Earthquake 3/11/11

[auhckw]

Nuclear Power Plant : Read the data and learn the fact - Hojo Tea
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1772939873

The situation in Japan now is a little messy due to the accident on nuclear power plant.

Japan Prime Minister is paying his full attention on nuclear power plant. The world news is everyday alarming the risk of nuclear pollution and obviously a lot of foreigners are evacuating from Japan. Due to less efficient and accurate communication made by Japanese government, the information being reported by foreign media seems to be getting less accurate but rather a little extreme for now.

Here, I would like to share the information that I have collected by far.

1. Japanese nuclear power plant is using the system called "light water reactor" , which is different from the one used in Russia at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Chernobyl nuclear power plant was using a carbon reactor. The carbon reactor is in much bigger scale and the explosion was very serious as carbon kept burning for a week. In addition, Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded when the reactor was active, while Fukushima nuclear power plant was already stopped by the control rod when tsunami hit. The worst scenario that could happen on a nuclear reactor is the pressure vessel melt-down. If it is happen, more radio active substance will be released. However, the pollution will be much more domestic and unlikely to be spread very wide as like what happened in Chernobyl.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... le-island/

2. So far all the artists, including tetsubin artists are safe.

3. In Japan, each prefecture has monitoring post for the radiation. The monitoring is carried out independently by the respective institute in each prefecture. By far, the level of pollution is as follow:

* 1nGy/hr = 1n Sv/hr
* 1nSv = 0.001uSv = 0.000001mSv

a: Fukushima : 500m away from the nuclear reactor - 3.5 micro Sievert/hour based on the latest data on 18th March (3.5uSv/hr)

b: Ibaragi (next prefecture situated in the West) About 0.5uGy/hr =0.5uSv/Hr

http://www.houshasen-pref-ibaraki.jp/pr ... ult01.html

c: Tokyo　0.05μGy/h = 0.05uSv/Hr

http://113.35.73.180/report/report_table.do

d: Nagano (my hometown): 0.08uSv/hr

http://www.pref.nagano.jp/kankyo/kansei ... shanou.htm

e: Shizuoka (where most of tea is produced):　70-80nGy/hr = 70-80nSv/hr = 0.07 uSv/hr

http://www.hoshasen.pref.shizuoka.jp/dy ... 3-001.html

* CT Scan 6.9mSv = 6900uSv.
* Taking X-ray for one time is at 50,000nSv = 50uSv.
* Taking a flight from Tokyo to New York = 0.2mSv = 200uSv
* The upper limit of radiation dosage per year is set at 50mSv (50,000uSv/year) in Japan.
* Even if there is no pollution by radio-active substance, we are receiving about 2.4mSv/year. It is equivalent to 0.27uSv/hr. (2400uSv/365/24 = 2.7uSv/hr)

The above data indicates that firstly most of the reading shows more or less the same figure as before the disaster took place. Right now a lot of medias are trying to highlight how dangerous the Tokyo is. If our people can manage the situation and the things never get worse, the level of radiation being accumulated in a year in Tokyo is lower than one time of CT Scan. (0.05uSv x 24 x 365 = 435uSv/year)

I hope more attention is paid on the fact rather than the stories and rumors and wish that our people can overcome the obstacle and solve the problem ASAP.

[David R.]

That's a bit reassuring I guess. Thank you auhckw.

[togei]

This might be of interest or helpful to someone.
http://www.google.com/intl/ja/crisisres ... affic.html
Blue on the map = usable
If you click on any road it will read either
通行実績あり = usable
通行実績なし = not usable

Dave

[JBaymore]

Dave,

VERY helpful to get a good picture of various area's general "condition". THANKS.

best,

....................john

[togei]

It is being updated everyday too. Check back and more roads will have become "blue".
Dave

[Chip]

As posted on the GreenTeaForum ...

FYI, I expect we will be back in operation in about 1.5~2 weeks, probably from Uji.

So Kevin and O-Cha are moving to Uji which seems very prudent under the circumstances.

[JBaymore]

It is being updated everyday too. Check back and more roads will have become "blue".
Dave

Yeah, I am watching that daily now Dave. Thanks again. Gives me a sense of how some of my friends are likely faring on a day-to-day basis...... and gives me an idea of my own difficulties of getting around in certain places will be in about 2 months.

One more source of information to add into the mix of stuff I am watching/reading to balance the US mainstream media's hysteria.

best,

.........john

[AdamMY]

If people want a little bit of perspective on the radiation put in a graphic form.

http://xkcd.com/radiation/

[JBaymore]

Adam,

GREAT find!!!!!!

If that chart does not put things in a decent perspective for people.... nothing will.

"MUST READ" INFO FOR PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT RADIATION IN JAPAN

http://xkcd.com/radiation/

best,

................john

[togei]

Here is a link to a clearinghouse of information type of blog on the earthquake in Japan. http://disasterjapan.wordpress.com/
Dave

[JBaymore]

Here is a link to a clearinghouse of information type of blog on the earthquake in Japan. http://disasterjapan.wordpress.com/
Dave

Another great site, Dave. Thanks.

best,

...........john

[takchi11]

My heart goes out to the people in Japan. For those of you who have some spare money, go to the American Red Cross and contribute to the Japan earthquake. www.american.redcross.org. God bless !

[JBaymore]

It looks like at least some of the mainstream press is maybe now reacting to the negative stuff about the over-the-top reporting starting to tick off many of the public...... and have now maybe decided that they can "stand out" by abandoning the raving pack mentality and looking for "calmer" stuff to report.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42215049/ns ... ood_safety

A headline that actually matched the information in the article for a change.

best,

...........john

[Kevangogh]

Looks like this will affect tea merchants outside of Fukushima as well. A note from one of our customers.

Swiss Authorities/customs have ruled that as per today Mar 22 all parcels shipped from Japan containing food items will be retained at airports and samples will be send to a government laboratory to be tested for radioactiv contamination

I doubt it will only be Switzerland. Let's all just panic.

[Chasm]

*facepalm* I want my tea, darnit.