuclear engineer and construction outside Japan. They are willing to help and have the expertise necessary to create a working plan. We may also use the donation of men and materials offered toghether with the plan to ensure a quick and efficient route to safety for all of Japan and all the world.

    This extraoridnary circumstance is beyond anybody's reasoning and expectation. If your best friend encountered an equivalent circumstance in his own life would you not ask to help? Would he be shamed for accepting your help in such overwhelming need? It doesn't need to be said that such concerns would be swept away immediately!

    We know also that you would not consider your friend, struck by such unforeseen and catastrophic circumstance, to be shamed by asking on his own power, for the help. You would thank him for informing you of his distress so that you may be of timely service.

    Every day brings new dangers. The time to act is now. Please ask for help with the damages to spent fuel pool 4 and let us all rest easy with the knowledge that the government is handling the crisis in a mature fashion, utilizing any resources at hand, from any place, sacrificing all other concerns to the one real concern; putting the health and security of the residents on "high ground," well above the reach of the caprices of Nature.

    The task of removing 1,535 fuel assemblies from a battered building within one year is formidable for anybody, I'm sure you'd admit; almost impossible. By the magic of cooperation this is made managable.

    I wish you Godspeed in your efforts to keep the people safe. They are such wonderful people, I have gotten to know some of them. Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope the summer finds you happy and healthy, and loved ones as well.

                                          *                                *                             *

A letter to Mr. Yukio Edano:

Mr. Edano,

I want to personally thank you for your tireless attention to the Fukushima Daiichi crises; I was very impressed with your stamina and concentration during the first few weeks after the tsunami.

I know of your continued concern for the state of Reactor No. 4 building, the spent fuel pool in particular. It seems to me that Tepco is making a superior effort to address the problems of stability and to remove the fuel befor disaster strikes. The courage and dedication of those workers cannot be overstated. I salute them. I suppose most of us do not consider their 24 hour a day predicament during our usual day.

My only concern is that the seismologists have predicted major, magnitude 7+ earthquakes within the next year or so in Fukushima region. I don't think Tepco, even on their expedited schedule, can complete the work on time. To do so would be a highly technical challenge for even the most highly skilled and experienced engineers and scientists on earth, with access to the greatest resources, both human, technological, and material.

Let us consider a new proposal, that you enquire of the Prime Minister whether he will consider asking assistance of the other countries involved in the nuclear endeavor, the European states and the United States. I am sure once he made initial enqueries, the response would be agreeable and accommodating. I think, with regard to the nuclear question, we are all in this together.

Prime Minister Noda has shown himself to be forthright in his response to the challenge of Fukushima. His well-known views on friendly relations with other nation-states encourage me to believe he will act wisely, and in a timely manner to avoid the unspeakable. There is a heroic streak in him, graced with the pragmatism to surpass even his own reluctance to share such a burden with others. I hope you will share my faith in him to take the one action necessary to secure the safety of the nation, and of our world.

Respectfully yours,

                                   *                                              *                                         *

Akihito is less formal, but inaccessible.

Here are some email addresses for the various people mentioned, where I could find them.  I wish you luck.

Email the Prime Minister of Japan, His Excellency Yoshihiko Noda, and ask him to accept
help from other countries, here: https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html

Write to Goshi Hosono, Nuclear Disaster Minister and also PM Noda's Minister of the Environment : http://goshi.org/contact/  or, write to The Ministry of the Environment; Minister of the Environment -English Mailing form : https://www.env.go.jp/en/moemail/    (Special thanks to Uiko Hasegawa for contact info).

Email Yukio Edano at METI: https://wwws.meti.go.jp/honsho/comment_form/comments_send.htm#form

Email TEPCO at their headquarters and ask them to accept help from other countries,
here: http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/other/contact/general-e.html
You can address it to either: Attn: Kazuhiko Shimokobe, Chairman        or, Attn: Naomi Hirose, President.
 I had a hard time getting messages through their email form, I hope you have better luck.

The Emperor is hard to get hold of, the closest I came being the email to the Imperial Household Agency,
who are so unlikely to forward it but I'll post it here: information@kunaicho.go.jp
The proper form of address:  Your Imperial Majesty.
 
