Nuclear Meltdown? - The Japan Syndrome

IMPORTANT UPDATE BELOW!


As of now, the earthquake in Northern Japan has caused extensive damage and over 1,300 people have died from the earthquake and the tsunami that followed. The situation seemingly keeps getting worse as it has also been reported that a nuclear power plant near Fukushima has cracked and is now experiencing a nuclear meltdown. My heart goes out to those who have suffered in this disaster and I thank you all for the messages worrying about our safety.


I'd like to comment briefly on one aspect of this tragedy that is not being reported in the news; government mistakes and responsibility - personal and otherwise.

Only a fool would sit around, listening to government announcements on whether or not to evacuate or what to do for their own safety.


Reuters Reports:

Radiation leaked from
a damaged Japanese nuclear reactor north of Tokyo on Saturday,
the government said, after an explosion blew the roof off the
facility in the wake of a massive earthquake. 

 The developments raised fears of a meltdown at the plant as
officials scrambled to contain what could be the worst nuclear
disaster since the Chernobyl explosion in 1986 that shocked the
world.    

 The Japanese plant was damaged by Friday's 8.9-magnitude
earthquake, which sent a 10-metre (33-foot) tsunami ripping
through towns and cities across the northeast coast. Japanese
media estimate that at least 1,300 people were killed. 

 "We are looking into the cause and the situation and we'll
make that public when we have further information," Chief
Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said after confirming the
explosion and radiation leak at the plant. 

 Edano said an evacuation radius of 10 km (6 miles) from the
stricken 40-year-old Daiichi 1 reactor plant in Fukushima
prefecture was adequate, but an hour later the boundary was
extended to 20 km (13 miles). TV footage showed vapour rising
from the plant, 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo.


This is a terrible situation indeed, but there is a very important lesson 
in life for all of us in this mess. I believe that this is a lesson that is 
teaching us personal responsibility and it is also teaching us to be 
leery of the state and its proclamations.

I won't go into all of the facets of this argument, but let's just examine 
one piece of this situation.


Consider: On Friday, soon after the earthquake struck, it was reported 
that the Japanese electrical company that was running the nuclear 
power plant was experiencing difficulties. The reports said that even 
though they had shut down the reactor, for fear of damage, the 
temperature of the inner core was still rising. The company said they 
were making all efforts to contain the problem. I believe that.

The Japanese government claimed that there was minimal danger of 
a radiation leak and that engineers were getting the situation under 
control.  They also said, as a precaution, they were evacuating people 
within a three mile radius of the power plant. I see that most of these 
reports have disappeared into the memory hole, but here's one. 
This report was released at about 1 pm on Saturday March 12, 2011.

From Reuters:

Evacuation underway in the area surrounding Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. Underscoring grave concerns about the Fukushima plant some 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. air force had delivered coolant to avert a rise in the temperature of the facility’s nuclear rods.
Pressure building in the plant was set to be released soon, a move that could result in a radiation leak, officials said. Some 3,000 people who live within a 3 km radius of the plant had been evacuated, Kyodo news agency said.
“It’s possible that radioactive material in the reactor vessel could leak outside but the amount is expected to be small and the wind blowing towards the sea will be considered,” Chief Cabinet Yukio Edano told a news conference.

Possible.. Small amount... No big deal, right? But then, a few hours 
later, the government changes its report to a 10 kilometer (6 miles) 
radius... Then, not 1 hour later, the danger zone is extended to a 20 
kilometer (12 miles) radius. Only a fool would believe that 12 miles
is a safe distance.

(By the way, as of now, it is confirmed 9 people with radiation 
poisoning with 
at least 160 more are suspected of it. So much
for government announcements that it was safe. 
- Mike 3/13/11 9:30 am).

My entire point here is that the government screws up constantly and, 
if you take what they say for god-given truth, then you deserve what 
you get. If anyone should know the truth in that statement it should 
be the Japanese. They had a government who lied them into World 
War II and then, a decade of so after the war, they had a government 
who lied to them about a similar disaster to today called Minamata.

Now, before you dear reader go on to protest and defend the statist 
position in that, "The government must report something!" Let me 
say that as broadcaster with over 30 years experience, it's an 
argument that I 
completely disagree with and I will save for 
another day. The government will make their announcements, 
the point of this article is whether you should believe them at face 
value or not. 

Let me 
point out to you one more critical factor in my argument:
These nuclear power plants need a license to operate. Who grants 
these licenses? The government, that's who. This means that 
citizens who are damaged by any errors of that power plant only have 
recourse in taking action against that government in court should 
anything go wrong. Think about that. It was the government who gave
 the approval for that plant to be built where it is built. It was the 
government who gave the approval for the safety precautions of 
that plant. The free market was no where to be seen in these events.

I wonder, if a power comany were liable in civil and criminal court for 
damages - which, because of Japanese law, they are not - would 
they 
be building government approved-nuclear power plants on 
earthquake fault lines? I doubt it.

It took over 50 years for the government to admit that they lied in 
the case 
of Minamata.

So the government created this situation and, as usual, the 
government 
must cover up and spin the results of this mess.

Now, dear reader, I ask you, do you still believe that you should 
believe 
government pronouncements as to whether or not it's 
safe to go 
outside or drink the water or breathe the air?

Who knows what's best for you and your families safety more 
than you do? Gather all the available information you can -
remembering that there are those who have certain motivations
for what they pronounce - and judge for yourself.

Your life and your children's lives depend upon it. Take this 
opportunity to teach your children well... If you don't teach them, 
the government will. 

IMPORTANT UPDATE
: 
it has now been reported in the German press that the 
problem nuclear power plant was scheduled for decommissioning
this month since it is 40 years old. Once again, government 
interference raises its ugly head. This is the second time in 29 
years that this power plant has had an accident. If the 
government 
would get out of the way and allow the free 
market to work, 
competitiion would allow companies to build 
better and safer 
plants. Now? 

The results of the system are easy to see for everyone.


MORE VIDEOS AT YOUTUBE: (If you wish to see more reports - 
in Japanese - double click on the video below and you'll 
be taken to Youtube page. On the right are many videos 
available):