[Fishtalk]

Well first of all, I read the article and nowhere does it say that the Japanese have asked for help from the U.S.

Now maybe they should or like you say, if they did, what the hell could America do?

Still and so, this is an example of Journalism run amok. The only person asking for U.S. help is some guy at the UN.

What they got to do, it ain’t rocket science, is cool down those fuel rods. The reactors did all “scramble” when the earthquake struck but the tsunami destroyed the pumps that would pump coolant in to stop the reaction.

I dunno, maybe America can get decent diesel generators in there to run those pumps...the Japanese are having a hell of a time, plugs don’t fit, they’ve no power to run the installed pumps.

Supposedly, SUPPOSEDLY, the reactors are fitted with a doomsday container that will, in the event of total meltdown, hold all the spent fuel and radioactive carcass stuff. At that point you say a prayer and bury it forever.

This is what happened on 3 Mile Island by the way.

If this is true, it will be an economic killer for Japan to lose all those reactors and will greatly slow their recovery from this. But it will not be a nuclear disaster.

And I’m no expert. But I can read, have pretty good reading comprehension, can wield a keyboard, know the language. I been reading up these past few days and it’s not all that difficult to understand.

They can’t get those fuel rods cool. At some point the fuel will be gone like a car runs out of gas. But what’s left will be dangerous stuff. Again, it will be contained if the Japanese are to be believed.

[ArmstedFragg]

Didn’t the reaction stop when the control rods were dropped?

That’d be of concern.

[americanophile]

You're right about the article, it was a breaking news headline with mostly regurgitated facts, as breaking news articles tend to be, but they have officially asked for help, and there are many articles to that effect now:

“The Japanese government has formally asked for assistance from the United States as it continues to respond to nuclear power plant cooling issues triggered by an earthquake and tsunami on March 11. As part of a larger U.S. government response, the NRC is considering possible replies to the request, which includes providing technical advice,” said a statement issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency."

http://www.vancouverite.com/2011/03/14/japan-asks-u-s-for-help-with-nuke-plant-meltdown-threat/

[bill1952]

> At some point the fuel will be gone like a car runs out of gas.

Okay yes. In about 90 years.