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Japan nuclear Crisis: At par with Chernobyl.

Japan raised the severity of its nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant to a level 7 from 5, putting it on par with the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986.

The rating reflects the initial severity of the crisis not the current situation which has seen radiation levels drop dramatically.

The operator of the crippled nuclear plant said that they are concerned that the radiation leakage could eventually exceed that of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Japan is struggling to regain control of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant after a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated its northeast on March 11, and is facing a major humanitarian and economic crisis.

The International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) ranks nuclear incidents by their severity from 1 to a maximum of 7.

Here are some comments on the higher rating:

HIDEHIKO NISHIYAMA, A DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL AT JAPAN'S NUCLEAR and INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AUTHORITY (NISA)

We think it's very different from the accident in Chernobyl. First of all, the emission of radioactive substances is about 10 percent of the amount of Chernobyl. In the case of Chernobyl, 29 people died due to rapid absorption of massive radiation. That's not the case in Fukushima.

In the case of Fukushima, we had an explosion due to leaked hydrogen, blowing the roof off a building but the reactor containment vessel and reactor pressure vessel remains in the original shape, despite some leaks. In the case of Chernobyl, they could not keep working after the accident due to massive leaks of radioactive substances. In Fukushima, we still have engineers working to resolve the situation.

MURRAY JENNEX, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY

I think raising it to the level of Chernobyl is excessive. It's nowhere near that level. Chernobyl was terrible -- it blew and they had no containment, and they were stuck.

Their containment has been holding, the only thing that hasn't is the fuel pool that caught fire. I don't see those as the same event. If they want to do that, that's fine. I think they're being overly pessimistic.

KENJI SUMITA, OSAKA UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR

Raising the level to a 7 has serious diplomatic implications. It is telling people that the accident has the potential of causing trouble to our neighbours.

I think a level 7 is very extreme.

JAPAN'S NUCLEAR INDUSTRY AND SAFETY AGENCY (NISA)

According to the INES rating procedure, a provisional rating is given at the onset of an accident. The rating remains on a provisional status until the accident is deemed over, when a final rating is given upon analysis by a committee of experts. As for Daiichi the problems are still ongoing. This is a preliminary assessment, and is subject to finalisation by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: Japan: Tsunami warning Issued

Japan temporarily issued tsunami warnings for parts of the north-east coast on Monday following a powerful aftershock exactly a month after a magnitude-9 earthquake created huge waves that killed an estimated 28,000 people.

From: http://ping.fm/eZSac

Japan: Tsunami warning Issued

Japan temporarily issued tsunami warnings for parts of the north-east coast on Monday following a powerful aftershock exactly a month after a magnitude-9 earthquake created huge waves that killed an estimated 28,000 people.

NHK, the public broadcaster, warned of tsunami up to 2 metres high on the coast of Ibaraki prefecture after the magnitude-7.1 quake.

Although the waves were estimated to be much smaller than those that devastated Japan's north-east coast on 11 March, the meteorological agency warned people in Ibaraki to evacuate to higher ground. The warnings were later lifted.

The aftershock came as the government announced it was widening the evacuation zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant due to high levels of accumulated radiation and rising fears about the long-term effects on residents' health.

The government's chief spokesman, Yukio Edano, said the current 20km evacuation zone would be extended to five other communities, including the village of Iitate, which lies 40km from the plant.

The village's 5,000 residents were told to prepare to leave their homes, although the evacuation would not take place immediately as radiation levels presented no immediate threat to health.

The Asahi newspaper said the zone would be widened to 30km in some areas, depending on wind direction, adding that residents would be given about a week to prepare.

"We have made a new decision about evacuations based on data analysis of accumulated radiation exposure information," Edano told a news conference. "There is no need to evacuate immediately."

About 70,000 people living within 20km of Fukushima Daiichi have already been evacuated, and another 130,000 living inside a band 20-30km away have been told to leave voluntarily or remain indoors due to disruption to supply lines and services.