Send a message to your President or Prime Minister or Monarch wherever you are, asking them
to intervene directly, and swiftly, to avoid such a disaster.




Well, you might ask, are you crazy?  I wonder.  What is writing polite letters going to do?  I have looked into all the options and it comes down to this.  If you are in Japan, go to the streets. Stay in the streets until you prevail. For the rest of us, I see no other option. If you have a better idea, tell me too -I want to do it.  Peace

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

meditation

Look at them.  They are well seated, relaxed...there.  Does my heart good.

This man's posture is excellent. I admire his concentration.  He's obviously into meditation for the long haul, as is the whole class.  They are blessed to find the center, the very breath of our life, the light of our minds.  If someone asked me, what was the greatest gift I could ever give, I would answer without hesitation: meditation.  It's worth more than gold or silver, more than diamonds.  Eternal values: Without peace of mind, what do you have?  Can you enjoy anything with your mind running full speed 24 hours a day?  Looking at the world, can you see peace?  It's a driver-absent train running at full speed with no stop signals, and no brakes.

Meditation gives you a chance to get off your train of thought, for a brief spell.  To think that one's train of thought never, ever stops makes me nervous.  How can one question one's self? Where is  the enjoyment in never-ending judgemnts, anxieties, ruminations?
   
Meditation is for you, and for me. It's for this world, torn up by Fukushima, and so much else. It's now.

I'm going to give you a lesson in meditation, what it is, and what it is not.

Meditation is effortless.  All you have to do is maintain the posture; that's all there is to it.  And if your mind starts acting up, you can follow your breath.  Never fails.

To begin: Sit on a cushion, from 2-4 inches high or thereabouts, on a carpeted floor, or the grass; somewhere comfortable, quiet.  Sit with your legs folded under you, left leg first.  Or, sit in a chair if need be.  Even in a chair, you should lightly cross your legs at about the ankles, left leg under, and let them fall back toward the chair so your calves are resting at about a 45 degree angle, whatever feels right; your sitz bones under you should flatten out and not be on end -this is important for a good sitting experience, even when not meditating.  Yoga postures are not necessary (Incidentally, I'm only teaching meditation, not religion, not Hinduism or Buddhism or Taoism. You can think of meditation as being like brushing your teeth, only for your mind and emotions; clearing the crap off each day so it doesn't accumulate and calcify).

When you're sitting comfortably, lean a bit side to side to feel if your spine is straight up in the center.  Arch your back then let go; better a slight arch than a slump forward.  Take a deep breath, slowly, and raise yourself up to your full height. Exhale and relax, slowly.  Nod your head side to side, be sure it's straight up the middle.  Tuck your chin in and release gently - you should be looking straight ahead.  If you find your head tilting back, as is common, bring it back again; always looking straight ahead.

Now you are ready to meditate. What to do? Nothing. Just sit. You can think, if you want.  You can pray, you can contemplate whatever, or simply do nothing: it doesn't matter. You are just waiting for your mind to quiet down, to get tired, like a cow wandering a field, finally relaxing, and lying down.  Then comes quiet.  The time you are waiting can be peaceful if you are enjoying your thoughts.  But if not, you can follow your breath: each time you breath in, think: "Breathing in..."  Each time you breath out, think: "Breathing out..." This becomes a habit very easily and is very effective at quieting your mind, even if you've only been sitting a short time. You can use it while walking too.

So just sit.  No effort whatsoever. The only problem you may face is squirminess, the desire to jump out of one's skin, the itchy feeling. I get it sometimes; I persevere. You just have to put up with it. It passes.

So you've sat for 20 minutes, or 40 minutes, or 10 minutes; whatever feels natural to you is right. When you're done, it's important to ground yourself, because your energy has been rising all this time, and you have to come back to yourself, your heart space, your ground. Imagining a small hole in the center of your chest, breathe in and out of your spiritual heart for a minute, imagine a warm feeling there and tell yourself, my heart is wide open; my heart feels good. Very soon you begin to feel it. 

