Tag: fallout

Japan nuclear crisis: Sarkozy calls for global rules (via BBC)

On By southwerkIn business ethics4 Comments

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’ve Hear of People Voting with their Feet but with Airline Tickets?

On By southwerkIn business ethics

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 cuts flights to Japan as demand falls (from BBC)

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.

The invisible threat (via Thematic Maps Blog)

On By southwerkIn business ethics1 Comment

I love maps. I wanted to do this on my web site, and while I have shown several maps of the fallout from Chernobyl, they weren’t as fancy as this.

I would like to say that this web site has many wonderful maps on it and if you enjoy maps as much as I do, please go and enjoy yourself.

James Pilant

The invisible threat The latest catastrophic news from Japan leave the impression that the disaster in Fukushima is more and more developing into Chernobyl-Dimensions. The course of events however is different in Fukushima compared to Chernobyl. Since the impact of the 1986 nuclear meltdown seem to be more and more forgotten but come back to peoples minds these days I browsed the web for some maps that show the distribution of the radioactive fallout after Chernobyl. … Read More

via Thematic Maps Blog

What to Do if Radiation from Japan Arrives in the United States

On By southwerkIn business ethics

I located this publication. It appears to be from the Department of Homeland Security. It has a rather impressive name. However, it includes a lot of information about radiation that can be released from reactors. It details precautions that people can take and probable effects of the radiation.

NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION PLUME AND POST-PLUME EXERCISES AND INCIDENTS
LIBRARY OF PRESS RELEASES

Here’s an excerpt –

There are two important concepts that help in understanding radiation: exposure and contamination. Both can occur when radioactive materials are released in a power plant emergency.
Exposure: Radioactive materials give off a form of energy that travels in waves or particles. This energy is similar to an x-ray, and can penetrate the body. This exposure ends when the radioactive material is no longer present, for example, after the noble gases disperse. Some of the radioactive material deposited on the ground may also contribute to external exposure. You may hear this referred to as “groundshine.”
Contamination: Contamination occurs when radioactive materials (dusts) are deposited on or in an object or person. External contamination occurs when radioactive material or dust comes into contact with a person’s skin hair or clothing.
People who are externally contaminated can become internally contaminated if radioactive materials get into their bodies. This could happen if people swallow or breathe in radioactive materials. Some types of radioactive materials stay in the body and are deposited in different body organs. Other types are eliminated from the body in blood, sweat, urine, and feces.
Limiting skin contamination: Both external and internal contamination can cause exposure to radioactive materials. Removing contaminated clothing and washing off the radioactive materials will minimize exposure from external contamination.
If you think you have been contaminated, you should:
•
Remove the outer layer of your clothing.
•
Place the clothing in a plastic bag.
•
Wash all of the exposed parts of your body, as you would normally, with soap and warm water. There is no need to scrub.
Do not eat, drink or smoke until you have removed contamination as described above.

This material was written for a small release of radiation, a plume, from an American nuclear power plant. It may not be totally relevant to radiation arriving from a meltdown. However, based on my reading in the area, I believe the information to be useful. Certainly, if you read the full report, you can decide for yourself if it is on point. I think it is.

James Pilant