Japan: Tepco Continues Desperate Struggle To Block Contamination(cesium abosorbig zeolite)

Nikkei ^ | 04/16/11

[ransomnote]

TEPCO has said that it is ‘concerned’ that the amount of radiation released will exceed that of Chernobyl. While they couldn’t cover it yet because it’s too hot, their statement that they would not cover it until fuel was removed (which took 10 - 12 years for TMI) was probably not popular - not even in nuke industry interests because it may make getting a permit to build a bit harder when the public is hearing about the latest radiation release.

I wonder to what extent cultural differences result in TEPCO seeming tone deaf to public relations. I just read a Kyodo article that detailed the submission, by TEPCO, of a request to build two more reactors on that site. The permit request was submitted by TEPCO on or around March 26 or so. When the public found out they got angry. Maybe that wasn’t tone deaf though - maybe they were trying to get the permit approved before the public noticed or before the public opinion increased against them. TEPCO withdrew the request for now.

Due to Earth’s rotation, the primary ocean currents in the Pacific are clockwise. North along the Japanese coast and Russia etc., across to Alaska and washing South down the coast of the United States and Mexico. There may be smaller currents heading different directions in and around the islands of Japan. (Southern hemisphere oceans rotate counter clockwise, Northern hemisphere - clockwise)