Four events to watch out for this weekend in KL and Penang.
A talk by Amir Muhammad:
Japan activists had warned of risks
Activists in Japan had warned about the risks posed by the country’s nuclear power plants – and they are now calling for more information on the ground and a larger evacuation zone.
This interview from Democracy Now a couple of days ago:
SHARIF ABDEL KOUDDOUS: We go right now to Aileen Mioko Smith. She’s the director of Kyoto-based Green Action. She’s on the board of Greenpeace International. She’s joining us from San Francisco right now, one of Japan’s leading voices challenging nuclear power.
People’s Solidarity Suspension Bridge
Here is an example of what’s possible when a community feels empowered. They can even build bridges – like this new suspension bridge for an Orang Asli community in Sungai Siput to replace the old rickety one.
There are several things we can learn from this suspension bridge project:
Mounting household debt in Malaysia
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.
Chernobyl, Three Mile Island warning
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:
Honey-bee disappearance spreads
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 from Fukushima unit 3
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.
Nuclear energy: Muhyiddin adamant
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″]
Fukushima: History of “cover-ups”
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.
Fukushima: Possible damage in pressure control chamber
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)(*).