The Fukushima Endgame: The Radioactive Contamination of the Pacific Ocean

Share

Source: Global Research

Nuclear radiation resulting from the March 2011 Fukushima disaster –which threatens life on planet earth– is not front page news in comparison to the most insignificant issues of public concern, including the local level crime scene or the tabloid gossip reports on Hollywood celebrities.

The shaky political consensus both in Japan, the U.S. and Western Europe is that the crisis at Fukushima has been contained.

The truth is otherwise. Known and documented, the ongoing dumping of highly radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean constitutes a potential trigger to a process of global radioactive contamination.

This water contains plutonium 239 and its release into the Ocean has both local as well as global repercussions.  A microgram of plutonium if inhaled, according to Dr. Helen Caldicott, can cause death:

Certain isotopes of radioactive plutonium are known as some of the deadliest poisons on the face of the earth. A mere microgram (a speck of darkness on a pinhead) of Plutonium-239, if inhaled, can cause death, and if ingested, radioactive Plutonium can be harmful, causing leukemia and other bone cancers.

“In the days following the 2011 earthquake and nuclear plant explosions, seawater meant to cool the nuclear power plants instead carried radioactive elements back to the Pacific ocean. Radioactive Plutonium was one of the elements streamed back to sea.” (decodescience.com).

It would appear that the radioactive water has already penetrated parts of the Japanese coastline:

Environmental testing of shoreline around the nuclear plant (as well fish, especially Tuna) showed negligible amounts of Plutonium in the seawater. The Plutonium, from what little is reported, sank into the sediments off the Japanese coast.”  (Ibid)

A recent report suggests that the Japanese government is intent upon releasing the remaining radioactive water into the Ocean. The proposed “solution” becomes the cause of radioactive contamination of both the Japanese coastline as well as the Pacific Ocean, extending to the coastline of North America.

While the chairman of the Nuclear Radiation Authority recognizes that the water in the tanks is heavily “tainted”, a decision has nonetheless been taken to empty the tanks and dump the water into the Ocean:

The head of Japan’s nuclear watchdog said contaminated water stored at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant should be released into the ocean to ensure safe decommissioning of the reactors.

Shunichi Tanaka, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulation Authority, made the comment Dec. 12 after visiting the facility to observe progress in dismantling the six reactors. The site was severely damaged in the tsunami generated by the 2011 earthquake.

“I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of tanks (holding water tainted with radioactive substances),” Tanaka told reporters, indicating they pose a danger to decommissioning work. “We have to dispose of the water.”

With regard to expected protests by local fishermen over the discharge, Tanaka said, “We also have to obtain the consent of local residents in carrying out the work, so we can somehow mitigate (the increase in tainted water).”

Tanaka has said previously that to proceed with decommissioning, tainted water stored on the site would need to be released into the sea so long as it had been decontaminated to accepted safety standards.

“While (the idea) may upset people, we must do our utmost to satisfy residents of Fukushima,” Tanaka said, adding that the NRA would provide information to local residents based on continuing studies of radioactive elements in local waters.

The inspection tour was Tanaka’s second since he became NRA chief in September 2012. He last visited in April 2013.

During his visit, Tanaka observed work at a trench on the ocean side of the No. 2 reactor building, where highly contaminated water is being pumped out. He also inspected barriers set up around the storage tanks to prevent leaks of tainted water.

Tanaka praised the completion in November of work to remove all spent nuclear fuel from the No. 4 reactor building, as well as changes to work procedures that he said allows for the completion of the work at the No. 2 reactor trench.  Hiromi Kumai , NRA Head Signals Massive Release of Tainted Water to Help Decommission Fukushima Site Asahi Shimbun December 13, 2014

The contradictory statements of  the NRA chief  avoid addressing the broader implications, by giving the impression that the issue is local and that local fishermen off the Fukushima coast will be consulted.

Additional articles and videos on Fukushima and Nuclear Radiation are available at Global Research’s Dossier on The Environment


Nuclear Radiation: Categorization

At Fukushima, reports confirm that alpha, beta, gamma particles and neutrons have been released:

“While non-ionizing radiation and x-rays are a result of electron transitions in atoms or molecules, there are three forms of ionizing radiation that are a result of activity within the nucleus of an atom.  These forms of nuclear radiation are alpha particles (α-particles), beta particles (β-particles) and gamma rays (γ-rays).

Alpha particles are heavy positively charged particles made up of two protons and two neutrons.  They are essentially a helium nucleus and are thus represented in a nuclear equation by either α or .  See the Alpha Decay page for more information on alpha particles.

Beta particles come in two forms:  and .  particles are just electrons that have been ejected from the nucleus.  This is a result of sub-nuclear reactions that result in a neutron decaying to a proton.  The electron is needed to conserve charge and comes from the nucleus.  It is not an orbital electron.  particles are positrons ejected from the nucleus when a proton decays to a neutron.  A positron is an anti-particle that is similar in nearly all respects to an electron, but has a positive charge.  See the Beta Decay page for more information on beta particles.

