そしてどこに行く
原子力発電/英国大使館 Nucliear update/From British Embassy
原子力発電所についての英国大使館からの報告をアップします。
大まかな内容は、福島原子力発電所はチェルノブイリとはまったく違うと言うことです。放射能レベルも今のところ人体に問題のあるレベルには達していないとのこと。
いろいろな情報があると思います、楽観視することも出来ないとは思いますが、風評に惑わされて本当に困っている方々への支援がおろそかになるようなことがあってはいけません。東北の被災者の方々により多くの力が注げるように、東京に住む私達がしっかりしなくてはいけません。
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Update on the Japan's Nuclear Postion
Over the past 24-48 hours in the Expatriate Community in Japan we have witnessed an exodus of our clients to overseas locations in light of the situation with the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants. We are also now witnessing an exodus of people (both foreign and Japanese) out of the Tokyo region towards Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe and other Kansai areas. All of this is to be expected, and is perhaps sensible behaviour on the part of the companies and people involved, to move quickly in a very uncertain situation.
However, I have just received the following report through the British Chamber of Commerce and the British Embassy that dispells any need to panic or any threats of catastrophic disaster. Please take a look at the following and feel at ease that things are slowly being brought under control;
"Update on Japan’s Nuclear Power station situation
March 15th 2011, 17.00
Telephone briefing from Sir John Beddington, the UK’s Chief Scientific adviser and Hilary Walker Deputy Director Emergency Preparedness at the Department of Health.
“Unequivocally, Tokyo will not be affected by the radiation fallout of explosions that have occurred or may occur at the Fukushima nuclear power stations.”
The danger area is limited to within the 30 kilometer evacuation zone and no one will be allowed to enter this area other than those directly involved in the emergency procedures currently being undertaken at both Fukushima 1 & 2.
Sir John went on to answer a series of questions including a comparison between Chernobyl and Japan. He said, “they are entirely different. Chernobyl exploded and there was a subsequent fire with radioactive materials being launched 30,000 ft into the air”. The maximum height of any Fukushima explosions would be no more than 500 metres.
“The amount of radiation that has been released is miniscule and would have to be in the order of 1,000 or more for it to be a threat to humans” This was confirmed by Hilary Walker.
Sir John went on to say that the Japanese authorities are doing their best to keep the reactors cooled and that this is a continuing operation. All workers on site dealing with the emergency are being fully decontaminated at the end of each shift.
When asked how reliable the information coming from the Japanese authorities was as to radiation levels he said, “this cannot be fabricated and the Japanese authorities are posting all the readings on the recognized international information sites which they are obliged to do. Independent verification shows that the data provided are accurate”.
In answer to a specific question from the Head of the BritishSchool in Tokyo, Sir John Beddington and Hilary Walker said that there was no reason at all for the school to be closed unless there were other issues such as power outages and transport problems.
David Fitton, First Minister at the British Embassy in Tokyo moderated the teleconference and confirmed that a transcript of the briefing will be available on the Embassy website later today."
Keep safe and stay calm!
Our thoughts, prayers, and hopes for a quick recovery are with all those who have been affected by this crisis.
Posted by Bursy at 3:38 AM
原発事故、スリーマイル島事故より深刻…仏評価
【パリ支局】フランス原子力安全局のアンドレクロード・ラコスト局長は１５日、福島第一原発の事故について、国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）が定める８段階の国際原子力事象評価尺度（ＩＮＥＳ）で「レベル６」に当たると述べた。
「レベル７」とされた旧ソ連・チェルノブイリ原発事故（１９８６年）より下回るものの、「レベル５」とされた米スリーマイル島原発事故（７９年）より深刻な事態となる。
（2011年3月15日22時03分 読売新聞）
東日本大震災：福島２号機圧力プール「穴開いた可能性」
住田健二・大阪大名誉教授（原子炉工学）は「とにかく水を入れ続けなければならない。あと１～２日も注水すれば、燃料棒からの発熱も減って、今よりも条件が改善される。これ以上の燃料の溶解を防ぎ高い放射線レベルの核分裂生成物も出なくなる。事業者が責任を持って取り組むべき問題だ」と話す。
一方、吉川栄和・京都大名誉教授（原子炉工学）は「原子炉圧力容器に海水を注入する作業は近づいてしなければならない分、（遠隔操作で対応した）米スリーマイル島原発の事故より状況は悪い。作業員の被ばくを防ぐためにも、圧力容器内の水を自動的に循環させるなどの経路を人為的に構築すべきではないか」と話している。
毎日新聞 2011年3月15日 20時41分（最終更新 3月16日 0時00分）
静岡県東部で震度６強 2011/03/15-23:11
テレビでは東海地震とは圧力軸の向きなどメカニズムが違っている、とのことであるが、いろいろな情報がはいってきて疲れる。
更新
米メディア、政府・東電の情報公開不手際を非難
2011.3.15
【ワシントン＝柿内公輔】福島第１原発の事故をめぐり、国際社会で日本政府や東京電力の情報公開の不手際に対する非難が目立ち始めた。
世界最大の原発市場として有望視される米国のメディアは、炉心溶融や爆発連鎖の危険を警告するとともに、技術的な問題についても日本メディア以上に詳報している。
ワシントン・ポスト紙は「日本の当局筋は『原発周辺の放射線の増加は微量』と強調していた。しかし、影響が及ぶ地域は拡大しているる」と指摘。１５日も連鎖的に広がった爆発に、ＣＮＮテレビは「東電がまたウソをついた」と憤りを隠さない。
これまで抑制的な報道に努めてきた保守系のウォールストリート・ジャーナル紙も「原子炉格納容器は堅牢（けんろう）で大量の放射能漏れは防いでいる」と強調した当局者の発言に、「今や復旧作業は大きく後退した」とかみついた。
また、「最悪のシナリオでも、日本は（旧ソ連の）チェルノブイリと同じ状態にはならない」と言い切った枝野幸男官房長官の発言に、多くの米メディアは懐疑のまなざしを向けた。このうちニューヨーク・タイムズ紙は「福島第１原発で起きている問題は、チェルノブイリ以来最も深刻のようにみえる」と批判。米メディアは「複数の原子炉で炉心溶融が起きかねない」とこぞって危機感を示していたが、事態は“予告”通りになりかねない深刻な状況にある。
例のごとくリンクがついていないからわからないが、
CNN
CNN's Drew Griffin says when it comes to safety, operators of Japan's quake-damaged nuclear plants have lied before.
