I'm sure there's some socially conscious people on here. What are your thoughts on the Fukushima nuclear disaster? Media sensationalism, or are we truly fucked? Some say there's nothing to worry about and that the radiation levels are insignificant to cause any bodily damage, yet a lot of experts say the latter. I myself am no nuclear engineer, so I have no idea whats going on aside from the videos I watch online.

But I hope some of you can share my sentiment. The culture we've all grown to admire could be on the verge of being obliterated. Gargamel even had the mindset to act on this situation. Moreover, as a resident of the west coast of the United States I'm beginning to be a little paranoid from the reports of what they're saying could happen. Not only that, if can get any worse, the whole world will be affected.

Here's the video that got me thinking, http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=040_1384 ... oCBQSyC.01

Definitely there are some real concerns into the future. Not only environmental but also how the on-going radiation levels will effect those who were exposed at the time of the leak, as well as on-going effects on the current population. In my opinion, the JP govt. keeps it pretty hush hush, and it's not as prevalent in the media because "we have better things to focus on today" .

If you have any doubts, there is clearly a living "model"--remember Chernobyl?

Just look up the effects of Chernobyl, there are many articles on the web

Quite frankly, the media is not covering this enough.

This is the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Not something to be trifled with.

I don't understand the defensive stance that people take on these issues. I say better safe than sorry. I understand the notion of avoiding mass chaos and hysteria but I find it patronizing every time someone says there's nothing to worry about.

It's the same issue as with global warming. There are so many out there that are angrily against global warming - so what if we come to find out that scientists are wrong about it? Worst case scenario is that we reduce the destruction of our planet in efforts to halt global warming! Oh the humanity.

I get this same thing when I tell people I am a vegetarian. All of the sudden I've deeply offended them as if it's a personal attack on them - before I even get the chance to explain my reasons or philosophy. It's a great illustration of the power of denial and projection as defense mechanisms. Instead of simply admitting that we could be behaving differently and potentially better, we get angry at those who "threaten" our ways and resort to calling them frauds and liars.

I am actually very concerned about this and I think others, especially those on the west coast, should be too! Again, better safe than sorry. We are obviously destroying ourselves and the world with chemicals, synthetic substances, waste, and over consumption.

Sorry for my rant, I'm just annoyed by all of the defensive BS that has been all over social media regarding the recent cold weather and its possible relation to global warming. It's like people actually think that we want the world to be destroyed just so we can prove global warming exists.

IMHO

it's much: easier, cheaper, justifiable, within our comfort zone, if we all did this


old age = increasing cynicism

They seem to be doing a decent job cleaning it up, but it's sadly one of those situations where the best case scenario is still pretty terrible.

In all honesty, the cleanup is moving along much better than in Chernobyl.

It definitely does not get much coverage here. Just recently there were some large leaks again and almost no coverage. It's also hard to find a place to get a report on daily exposure in my area and we are relatively close. The next town over had boats in the street after the tsunami and I still don't know what we got blasted with the day it melted down. They've even gone as far as to raise the daily dosage safety level for the entire country since the meltdown so it looks like its not a problem, but again, everyone says something different about what's safe. I'd move but our business is here and we don't have the money to cover the enormous cost it would be to do it. I'd love to have moved to Fukuoka with the Garg guys, another friend of mine just did recently. I'm just hoping things get better with work and we can save the money to move, the sooner the better.

Sorry to hear that man, i hope all goes well for you and you get where you need to be.

To me it is a massive disaster, that no one can really admit ,otherwise things would have to change and this seems to be an anathema to the system.

Here's a (slightly doctored) map of radiation contamination as of aug 2012, with a US dept of commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration logo on it..


Credit to PK and BC for the mutant.