Gamma rays are photons of high energy electromagnetic radiation (light).  Gamma rays generally have the highest frequency and shortest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum.  There is some overlap in the frequencies of gamma rays and x-rays; however, x-rays are formed from electron transitions while gamma rays are formed from nuclear transitions. See the Gamma Rays  for more” (SOURCE: Canadian Nuclear Association)

A neutron is a particle that is found in the nucleus, or center, of atoms. It has a mass very close to protons, which also reside in the nucleus of atoms. Together, they make up almost all of the mass of individual atoms. Each has a mass of about 1 amu, which is roughly 1.6×10-27kg. Protons have a positive charge and neutrons have no charge, which is why they were more difficult to discover.” (SOURCE: Neutron Radiation)

“Many different radioactive isotopes are used in or are produced by nuclear reactors. The most important of these are described below:

1. Uranium 235 (U-235) is the active component of most nuclear reactor fuel.

2. Plutonium (Pu-239) is a key nuclear material used in modern nuclear weapons and is also present as a by-product in certain reprocessed fuels used in some nuclear reactors. Pu-239 is also produced in uranium reactors as a byproduct of fission of U-235.

3. Cesium (Cs-137 ) is a fission product of U-235. It emits beta and gamma radiation and can cause radiation sickness and death if exposures are high enough. …

4. Iodine 131 (I-131), also a fission product of U-235, emits beta and gamma radiation. After inhalation or ingestion, it is absorbed by and concentrated in the thyroid gland, where its beta radiation damages nearby thyroid tissue  (SOURCE: Amesh A. Adalja, MD, Eric S. Toner, MD, Anita Cicero, JD, Joseph Fitzgerald, MS, MPH, and Thomas V. Inglesby MD, Radiation at Fukushima: Basic Issues and Concepts, March 31, 2011)

Source: Global Research

16 Responses to The Fukushima Endgame: The Radioactive Contamination of the Pacific Ocean

  1. Adam Lewis says:

    There is no solution to the core meltdown at Fukushima. No scientist on Earth has come up with a viable plan to stop the ongoing contamination. The amount of radiation that has already been released into the Pacific is enough to kill every living thing on Earth. As evaporation and ocean currents spread this poison, we will see the die off of every species of animal on Earth, including mankind. It is ironic that the only nation to have ever suffered a nuclear attack has now,thru negligence and hubris, 

    caused the contamination of the entire planet with that same nuclear technology. For an ignorant race of hairless apes, mankind had a good run but sadly we are now done. No amount of worrying. arguement or brainstorming can change the outcome of this devastating event.  I feel great sorrow for the youth of the world who will never know what it is to grow old. 

  2. Kellen says:

    Dane, I love your website sir, I am a subscriber and i try to inform everyone I can about the atrocities happening in our sky everyday, people can be so silly, do they honestly think I simple little contrail can spread and literally blanket THE ENTIRE sky and block out the sun for the rest of the day, if u ask me, we should start calling people who use this contrail nonsense as an explanation for chemtrails conspiracy theorists, never the less I have a question for you…I know this is an older article however I'm posting here because I have a question for you regarding this. I believe you have said before u reside In Redding California, are u at all worried about fukushima radiation living on the west coast at all? Some people say just take iodine and youll be fine, some people say there's nothing to worry about at all which I don't beleive, and others say it's all over the US and it doesn't matter where u are so might as well live wherever u want to live because your going to be affected anyway, we'll I find it hard to believe Indiana is going to be affected just as much as the California coastline, what do u think about this and what are your thoughts? The only reason I ask I because I am seriously considering moving to California very soon but I see this as a huge drawback, any wise words sir??

    • Dane Wigington says:

      Hello Kellen, thank you so much for making your voice heard in this battle. About Fukushima, the impact on the US west coast should not be underestimated, it is a huge problem and likely to get steadily worse. This being said, there will likely be more such meltdowns at other nuclear facilities in the not too distant future. The vast majority of these facilites are near large populations. All things considered, at least Fukushima is a very long way from Cal. Hope this helps, stay strong,
      Dane

  3. Neil Rushton says:

    There is certainly a conspiracy of silence about Fukushima. But there are also a lot of gatekeepers telling us it'll all be ok. This is an article doing the rounds to rebut concerns over the radiation discharge at the plant: http://www.deepseanews.com/2013/11/true-facts-about-ocean-radiation-and-the-fukushima-disaster/ I'd be interested to know what professional and financial interests the author has. 

  4. V.T. Smith says:

    I don’t eat crab, lobster, shrimp, or any food that reads “product of china”……..anything that comes out of the Pacific or the Gulf really……….

