NOVANEWS
Japan’s Fukushima nuclear reactor is crumbling and a pool of nuclear waste inside is at risk of leaking — threatening a global disaster. Experts say it couldn’t withstand another tremor, but just yesterday a 5.8 earthquake struck miles off the Japanese coast! Let’s call on Japan’s government to act before it is too late. Sign the urgent petition and forward to everyone: |
Japan’s Fukushima nuclear reactor is crumbling and a pool of nuclear waste inside is at risk of leaking — threatening a global disaster. Experts say it couldn’t withstand another tremor, but just yesterday a 5.8 earthquake struck miles off the Japanese coast!
We know it is only a matter of time before the reactor fails and contaminates the skies above the Pacific ocean and into Asia, forces the evacuation of 35 million people and causes generations of health damage. Still, the government refuses to act, hoping to save the millions it would cost to fix the problem and avoid public panic. But we can shame them into action.
Over 90 local Japanese groups are calling for international pressure — let’s stand with them and demand the Japanese PM act now.When we reach 500,000 signers Avaaz will publish our call in a full page ad in Japan’s largest paper:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_
The reactor 4 pool has no walls or roof and there are thousands of spent fuel rods inside containing ten times the amount of radioactive material than was released in the Chernobyl nuclear accident. This material, Cesium 137, is one of the most hazardous materials on the planet — it gives off radiation that can remain dangerous for hundreds of years. To avoid spontaneous fire due to radioactivity alone, the dilapidated pool must be constantly cooled. If it collapsed and a fire ensued, reactor 4 is just 50 meters from the other reactors that contain thousands more spent fuel rods. The scope of disaster is nearly unfathomable!
Nuclear scientists say the spent fuel must be removed from the storage pool as fast as possible to a dry and safe facility. But so far the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Japan’s embattled nuclear energy giant responsible for the clean up, insists they have reinforced the structure and is relying on the vulnerable pool storage system. People across Japan distrust TEPCO, a company that was already caught lying about the safety of Fukushima reactors before last year’s disaster.
The Japanese people should not have to live on the brink of nuclear disaster. And fears that an accident would have global impact led one Japanese politician to call the risk, ‘the ultimate catastrophe for the world’. Global experts are now raising their voices and US Senator Wyden, who just visited the site, has publicly called for action and offered US help. Let’s call on the Japanese government to clean up reactor 4 and remove this risk forever. Sign the urgent petition then forward this to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_
The people across Japan are still reeling from last year’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe, but together, Avaaz members in Japan have helped make the country the first developed nation on earth to go nuclear free. Now let’s together remove this last remaining lethal threat before it is too late.
With hope and determination,
Michiharu, Emma, Alice, Ricken and the rest of the Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION
Fukushima Reactor 4 poses massive global risk (CTV)
The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Is Far From Over (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-alvarez/the-fukushima-nuclear-dis_b_1444146.htmll
Doomsday scenarios spread about No. 4 reactor at Fukushima plant (The Asahi Shimbun)
http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201205100051
Fukushima Daiichi’s Achilles Heel: Unit 4′s Spent Fuel? (The Wall Street Journal)
