Thailand News

LivinLOS · #1 21-07-2007, 11:19

Genpatsu-shinsai: the language of disaster that is stalking Japan - Times Online

Quote:

Genpatsu-shinsai: the language of disaster that is stalking Japan

Leo Lewis in Tokyo

Japan’s turbulent history of war and natural catastrophe has already given the world a terrifying vocabulary of death: tsunami, kamikaze, Hiroshima.

But the country now stands on the brink of unleashing its most chilling phrase yet: genpatsu-shinsai – the combination of an earthquake and nuclear meltdown capable of destroying millions of lives and bringing a nation to its knees.

The phrase, derived from the Japanese words for “nuclear power” and “quake disaster”, is the creation of Katsuhiko Ishibashi, Japan’s leading seismologist and one of the Government’s top advisers on nuclear-quake safety. He said that the world may never know how close it came to its first genpatsu-shinsai this week. Luck, as much an anything else, helped to avert it.

A 6.8 magnitude quake, which shook Niigata on Monday and left thousands of homes uninhabitable, was three times more powerful than the designers of the nearest nuclear power plant – Kashiwazaki-Kariwa – had prepared for, or even imagined.

The unfolding crisis at Kashiwazaki has renewed calls for the immediate closure of the five atomic reactors at Hamaoka – an old plant in Shizuoka built directly above a geologically active fault about 100 kilometres (60 miles) west of Tokyo. Despite claims by its operators, Chubu Electric, that the plant meets government standards, seismologists said yesterday that it was “almost impossible” to ensure the safety of a nuclear plant in that location. The Hamaoka plant, said Mitsuhei Murata, a former diplomat and professor at Tokai Gakuen University, presents Japan with its biggest risk of genpatsu-shinsai.

A quake there, he said, could smash the reactor and send a radioactive cloud over Tokyo within eight hours: “We would be looking at 24 million victims and the end for Japan.”

The seismology community agrees that the Tokai region, which includes Tokyo and Hamaoka, is due for a massive quake. The Tokyo metropolitan government has drawn up disaster plans that assume an 87 per cent probability of a magnitude 8.0 quake within 30 years. But power companies have been allowed to prepare for much smaller quakes when building nuclear plants. If the epicentre of Monday’s quake had been 10 km further to the southwest, the seismology research team at Kobe University calculates that the reactor could have split and unleashed a “terrible, terrible disaster”.

Continues at the link above..

SCARY SHIT !!

K2 · #2 21-07-2007, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

SCARY SHIT !!

There are also a couple of reactors in California that could also be in a similar situation - Ring of Fire becoming more active thru global warming ---> magma expands ---> more volcanoes (ash in atmosphere) & earthquakes ---> earth cools down again.

LivinLOS · #3 21-07-2007, 12:24

Without me going and have a look.. Does the prevailing wind conditions for Japan circulate the pacific clockwise (as in the N atlantic) thereby shifting this North to Alaska and round to West coast US.. Or does it shift it this way ??

Or Is Japan a less predictable environment for directions ??

ATMwalking · #4 21-07-2007, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Without me going and have a look.. Does the prevailing wind conditions for Japan circulate the pacific clockwise (as in the N atlantic) thereby shifting this North to Alaska and round to West coast US.. Or does it shift it this way ??

Or Is Japan a less predictable environment for directions ??

Off the top of my head, seather blowing in from Japan effect Hawaii. Not sure how it then hits the west coast.

I'm sure South Korea and China are just waiting for the big one to hit Japan.

Mr Lucky · #5 22-07-2007, 00:57

Aren't the Thais now dabbling with the idea of building a nuclear power plant? Now that's scary!

SweetWilliam · #6 22-07-2007, 04:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2

Ring of Fire becoming more active thru global warming ---> magma expands ---> more volcanoes (ash in atmosphere) & earthquakes ---> earth cools down again.

Would really like to know how the h3ll so called global warming could make volcanoes erupt more(i must be missing something). Volcanoes actually help cool the earth, not heat it. So part of what you say is right.

History has shown, that if, and when global warming occurs, it is a good thing for both humankind, and other animals. Just don't be a sheep, and follow all those doom and gloom false prophets on global warming. Global warming is GOOD.

SW

Mr Lucky · #7 22-07-2007, 06:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetWilliam

Would really like to know how the h3ll so called global warming could make volcanoes erupt more(i must be missing something).

Same way the global air-conditioning caused the ice age. Duh!