Now reorient yourself and take a moment to say to yourself: I am back in the world and I am ready to face the world. I am grounded, I am here and my heart is open.  Then get up, slowly.

Prayers for Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims, Katmandu, Nepal

That's it.  You've just meditated.  Good for you. 

                                                   *                  *              *

Question: What do I do with my hands?
Answer:  They should rest in your lap, palms up, right hand nestled in left.  Or turn them over, palms
               down, in a natural way; hands and arms should always be relaxed, supported, natural.

Q: When I close my eyes and start to meditate, I feel like I'm flying away; I can't stand it!
A:  You're becoming aware of just how stirred up and engaged your mind and emotions are.  You are
      living like this everyday but you don't notice it; now you become aware. Good. The solution:
      meditate with your eyes open for now, every so often close them for a minute and take your mental
      -emotional 'pulse', just to see where you are at.

Q: I don't have time for meditation!
A: It can be tough to find time.  But even a few minutes of absolute non-doing is essential to breaking
     the train of thought.  Do it, a few times each day.

Q: Every time I meditate the phone rings! Or, I have to go to the bathroom.
A: Keep your cell phone, pen and notepad next to you when you sit, and visit the WC before you start.

Q: You said earlier, I will show what meditation is not. What is it, not?
A:  Meditation is not walking on the beach; reading books (especially books about meditation); making
     art; cooking; or a million other things that don't involve sitting in meditation posture, silently, for a
     length of time.  Don't kid yourself.  After 40 years I find myself sometimes thinking, Gee, I'm in a
     meditation space, and I'm just riding the bus staring out the window-or some such.  All fine and well,
     but I know that if I don't do proper sitting every day, I'm useless.

Address any additional questions to me here in the comments, I'll do my best to answer them.  No personal problems, please -I'm not a wise man.  We're going to get through this Fukushima thing one way or another;  I think this is one of the best resources we have.

                                                     *                    *                       *

Mediation strengthens us for doing the important tasks in life, such as: doing away with nuclear power.  Take action on one of the following items:

Email the President and tell him to intervene personally in this crisis; it's a matter of national security

Email the Secretary of State and tell her the same http://contact-us.state.gov/app/ask

Send a message to your President or Prime Minister or Monarch wherever you are, asking them to
intervene directly, and swiftly, to avoid such a disaster.

If you are in Japan, go to the streets. Stay in the streets until you prevail.  For the rest of us, I see no clear options.  If you have a better idea, tell me -I want to do it.  Peace

Thursday, July 5, 2012

It's the 4th of July

Photo: Megumi Ikeda.

Young generation are always sent to the front line whether it’s police or army.

But this is the fight against nuclear. so we must protect them from black rain.

 Iori Mochizuki



Independence Day!  But News makes it clear that we are all absolutely interdependent. We well know of all the many millions barely surviving in refugee camps, driven by wars, invasions, insurrections, drought, floods, over fishing, over logging, over hunting, over hedge funding.  Independence!  O yes!  So my thought is that, besides the US Independence Day, we should start a world wide Dependence Day where everyone considers the implication of living in one world.  With no one to care for us except ourselves and our evolved sense of balance.  Some hope, bonne chance.

Roberto Janz

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

one being, no proof



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGGVdB_tm9Y&list=UUUDxWq0ILu88kXtve7yyv1w&index=5&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MolubebaFUA&feature=BFa&list=UUUDxWq0ILu88kXtve7yyv1w

日本語



  We watch ourselves in the camera and laugh
  Page views increase

  We do not need to use the subject
  We can trace justice of somebody
  The hyperlinks increase

  Narcissism accelerates
  as there are not the others in the local
  The Internet is closed

  Radioactive materials
  Quarrels of digital data
  Which lives long ?

  Do not copy and paste
  such a worthless tweet
  by me who cannot see the face


----


9/9 I recieved a reply from Mr. Sonoda (Parliamentary Secretary). He said he saw this web site and would have a consultation about correspondence.
mail 0898


↑the situation of Fukuichi live camera / the camera was fastened on the handrail of the step over the pipes.

