Japan

[Ya Mu]

This struck me "Quit trying as none wished to listen."

Is it just an idea or does this happen a lot? Not to HJ the thread here but when one's efforts in the world are met with opposition, isn't that when many turn to "spirituality"?

For Japan, the ideas said in a small quiet voice were that this event would show the world the error of nuclear and the power of nature and force a faster nature/human collaboration when it comes to energy production. I haven't identified it as wishful thinking and it won't go away.

 

The urges to be calm and take care of each other is the most sound advice I've heard ever. While you can feel compassion for others, taking on their pain and suffering will not help them, nor you. I know this might sound the opposite of compassionate as I think we are so often taught that to feel compassion is to feel the other's pain.

But this is IMO false.

No room for despondency either. Start imagining the future and make it a better one. I ought to add that I'm a natural pessemist so who knows where I'm getting these ideas from:-)

I was speaking strictly from a technical viewpoint and not from a spiritual viewpoint. It is a moot point as it is a done deal - the nuclear plants are now there. If there is not a world catastrophe from Japan in just a few years it will be politics as usual for the nuclear industry. I honestly at this point don't think anything short of such (world catastrophe) would influence the powers that be to stop construction of these.

[Enishi]

I am not pleased.

No Mangas.

No Anime.

No Console Games.

From Japan.

 

 

 

Well, Shounen Jump came out this week. Not sure if it will next week though.

 

I actually do hope they keep publishing it over there weekly, even in the midst of this disaster, along with other forms of entertainment. That kind of thing can give people hope and a means of destressing during a disaster.

Edited March 17, 2011 by Enishi

[Encephalon]

This is for audio only. Go to

 

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/3/17/serious_danger_of_a_full_core

 

This is Pacifica Radio, the investigative arm of scary liberals and other Monsters of the Left.

 

It seems the best scenario is to bury all 6 reactors Chernobyl style, since they are all at risk of meltdown. The problem of being able to get close enough continues.

[joeblast]

This all makes a good case for Thorium reactors - no reactive byproduct...and of course, that was the reason they werent selected in the first place!

[Encephalon]

This all makes a good case for Thorium reactors - no reactive byproduct...and of course, that was the reason they werent selected in the first place!

 

There you go again, getting all sciencey!

 

I don't have TV, but I did catch Michio Kaku online this morning.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42124500/ns/world_news-asiapacific/?GT1=43001

 

It's interesting to watch the interplay between tv "journalists" and scientists. They each have their own agendas. Kaku is trying to spell it out, and the news reporter is trying to frame the news for a Hollywood ending;humans will triumph, goodness will reign, you'll be back on your sofa eating cheeze doodles by the weekend.

[manitou]

 

 

 

My dear friends,

 

This is the second email for some of you to let you know I'm fine in Tokyo and my family is fine in Fukushima.

 

Though my hometown is in Fukushima where was damaged by tsunami, my small village is more close to the Japan Sea side.

 

I think many of you have seen those terrible photos and videos on TV, web and in newspapers for past two days, and they are all happening in my country.

 

Tokyois o.k. now as we are getting normal transportation and lifelines back. Even we can feel aftershocks quite often, it's not so scary as it was yesterday.

 

But of course the the Pacific Sea side, north east Japan is completely attacked by earth quakes and tsunami, and we're getting more and more tragic news.

 

I am very, very sad and feeling so sympathetic to those who are suffering, but on the other hand, I feel much better than yesterday as we have worst but real information to have recognition what's happening actually and what we can do from now on.

 

I do not want you to be emotional or overwhelmed. You can help us with support and encouragement there, where you are.

 

I think it's very important for the people who are in safe area or other countries just stay being calm, stable and keep normal life with people around together with love and trust.

 

Not forgetting we are one and one is for all, it means people who are not directly involved in can give the peacefulness, gentleness, feeling of connection and deep, profound love to those who are in severe situations including the ones are passing away.

 

I would like to ask all of you to just bring some attention to those people in my country. Just think about their suffering and pray in a moment without becoming too sympathetic or emotional. Just pray for better, or the best for them and some situations. This is the most helpful thing for us at this point, and this is the only thing I (we, the people in normal life) ?can do for others.