東京電力は以前に嘘をついている、今回のケースも、政府と電力会社の隠蔽体質のいい一例だ、という意見を紹介している。
NYT
In Fuel-Cooling Pools, a Danger for the Longer Term
By WILLIAM J. BROAD and HIROKO TABUCHI
Published: March 15, 2011
If any of the spent fuel rods in the pools do indeed catch fire, nuclear experts say, the high heat would loft the radiation in clouds that would spread the radioactivity.
“It’s worse than a meltdown,” said David A. Lochbaum, a nuclear engineer at the Union of Concerned Scientists who worked as an instructor on the kinds of General Electric reactors used in Japan. “The reactor is inside thick walls, and the spent fuel of Reactors 1 and 3 is out in the open.”
NYT
Workers Strain to Retake Control After Blast and Fire at Japan Plant
Published: March 15, 2011
By KEITH BRADSHER, HIROKO TABUCHI and DAVID E. SANGER
Published: March 15, 2011
“It’s way past Three Mile Island already,” said Frank von Hippel, a physicist and professor at Princeton. “The biggest risk now is that the core really melts down and you have a steam explosion.”
NYT
Japan Confronts Multiple Crises as Death Toll Climbs
By MARK McDONALD and MARTIN FACKLER
Published: March 15, 2011
There were scattered news reports of some foreigners fleeing Japan, and one Western diplomat said Tuesday night that “anecdotes and rumors” were swirling in the international community.
Japan works to contain nuclear fires, radiation leaks
By Steven Mufson and Chico Harlan, Tuesday, March 15
In each case, officials said that exposure to those levels of radiation would not pose an immediate danger to human health.
But many residents said they were deeply worried, and scores of foreign residents of Japan made plans to leave the country as soon as possible.
During a midmorning news conference, four Tokyo Electric officials revealed almost no information about the blast.
Japan’s usually deferential news media turned vicious, asking, “What does this mean?”
“We want answers, not apologies,” one reporter said.
CNN
Nuclear fears ripple in Japan as rescuers hunt for survivors
By the CNN Wire Staff
March 15, 2011 -- Updated 1613
David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University, said he thinks "at this point in time there's no real evidence that there are health risks to the general population."
For example, radiation levels in Tokyo were twice the usual level on Tuesday but they were too negligible to pose a health threat, officials said.
Japan Confronts Multiple Crises as Death Toll Rises
By MARK McDONALD and DAVID JOLLY
Published: March 15, 2011
The government ordered all 47 prefectures in Japan to begin making radiation-level test results public twice daily and to alert national authorities quickly if they detect elevated levels.
・・・・・
Nations like South Korea and Singapore said they would step up inspections of food imported from Japan.
There were scattered news reports of some foreigners fleeing Japan, and one Western diplomat said Tuesday night that “anecdotes and rumors” were swirling in the international community.
福島第一４号機燃料プールへの注水命令 経産省、東電に
2011年3月16日1時14分
経済産業省は１５日午後１０時、原子炉等規制法第６４条に基づき、東京電力に対して、福島第一原子力発電所第４号機の使用済み燃料プールへの注水を可及的速やかに行うよう命じる命令を出した。４号機は停電でプールの冷却が出来なくなり、燃料を冷やしたり、放射線が外部に漏れることを防いだりする役割があるプール内の水が蒸発している可能性がある。
４号機は壁に８メートル四方の穴が二つ開いており、使用済み核燃料が過熱すれば、高濃度の放射性物質が外部にもれだす可能性がある。経産省は命令について「核燃料物質や核燃料物質によって汚染された物による災害を防止するため緊急の必要がある」としている。