ATMwalking · #8 22-07-2007, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetWilliam

Would really like to know how the h3ll so called global warming could make volcanoes erupt more(i must be missing something). Volcanoes actually help cool the earth, not heat it. So part of what you say is right.

It would be the idea of the earth self correcting it's self. The planet is a very complex system with a lot of interconnected bits.

For example, running lots of cars doesn't directly cause warming. It take several steps to get from your tailpipe to melting ice caps.

Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth does a great job of breaking down complex science into readily available explanations.

But the short story would be: the over heating causes increase instability of the tectonic plates -> increase magma activity -> volcanoes eruptions -> dust blocking sun cooling planet

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetWilliam

History has shown, that if, and when global warming occurs, it is a good thing for both humankind, and other animals. Just don't be a sheep, and follow all those doom and gloom false prophets on global warming. Global warming is GOOD.

SW

That may be true from natural cycles.

There is no evidence the planet has ever warmed this much this fast. What is different this time around? Us, trashing the planet. There is no history for this and no reason to believe it will be good.

Although Gore's stuff is really just a cover for the ugly truth that no one wants to talk about. The increase temperature is inversely related to the number of pirates. That's right. I firmly believe global warming is due to the lack of pirates. The evidence is clear.

And yes, I adhere to the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

LivinLOS · #9 22-07-2007, 12:01

Its nice to know theres still 17 of us left

SweetWilliam · #10 22-07-2007, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ATMwalking

Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth does a great job of breaking down complex science into readily available explanations.
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Al Gore's movie is a piece of political propaganda. Propaganda that promotes an agenda. This movie is so full of outright lies and half truths, and its mostly based on junk science. Al Gore is an embarrassment to science. A better and more fitting title for his movie wold be "An Outright Lie".

SW

Petter · #11 22-07-2007, 17:09

Quote:

Al Gore's movie is a piece of political propaganda. Propaganda that promotes an agenda. This movie is so full of outright lies and half truths, and its mostly based on junk science. Al Gore is an embarrassment to science. A better and more fitting title for his movie wold be "An Outright Lie".

SW

You are for sure not a scientist.
Do you actual think that the problems we have today have notting to do with the polution,or the way we pollute the world.
No damage done,is that what you are saying,we just keep going on

Afther al the warming is just good,if the poles smelting down,what the heck..
We just change some habits and live with it,give a shit in the future and they who comes afther us,eh

And the Kyoto agreement is bull.
Hmm.Isent it only one country that wouldent go into that agreement,right

ATMwalking · #12 22-07-2007, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetWilliam

Al Gore's movie is a piece of political propaganda. Propaganda that promotes an agenda. This movie is so full of outright lies and half truths, and its mostly based on junk science. Al Gore is an embarrassment to science. A better and more fitting title for his movie wold be "An Outright Lie".

SW

Even if you well thought out and argued position were correct, what harm can come from taking these preventative steps?

I don't want to breath air from a coal electric plant.
I live just fine using CFL bulbs.
My 33 miles/gallon car gets me where I want to go.
I'm using less electric for my A/C and saving money.
I using less of our finite resources.

Let's just pretend that Gore actually has his science right. In that case, the window of opportunity is closing. Taking preventative measures has upside, regardless of global warming. Countries that have taken these steps are benefiting and becoming wealthier compared with the one major country that hasn't. Even China is cleaning up their act.

Taking these steps is better than the do nothing approach. Status quo has huge potential risk and no upside or than benefiting the entrenched fossil fuel players.

Personally I think we've had enough oil wars.

SweetWilliam · #13 23-07-2007, 00:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petter

You are for sure not a scientist.
Do you actual think that the problems we have today have notting to do with the polution,or the way we pollute the world.
No damage done,is that what you are saying,we just keep going on

Afther al the warming is just good,if the poles smelting down,what the heck..
We just change some habits and live with it,give a shit in the future and they who comes afther us,eh

And the Kyoto agreement is bull.
Hmm.Isent it only one country that wouldent go into that agreement,right

Nope, I am not a scientist, nor do I claim to be one. I just don't like to be lied to is all.

Really do think that yes we are causing some damage to the enviornment. And something does need to be done about it. We need to invent/crete/discover some new form of energy, because we only have enough oil in the world for another 200 years.

The poles are not melting, well at least the southern one isn't. Its getting thicker by the day.

Still not sure about the Kyoto bull though. A 5% reduction in carbon emissions really isn't that much. Should the US agree to something that really won't accomplish much? Or should they sign and join the rest of the world in the token gesture that is Kyoto.

yes I think alot of the worlds problems has been created by us. But moreso by politicians than pollution.

SW