Engineers at the plant say that although progress has been made in containing radioactive water that has built up beneath reactors, they are still no closer to restoring damaged cooling systems.

Until repairs are made they cannot cool overheated fuel rods that could cause a major leak of radiation if they go into full meltdown.

The government had ignored pressure from the International Atomic Energy Agency and environmental groups to widen the evacuation zone. The US has advised its citizens not to go within 80km of the plant.

Hidehiko Nishiyama, a spokesman for Japan's nuclear safety agency, apologised for the anxiety caused by radiation leaks, and warned that the cooling systems could take months to repair.

"It's still difficult to give a timeline regarding when we can resolve the problem," Nishiyama said. "We are very sorry for the evacuees who are anxious to see the problem resolved."

The governor of Fukushima prefecture, Yuhei Sato, criticised the decision first to ask people in the area to stay indoors, then to consider leaving and now to prepare for evacuation. "Residents are very confused about what to do," he said.

Earlier, Sato refused to meet the president of the plant's operator, Tokyo Electrical Power, Masataka Shimizu, who had travelled to Fukushima to apologise to the prefecture's people.

The tsunami warning was a chilling reminder of the events of a month ago, which were marked across the country by a moment's silence at 2.46pm.

More than 14,000 people are still missing, and 152,000 survivors are living in evacuation centres.

Reflecting on the damage to his prefecture, which is also at the centre of the nuclear power crisis, Sato said: "My chest has been ripped open by the suffering and pain that this disaster has caused the people of our prefecture. I can't find the words to express my sorrow."

The prime minister, Naoto Kan, placed a message in newspapers in several countries, including Britain, China and the United States, thanking the international community for its support.

Kan said the generosity shown towards Japan in its time of need demonstrated the human capacity for kizuna, or bonds of friendship, and vowed that Japan would emerge a stronger nation.

"We deeply appreciate the kizuna our friends from around the world have shown and I want to thank every nation, entity, and you personally, from the bottom of my heart," he said.

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: Japan rattled by aftershock 1 month after tsunami

A strong new earthquake rattled Japan's northeast Monday just hours after people bowed their heads and wept in ceremonies to mark a month since the tsunami that killed up to 25,000 people and set off a still-unfolding nuclear crisis

From: http://ping.fm/PBylB

Japan rattled by aftershock 1 month after tsunami

A strong new earthquake rattled Japan's northeast Monday just hours after people bowed their heads and wept in ceremonies to mark a month since the tsunami that killed up to 25,000 people and set off a still-unfolding nuclear crisis. The quake, the second major aftershock in less than a week, was another jarring reminder of the magnitude-9.0 earthquake that spawned the massive wave March 11. People in a large electronics store in Sendai screamed and ran outside and mothers grabbed their children, but there were no immediate reports of more damage or injuries.

Officials said operations were not endangered at the tsunami-flooded Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex, where power was cut by the aftershock but quickly restored. Japan's meteorological agency measured the aftershock at a magnitude of 7.0, but a U.S. monitor said it was 6.6. The epicenter of was just inland and about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Tokyo.

The Fukushima Dai-ichi plant is still leaking radiation after its cooling systems were knocked out by tsunami, and the government on Monday urged people in five additional communities near the plant to leave within a month, citing concerns about long-term health risks from radiation. People who lived within a 12-mile (20-kilometer) radius around the plant already have been evacuated.

With workers still far from bringing the plant under control, the bodies of thousands of tsunami victims yet to be found and more than 150,000 people living in shelters, there was little time for reflection on Japan's worst disaster since World War II.

People in hard-hit towns gathered for ceremonies at 2:46 p.m., the exact moment of the massive quake a month earlier.

"My chest has been ripped open by the suffering and pain that this disaster has caused the people of our prefecture," said Yuhei Sato, the governor of Fukushima, which saw its coastal areas devastated by the tsunami and is home to the damaged plant at the center of the nuclear crisis. "I have no words to express my sorrow."