Geez the entire Pacific is contaminated to a certain extent. Hell if we took radiation detectors to our collections I'm sure we would find trace amounts of radioactivity. These toys will be the death of me one way or another. Politicians from every country are crooked as hell, power corrupts. They'd rather sacrifice everyone else for personal gain. MonstaIslandCzar makes a good point with people in complete denial. While I hate how we nerf the world and over protect people's feelings (especially kids with zero risk allowed) 24-7, the environment is not infinitely self sustaining and replaceable. Don't mess with that shit. Politicians really need to get a grip and focus on making it a priority or their will be no world for their corporate buddies to make money in. Frontline did a awesome documentary on the climate change nay sayers (proving what idiots they are and how they're paid to speak out against it):

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline ... -of-doubt/

you can watch the whole episode. Frontline rocks...

Saw some reports recently of how gangster run construction companies in japan are hiring homeless people(many of whom were made homeless by the disaster)to do the worst parts of the cleanup effort. Even worse is that they are offered below minimum wage. Even worse then that is they often get paid monthly but when it comes time to actually pay out the 1,500 bucks for a month of hard radiated labor they hit the workers with a bill they were never told about for "laundry" and "food" and "housing" which leaves them with about 10 bucks for their month long effort. So you get to sleep on a floor somewhere unfit for humans and clean radiation garbage all day long without any kind of proper protection for free while crooked construction companies make a killing.


http://news.yahoo.com/special-report-ja ... 40505.html

^^^ Wow...that is beyond evil. You would think in arguably one of the most advanced nations in the world, these acts of indecency against fellow humans would not be allowed to happen. But I know the same type of environmental shenanigans routinely happen in the U.S. People just suck. The pollution monsters are real and they are coming for us, folks.

I don't have anything of substance to base my feelings and opinions on, because as others have said there just isn't much coverage. And the coverage that does exist is all contradictory, so there's nothing credible and reputable to rely on.
With that said, the map posted above has been snoped - it's a map of wave height after the earthquake, not a map of radiation. Given the size of the Pacific I'm not concerned about our shores being irradiated. The ratio of Fukushima liquid to Pacific Ocean liquid is so small that the levels of radiation would be insignificant, if even detectable, by the time it reaches the West Coast. However, I'm gravely concerned about sea life in the Pacific. With all the radioactive material being absorbed by plant life, which in turn is ingested by fish and other sea creatures, I'm not comfortable eating seafood any more.

Thanks NT. And here's some more credible stuff of irradiated bluefin tuna in the pacific. (Took these myself, in my private sub)



Seriously though, I think they have detected levels of radioactive cesium in bluefin off the west coast of the US.

I bet you had to sell a lot of toys for that submarine. Is it biodiesel?
And nice captures of the irradiated shark I mean tuna.

Seriously though, I hope all our Japan board members (and everyone else over there) can move safely out of harms way sooner than later. If that's even possible, given issues like food supply contamination. Nuclear power has always scared the crap out of me. And don't forget the U.S. nuclear power infrastructure is aging and in need of repair/replacement as well.

"West Coast radiation from Fukushima disaster poses no risk, experts say"

Legitimate scientific reassurance or mainstream media message control?

http://lat.ms/1cbSULw

I can't speak on the credibility of what I read regarding the continued after effects but there's been at least 2 reports of huge, record breaking sea creatures being washed up on CA beaches. Last week was a giant squid measuring 160 feet that was found in Santa Monica. "Experts" were saying that due to the radiation it may give off/trigger giganticism in the surrounding environment and the creatures found in it.

Do you have any links? I saw something about the giant squid, but didn't bother clicking because it looked so fake.

I remember a NBC news report about the deep sea creatures washing up because of possible big earthquake (animals sensing danger and attempting to move away from it) . Radiation poisoning makes much more sense.

I hate being told that all is well especially by a government agency. Feel really bad for the people in west Virginia being told the water is safe enough to drink.... right.


Here is a link of what i remember seeing
http://news.discovery.com/earth/oceans/can-oarfish-predict-earthquakes-131023.htm