On 30/8/2011 afternoon, at the press conference Tepco answered that it is difficult to determine the pointing person’s identity and there is no plan to investigate. Supposing it to be a fact, if it is announced formally that Tepco and the prime contractor never add any sanctions to the company which I belonged to, I open myself and the day’s my behavior and make the asterisks on this page clear.(I have already left a company.)
The main points of this page
 - I did the action regardless of the company. So I want not to add any sanctions to it.
 - I want the government and Tepco to address the labor issue seriously.
 - The intention of pointing a finger toward camera was to point out about the labor issue and observation through the media.


It is me who pointed a finger toward the Fukuichi live camera.

■ First, let me explain why I make a statement here.
I feared the possibility that the determination of my identity caused my company a deal of trouble.
(I have already left a company.)
If Tepco or the prime contractor takes wrong interpret the action as the company’s misconduct and add some penalty, there is no excuse for it to my company and the boss and seniors and colleagues.
To make it open that there is no relation between my action and my company, I explain in expectation of some effect to prevent from the meaningless sanctions.
But if I make my identification clear without confirming the course of Tepco, that will merely make an excuse of sanctions. So I show my face on the picture as the same range as the video.

Maybe there is no necessary to make this page because if I don’t say anything more no one can know my identification.
However, I doubt the answer of Tepco and the government on the conference.
Tepco’s spokesman said that it’ difficult to determine the person’s identification and there was no plan to investigate, but I have expected that it is easy to cast doubt on me.
Because I went into the site of the plant and lent an APD(radiometer, dosimeter) with staggering the hours from the other standard workers, and return it soon after I did the action.
My unnatural stay time was recorded with the identification number.
On the conference Mr. Sonoda said that the government had a plan investigation. If that was one of the counterterror measures, it’s appropriate to think the determination had been done.
In that case, there is a possibility of sanction without some notification. So I want to say the sanction or the penarlty is meaningless before the confirmation on facts.
The action was done at my own discretion. There are no relations and responsibility to the company which I belonged to.
I had hidden my intention from everyone in the company so no one can know about my action.
No company can avoid the sudden deviation by a man applied for the job offer increased after the accident.
I have a favor to Tepco and the prime contractor. Please note those points and don’t add any sanction to the company which doesn’t have any relationship to my action. Entrust the business as before. Please take a soft line.

If it is expressed officially that no sanction or penalty will be done, I make my identification and the details of my behavior on that day.
I also make it clear when my identification has been determined.
If there is not any matters on labor environment or employment and security, and nobody don’t act like terrorism and can’t act so, maybe investigation is not necessary.
However I must apologize for the possibility of some trouble to the company which I was employed.
I’m terribly sorry.


■ Then I explain the sequence intention and of the action.
I went into the site of Tepco’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and point a finger toward the plant’s live-streaming camera on August 28, my holiday.
I had known about the camera and its rough position by the information on internet and the bulletin board in the significant seismic building.
I approached to the camera with APD and the mask and Tyvec’s protecting suit ,and point at it while watching myself by the live-streaming video on my mobile phone.
The subject I pointed toward was Tepco and the government, and people watching the video in live or after , and myself on the mobile phone.
■The intention of pointing toward Tepco, the goverment and the claim for them

I claim the concrete improvement of the state of working conditions, entrustment of businesses to subcontract companies, ascertainment of all workers’ employment situations.
As you know according by the reports from some media, there are some workers who have some compelling reason were arranged by the people in the outlaw territory.  And they work while hiding from the prime contractor that they are in unfair or harsh conditions.
Even the case of the company recruiting through the Hello Work (Japanese government employment agency), the prime contractor don’t know some workers’ actual employer.
Too many subcontracts cause some problems of the workers’ low wages or not to join the insurances, no contract documents, as known by reports of media.

