NH #206: Don Hancock WIPP Update, Voices f/Japan – Idogawa, Muto

INTERVIEWS:

  • Don Hancock is Executive Director of the Southwest Information and Research Center, a nuclear watchdog group headquartered in Albuquerque, NM.  Don, a Nuclear Hotseat regular, brings us up to date on the ongoing aftermath of the February 14, 2014 container explosion and radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP site) in Carlsbad, NM.

Voices from Japan features two encore interviews from Nuclear Hotseat #142 – Fukushima Third Anniversary:

  • Katsutaka Idogawa, the former mayor of Futaba, one of two cities that hosted the Fukushima nuclear power plant, has brought suit against the Japanese central government and TEPCO for damages to his health.  He personally led members of his village to safety immediately after the nuclear disaster began and has suffered health difficulties ever since.
Former Mayor of Futuba, Katsutaka Idogawa
Former Mayor of Futuba, Katsutaka Idogawa
  • Ruiko Muto, a veteran Japanese anti-nuclear activist, leads a coalition of 20,000 in suing the government and TEPCO for an apology… and compensation.

NUMNUTZ OF THE WEEK:

Does TEPCO really think that a new, fun community/rec center at the wreck of Fukushima Daiichi will cheer workers… especially when they realize that their radiation exposure limits will be raised 150% as of 2016?  The company’s expectation of the satisfaction and comfort of a hot meal and good conversation between workers will undoubtedly be overshadowed by the exponential increase in cancer rates.

PLUS:

  • Kyushu Electric Power Company announced planned restart of Sendai nuke reactors, then four days later announces its delay.  Might this have anything to do with the recent 8.5 earthquake and volcanic eruption in the area?
  • FOOD FIGHT CONTINUES!  Japan takes trade restrictions by South Korea against their food to the World Trade Organization, threatens to do the same to Taiwan.  All they’re trying to do is protect against importation of radioactive food, dude – what’s the big deal?
  • Waste Control Specialists (WCS) in Andrews, Texas, wants to store all the high level nuclear waste this country can provide, despite being subject to tornadoes and  the recent biblical-intensity floods.  Even worse,  they’re turning over the design and development of their site to Areva, the bankrupt French nuclear former giant, with its penchant for thin canisters for dry cask storage and wobbly financial future.
  • …and more!