 

And I want you to be with loving people around you, and feel and cuddle love together. That energy will be transferred to others. That feeling of appreciation will be others' feeling, too.

 

We don't need to listen to fear messages or no need to be involved in emotional attacks. Just we stay present and pay attention, just be with others in the moment.

 

Thank you very much for your reading. I do appreciate your concern and love every moment, as I can feel it that you' re with me being present.

 

Please take care and have beautiful time in your place each other, with laughter and smile.

 

with best wishes and lots of love,

 

Koito (Sachiko)/xoxoxo

 

 

 

--

Koito "Trillium" Kusunoki

Clairvoyant, Reconnective Healing

& The Reconnection Practitionrer

Oriental Dancer "Trillium"

 

 

Oh my god. What a letter. What a spirit. What understanding of the power within, the trust in the Universe. I'm guessing that these incredible and stoic people are going to be the gold standard for rebuilding a city after tragedy: my feeling is that this rebuild will be the template for our green future; they will apply true brains, love, and common good to this rebuilding process. I just see it.

[gendao]

This all makes a good case for Thorium reactors - no reactive byproduct...and of course, that was the reason they werent selected in the first place!

Bingo.

Thorium, named for the Norse god of thunder, is much more abundant than uranium and has 200 times that metal's energy potential. Thorium is also a more efficient fuel source -- unlike natural uranium, which must be highly refined before it can be used in nuclear reactors, all thorium is potentially usable as fuel.

Thorium burns the plutonium residue left by uranium reactors, acting as an eco-cleaner.

"Problem" is:

Thorium Reactors cannot melt down, and cannot be used to make bombs!

"thorium promises what uranium never delivered: abundant, safe and clean energy - and a way to burn up old radioactive waste." With a thorium nuclear reactor, Dean stresses a number of added benefits: there is no possibility of a meltdown, it generates power inexpensively, it does not produce weapons-grade by-products, and will burn up existing high-level waste as well as nuclear weapon stockpiles.

So, good luck getting GE to switch to making thorium reactors! Edited March 17, 2011 by vortex

[gendao]

the meme is still being circulated in the media that these facilities are safe.

Thirty-five years ago, Dale G. Bridenbaugh and two of his colleagues at General Electric resigned from their jobs after becoming increasingly convinced that the nuclear reactor design they were reviewing -- the Mark 1 -- was so flawed it could lead to a devastating accident.

 

Questions persisted for decades about the ability of the Mark 1 to handle the immense pressures that would result if the reactor lost cooling power, and today that design is being put to the ultimate test in Japan. Five of the six reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, which has been wracked since Friday's earthquake with explosions and radiation leaks, are Mark 1s.

Yup, Ya Mu & a few folks CALLED IT years ago - but their lone voices are but farts in the hurricane of our mass media.

 

AND HEY, if our Nobel Peace Prize-winning progressive POTUS assures us that our GE uranium reactors/bomb factories are all safe - then shouldn't we believe him? Leftists are all eco-friendly green tree-huggers, right? Entirely different from the corporate right-wingers! A real CHANGE, right??

Obama administration gave General Electric $24.9 million in grants under the stimulus law. Keep in mind that General Electric was the corporate owner of NBC, MSNBC and CNBC during the 2008 election. These various news outlets were absolutely shameless when it came to promoting Barack Obama during the 2008 election. In fact, MSNBC was more radically pro-Obama than even CNN was (and that is saying a lot). Apparently Barack Obama was quite grateful for all the help. 25 million dollars is one heck of a tremendous thank you gift. General Electric was the primary recipient of 14 separate economic stimulus grants. In addition, the recipients of four other economic stimulus grants hired GE as a contractor.

And if that weren't enough, Obama also appointed GE's CEO, Jeffrey Immelt, as our JOBS CZAR on his President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness!

