Nuclear News from CLG

Japanese leaders silent on meltdown 11 Mar 2012 Just four hours after a tsunami swept into the Fukushima nuclear power plant a year ago, Japan's leaders knew the damage was so severe that the reactors could melt down, but they kept their knowledge secret for months. Five days into the crisis, then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan voiced his fears that it could turn worse than Chernobyl, newly released documents show. The minutes of the government's crisis management meetings from the day the earthquake and tsunami struck until late December were not recorded and had to be reconstructed retroactively. The minutes quoted an unidentified official explaining that cooling functions of the reactors were kept running only by batteries that would last just eight hours.

Fukushima radiation measured in Ireland 08 Mar 2012 Radioactivity from the Fukushima nuclear reactor accident in Japan reached Ireland in the weeks after the event. The radioactive particles that reached Ireland were similar to those arriving as nuclear fallout here after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986, according to data from the institute. The monitoring stations detected radioactive Iodine-131 and two forms of radioactive Caesium, Cs-137 and Cs-134.

Earthquake strikes Japan on eve of anniversary 10 Mar 2012 A moderate quake with a magnitude of 5.4 has struck northeastern Japan near the zone devastated last year by the massive earthquake and tsunami that triggered a nuclear crisis. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in the quake Saturday. The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake struck at 2:25 a.m. local time Saturday about 40 kilometres north of Mito, the capital of the Ibaraki Prefecture on the main island of Honshu.

Protesters link arms around the world to decry nuclear power 11 Mar 2012 Tens of thousands of anti-nuclear protesters across the globe called for an end to nuclear power as they marked the first anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami at Japan's Fukushima power plant. In Japan, tens of thousands rallied near the crippled plant, demanding an end to nuclear power. The tsunami swamped cooling systems at Fukushima and sent three reactors into meltdown, spewing radiation into the environment. Around 16,000 people gathered at a baseball stadium in Koriyama, some 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the plant. Participants called for an end to nuclear energy in Japan and compensation for victims from operator Tokyo Electric Power.

Fukushima rally to be held at San Onofre 11 Mar 2012 Dozens of Southern Californians will hold a rally to remember the meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan and to raise awareness about nuclear power in California. The gathering Sunday outside the gates of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in San Clemente will focus on what protesters say are dangers at the plant, which is located in southern Orange County. Southern California Edison took the San Onofre Unit 3 nuclear plant off-line last month as a precaution after detecting a leak in a tube that carries radioactive water in a steam generator. Subsequent investigation found unusual and premature wear on hundreds of similar tubes in Unit 2.