In addition, I show some of my experiences.
I had some days that I can’t asleep well in the daytime though I had works in late night because the working hours of our room’s members are inconsistent.
There is a rule that the workers have to declare the day’s conditions of their health by writing and submitting the paper.
I wrote 4 about the sleeping hours honesty, but a senior rewrite as 6 while I took my eyes off.
I think he judged that the existence of a person who can’t control his health is not good for our company.
And, I saw workers who have much extra jobs except the job which the prime contractor knows. They worked so hard for miscellaneous jobs –for example, caring newcomers’ procedures– and they did their original jobs and drove a car in spite of a few hours sleeping.
Subcontract companies compete or appeal with overwork, then the prime contractor obtain high efficiency works with low cost.
But some small unreasonable things and harmful effects are not reported to above.
They could lead to serious accident in this emergency.

If someone indicates those problems on the conference, Tepco may just answer “we are going to investigate” or “we ask cooperative companies not to do so.”
And great information never will be reported.
Only the evidences not to damage to themselves will be reported to above for having been subcontracted.
Subcontract companies and dishonesty workers are not only responsible for such this situation but also prime contractor or Tepco.
Even if some workers or the companies were punished severely, this problem would not be solved.
Stern regulations don’t connect the safety measure.
This is the important thing we have to learn from the Train Crash on JR West Fukuchiyama Line(2005), I think.
Tepco has to release weaker people from the pressure that they have to hide their overworks.
This is hard to carry senses of mission on their back for many people, so we must not to impose the pressures of labor conditions or instability of employment.
I think we should cope with this problem as whole problem of employment system.
It is best that if Tepco employed all workers and companies.
If it is completely unable, I want Tepco to confirm the all workers’ contract situation on their documents completry (though I did not make written agreement), and to check if there are fair wages and insurances.
How about grasping if there are enough people on each posts or companies?
Orginally, outsourcing is not to waive the responsible of administration but to consign technical works.
I hear that the accident is barely saved from the worst crisis nevertheless being unpredictable.
In this case, it is important to avoid human errors from the halfway administration or caring workers.
And my action went through without someone’s check, it gave an example that there is many ways to pick something by someone who were not satisfied on the present state.
This won’t change anything if the security will become improved.
It is proper measure to improve the employment situation not to make workers unsatisfied.
I hope mass-medias to ask Tepco and the government these points.

 
■ The intention of pointing toward the people who watches the video

I wanted to make a opposite direction against the observation.
We still have put the workers on nuclear power plant as “an exceptional subject different from us” by changing the word from “lower workers” to “heros” or “working people”
I wanted to point it out.
I think we can't avoid this on watching something through a media.

■ the intention of pointing toward myself through the mobile phone

I also watch workers and this accident through the media, so I can't leaving out of this situation, I thought.
And this action content a self-sacrifice by narcissism, it should not acknowledge unconditionally in the social crisis.
Gloomy mind caused by watching TV show should be eliminated by political participation through elections.
My behavior of working only in a short period should be watched and criticized as a slacktivistic pattern.



■ The above is the explanation of the intention of pointing a finger, the effectiveness might be incomplete.
As indicated by some people, I simulated <<centers>> by Vito Acconti in the situation with internet and nuclear power plant.

However the unclearly action might contribute the growing impudent of the conspiracy theory and occultism.
It was unexpected that putting BGM like a horror movie in the TV programs and too many unrealistic opinions are commented on the internet.
In addition to my eerie action, that was caused by the present situation that information is limited and is difficult to have argument.
I want mass-media people to make program which is based on the covering the seismic building and workers cooperated by Tepco.
If they are hero, there are no necessary to use mosaic masking.
If it becomes usual, there won’t be so many comments about the pointing person hoping scoop or supernatural happenings, but many blames and abuse for making trouble to company as one of the working adult.
I hope such sound daily scene to come again.

■ I say again.
There is no relations between my action and the company I belonged to.
The company can’t know about my intention in advance so they don’t have any responsible.
I have a favor to Tepco and the prime contractor. Please note those points and don’t add any sanction to the company which doesn’t have any relationship to my action. Entrust the business as before. Please take a soft line.。


