The Real Fallout From Fukushima

[Mulboyne]

The Asahi is reporting (Japanese) that a 64 year old farmer in Fukushima has committed suicide. His farm buildings took some structural damage during the earthquake but his crops were largely intact. Once restrictions on agricultural products from the region began to be imposed, his family says that he was inconsolable. He hanged himself last Thursday morning.

[ichigo partygirl]

The Asahi is reporting (Japanese) that a 64 year old farmer in Fukushima has committed suicide. His farm buildings took some structural damage during the earthquake but his crops were largely intact. Once restrictions on agricultural products from the region began to be imposed, his family says that he was inconsolable. He hanged himself last Thursday morning.

It is very sad and yet not surprising at all. I am somewhat surprised that no officials (i.e. from TEPCO) have done the same as yet. Maybe this will come when (if?) things quiet down.

[Coligny]

I am somewhat surprised that no officials (i.e. from TEPCO) have done the same as yet. Maybe this will come when (if?) things quiet down.

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[cstaylor]

It is very sad and yet not surprising at all. I am somewhat surprised that no officials (i.e. from TEPCO) have done the same as yet. Maybe this will come when (if?) things quiet down.

They can off themselves after there's been a complete accounting of what's happened. The current executive staff aren't the only ones responsible for this. I'd like to see all of the former heads and deputy heads of Japan's NRC brought in for questioning as well.

[matsuki]

They can off themselves after there's been a complete accounting of what's happened. The current executive staff aren't the only ones responsible for this. I'd like to see all of the former heads and deputy heads of Japan's NRC brought in for questioning as well.

THIS

TEPCO may have made the decisions but the NRC let them get away with it.

Though suicide over your crops? Fuck that, go after TEPCO's bank acounts while you still can! (or at least take some of those fuckers with you)

[ichigo partygirl]

They can off themselves after there's been a complete accounting of what's happened. The current executive staff aren't the only ones responsible for this. I'd like to see all of the former heads and deputy heads of Japan's NRC brought in for questioning as well.

I tend to think that the suicide of officials is sort of a symbolic thing in the way. 'I'm taking the fall on behalf of everyone else' mentality. No doubt there are many people are fault here, but who knows if they will be the ones to front up or there will be a few who take the fall.

[cstaylor]

I tend to think that the suicide of officials is sort of a symbolic thing in the way. 'I'm taking the fall on behalf of everyone else' mentality. No doubt there are many people are fault here, but who knows if they will be the ones to front up or there will be a few who take the fall.

What really needs to happen is a complete clean-out of everyone bucho level and higher, both from JISA (Japan's NRC) and TEPCO. The company culture is the problem.

Unless Japan is willing to sit in the dark for the next few years while non-nuclear power plants are brought online, nuclear power will be in Japan for the next 20~30 years at least. If so, a better company and regulatory body are needed at the helm.

[Coligny]

Rumors are getting heavier aboot Tepco nationalisation, share dropped from 2200 y to 660 and quotation sems to have been suspended today...

[matsuki]

What really needs to happen is a complete clean-out of everyone bucho level and higher, both from JISA (Japan's NRC) and TEPCO. The company culture is the problem.

Unless Japan is willing to sit in the dark for the next few years while non-nuclear power plants are brought online, nuclear power will be in Japan for the next 20~30 years at least. If so, a better company and regulatory body are needed at the helm.

THIS

A "legit" regulatory body is needed.

[Greji]

I tend to think that the suicide of officials is sort of a symbolic thing in the way. 'I'm taking the fall on behalf of everyone else' mentality. No doubt there are many people are fault here, but who knows if they will be the ones to front up or there will be a few who take the fall.

You have been away from the land of four seasons too long and forgot the way it works. A-kun steps up to the mike at a nationwide press conference and takes total responsibility for the disaster. This becomes a major topic discussed widely on national TV with panels of singers, talents and occasional walk-on extras, all, having lukewarm IQs explaining the solution to this problem at length.

A-kun then hangs himself in the closet of a low class hotel, which updates the topics for the TV shows. All of A-kun's staff are given pay raises and extra bonuses for their work on the earthquake, tsunami and reactor restoration efforts. The diet members pass new laws they say will control people like A-kun in the future, raises taxes for restoration efforts and take immediate trips to Russia, the US and Bali to determine nuclear damage from reactors in those locations. The Ministry of Agriculture offers new government subsidies for farmers growing lettuce that glows in the dark and provides new plans to provide this new style lettuce as oversea donations from JAICA.

Within one year, the whole incident will be forgotten by anyone not living in Tohoku.

[Catoneinutica]

File under: Continuity, not Change

Nuclear Regulator Tied to Industry

'"It's totally not the case that the [accident] happened because there were some kind of cozy ties between Tokyo Electric Power" and the regulators, said Mr. Nishiyama, who represents the ministry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. The accident "won't be an occasion to rethink" regulation, he added.'

