Blackout: Japan media yet to mention radioactive baseball field in Tokyo — 4 times Chernobyl ‘contaminated’ levels — Parents, kids clueless

Published: October 17th, 2011 at 11:42 am ET
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TOKYO, Oct. 16 — Tokyo residents are making some “unexpected discoveries” while searching for radiation, reports the Voice of America’s Steve Herman.

For example, “Just meters from where a hot spot of radioactive cesium was
confirmed days before by a private laboratory, a Little League baseball
game was underway Sunday.”

News of the ‘hot spot’ made the New York Times front page, but according to Herman, “it had yet to be mentioned in Japan’s mainstream media.”

In fact, players, their parents, and spectators were unaware that dirt here has “tested equivalent to four times the minimum level of the contaminated zones from the 1986 Chernobyl accident.”

Another hot spot was found at a children’s theme park in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo. The radiation there is “higher than in an evacuated village in Fukushima, 45 kilometers from the crippled plant.”

Read More: One Tokyo Neighborhood Still Oblivious to Radiation Hot Spot

Published: October 17th, 2011 at 11:42 am ET
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76 comments

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76 comments to Blackout: Japan media yet to mention radioactive baseball field in Tokyo — 4 times Chernobyl ‘contaminated’ levels — Parents, kids clueless

  • kintaman kintaman

    One word. Evacuate.


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  • @kintaman…

    I am beginning to feel evacuate is not a word that easily translates to the Japanese language…

    so I suggest using these three words:

    Run; Like Hell!


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    • OneWhoRelates

      try this one
      誰もが今東京のうち性交を取得する、あなたの人生はそれに依存します。

      Translation
      Everyone get the fuck out of Tokyo now, your life depends on it.


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  • The only type of snow I don’t like? Radioactive snow. What is radioactive snow? You’re about to find out. Why is Bubbles writing a post on radioactive snow? Well, you may have seen some images on the news of those poor Japanese people getting snowed on while sifting through the rubble of their towns. Apparently there were some fears amongst the people that the snowfall was radioactive, which have proved to be false (at least for now). Nevertheless, hundreds of people have been coming to me, aware of my acute knowledge of nuclear physics and coldsmoke, asking me if radioactive snow is real.

    These are your glasses you geek
    Well I’m here to drop some heavy science on your brain so put some fresh tape on the bridge of your glasses and listen up, nerds. Radioactive snow IS real, however it isn’t falling in Japan right now. How would radioactive snow occur? Well in the case of a nuclear bomb, after the bomb explodes, the atmosphere is filled with radioactive particles. These particles eventually drift back down to the ground, as what you may have heard called nuclear “fallout.” If it rains or snows in the time after the nuclear explosion, the fallout rate is increased by that precipitation. The snow that would end up falling to the ground would be nice and radioactive, so even if you and your ski gear survived the bomb you would not want to ski in this shit. You’d get very unsightly burns.

    One of the U.S. government’s larger oopsies
    However there is one more type of radioactive “snow” out there. It’s nasty shit but we may as well talk about it. So the above picture is from a nuclear test called “Castle Bravo” done by the U.S. in 1954. This test was performed in the Marshall Islands, specifically Bikini Atoll, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.


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  • Long story short, the blast was way way wayyyy bigger than the U.S. expected it to be- it was and still is the biggest nuclear bomb ever detonated by the U.S. When the bomb exploded, it pulverized/vaporized/whateverized tons of coral reef and seabottom into the atmosphere. All of these particles then proceeded to fall for the next 12 hours, depositing as much as 2 cm of what scientists referred to as “Bikini snow”. It was nasty, nasty stuff, it burned and killed many local residents who weren’t properly evacuated (it was a secret test). So if you happen to be chilling on a tropical island with your skis someday when the U.S. fucks up a nuke test, do not, I repeat do not, attempt to ski in the radioactive coral bikini snow stuff.
    http://www.tadahill.com/main/news/radioactive-snow


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    • americancommntr

      A good part of the reason for the much more serious than expected Bravo fallout was the unexpected effects of the salts content of the seawater, reportedly.