■ 自分の行動まとめ

7月中旬 原発作業員の求人 に応募
7月下旬 **県**市にて面接
8/3 Android au購入 原発周辺で使える可能性のあるものを各社に問い合わせた
8/** 21時 **市より車で**へ
8/** **に荷を置いてJヴィレッジへ 管理区域入域前教育(ab教育)
8/** Jヴィレッジで作業者証取得 顔写真付き ID
8/** *mSv 初出勤 防塵マスクの フィルターの交換
8/** *mSv
8/** *mSv サーベイマップでカメラ周辺の空中線量確認(0.3mSv/h)
8/** *mSv
8/** *mSv
8/** *mSv 風邪引く
8/** 休日
8/** *mSv
8/** *mSv
8/** *mSv
8/** *mSv
8/** *mSv
8/** *mSv
8/** *mSv(休日臨時出勤) この日までで*mSv被曝
8/28 この日は休日。
しかし*からJヴィ レッジ、経由して現場まで*********
**:** *→JV**:** 装備品取るタイベック1枚多く手袋一組多く取る トイレで着替えて待つ タイベックに名前は書かない
**:**JV→**:**頃1F 車窓から警備員 に作業者証提示
免震棟******************** フードを深めにし、他の人の後ろに ついて入る マスクをあまり脱がずに移動
線量計 (上限*mSv)借りる この線量計の貸し借りで出入記録がつくし、この日誰にも見つからなくてもこの記録から自分は特定されると思った
トイレで準備 マスク内にICレコーダー スマホ起動 回線はCDMA1x ふくいち ビューワー起動
タイベックに 自分の本当の雇用契約先と名前を書く ただしちょっと薄め 後で偉い人に事情聴取される時、会社の人が同席した場合牽制するため
10時すぎくらいに出口より出る 建物を右右右とまわりカメラのある場所へ カメラ場所はネットや免震棟内掲示物の地図などを認して頭に入れていた
カメラに指さし 手を回したのは大きな動作じゃないと分からないと思ったから スマホを見て自分の位置を中央に修正
このままじゃよくわからないかなと思ってたところ アップで映れるような足場を視認 アップで映る
帰る 入口から入る 出入口****************************
中扉内の脱着や身体サーベイ**************** サーベイ後顔付近をごまかしながらトイレへ
頃合いを見て線量計を返す レシートには
個人番号:******量計番号:**** 使用開始2011/08/28 **:** 使用終了2011/08/28 **:**
γ線線量(mSv)今回:* 立入時間 今回:**:** 印刷日時:2011/08/28 **:**:**
全部で*mSv被曝したことに トイレで待機後
**:**バスで帰る JVか らは*********帰る ついに誰にも咎められなかったことに驚いた
荷をまとめて帰る **********都内へ→**へ帰宅
8/** 退所にあたり社長からWBC受けるよう指示
9/** jビレッジでWBC 測定機器****** 計数率(Ach)****cpm(NET) 換算定数*
|----------------------------------------------|

作業者個人番号
-----------
福島第一原子力発電所 作業者証
****
個人番号 ******
所属 **

Qulxel LANDAUER **** **

顔写真作業者証
****
発行番号 *************
会社名 **
有効期限 2014年8月**日

|----------------------------------------------|





↑私の手にとった管理区域入域前教育のテキストには落書きが多かった


私の夕食の例です 食器から特定されそうで掲載をためらっていましたが、現場でいただくレトルト食の画像のみではアンフェアな気がしたので貼ります。







↑これらのA4サイズの貼り紙は他の様々な掲示物に紛れていたのを自主的に探してやっと見つけたものです。

http://pointatfuku1cam.nobody.jp/e.html

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

For the Lost

  

 
    THE WILD BULL

    The wild bull, who has lain down, lives no more
    the wild bull, who has lain down, lives no more,
    Dumuzi, the wild bull, who has lain down, lives no more,
    the wild bull, who has lain down, lives no more.

    O you wild bull, how fast you sleep!
    How fast sleep ewe and lamb!
    O you wild bull, how fast you sleep!
    How fast sleep goat and kid!

    I will ask the hills and the valleys,
    I will ask the hills of the Bison:
    "Where is the young man, my husband?"
    I will say,
    "He whom I no longer serve food"
    I will say,
    "He whom I no longer give to drink"
    I will say,
    "And my lovely maids"
    I will say,
    "And my lovely young men?"
 
    "The Bison has taken thy husband away,
    up into the mountains!"