In a devastated coastal neighborhood in the city of Natori, three dozen firemen and soldiers removed their hats and helmets and joined hands atop a small hill that has become a memorial for the dead. Earlier, four monks in pointed hats rang a prayer bell there as they chanted for those killed.

The noisy clatter of construction equipment ceased briefly as crane operators stood outside their vehicles and bowed their heads

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: Anna Hazare:Kapil Sibal should resign from Committee

Gandhian Anna Hazare today said Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal should resign from the joint committee

From: http://ping.fm/4WB26

Anna Hazare:Kapil Sibal should resign from Committee

Gandhian Anna Hazare today said Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal should resign from the joint committee to draft the Lokpal Bill "if he feels nothing will happen" out of this institution.

Reacting to a reported statement of Sibal on the Lokpal institution, he said, "If Sibal feels that nothing will happen due to the Lokpal Bill then he should resign from the joint committee as soon as possible.

"Why is he wasting his and our time? He should do other things for the country. Why does he want to be in the committee. If you believe that nothing will happen, you should not be there in the joint committee, he should resign and do some other work," he told reporters before he left for his hometown in Maharashtra.

Sibal had yesterday told a public meeting, "I ask this question, if a poor child does not have any means for education, then how will Lokpal Bill help? If a poor man needs help for medical services then he will call up a politician. How will Lokpal Bill help."

Asked about Hazare's demand, Sibal told reporters today that he was with the Gandhian and that he wanted the Bill to be drafted as early as possible and to be effective in tackling corruption everywhere.

Clarifying his earlier remarks, he said what he had meant was that "the scope of the Bill is different. The problems of the common man are different."

"I said that if you want to educate children, then this has no connection to Lokpal. If there is no convenience of water...Lokpal is only connected to corruption and we will bring a good bill that will stop corruption."

He said they would sit with Hazare and bring out a bill so that the objective will be realised.

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: Anna Hazare: Govt offers drafting panel

The Government on Friday reached out to veteran social activists and Gandhian Anna Hazare and decided to set up a joint drafting committee to bring out a strict anti-corruption law.


From: http://ping.fm/l4Bjq

Anna Hazare: Govt offers drafting panel

The Government on Friday reached out to veteran social activists and Gandhian Anna Hazare and decided to set up a joint drafting committee to bring out a strict anti-corruption law.

The committee will have 10 members out of which five will be ministers and the other five will be from the civil society. Hazare will also be one of the members of the proposed committee.Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi claimed that that all the points that were raised by Hazare's supporters have been met. The Government has also decided to introduce the Lokpal Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament.

"All points of substance have been met. We have agreed for a joint drafting committee. We will introduce the Bill (Lokpal Bill) in the monsoon session. The committee will have five nominee ministers of the Government and five members of Hazare," said Singhvi while addressing a press conference in New Delhi.

"The Congress is with the crusade against corruption. We have shown that whenever there are credible allegations the Congress party has taken concrete actions and full transparency has been maintained. We are with the nation and with the civil society in this crusade against corruption. We are taking steps for the Lokpal Bill," he said.

The convenor of drafting committee will be Law Minister Veerappa Moily.

However, the Congress also took a tough stand against some activists and questioned the role of the civil society.

The party said that accountability lies with politicians and no responsible government could accept some of the demands that had been put forward by the anti-corruption crusaders.

Reacting to the Government's proposal, Hazare's supporters said that the there should be co-chairperson of the committee and a Government order should be issued for the same. The demand for a Government order is a climbdown from their earlier demand for a notification.

Hazare has launched a fast-unto-death at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding strict anti-corruption law. His fast entered the fourth day on Friday and his crusade has spread like wildfire across the country.

Massive protests have been reported from several other cities including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, Patna, Bhopal, Jaipur, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Nashik, Ranchi, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram.

Anna Hazare :Letter to the Prime minister

Veteran social activist and Gandhian Anna Hazare has written an open letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In the letter dated April 6, 2011, Hazare has raised many questions and sought the Prime Minister's reply.

