Mr. Gunderson has a lot to say about the crisis at the reactors in Japan. I saw one of his videos today for the first time. I am impressed. However, first impressions are not always accurate. If any of my kind readers have any opinion or knowledge about Mr. Gunderson or his organization, Fairewinds Associates, I want you to tell me.
Here are two videos. One is from yesterday and the other is from a network show.
James Pilant
On the Rachel Maddow Show –
Very short video of a newscast. JP
Of course, we don’t know the whole story. The United States’ EPA monitoring stations were only partially functioning. Does this make you feel that the U.S. government is taking nuclear safety seriously?
James Pilant
Absolutely, there should be international rules and they should be tough standards as well. A coal fired plant, wind energy, etc. have little change of crossing national borders but a nuclear disaster can travel across nation after nation.
(Another little factoid, advocates of nuclear power leave out. I, for one, believe that endangering lives and land in other nations is irresponsible behavior.)
James Pilant
From BBC –
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for clear international standards on nuclear safety in light of the ongoing crisis at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
Speaking in Japan, he proposed that nuclear safety authorities from the G20 countries discuss the issue in May.
Radiation detected in the sea near the stricken plant has again risen steeply.
Meanwhile, the UN has advised Japan to consider expanding the evacuation zone around the reactors.
Mr Sarkozy is the first foreign leader to visit Japan following the earthquake and tsunami that hit the country on 11 March.
From further down in the article.
“The problem is more about establishing safety norms than it is about the choice of nuclear energy, for this there is no alternative right now,” Mr Sarkozy was quoted as saying by Reuters.
“We must address this anomaly that there are no international safety norms for nuclear matters. We want international standards because the world is a village and what happens in Japan can have consequences elsewhere.”
I could speculate that he nuclear crisis was causing this drop off in travel. But there is so much tragedy in Japan right now, there are multiple reasons not to go. Further, there is no way to sort out who isn’t going for what reason.
Nevertheless, this is firm evidence that the crisis continues.
James Pilant
American Airlines is reducing the number of flights to Japan as travel demand to the country continues to fall.
The airline said it would suspend two of its six daily flights to Japan from 6 April.
Other international airlines such as Delta and Qantas have also announced a reduction in capacity to Japan.
Travel demand has been falling due to fears of radiation leak after the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.
These are amazing. The top three I have seen in previous posts but there are thirty one pictures here, so you’re definitely going to see things you’ve never seen before.
James Pilant
This is a very good essay about the crisis. It focuses on the failures of the Japanese government and the nuclear industry in that country. It’s a good read.
James Pilant
This stuff is popping up all over the place. I’m going to put a number up but there is a definite change in the blogosphere from viewing the crisis as serious to viewing the crisis as an imminent catastrophe.
I recommend you watch these two videos.
James Pilant
This is an interesting post. I’m torn between thinking “This is little too alarmist.” and “This is just about right.”
So, why don’t you read and watch, then let me know what you think. RT is a controversial network.
James Pilant
P.S. Thanks to These New Times.
I’ve added the same video to this posting.
I have seen this kind of talk from people who make much more than this. Frankly, I don’t understand how tone deaf you have to be to say these things. It’s very clear that most Americans make much less than half of his salary. But to hear him tell it, he’s working in a salt mine for pennies.
There is one line I hear most often and this is it from this article – I walked into this job 6 weeks ago..um that I worked incredibly hard for. There is always some version of it in the diatribe the person making large sums of money and it goes like this – “I work very hard for my money.” It has countless perambulations but it always boils down the same thing: “I work hard for my money and I deserve every penny of it.”And that would be okay, if it stopped right there, but it always has the implication usually directly stated “unlike you lazy freeloaders” or in this case, “unlike you lazy teachers, etc.”
I’ve seen it over and over again. These individuals making hundreds of thousands of dollars or millions, have it rough. That’s right. The world through their eyes is trying to tear them down. If you only knew the suffering they go through. My favorite suffering, heard not once but twice, is how difficult it is to get a good nanny. I almost cried for the poor guy.
They think they are some kind Randian heroes and if the world had to live without another half talented political doctrinaire hack, we would all cry and wonder what to do – finally begging them on our knees to only come back and we’ll be good boys, pay all their taxes and give them the love and respect their rich mummy forgot to lavish on them.
They bore me.
James Pilant
From ThinkProgress –
At a townhall meeting in Amery, Wisconsin last week, the “Real World’s” Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) exposed just how out of touch with ordinary Americans he is. According to progressive blog Rightguardia, one constituent — an underemployed construction worker — explained that his wife, a teacher, may have to take a cut in wages if Wisconsin’s draconian budget bill goes through. “I’m just wondering what your wage is and if you guys would be willing to take a cut,” he asked Duffy.
Displaying that delicate sense of empathy characteristic of conservatives, Duffy whined about his $174,000 congressional salary and his “used minivan.” When the man pointed out his salary was “three times what I make,” Duffy reassured him that “I have more debt than you.” “I’m not living high off the hog,” he added:
Constituent: But a hundred and seventy-four thousand, that’s three times — that’s three of my family’s — three times what I make.
Duffy: Well our budget…I moved to cut by 5 percent. I did. You know what, I have no problem..let’s have a movement afoot. I walked into this job 6 weeks ago..um that I worked incredibly hard for. And I can guarantee you or most of you, I guarantee that I have more debt than all of you.
With 6 kids, I still pay off my student loans. I still pay my mortgage. I drive a used minivan. If you think I’m living high off the hog, I’ve got one paycheck. So I..I struggle to meet my bills right now. Would it be easier for me if I get more paychecks? Maybe, but at this point I’m not living high off the hog.
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