Then again, until five years ago, MOX-land France was no better than Japan in this regard:

"France once had a structure that was comparable to Japan's but it set up an independent body known as the Nuclear Safety Authority in 2006."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703696704576222340033889606.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[cstaylor]

said Mr. Nishiyama, who represents the ministry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. The accident "won't be an occasion to rethink" regulation, he added.'

He doesn't really have a say in it, does he? Fire the lot. It's not like they run the power-plants themselves, and whatever business culture they've fostered is worse than no culture at all.

[cstaylor]

Rumors are getting heavier aboot Tepco nationalisation, share dropped from 2200 y to 660 and quotation sems to have been suspended today...

Confirmed.

NEWS ADVISORY: Nationalization of Tokyo Electric an option: Minister Gemba

[Coligny]

File under: Continuity, not Change

Nuclear Regulator Tied to Industry

'"It's totally not the case that the [accident] happened because there were some kind of cozy ties between Tokyo Electric Power" and the regulators, said Mr. Nishiyama, who represents the ministry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. The accident "won't be an occasion to rethink" regulation, he added.'

Then again, until five years ago, MOX-land France was no better than Japan in this regard:

"France once had a structure that was comparable to Japan's but it set up an independent body known as the Nuclear Safety Authority in 2006."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703696704576222340033889606.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

First... up until few years ago EDF was a nationnal company (2004) Now it's only 85% property of the French governement.

Second since 1986 a fully independant lab called the CriiRad act as a safegard for anything radioactiv... It's mostly unpaid volunteer scientist with a small paid-for management team. They place radioactive mesurement device a little everywhere around plants a the request of regionnal level governements/mayors. To give you an idea of how reliable those guys are, the IRSN which is a governement body in charge of checking nuclear safety took their data over the japanese governement one to start assessing Fukushima's situation.

Basically 1- you can't compared the roteness of japan to French organisation. (also remember that we have a tradition of burning cars everytime something is amiss) 2- even if it was also rotten, it won't make an excuse for the japanese to be as fuck up...

[Catoneinutica]

Confirmed.

A shorting opportunity? Fortune favors the bold!

-catone
-it's X-tra satisfying when you can short a company you really, really hate.

[cstaylor]

A shorting opportunity? Fortune favors the bold!

-catone
-it's X-tra satisfying when you can short a company you really, really hate.

I hope you already did so, because they suspended trading on TEPCO shares today (it's already down 70% from its pre-Fukushima problems).

[Catoneinutica]

I hope you already did so, because they suspended trading on TEPCO shares today (it's already down 70% from its pre-Fukushima problems).

Yeah, the low-hanging short-fruit's done been picked. Now that the J-gov't has made a show of preparing to pull the too-big-to-fail shears out of the drawer, FGs can put their J-savvy to work determining the sequence of haircuts.

[legion]

You have been away from the land of four seasons too long and forgot the way it works. A-kun steps up to the mike at a nationwide press conference and takes total responsibility for the disaster. This becomes a major topic discussed widely on national TV with panels of singers, talents and occasional walk-on extras, all, having lukewarm IQs explaining the solution to this problem at length.

A-kun then hangs himself in the closet of a low class hotel, which updates the topics for the TV shows. All of A-kun's staff are given pay raises and extra bonuses for their work on the earthquake, tsunami and reactor restoration efforts. The diet members pass new laws they say will control people like A-kun in the future, raises taxes for restoration efforts and take immediate trips to Russia, the US and Bali to determine nuclear damage from reactors in those locations. The Ministry of Agriculture offers new government subsidies for farmers growing lettuce that glows in the dark and provides new plans to provide this new style lettuce as oversea donations from JAICA.

Within one year, the whole incident will be forgotten by anyone not living in Tohoku.

More or less agree except for the hotel, I think they will opt for the Akasaka Prince.

[matsuki]

File under: Continuity, not Change

Nuclear Regulator Tied to Industry

'"It's totally not the case that the [accident] happened because there were some kind of cozy ties between Tokyo Electric Power" and the regulators, said Mr. Nishiyama, who represents the ministry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. The accident "won't be an occasion to rethink" regulation, he added.'

Either they were too cozy and gave TEPCO a free pass or they fucked up by not regulating TEPCO. Either way, this is definitely "an occasion to rethink" regulation.

[Mike Oxlong]

[wagyl]

crisis-hit nuclear power plant in Fukuoka Prefecture

Man, that was some tsunami!

[FG Lurker]

"Naruto Ariga, a 46-year-old office worker from Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, said he once applied to stay at the Akasaka hotel but withdrew after learning that he cannot live there with his dog."

Why the hell won't they let the guy stay there with his dog? What, do they think the dog is going to damage the hotel that's about to get torn down?

[Mike Oxlong]

Rules are more sancroscant than dignity and life itself...

[Doctor Stop]

Naruto Ariga, a 46-year-old office worker from Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, said he once applied to stay at the Akasaka hotel but withdrew after learning that he cannot live there with his dog.

Someone who still believes in the sanctity of marriage.