The 72-year-old social activist, supported by eminent persons including Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal, has been demanding that the drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill to tackle corruption should include members of civil society.

He started his fast-unto-death at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to demand a stricter anti-corruption law that that is being proposed by the Government.

Below is the full text of Hazare's letter to the Prime Minister:

India Against Corruption

A-119, Kaushambi, Ghaziabad . 201010. UP Ph: 09868069953

www.indiaagainstcorruption.org

Date: April 6, 2011

To,

Dr. Manmohan Singh,

Hon'ble Prime Minister of India

New Delhi Dear

Dr. Singh,

I have started my indefinite fast at Jantar mantar. I had invited you also to fast and pray for a corruption free India on 5th April. Though I did not receive any reply from you, I am hopeful that you must have done that.

I am pained to read and hear about government's reaction to my fast. I consider it my duty to clarify the points raised on behalf of Congress party and the government by their spokespersons, as they appear in media:

1. It is being alleged that I am being instigated by some people to sit on this fast. Dear Manmohan Singh ji, this is an insult to my sense of wisdom and intelligence. I am not a kid that I could be "instigated" into going on an indefinite fast. I am a fiercely independent person. I take advice from many friends and critics, but do what my conscience directs me to do. It is my experience that when cornered, governments resort to such malicious slandering. I am pained that the government, rather than addressing the issue of corruption, is trying to allege conspiracies, when there are none.

2. It is being said that I have shown impatience. Dear Prime Minister, so far, every government has shown complete insensitivity and lack of political commitment to tackling corruption. 62 years after independence, we still do not have independent and effective anti-corruption systems. Very weak versions of Lokpal Bill were presented in Parliament eight times in last 42 years. Even these weak versions were not passed by Parliament. This means, left to themselves, the politicians and bureaucrats will never pass any law which subjects them to any kind of objective scrutiny. At a time, when the country has witnessed scams of unprecedented scale, the impatience of the entire country is justified. And we call upon you, not to look for precedents, but show courage to take unprecedented steps.

3. It is being said that I have shown impatience when the government has "initiated" the process. I would urge you to tell me - exactly what processes are underway?

a. You say that your Group of Ministers are drafting the anti-corruption law. Many of the members of this Group of Ministers have such a shady past that if effective anticorruption systems had been in place, some of them would have been behind bars. Do you want us to have faith in a process in which some of the most corrupt people of this country should draft the anti-corruption law?

b. NAC sub-committee has discussed Jan Lokpal Bill. But what does that actually mean? Will the government accept the recommendations of NAC sub-committee? So far, UPA II has shown complete contempt for even the most innocuous issues raised by NAC.

c. I and many other friends from India Against Corruption movement wrote several letters to you after 1st December. I also sent you a copy of Jan Lokpal Bill on 1st December. We did not get any response. It is only when I wrote to you that I will sit on an indefinite fast, we were promptly invited for discussions on 7th March. I wonder whether the government responds only to threats of indefinite fast. Before that, representatives of India Against Corruption had been meeting various Ministers seeking their support for the Jan Lokpal Bill. They met Mr Moily also and personally handed over copy of Jan Lokpal to him. A few hours before our meeting with you, we received a phone call from Mr Moily's office that the copy of Jan Lokpal Bill had been misplaced by his office and they wanted another copy. This is the seriousness with which the government has dealt with Jan Lokpal Bill.

d. Dear Dr Manmohan Singh ji, if you were in my place, would you have any faith in the aforesaid processes? Kindly let me know if there are any other processes underway. If you still feel that I am impatient, I am happy that I am because the whole nation is feeling impatient at the lack of credible efforts from your government against corruption.

4. What are we asking for? We are not saying that you should accept the Bill drafted by us. But kindly create a credible platform for discussions . a joint committee with at least half members from civil society suggested by us. Your spokespersons are misleading the nation when they say that there is no precedent for setting up a joint committee. At least seven laws in Maharashtra were drafted by similar joint committees and presented in Maharashtra Assembly. Maharashtra RTI Act, one of the best laws of those times, was drafted by a joint committee. Even at the centre, when 25,000 tribals came to Delhi two years ago, your government set up a joint committee on land issues within 48 hours. You yourself are the Chairperson of that committee. This means that the government is willing to set up joint committees on all other issues, but not on corruption. Why?

