Fukushima Cover Ups Continue - Green Living Tips

Lies, damned lies and energy companies. The Fukushima saga drags on.

It’s now well over 2 years since the Fukushima nuclear disaster began and the situation is far from over.

For example; after repeatedly denying the issue, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has finally admitted to knowing about leaks of radioactive groundwater into the ocean a month before it announced it earlier this week.

Approximately 400 tonnes of groundwater is flowing into the plant daily and becoming contaminated. The company has offered another apology, but those are wearing thin; particularly given the ongoing deception. Apologies don’t fix the problems either.

Adding to this disturbing scenario is the sighting of steam rising from the unit 3 reactor intermittently. TEPCO says it’s nothing to worry about; but should they be believed given their track record? It’s been one mess after another – even rats have been causing major headaches in getting the situation entirely under control.

Thankfully we don’t have to rely entirely on TEPCO or any government department for that matter for information. Safecast is providing data too.

Safecast is a global sensor network for collecting and sharing radiation measurements. The project is designed to empower people with data about their environments.

Volunteers are sent out with Geiger counters to measure levels of radioactivity in the region. Small drones carrying Geiger counters are also now being used for the project. The readings are mapped and made available to all via the Safecast website.

I grabbed the screenshot below from Safecast, showing the 10, 20 and 30 kilometre evacuation zones and well beyond – you can see high readings extend beyond even the outer limits of the circles representing the zones.

I remain unconvinced nuclear power should play a role in a clean energy future and still prefer any nuclear reactor for power generation being situated a safe 93 million miles away; i.e. harvesting the energy of the sun with solar panels.

Aside from safety and environmental reasons, solar power can often be energy generated by the people, for the people – and not controlled by Big Energy.