7 Responses

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   Dredd said on 4/22/2012 @ 6:54pm PT: [Permalink]

   Has anyone read Six Degrees by Mark Lynas?

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   Ancient said on 4/22/2012 @ 7:13pm PT: [Permalink]

   Ya know, I took a geology class many moons ago and even then I started wondering about plate tectonics and oil extraction (small seam buffer zones.) Seems to me if inevitable happens and you extract natures buffer zones… bigger problems will happen…just wondering if common sense has made its way to reality? An how bout the force that’s being exerted on Japan tectonically and all the nuke left overs there?

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   4earth said on 4/23/2012 @ 9:57am PT: [Permalink]

   Hey Brad and Desi! Is there any truth in this article? Should we all be kissing our asses goodbye? http://theintelhub.com/2012/04/...are-you-ready/

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   Dredd said on 4/23/2012 @ 11:26am PT: [Permalink]

   4Earth @3,

   The methane dogs have been let out now too.

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   DES said on 4/23/2012 @ 9:58pm PT: [Permalink]

   4earth — it looks like the article at the link overstates the situation considerably, based on what I’ve seen before and since.

   Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) was understandably shocked when he saw the condition of the Fukushima Daiichi plant in person. Wyden’s concerns — that the reactor buildings and plant workers could not maintain stability if another massive earthquake or tsunami should occur, especially in the spent fuel pools — are well-founded and fact-based. But the operative words here are “IF” and “massive”; so far the facility has withstood multiple major aftershocks. He is urging the Japanese to speed up the removal of the spent fuel rods to a safer location, which they are already trying to do.

   While the article at the link is correct that higher levels of certain types of radioactive isotopes have been detected here in the U.S., the researchers of those studies say the levels are not enough to be a danger to humans or animals (even in the CA kelp study that addressed the possibility of accumulation up the food chain believed the risk to be exceedingly small). The scientists actively investigating this continue to monitor levels and study of dispersal patterns, but as yet none of them seems to advocate alarm.

   The U.S. faces the same long term threat as Fukushima, however: Wyden makes an excellent point that all U.S. coastal nuclear facilities are extremely vulnerable to increasingly higher storm surges associated with accelerating sea level rise in the coming decades. Check out the interactive inundation maps based on the latest data from Climate Central.

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   4earth said on 4/24/2012 @ 10:32am PT: [Permalink]

   Thanks Des, for you calming approach. So it’s not “hair on fire” yet, but I guess the matches are to remain at the ready for the time being. 🙂

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   Ancient said on 4/24/2012 @ 9:07pm PT: [Permalink]

   Maybe just an energy plan that benefits the whole instead of a logarithmically exploding military, financial,and covert national security industry No? Really? Just think back if your old enough to 75 and the Church investigations…but think bigger and more ingrained. Busy little beavers they’ve been!