5. It is being said that the government wants to talk to us and we are not talking to them. This is utterly false. Tell me a single meeting when you called us and we did not come. We strongly believe in dialogue and engagement. Kindly do not mislead the country by saying that we are shunning dialogue. We request you to take some credible steps at stemming corruption. Kindly stop finding faults and suspecting conspiracies in our movement. There are none. Even if there were, it does not absolve you of your responsibilities to stop corruption.

With warm regards,

(K B Hazare)

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: ANNA HAZARE SUPPORTERS: COME TOGETHER http://ping.fm/1Pz3T

ANNA HAZARE SUPPORTERS: COME TOGETHER

Anna Hajare -  has single handedly started a fight against corruptions at high levels in India. He has started a fast unto death in New Delhi.This fast has now entered the FOURTH day & a large number of people from various walks of life continued to extend support to the crusader for a stronger anti-corruption law.

I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY OF US REALLY  SUPPORT HIM. IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE SUPPORTERS , REPLY TO THIS POST & TELL THE WORLD WHY YOU SUPPORT HIM.

Stand with Anna Hazare : www.avaaz.org - Tell PM Singh to endorse Jan Lokpal and tackle corruption

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: ANNA HAZARE: DEMAND REJECTED

The government has rejected the demand of Anna Hazare to issue an official notification to constitute the draft committee

From: http://ping.fm/9kNGw

ANNA HAZARE: DEMAND REJECTED

The government has rejected the demand of Anna Hazare to issue an official notification to constitute the draft committee forLokpal Bill and also rejected the proposal for an outsider to lead the new committee of government and civil society.

The protesters announced that Kapil Sibal had conveyed about this decision to them and has also said that Pranab Mukherjee will head the committee.

Reacting to the government's stand, Anna Hazare announced country-wide Jail Bharo agiation on April 12.

However, later the date was changed to April 13 as organisers realised April 12 was a Ramnavami holiday and the agitation would inconvenience people.

An angry Hazare said that the people will teach the government a lesson by joinging the jail bharo agitation against the government.

Meanwhile, Anna Hazare, whose fast entered the fourth day on Friday, has said that he will not become the chairman of the proposed draft committee for the Lokpal Bill.

Addressing the thousands at the protest site, Anna Hazare said that he would only assist the committee in advisory capacity.

The fasting leaders announced that Anna Hazare will write a letter to Prime Minister manmohan Singh forwarding the names of Santosh Hegde and Justice GS Verma to lead the proposed draft committee.

The government has already rejected these names.

Hazare called for immediate decentralisation of power at the centre to ensure that there is end to corruption in governance.

Stating that Mahatma Gandhi stressed on decentralisation of power, he said his fast for Lokpal Bill was like the second fight for Independence. He said, Lokpal Bill will lead to decentralisation of power.

Hazare said Right to Information Act is an example for all to see. The RTI has led to devolution of power.

Taking a dig at the present set up, Hazare said all the agencies to tackle corruption at present are under the government and hence there has never been any positive outcome of any probe.

Hazare said we are demanding that all these agencies should come under the purview of Lokpal. This will ensure that all the corrupt will land in jail, he said.

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: Japan: Another Earthquake http://ping.fm/ICd4G

Japan: Another Earthquake

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake rattled Tokyo over a minute on Thursday night. Weaker than the M 9.0 that struck on March11, the 7.1 scared many people.

A warning of a tsunami of up to 6 feet was issued by the Japanese meteorological agency after a M7.1 shake off the coast, 60 miles from Sendai and 90 miles from the crippled and leaking nuclear power plant at Fukushima. Tokyo, which felt the earthquake, is about 215 miles from the epicenter. The tsunami warning was lifted after 90 minutes. The earthquake occurred at 23.32 local time. At first the quake was reported at M7.4, later downgraded to 7.1.

