The other day, I was at the ATM when I noticed a middle-aged couple in front of me in the queue. They tried a few times to withdraw funds. As I waited a few minutes, I overheard them saying they were trying to withdraw RM20, but the machine responded “insufficient funds”. They looked stressed and worried.
All is not well among Malaysians. The level of household debt has been rising over the years at the rate of 11.1 per cent annually.
If Fukushima is not enough of a warning, those in the Malaysian government adamant about bringing nuclear power plants here should take another look at what happened at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.
Pakatan too needs to clearly state its stand on nuclear energy so voters know exactly what they are in for.
This year is the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl, which is still pouring out radioactive gases after its sarcophagus cracked last year. They are still clearing up tons of radioactive material there. The cost of resettlement, cleanup and medical expense? US$235bn. Meanwhile, Fukushima has already emitted more radiation than Three Mile Island.
And let’s not forget our own experience with radioactive material at Bukit Merah:
At first, it was just the whisperings of a few who could easily be dismissed as crazies, but now it has become too big to ignore. The United Nations has confirmed that honey-bee colonies are mysteriously disappearing across the globe.
After first being noticed in the US and Europe, the disappearance of managed bee colonies has spread to China, Japan and Egypt.
Why are bees important? They are pollinators and they are even more crucial now when there are mounting concerns about food sufficiency.
White smoke is being emitted from reactor no. 3 of the Fukushima I nuclear power plant. This is a ‘live’ news reel from Japan.
Green Action of Japan provides a transcript of the live coverage earlier this morning:
Sattelite live: TEPCO reports about the various fire trucks arrived at the front gate (around 8am)
We cannot see from which building the flames are rising up.
Is Muhyiddin for real? With an unfolding nuclear nightmare sparking fear in Japan and nervousness across the region, the Deputy PM says that the BN-led administration is capable of handling the government’s nuclear energy ambitions.
You just have to throw your hands up in despair. Here’s another poll to express what you think. The previous poll on this blog on 28 May 2010 saw 85 per cent saying ‘No’ to the plants:
[poll id=”64″]
Well before the present Fukushima nuclear power plant emergency, the Tokyo-based Citizens Nuclear Information Centre had reported about a history of “cover-ups” in the Japanese nuclear energy industry.
The cover-ups included data falsification during voluntary site inspections and attempts to camouflage damage. “There have been a growing number of damage cover-ups and data falsifications around 1994 when electric companies had started shortening the time for a periodical inspection having learned from the ‘success’ experience in the US,” said the CNIC.
Japan is battling to avoid a wider nuclear catastrophe after fresh explosions today at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant may have damaged the suppression (pressure control) chamber in reactor no 2.
Green Action of Japan reports:
Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 2
http://kinkyu.nisa.go.jp/kinkyu/2011/03/post-94.html
Updated 2011/03/15 08:09NISA is reporting the status of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 2
At 6:10 am this morning, TEPCO reported that there was an explosive sound from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 2. This explosion might have caused damage in the suppression chamber (pressure control chamber)(*).
An independent reading of radiation levels near the Fukushima plant by a Japanese magazine editor and a group of journalists reveals a completely different picture from what is being reported in the mainstream media.
The Green Action group reports that yesterday five members of the Japan Visual Journalists Association (JVJA) and Ryuichi Hirokawa, editor-in-chief of the Days Japan magazine, arrived at Futaba Town where the Fukushima Daiichi reactors are located (the plants are located in both Okuma Town and Futaba Town) to undertake independent monitoring measurements.
There is no truth behind an sms message making the rounds that radiation has hit the Philippines and may affect other Asian countries.
Meanwhile, Japanese officials have played down health concerns after a third reactor at Fukushima lost its cooling system. But the US military has moved away from the area after one of its aircraft carriers detected low-level radiation 160km offshore, reports the BBC.
According to ABS-CBN:
MANILA, Philippines – There is no truth to text rumors that radiation from a nuclear plant in Japan has reached the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Monday.
Moaz Yusuf Ahmad raises important questions about the RM50 billion MRT project, which is being rushed through hastily.
In one month, what have we learned about the Klang Valley MRT?
It has been approximately 1 year since MMC-Gamuda presented their unsolicited MRT proposal to the cabinet. More importantly, it has been one month since the public display for the Sg. Buloh – Kajang line of the Klang Valley MRT project began. In this past month, we have learned a great deal about the plans for the MRT – including the proposed route, station locations (including detailed drawings), station & train designs, and even the feeder bus system.