FUKUSHIMA UPDATE

POST # 91

Try as I might, to get the subject of Fukushima off my mind these days, so far at least, I have been unsuccessful at this task.

The latest update has a few added twists. Up until just recently it was reported that beginning next month, TEPCO would begin the process of moving the highly radioactive fuel rods from the cooling pool which is perched precariously atop Reactor #4. As I have mentioned in a previous blog, this has never been attempted before, and due to the damage sustained during the initial accident, the task is fraught with uncertainties. But now it is being reported that the company may just decide to put this job into the too hard basket, leave the fuel rods where they now are, and hope for the best.

Japan is a land that is subject to numerous earthquakes, so the odds of another one happening are very high and it appears that it won't take much of a shake to bring the whole cooling pool crashing to the ground. To put it bluntly, this would be catastrophic. As I write this entry, Tropical Cyclone Wipha is currently tracking towards Fukushima with an anticipated arrival date in two days.

A spokesperson from the nuclear industry has recently stated that if even just one of the many hundreds of fuel rods was to ignite, the amount of radiation it could release would be enough to kill almost 2.9 billion people in a matter of a few weeks. So one would think with such a serious situation at hand, that experts from around the world would find it in their best interest to help out, however as time passes, it looks like Japan is on it's own. So much for helping a neighbor in need.

What can I personally do? Well, aside from writing this blog and talking to people, I'm not really sure what else I can do. Besides, this is information that most would like to pretend doesn't really exist.

Perhaps in the not too distant future, we are all going to learn what is REALLY important in our lives. That is a good thing.

A kiss, a touch of a hand, fresh air to breath, a warm sunny day, and all the other simple pleasures that make a life worth living.

That's enough for today.

Happy Trails

Paul

The Thoughtful Wanderer