I’m writing with a personal plea for help from Japan. A nuclear inspector recently said that if Fukushima's
Reactor Number 4 collapses, the spread of radiation would go way beyond
Japan's borders and be truly catastrophic. But if the global community steps in now -- we have a chance to stop it.
The reactor was damaged in last year's earthquake and tsunami, and now a pool of highly dangerous spent nuclear fuel is being held in it’s crumbling structure. Experts say if another strong tremor collapses, the pool would emit such high radiation that my family and the 35 million people in Tokyo would be forced to evacuate, and it would contaminate the skies across the Pacific and into Asia. The Japanese government is failing to address the danger, but if enough of us call for an emergency plan from the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), we can ensure the worst never happens.
The IAEA is meeting in Vienna in three weeks to discuss nuclear safety so we have to act now. Click below to sign the petition and tell friends to join the call for action -- when we reach 100,000, our voices will be delivered straight to the IAEA meeting:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_japans_nuclear_meltdown_global_new/?bImAqdb&v=17014
The reactor was damaged in last year's earthquake and tsunami, and now a pool of highly dangerous spent nuclear fuel is being held in it’s crumbling structure. Experts say if another strong tremor collapses, the pool would emit such high radiation that my family and the 35 million people in Tokyo would be forced to evacuate, and it would contaminate the skies across the Pacific and into Asia. The Japanese government is failing to address the danger, but if enough of us call for an emergency plan from the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), we can ensure the worst never happens.
The IAEA is meeting in Vienna in three weeks to discuss nuclear safety so we have to act now. Click below to sign the petition and tell friends to join the call for action -- when we reach 100,000, our voices will be delivered straight to the IAEA meeting:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_japans_nuclear_meltdown_global_new/?bImAqdb&v=17014
The reactor 4 pool has no walls or roof and there are thousands of spent fuel rods inside containing ten times the amount of radioactive material than was released in the Chernobyl nuclear accident. This material, Cesium 137, is one of the most hazardous materials on the planet -- it gives off radiation that can remain dangerous for hundreds of years. To avoid spontaneous fire due to radioactivity alone, the dilapidated pool must be constantly cooled. If it collapsed and a fire ensued, reactor 4 is just 50 meters from the other reactors that contain thousands more spent fuel rods. The scope of disaster is nearly unfathomable!
Nuclear scientists say the spent fuel must be removed from the storage pool as fast as possible to a dry and safe facility. But so far the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Japan's embattled nuclear energy giant responsible for the clean up, insists they have reinforced the structure and is relying on the vulnerable pool storage system. People across Japan distrust TEPCO and do not understand why my government is leaving it up to this agency when they were already caught lying about the safety of Fukushima reactors before last year's disaster.
The Japanese people should not have to live on the brink of nuclear disaster. And fears that an accident would have global impact led one Japanese politician to call the risk, ‘the ultimate catastrophe for the world’. Global experts are now raising their voices and US Senator Wyden, who recently visited the site, has publicly called for action and offered US help. The IAEA will meet in Vienna in weeks to discuss nuclear safety. I appeal to you to help get them to force my government to welcome an international team of nuclear experts to clean up reactor 4 and remove this risk forever. Sign the urgent petition then forward this to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_japans_nuclear_meltdown_global_new/?bImAqdb&v=17014
The people across my country are still reeling from last year's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe. But from the aftermath of one the world’s worst disasters, we have a chance to help usher in a new era for my country, one that is safe and clean for future generations to come. Now let's together remove this last remaining lethal threat before it is too late.
With hope and determination,
Michiharu, for the whole Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION
Fukushima Reactor 4 poses massive global risk (CTV)
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/World/20120518/fukushima-dai-ichi-risk-reactor-4-120519/
The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Is Far From Over (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-alvarez/the-fukushima-nuclear-dis_b_1444146.htmll
Doomsday scenarios spread about No. 4 reactor at Fukushima plant (The Asahi Shimbun)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201205100051
Fukushima Daiichi’s Achilles Heel: Unit 4′s Spent Fuel? (The Wall Street Journal)
http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2012/04/17/fukushima-daiichis-achilles-heel-unit-4s-spent-fuel/
Japan Nuclear Plant May Be Worse Off Than Thought (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/world/asia/inquiry-suggests-worse-damage-at-japan-nuclear-plant.html?_r=1
No comments:
Post a Comment