      Also, there is a huge difference between a multimegaton blast reaching high into the stratosphere and a relatively very small prompt criticality, several chemical hydrogen blasts, and spent fuel pool fires.

      So the local and immediate downwind fallout is much worse with the latter three, while longer-range, globe-circling fallout much worse with the big blast. None of its any good. The huge cloud of black smoke after Reactor 3 blew and fuel rods burned, was certainly not good. The ongoing nature and the thousand tons or more of spent fuel do make it far more serious than the public realizes. It could be a/the ‘Wormwood’ event.


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      • I suppose its a good thing that a multimegaton blast did not occur in fukushima spreading trillions of radioactive particles deep into the planets atmosphere then…

        Luckily the Japanese didn’t use seawater in those reactors…

        Wait…

        I was under the impression that a hydro-nuclear megaton explosion occur in fukushima… Carrying trillions of nuclear isotopes all throughout the atmosphere…

        And if I recall didn’t the japanese dump thousands of tons of seawater into these reactors… shortly after the loss of cooling…


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        • americancommntr

          I don’t think the size of the mushroom cloud over reactor 3 was indicative of a megaton-sized blast. And the seawater pumped into the reactor, if any, was not equivalent to all that vaporized and/or sucked up by Bravo. I think while we certainly have gotten fallout in the US, a very large portion of it fell out in the Pacific before reaching the mainland. I suppose where the jet stream is passing over an area can draft it up into the stratosphere to a degree. Probably, Japan is far worse off than 99% of people think. I can’t say for sure that the typicaly 50% to 100% higher background radiation of the rain around SW Missouri is due to Japan. Maybe it’s been like that a long time. All the reactors leak, apparently, and there are fires and dust storms at Hanover and Los Alamos, and there’s fallout blowing up in desert test areas.


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          • americancommntr

            Maybe this week I’ll get up some extra nerve and go into Walmart and walk down the produce coolers with my geiger counter. I’d like to know, also, just how much cesium, etc., is in the milk. I checked the fish in an order at a well known fish restaurant, and it showed, if anything, and for that meal at most, hardly any if anything over background. I know my counter works on alpha, based on an old lantern mantle that would clickety-click it wildly to life.

            About radioactive snow? What are we gonna do? All we can do if it shows up with strength is stick it in the face of the news media, local health department, legislators, etc..


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          • "a very large portion of it fell out in the Pacific before reaching the mainland"

            "I suppose where the jet stream is passing over an area can draft it up into the stratosphere to a degree.">

            In physics space is determined by mass. If enough matter fills that mass the mass its self will extend to the degree of the rate of flow. In short if you fill an 8 ounce glass with 16 ounces of water. The water will extend far past its destination.

            In respects to the hydro-Nuclear explosions. Matter (radiation) was so prevalent that many of the particles were pushed into the stratosphere alone due to this process.

            Another point I will argue is Dangerous materials such as uranium and plutonium are essentially vaporized in a typical nuclear detonation. Being reactor 1′s nuclear fuel is convecting trillions of hot particles into the environment, on a daily basis… Comparing a detonation of a bomb with minimal particle dispersion to a Nuclear meltdown: that releases googles of radioactive decay per hour is a very ineffective model for comparison.

            Thirdly At this point, the pacific drift has carried much of the radioactive decay to united states west coast shores. (in high concentrations). Which is the main source of the coming winters snowpack. Water from the ocean is swept up through both breezes, and evaporation, Which meet with other particles in the cloud layer attaching them selves to these particles, the matter in respectable conditions then falls down to the soil in forms of rain, snow, and fog…

            So I agree to disagree. As I will be taking the upmost in precaution; In light of the circumstances and possibilities weighing heavily against your argument.