    "The Bison has taken thy young man away,
    up into the mountains!"
 
    "Bison of the mountains, with the mottled eyes!
    Bison of the mountains, with the crushing teeth!
    Bison!-He sleeps sweetly, he sleeps sweetly,
    He whom I no longer serve sleeps sweetly,
    He whom I no longer give to drink sleeps sweetly,
    My lovely maids sleep sweetly,
    My lovely young men sleep sweetly!"
 
    "My young man who perished from me
    (at the hands of) your men,
    My young Ababa who perished from me
    (at the hands of) your men,
    Will never more calm me (with) his loving glance
    Will never more unfasten his lovely bright clasp
    (at night)
    On his couch you made the jackals lie down,
    In my husband's fold you made the raven dwell,
    His reed pipe-the wind will have to play it.
    My husband's songs-the north wind will have to sing them."


    Sumerian, c. 1700 BC, translated by Thorkild Jacobsen

Monday, July 2, 2012

Hell


Everything

I imagine the news and it comes true.  Everything I think comes to pass, slowly or fast.  We are losing it.  I'm losing my mind.  I feel sick. Fukushima is making me sick, figuratively, literally.  Once I get through my latest personal crisis, I come back to...  this.  And it won't go away; it's too awful.

I'm thinking of making a video, so shocking, so awful that no one will be able to watch it all the way through.  A video that will tell the truth about radiation, Fukushima, nuclear power.  Because all the news on the web means only one thing to me: death.

What does it mean to you?  I can't tell. I don't know. I don't know any other person's mind; only mine.  I try to keep mine filled up with music so it can't explode.  But it does anyway and what's the use?  In five years..

If SFP4 goes, I want to be standing there right beside it, breathing in the fumes, hoping to die in minutes.  Not later, after it all goes bad.  I want to defuse the nuclear meltdown in my soul, but it won't go away.  No amount of tranquilizers or mental therapy will defuse it, because it's there.  To stay.

We have time, time to do many things.  But we won't do them.  I can see the trend, and it isn't going anywhere; stasis.  We have time.  Time to do many things.  Washing, drying, cleaning, soaking, wringing out rags, staining the carpet, the rug, everywhere with our blood.  Because it's time.

I see overcrowded hospitals, frantic nurses, everybody thinks their case is the only case, virulent patients, and their families bullying and bellowing, screaming and fighting with doctors, threatening the nurses and whoever else tries to help; collapsing doctors, never turning away anybody, never treating anybody, never burying anybody. No room in the morgue, in any morgue; bodies stacked outside. Nervous breakdowns.

Shots.  Gunfire in the night as neighborhoods give over to sheer, unadulterated disdain, as every last shred of propriety vanishes.  As we continue breathing, only this time, it's fear, 24 hours straight.  As we approach the end, we see this ain't no rollercoaster; we're going straight down into the firepit -with no relief.

In my mind there are fearsome carpets, waves of rats and roaches feasting on the dead bodies of former citizens, growing fat and rabid, proliferating at a rate undreamed of.  Woe to those who emerge from their bomb shelters...

Then just a furry, crackling mass covering cities; then covered over itself by vegetation, greenery, and flowers hopefully, diminishing in number as there is less to eat...  The cities will turn green once again.  And the ocean...

The ocean will reign supreme, in its majesty, rolling in, rolling out, with serene stateliness, forever, bringing peace to the world, that neither knows, nor cares.  Eternity is now, and the Pre-Cambrian essence that once ruled the scene makes its way back, as trilobites make a reappearance.  Then is now, now is all time;  there is no time...

                                                                      
I want things to go back the way they were.  I want things to go back the way they were!  I want things to settle down.  just...
But everything is different.

                                             *                          *                         *

Email the President and tell him to intervene personally in this matter; it's a matter of national security, as well as a humanitarian and ecological crisis: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

And tell the Secretary of State the same: http://contact-us.state.gov/app/ask

Send a message to your President or Prime Minister or Monarch wherever you are, asking them to intervene directly, and swiftly, to avoid such a disaster.  Protest...  against the building of any new nuclear plants.
It's the last battle.
Peace