This is another clearinghouse diary for the posting of additional news (with links to their source) and intelligent commentary about the ongoing nuclear disaster(s) in Japan.
THE JNI coverage is for reporting and analysis of events in Japan following the March 11 Disaster -- the earthquake, tsunami and meltdowns at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. JNI is NOT a place for editorializing or POVs on nuclear power. The ROV does not replace breaking news, but rather serves as homebase for ongoing updates throughout the week.
As a tsuanmi alert triggered by a 7.3 quake off the northeast coast of Japan is lifted at 11:45 AM JSI, seeds of hope are already sprouting in Fukushima Prefectore as early reports filter in regarding the success of of an experimental project: Operation Sunflowers.
A team of scientists launched this project in 3 locations in the Fukushima Prefecture and at the last visit to the sites last week, sunflower seeds are already sprouting, giving rise to hope that the large flowered plants will successfully absorb large quantities of cesium from contaminated soil. The sunflowers have been fertilized with kalium which has similarities to radioactive cesium. Amounts of radiation just one meter above the ground on the selected planting sites range from 7 to 21 microsieverts per hour.
Most Current News
Updates
kyodo news 7/10
TEPCO halts water decontamination system after chemical leakage
Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Sunday that it halted from early morning a system to decontaminate water being used to cool reactors at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture after discovering chemicals used in the system were leaking.
The utility known as TEPCO said it continued circulating water to cool the No. 1-3 reactors by using water that has already been decontaminated.
The chemicals are injected into the system developed by France's Areva SA to decontaminate radioactive materials. The chemicals are not toxic and the amount leaked onto the floor is estimated to be around 50 liters, TEPCO said, adding that it is looking into how the leakage happened.
Fukushima gov't inspects farm over beef radiation concerns
The Fukushima prefectural government inspected a farm Sunday to check whether its management of feed and water for cows is sufficient in response to the detection of excessive levels of radioactive cesium in the meat of 11 cows shipped from it.
Asahi Shimbun
Google Japan plans to record the devastation of communities struck by 3/11 quake using technology from its Street View service to obtain 360-degree landscape shots. http://p.tl/... Watch video
Resumption of nuclear reactors this year in serious doubt
Confusion in the government, an e-mail scandal and widespread anger have shattered the blueprint to restart nuclear reactors this summer, leading to possible power shortages that could debilitate manufacturers and increase electricity bills.
Electric power industry insiders are now resigned to resuming operations at nuclear power plants that have undergone periodic inspections only in 2012. They are unsure whether restarts will be possible even then.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's recent decision to conduct stress tests at all nuclear power plants stunned not only industry ministry officials, but also the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA).
And revelations that Kyushu Electric Power Co. employees sent pro-nuclear energy e-mails to a televised hearing to tilt public sentiment in the company's favor have heightened the indignation of local government officials.
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Updates from ROV 61 will be added later today.
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Regularly Updated Data Sources
@Kos: A database of temperature, pressure, radiation levels, etc readings over time can be found in:
The Daiichi Database: This is an evolved diary has stopped being updated regularly.
Japanese Atomic Industrial Forum (JAIF)
RSOS Emergency & Disaster information Services - Japan
EPA RadNet Map View
Scribble Live
Japan Municipal Water Charts in Japanese
TEPCO livecam
h/t Joieau
Tokyo Radiation Levels Citizen Page h/t jgnyc
FNPP1 reactor parameters (units 1 to 3) « Info on #FNPP1 and Irradiation
State of the reactor pressure reactor nuclear power plant in Fukushima (individual for all units) - Japanese
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Best News Sources
Kyodo Nuclear News Feed
NHK Japan Live
The Mainichi Daily News
National News Archive | The Mainichi Daily News
Asahi on Facebook
Fukushima Wikispaces
WHO situation reports
METI Twitter Feed
Rules of the Road
Given the seriousness of this situation, please use this diary for posting information DIRECTLY Related to coverage of the developing news!
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