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  • Take this article in addition to the recent revelations that the Fukushima disaster released more radiation than: Every nuclear weapons test known to date.

    Then ask your self…

    Should we expect there is no reason to be concerned by the winter snowpacks to come…
    Food for thought.
    Emmy.


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    • p.s. not just: Every nuclear weapons test known to date.

      But Every nuclear weapons test known to date (combined)!


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    • Dr. McCoy

      The doctor is glad he never had children…


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      • americancommntr

        I heard a sermon in a church once where the pastor raised the question, “If God created man for fellowship with Himself, why doesn’t he plan to just let this current world go on forever. It has finally reached the point of almost straight up on the population curve. He said he thought the answer was, because God is a merciful God, and does not take pleasure in people going to Hell. And continued billions into the future, in the current state of things, would result in just that, since most people are headed to Hell. So, under those posits, Doctor, it is nother reason to be glad for never having children; none of your progeny will go to Hell.


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  • Human0815

    This Spots are in way a surprise, at least for me
    and Friends!

    How they can be so small,
    they seams like Dots?

    The Chiba,Saitama, Tokyo and Kanagawa Government
    need to do more IN-DEEP Research,
    they have to buy more Measurement Instruments
    by the factor of at least 1: 50

    The Instruments are fu…ng Cheap compared to the loss of Taxes because of the early Death from the Taxpayer!

    \”/


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    • roxy

      finally human, you are starting to realise your japan is actually in deep trouble, and is actually VERY VERY unsafe to visit, unlike what you were saying, “japan is safe to visit” its only getting worse, meanwhile your other friends are enjoying there radioactive green tea , man i hate the doubters,,, i know its so hard to sink in, but let it, else face the music later.


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      • Human0815

        I think you misunderstand me,
        “Japan is still safe for a Holiday”,
        it is not unsafe for the typical Tourist!

        And please don’t hate “the Doubters”,
        many People have a different view on
        this Catastrophe, like me!

        Of course this Accident is very, very bad and not even finished but it is not the end of Japan
        as well as not the end for the Japanese
        and all the other Gaijin here!


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        • Safe if you don’t eat the food, touch the soil, or breath the air…

          Thats my kind of vacation…


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          • roxy

            exactly, its so sad human, we love the japanese people, so ask yourself, why us? i often ask myself why does this have to happen to the japanese, but its not just you, what about the americans, canadians? and eventually the rest of us, the fallout is huge and very vast, plutonium is easily picked up by the westerly, northerly, easterly, southerly winds right? enough particles going around for us all to inhale atleast one?
            enough said, fukushima, needs your undivided attention, how could the elite just do nothing? it needs there attention,. but oops, its too late??? in the food, the water, oceans, ahhhhh, drives you crazy i tell ya! glad i got “real life” just a few metres away and temporary love that gives me smiles,,, thats what we all need, quit hating and keep loving !!


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  • Bleifrei Bleifrei

    what well with the other fission products is there, in air, soil and water
    precess as well. how many? Fuku-roulette Hit JP, and soon ….


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  • pure water

    Dear Tacomagroove,
    I wish that people were listening to their own logic, instead of TV and newspapers. It involves some research, comparisons, thinking, calculations, but at the end you have at least some viable suppositions. And thinking people can conclude quite easily when they are deceived. Sad…
    This song of Christopher Busby will make you feel better:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKBusvfq0eM&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL


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  • Darth

    I wonder if Arnie Gundersen has advised his friends in Tokyo to Get The Hell Out Of Dodge!


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    • Darth

      “Get the hell out of Dodge” is a reference to Dodge City, Kansas, which was a favorite location for westerns in the early to mid 20th century. Most memorably, the phrase was made famous by the TV show “Gunsmoke,” in which villians were often commanded to “get the hell out of Dodge.”


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    • Human0815

      Where do they should go?

      And afaik he don’t mention his Friends
      since a long Time!

      Maybe Tokyo is even safer than somewhere else
      because Tokyoties spend less time in the Outside?