Edited March 17, 2011 by vortex

[Encephalon]

It was not so long ago that I reacted to criticism of Obama as attacks on the progressive intellectual tradition, which I subscribe to, not in its entirety but in part. This is no longer the case. I think it will be a few years before we know whether Obama abandoned his progressive liberal base out of personal weakness or simply realized that he could only work - salvage hos political legacy - within a corporate-controlled plutocracy. Maybe it's a little of both.

 

As aspiring Taoists, seeking balance is the key, and I think this aplies to political ideas as well. I don't believe that progressivism is the boogeyman of political thought; extremism is. I subscribe to ideas that can be plotted throughout the political spectrum, from the right and the left and even from outer space if the ideas have efficacy.

 

But, back to the subjeect at hand, progressivism has been the champion of non-nuclear green energy and job creation for decades. If Obama were a true progressive, he would've championed these goals. As Vortex has pointed out, making the GE CEO his chief of staff has revealed what he truly stands for, not to mention how beholden he is to Wall Street.

[ralis]

A couple of posters here have jumped on the bandwagon for thorium based reactors. The implications are that thorium is a safe alternative that for some reason was rejected. The link provided below briefly discusses the hazards of thorium production and other problems.

 

There is no safe technological fix!

 

 

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf62.html

[joeblast]

A pretty simple reason, really - nuclear f'n bombs! Nobody ever said thorium was as safe as letting the sun shine on your face, its just vastly safer than uranium or plutonium.

[manitou]

It was not so long ago that I reacted to criticism of Obama as attacks on the progressive intellectual tradition, which I subscribe to, not in its entirety but in part. This is no longer the case. I think it will be a few years before we know whether Obama abandoned his progressive liberal base out of personal weakness or simply realized that he could only work - salvage hos political legacy - within a corporate-controlled plutocracy. Maybe it's a little of both.

 

 

Nobody will ever believe me when I say this on this forum, lol. Ralis is going to jump all over me with both feet, so I've got my protective gear on. I'm telling you, for real.....Mr. Obama has been practicing wu-wei since he got into office. Some can see it. Apparently the Dalai Lama could see it as well, as if you recall he knocked on the White House door to say hi, but was turned away because China hadn't been to the White House yet. The Dalai Lama of course understood that graciously, and returned to the White House soon thereafter. He sees the actions of wu-wei for himself (or whatever the Buddhist counterpart would be). Action through nonaction. Ruling a large nation as you would fry a small fish. It appears to me that our man is making a run up the middle; some would call it abandonment; some would call it pragmatism. Believe me, his intent is set on liberal ideals, such as a single payer health system. He knows that The Intelligence will bring it around in a perfect fashion, and most likely evolving on its own. To take a liberal stand and wave the liberal flag would do nothing to change the logjam within government. Better a run up the middle for now so we can deal with the incredible things he has to deal with.

Did you know his childhood hero was Spiderman? Good thing....

 

He will act only when the circumstances come to him, when he can see things for what they truly are. He is a warrior.

Edited March 17, 2011 by manitou

[ralis]

Being a long time resident of Santa Fe NM and also being downwind from Los Alamos National Labs, I have some perspective on the kind of research that created the technology to design and build nuclear power plants. The concept arose after WWII, that somehow nuclear weapons technology has some inherent utility for peaceful purposes. The ultimate technological fix. Those dreams have turned into nightmares for many. Not only for Chernobyl and Fukushima but for the soldiers who were marched into nuclear blasts as some sort of sick military experiment!

 

There is a uranium mine in Grants NM that has since been closed and the long term health effects on those who mined there are absolutely horrifying. To make matters worse there are several major roads in this state where uranium tailings were crushed and used for base course during construction. That is not common knowledge around here.

 

One thing I forgot to mention, is that Los Alamos National Labs is located on the East edge of the second largest collapsed caldera on the planet. The caldera happens to be in it's dormant phase. However, it is due for another event. Not a very safe place for this facility.

 

http://www.vallescaldera.gov/

Edited March 17, 2011 by ralis

[ralis]

A pretty simple reason, really - nuclear f'n bombs! Nobody ever said thorium was as safe as letting the sun shine on your face, its just vastly safer than uranium or plutonium.

