ALERTS!!!!

“The number of children and grandchildren with cancer in their bones, with leukemia in their blood, or with poison in their lungs might seem statistically small to some, in comparison with natural health hazards. But this is not a natural health hazard—and it is not a statistical issue. The loss of even one human life, or the malformation of even one baby—who may be born long after we are gone—should be of concern to us all. Our children and grandchildren are not merely statistics toward which we can be indifferent.”

John F. Kennedy, July 26th, 1963

Thursday, November 28, 2013

What is the future of Fukushima??

Fukushima, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl...the big three when one thinks of meltdowns.  Chernobyl happened in 1986.  That was twenty-seven years ago and like Fukushima Chernobyl cast it's deadly poisons all across the Northern Hemisphere.  To stop it's flow of radiation a temporary sarcophagus was constructed that was intended to last until 2006.  It is now crumbling and is in the process of being replaced. The work is slow and it is not clear whether the reactor can be torn down and if it is where does one put the waste. All reactors create huge piles of waste that cannot be disposed of. They are extremely messy and the waste left behind remains deadly for centuries...eons really.  Here are links to a few articles about Chernobyl.  This was one reactor not three and Chernobyl had very little spent fuel lying around as it was practically new when it exploded. The tragedy that is Fukushima will likely last until the last man on earth has drawn his last breath.

Chernobyl's arch: Sealing off a radioactive sarcophagus


Chernobyl is surrounding by a forest of radioactive trees. A fire in this forest will send deadly radiation spreading across the continent once again. "If ignited, one expert likens the potential effect to setting off a nuclear bomb in Eastern Europe. Wind could carry radioactive smoke particles large distances, not just in Ukraine, but right across the continent."

Chernobyl's radioactive trees and the forest fire risk


Great Britain is a relatively small country compared to say Russia or the United States. Reactors create waste and no suitable way has yet been found in any country to safely store or get rid of this waste. Experiments have been done in the past to "burn up" or repurpose fuel.  These experiments have gone badly and this is why each reactor has a graveyard of spent fuel sitting in pools by their plant. Fuel that must be kept cool and unexposed to air for thousands of years.  Here is an article explaining  the UK's idea to "burn up" this fuel. Left over after this would be a stew of Strontium and other substances that must still be stored for a long long time. 

 
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