      Who knows \”/


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      • Buffalojam

        Human 0815 – We have many at this website who scream evacuate, get out of Dodge, and run like hell as soon as the latest bad news from Japan is discovered. One thing the run advocates all seem to have in common is they never seem to suggest where to run to or their rationale for why this would make things better. Maybe Tokyo is safer than other places like you say, but I doubt it. It’s probably very dangerous to be there now, but, it still may be the best place for millions of people with cultural, spiritual, financial, family and patriotic reasons for staying. With all this said, I believe that those advocating evacuation have their hearts in the right spot. They should not, however, presume to know more than those who are actually going through this. I support those who choose to evacuate and admire those who stay.


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  • @whoopie I wrote you an email back:)


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  • Buffalojam

    Taco – Only time separates our destinies. Where do these people run like hell to?


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    • Out of Janobyl would be a great start! Europe, Africa, india, mexico, South america, Australia would all be less contaminated (for now).


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      • Buffalojam

        The issue then becomes do I abandon my home country, culture, family, language, livelihood, spirituality, etc. for a place that is less contaminated for now. Is the tradeoff worth it. I don’t think the answers are as easy as you make them out to be.


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        • beamofthewave

          I live in the Pacific Northwest and I sent my daughter to the Southeast coast of the US where it is less contaminated because I dont want her to get bone cancer when she gets older, she is 13.


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        • jdstone1

          To me there are no issues I left everything behind. I had no problem leaving my home country because hey what have they done to protect me and my family. Where-ever I go I carry my culture with me,our language is international and hey nothing wrong with learning a new one. I am not my job (livelihood) so I created a business of my own doing what I love to do. I informed my family of the dangers and invited them to come with us and because we are all adults they made their own adult decisions to stay but the door is always open if they change their minds.

          Spirituality is internal and again I carry that with me. I sold everything I owned and even failed to pay my bills for 4 months before I left (gasp) how irresponsible of me. Just think I had my own take back wall street moment where I refused to pay, now if everyone did that perhaps some real change would happen. I especially refused to pay my astronomical power bill which is supplied by nuclear power.

          Now I am living in the south pacific I watch my 2 year old and 6 year old play on the beach without worry. When I look in the sky there are no contrails, we have not even seen a plane fly over for 2 months. My level of relaxation is like I remember as a child I actually find time for my family and to do things I enjoy. There is not a sprinkle of stress in my life anymore and most of all I am not living in fear for my children every day that they will become contaminated in the rain or snow.

          You will do what you will do to survive. I was material at one time but when you figure out what is important in life you will sell your material things, become spontaneous and really free yourself to become who you were meant to be without our North American Cultural poisoning keeping you down.

          Free yourself from your co-dependence to your country and live your own life on your own terms. I am a citizen of the world now, I do not subscribe to any country when you can fathom what I am trying to say pick up and go.


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  • kintaman kintaman

    I have been telling my friends that the snow this fall will be a radioactive hazard in North America but they have all laugh at me thinking I am nuts.

    This winter will be one to fear. I do not want to even set foot in the snow.


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    • anne anne

      And spring melt off next year into the fields growing food and into the reservoirs for drinking water will bring dire results.


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    • Cataclysmic Cataclysmic

      Been worried about the snow since the beginning… remember all the flooding last spring? So, if it wasn’t by some miracle contaminated…it will be. How the hell do we keep our children from playing in it? 100ft snowpack-ed full of radiation.


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      • The best you can do is layer up in multiple layers to provide as much protection from beta and alpha emitters as possible… Also maintain an outside waterproof layer to minimize the materials ability to soak into your protective layering.

        Snow is a main concern of my own. However I am very concerned about radioactive fog, as it will be very difficult to protect your self from internally.


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        • americancommntr

          And the pollen! And the smoke, soot, and ash from wildfires incincerating grass and trees. Even dust.