 

Obviously, you are a proponent of more nuclear plants? However, I am talking about the human cost of even putting workers in harms way to produce the thorium. Did you read the link?

[Encephalon]

Nobody will ever believe me when I say this on this forum, lol. Ralis is going to jump all over me with both feet, so I've got my protective gear on. I'm telling you, for real.....Mr. Obama has been practicing wu-wei since he got into office. Some can see it. Apparently the Dalai Lama could see it as well, as if you recall he knocked on the White House door to say hi, but was turned away because China hadn't been to the White House yet. The Dalai Lama of course understood that graciously, and returned to the White House soon thereafter. He sees the actions of wu-wei for himself (or whatever the Buddhist counterpart would be). Action through nonaction. Ruling a large nation as you would fry a small fish. It appears to me that our man is making a run up the middle; some would call it abandonment; some would call it pragmatism. Believe me, his intent is set on liberal ideals, such as a single payer health system. He knows that The Intelligence will bring it around in a perfect fashion, and most likely evolving on its own. To take a liberal stand and wave the liberal flag would do nothing to change the logjam within government. Better a run up the middle for now so we can deal with the incredible things he has to deal with.

Did you know his childhood hero was Spiderman? Good thing....

 

He will act only when the circumstances come to him, when he can see things for what they truly are. He is a warrior.

 

I'd sure like to believe you. I grew up in the east bay and lived off of KPFA for decades. Listen to what Pacifica has to say about his capitulations. Even if you're right, a plutocracy is a difficult thing to wrestle with.

[ralis]

Nobody will ever believe me when I say this on this forum, lol. Ralis is going to jump all over me with both feet, so I've got my protective gear on. I'm telling you, for real.....Mr. Obama has been practicing wu-wei since he got into office. Some can see it. Apparently the Dalai Lama could see it as well, as if you recall he knocked on the White House door to say hi, but was turned away because China hadn't been to the White House yet. The Dalai Lama of course understood that graciously, and returned to the White House soon thereafter. He sees the actions of wu-wei for himself (or whatever the Buddhist counterpart would be). Action through nonaction. Ruling a large nation as you would fry a small fish. It appears to me that our man is making a run up the middle; some would call it abandonment; some would call it pragmatism. Believe me, his intent is set on liberal ideals, such as a single payer health system. He knows that The Intelligence will bring it around in a perfect fashion, and most likely evolving on its own. To take a liberal stand and wave the liberal flag would do nothing to change the logjam within government. Better a run up the middle for now so we can deal with the incredible things he has to deal with.

Did you know his childhood hero was Spiderman? Good thing....

 

He will act only when the circumstances come to him, when he can see things for what they truly are. He is a warrior.

 

 

As Blasto has so aptly pointed out, ideological extremism is the real danger that must be opposed. So far Wall Street has been allowed to steal trillions, create bubble markets, including the recent spike in fuel costs at the pump, which many can't afford! Given the crisis in Libya, are there oil shortages? Absolutely not! Wall Street propagandists (speculators) create the illusion of short falls and the fear there may not be enough, therefor higher oil prices are justified. Just recently Obama addressed the oil price situation. He said that he asked the DOJ to look into anyone taking advantage of the situation and he failed to mention Wall Street speculation. Why doesn't Obama stand up to this kind of economic extremism? Could it be that Wall Street, in particular Goldman Sachs, gave large sums of money for his presidential campaign?

 

If not Obama, then who stands up to political and economic extremism? If not now, when?

 

"The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few." Mr. Spock

Edited March 17, 2011 by ralis

[joeblast]

Obviously, you are a proponent of more nuclear plants? However, I am talking about the human cost of even putting workers in harms way to produce the thorium. Did you read the link?

So what is it for you, nothing short of a return to the dark ages in terms of humanity will be acceptable? I always find such staunch displays of compassion for mother nature at the utter expense of your fellow man to be rather...narrow. There's a whole lot of realities about the world you willfully ignore in favor of some idealized vision that will never be attainable in your lifetime.