This latest strong aftershock has knocked out power in several areas in the Northeast and may have further damaged the Fukushima plant. Workers have evacuated the plant until the danger of a tsunami generated by this latest shock is past.

Plates warped and strained

This earthquake was 25 miles deep and is thought to be an aftershock or a continuation of the pressure release from the warping of the tectonic plates as the Pacific plate slides under Japan. Thomas Heaton, California Institute of Technology geophysicist, said after the March 11 earthquake that even one of magnitude 9 may not release the strain.

Japan mostly lies on the Okhotsk Plate, which is long and moving in a southerly direction. On the west side of Japan is the Eurasian Plate, pushing eastwards, and on the opposite side is the Pacific Plate, moving to the west. The Okhotsk Plate is therefore sandwiched between the two massive plates and being assaulted from both sides.

Sathya Sai Baba shows signs of improvement.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is undergoing treatment for multi-organ dysfunction, is showing signs of improvement and doctors treating him are optimistic about his recovery.

“Sathya Sai Baba, who was admitted in this hospital on March 28, is showing positive signs of response to the treatment being given to him,” a health bulletin issued this morning by A.N. Safaya, Director of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences here, said.

“His blood pressure and other clinical parameters continue to be nearly normal and satisfactory. His kidneys are also showing signs of recovery. The state of his consciousness also continues to show improvement. Indices of other vital organs like the heart and liver have also shown improvement.

“He is in a stable condition of health, though he still continues to be on the ventilator and slow dialysis,” it said.

The panel of doctors treating him is optimistic about his recovery, the bulletin added.

85-year-old Sathya Sai Baba was admitted to the super-speciality hospital on March 28 following problems related to heart and lungs.

The doctors treating him have said he is suffering from multi-organ dysfunction and that he was responding positively to the treatment.

ANYTHING ON EARTH!!!!!!!!!: After Satya Sai Baba: Who? http://ping.fm/PqjkX

After Satya Sai Baba: Who?

Even as questions are being raised about the credibility of reports on spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba’s health, the question, ‘Who after Baba?’ is being seen as the raison d’etre for all the mystery and secrecy over Baba’s real condition.

A five-member team of Andhra Pradesh government, headed by principal secretary, health department, BV Ramesh, has been constituted to work out a smooth transfer of reins of the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Trust in the event of 85-year-old godman’s demise.

According to sources, “It is this tussle for succession that is driving the government and the trustees to keep Baba out of the public glare. The trust has huge properties at Puttaparthi in Ananthapur district, Andhra Pradesh, and in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai. It also has property in several countries, including USA, and property alone is estimated to be worth over Rs40,000 crore. The trust is running numerous schools, colleges and two super-specialty hospitals, apart from implementing drinking water schemes in several places, including Ananthapur.”

Baba’s nephew RJ Ratnakara Raju, one of the trustees, is being touted as the front runner to head the trust. But the issue is not simple, as there is now debate on whether the new head, in the event of Baba’s demise, should be chosen in a democratic manner or be one from Baba’s family.

Retired IAS officer Chakravarthi reportedly enjoys the confidence of many members, and could head the trust. Meanwhile, Puttaparthi is agog with reports of the Andhra Pradesh government trying to take over the trust, to manage the institutions of the Baba.

The five-member team of the AP government, which is camping in Puttaparthi, is in constant touch with trustees and members of Baba’s family. It has already started examining the flow of donations for the trust and whether funds are being managed properly.

Earlier, devotees heeded a prophecy that Baba would attain his heavenly abode only at the age of 96. Baba’s next reincarnation, according to that prophecy, would occur in Mandya district. Devotees see Baba’s reincarnation as the natural successor to Baba. But for that kind of succession, devotees expect to have to wait at least three decades. In the meanwhile, it is expected that the 85-year-old Baba would continue to bless his followers for at least another 11 years.