          The first time someone in the US gets a severe ‘sunburn’, or worse, from obviously not enough of a sun exposure, and then finds out its due to radiation, the fallout story will not be censorable from the US population. So your concern for people knowing will then be addressed, for sure.

          Personally, I’m not going to worry about radioactive snow unless it is shows up and then seriously jacks my Geiger counter. Then I’m going to have to fully curtail drinking milk, and eating cheese, for some time. If it happens.


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          • americancommntr

            I’m more worried about the possibility of another 1811 series of quakes in the Missouri bootheel. We’d have a Fukushima of a time if that happened. If you’ve ever read the personal accounts of that quake, it’s hard to imagine a nuclear plant surviving.

            If it were in an area underlain by alluvium, it’s impossible to imagine emergency backup generators even remaining in the upright position. Or, the diesel fuel tanks for same. Or, the pipelines, bridges, and roads by which diesel fuel is brought to a plant. Or, the underground pipes of the plant staying connected and intact.

            We may be in big time trouble from hot snow in the future, but I’m more worried about losing the Midwest to another nuclear power plant disaster. And I’ve let my elected representatives know about that.


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          • I’m not worried at all…

            Im prepared!


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  • pure water

    Thanks for Alan Watts, I like him!


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  • StillJill StillJill

    I fear the snow also. Have decided to stop my Monday trip to do volunteer work once the snow flies. Like Tacomagroove,….I have only ventured out 2 times a week since April. I am going to cut that down to 2 times a month!


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  • pure water

    You have guessed right, Tacoma – several of his books are in my library! Thanks again!


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  • Whoopie Whoopie

    TACOMA you got Mail
    Boy you guys have been busy. Much to catch up on.


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  • Grampybone Grampybone

    I moved to Colorado and now I dare not go out in the raid with the radiation readings here. I am a skier and I really wanted to hit the powder out here. So much for that. I finally get out to the place with the best ski conditions on earth and the snow is going to be all contaminated. There is no doubt in my mind that winter will bring a whole new meaning to cancer for those of us living in high altitudes. Northern California will be a social experiment for radiation once again when people go out there to ski and board. So much for winter fun. I guess I’ll spend my time playing more Fallout New Vegas to distract myself.


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  • If I understand correctly, that would seem to be a problem.


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  • Bobby1

    In Maryland, we ordinarily don’t get much snow, but 2 years ago we had a couple of huge snowstorms. There was 5 feet of snow on my roof and I thought it was going to collapse. I remember that after the snow stopped how blue the sky was and how clear the air was. It is ordinarily hazy and polluted around here, but the snow scrubbed the air clean. All that gunk was now in the snow.

    After a couple of weeks, it started to melt, and instead of feet of pure white, there were piles of ugly black gunk. That was the crud that the snow scoured out of the air.

    Now it’s going to be ugly piles of radioactive crud.


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  • StillJill StillJill

    California is going to get CLOBBERED,…so is Oregon and Washington. But,…like someone said here two days ago,…they’re thinking of moving west! (I think they were Virginia, or Philadelphia?) So very sad that our fate is ‘blowing in the wind’.


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  • westcoastgirl westcoastgirl

    Luckily, no snow here where I live, but there is rain…got caught in a downpour on my bike recently, much as I vowed to stay out of the rain. I will be more careful in the future.

    I wanted to mention that I have noticed the background radiation averages increasing…used to be around 0.19- 0.21 on average; now the average is around 0.33, and sometimes gets up to 0.50 (uSV per hour).

    Does anyone know what the percentage of increase this is? I am not great at math…


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  • I keep seeing the faces of the children, poised with warm eyes hopes of wonderous tomorrows ………..


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  • Heart of the Rose Heart of the Rose

    @xdrfox…me too.


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    • Those with small children living at high altitudes in the US …who have heard the rad word ..who have to work full time so send the tikes to daycare where they have no fuku cares … just thinking of the snow … we cringe and cringe and cringe


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