 

I'm a big proponent of fusion research, and tons of it. Make THAT stuff work and then you can forget about fission...and wind "power," for that matter. Solar Panels on as many houses as possible is a good idea.

 

I'm also a very big proponent of Ya Mu's suggestion - de-centralization. It will work wonders not only for our power generation, but for government as well. Just like tons of power is lost to transmission issues, so are tons of resources lost to government mismanagement and careless oversight. Granted there's certain things that are apropos for a government to manage - people like Obama or Pelosi do not seem to think that there is anything NOT appropriate for the government to manage.

 

Its pretty ironic you mention Obama and "standing up to political extremism" in the same sentence - do you somehow think he's not one himself? Fiddling while rome burns...or, playing golf while the rest of the world turns, more like it.

[ralis]

So what is it for you, nothing short of a return to the dark ages in terms of humanity will be acceptable? I always find such staunch displays of compassion for mother nature at the utter expense of your fellow man to be rather...narrow. There's a whole lot of realities about the world you willfully ignore in favor of some idealized vision that will never be attainable in your lifetime.

 

I'm a big proponent of fusion research, and tons of it. Make THAT stuff work and then you can forget about fission...and wind "power," for that matter. Solar Panels on as many houses as possible is a good idea.

 

 

 

Your first statement is an absolute fabrication of what I have been saying! A typical emotional response based on nothing. You accuse me of untruths and proceed from incorrect conclusions based on a very limited view of what I stated in terms of the hazards of nuclear power.

 

Fusion? Make it work? A sustained reaction has never happened in spite of throwing billions of dollars at the problem. The main problem is somehow duplicating the massive forces of the sun. Even on a small scale those forces may not be attainable.

 

I agree with you statement on solar panels.

Edited March 17, 2011 by ralis

[joeblast]

its ok ralis, I only half expected you to get it anyway

[ralis]

its ok ralis, I only half expected you to get it anyway

 

Get what? I was only responding to what you said.

[Birch]

Hi Kate. Curious about your comments. A definition of compassion: a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

 

Through one's Taoist cultivation practices, one can cultivate calm. Another option is thee simple (not always easy) Buddhist tonglen practice. The times I have utilized tonglen, my pain has been transformed and a deep calm remains.

 

 

The pain of this catastrophe is huge. I'm gonna be cultivating for a long, long time.

 

 

Hey R_V. It's that I've just noticed in myself that deep sorrow and taking on others' pain is debilitating and runs counter to anything like taking action to alleviate the suffering. Strong desires are fine but I very much doubt that there's anything I can DO in practical terms.

 

I think definitions are interesting but what one feels is IMO the real indicator. The "definition" might be more of a prescription, a social "should" rather than an actual "is".

 

If I suggested to you that some part of what you might be feeling is a deeper echo of your own pain, that would be politically and socially and interpersonally incorrect and it might be false. Perhaps you do actually feel the suffering of thousands, but if so, let's not forget the rest of the world's population where the TV cameras are no longer shining upon their ongoing suffering.

[ralis]

Link to the best assessment of current damage at the Fukushima facilities.

 

http://allthingsnuclear.org/tagged/Japan_nuclear

[johndoe2012]

More information

 

from

 

http://www.jaif.or.jp/english/

[Trunk]

[johndoe2012]

from http://ing.dk/artikel/117522-140-japanske-brandmaend-skal-stoppe-nedsmeltning (in Danish) from a guy in Tokyo

 

We are fine,

Things are slowly getting crazier.

We have scheduled power cuts at the moment and tonight they say that there is a chance of a mass blackout.

 

I am sure that you have heard but the government have raised the legal acceptable radiation exposure count for the nuclear plant workers. Apparently they have 800 workers on rotation. After they have been exposed to the legal limit they can't use them in a radiation contaminated area for several years. I think that with the number of workers that they have at their "disposal", and the radiation level at the plant, they realised that there is no way that they can get the job done with 800 people. The government raised the figure from 100mSv to 250mSv. They don't exactly have people lining up to take their places.

 

 

wikipedia has already been updated with latest figure from Fukushima

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sievert