  5. Janete says:

    Thank you Dane!
    You are a brave man. I live in the UK and have been following this issue for many years since a friend who has low grade asthma went outside during her lunch break and couldn’t breathe. One year I photographed the sky every day and the only clear days were during G8 and other international meetings, the wimbledon finals and later during the whole of the Olympics but not the Paralympics..
    As you say a whole generation are growing up to whom this is normal and this is a major problem. However, a simple comparison between films and series of 20 years ago and those being produced in recent years can shock even those who are aware of this problem.
    Fukushima, though ghastly, is blinding many to what is already happening and may end being blamed when the collapse that is already happening becomes so catastrophic that it is finally noticed!

  6. Mary says:

    I have been wondering something about Fukushima and the recent heavy rainfall in Pacific Northwest thru the Northern California Valley. I’m not really sure how to ask but I’ll try. Due to the high precipitation rate, could any of the sea water have been recycled into the rain, mixing with the numerous chemtrails that we have over Sacramento, CA?

    • Dane Wigington says:

      Hello Mary, the rainfall in California was not nearly as heavy as the media tried to make us believe. Next, storms off the Pacific are laden with rain from evaporation originating in the Pacific. Fukushima radiation is most definitely a problem.

  7. Ana says:

    Thanks Barbara! I think my positive thoughts just emerge everytime i come here and see special people like you that cares about what´s happening in our world…Let´s hope for a better year of 2015 for “revelations” and to people to wake up for the truth that surrounds us all …

  8. Janine says:

    Dane , I’m curious you do not have more of a opinion about Japan , as much has been documented of horrific death to sea life and eco systems , This is for all groups to come together and shut down all nuclear now, as I grieve , I see our groups as silent as the progressive media on TV, They should be demanding the shut down of all plants as often as the right is teaching how to hate us , it is evil , it is as evil not to organize ag
    nst them

    • Dane Wigington says:

      Hello Janine,yes, Fukushima is an immense problem along with all the other nuclear facilities. I have covered this contamination problem and will continue to. This being said, how are we to organize populations to take a stand against a problem they cannot see when this same population is not yet willing to face the problem they can see, jets spraying toxic materials right over their heads? We must prioritize, if we can expose the spraying people will understand the degree to which they have been lied to. Then, Fukushima and the whole nuclear nightmare can more readily be approached.

  9. Ana says:

    Thanks for your kind words Irene! That your wishes for 2015 may come true !Godbless you Irene and your family and friends ! Happy 2015!

  10. barbara larkin says:

    yes ana i feel the same as you , here in england absolutly in plain sight and yet not one person seems to notice or look up , it is very hard to feel joy and peace when it seems it may be to late to save ourselves and gaia , and yet i also feel i must have faith and continue to keep hope for a future for my children and grandchildren , i think the collective consious globally is powerfull what you think, what you believe is what you create so lets all think and create a clean cared for ,peacefull for all , and honour mother earth. we have nothing to lose with positive thought , and continue to try pass on helping people to wake up .

  11. Irene Parousis says:

    I feel you Ana, sitting here and wondering what’s there to celebrate or be happy about when you know how dire things are. All my friends and family are oblivious, thank God for my awakened daughter who is on the same page. Perhaps at this point we have to have faith in the Universe, we can only do our part and hope that energy will spread. I want to thank Dane and all those souls who have volunteered in this very difficult journey to our awakening in knowing that we are One with our Mother Earth and that if we hurt her we hurt ourselves. May 2015 cross the tipping point so that all souls make it back home, to their HEARTS.

  12. Ana says:

    Too many things happening at the same time can be the “boiling” cathastrophic point and people are just worried about celebrating the new year that is a year more getting closer to our End !honestly i don´t care about celebrations when i just can see dumb blind people around me …I´m already missing 2014 when i know i can´t get back the Past anymore and i´m not expecting this world to change for better from this point now. We also know that geoengeneering is not being reduced in ou skies ,i think they are even incrising it year afther year…they seem to feel free to do whatever they want to and the most revolting to me is to see all this numb people in the world continuing with their lifes as usual as if they were a product in an industrial manufacturing line (non stop)…doesn´t this people read anything or search for information etc.? Is this people concerned about anything besides Money or jobs ?I think Elites Know the human mind very well and they hardly will fall down from their big trone of insanity and deception!anyway a better year of 2015 to Dane and to all other good people on Earth…

  13. nikki says:

    People who have kids should be screaming at the top of their lungs at the US govt, and Hillary Clinton (whose agreement with Japan keeps US citizens from knowing their seafood/seaweed/miso from Japan is contaminated)… but alas….. crickets.
    The earthquake that happened there today (20 miles away – 4.4magnitude ) didn’t even make the news.

Leave a Reply to Ana Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *