How bothered are you about the impending Japanese nuclear disaster?

[steve119]

With the news being all about the Japanese disaster, how worried should we be? Should we be all out buying up food in case all the reactors blow up and the weather spreads radiation all over? Or should we be thinking that we are too far away to be affected by it?

This poll is not in any way mocking the Japanese or the predicament that they are in, but merely a debatable subject.

Thanks, Steve

 

[M21MFS]

Thankfully, I'm not convinced we're in any danger. I reckon we are too far away.

However, it's the poor buggers over there I feel for. Especially those poor souls trying to cool the reactors and carrying out the search and rescue missions. Surely this has to be one of the biggest natural disasters in our lifetimes (and certainly in living memory)

 

[muppet42]

Given the way the global weather system works, the effects could well be carried around the world depending on the scale of the disaster BUT the level of that radiation would obviously depend how close we are to it. It's no Chernobyl, which I know we definitely were in the firing line of in terms of after affects, but I certainly hope they manage to stabilise it before a more severe meltdown occurs.

I'm hoping the majority of those missing are found though. Can't believe the numbers of dead and missing being quoted in the papers. My thoughts are with everyone over there, the people helping the injured and trying to find those missing.

 

[lkc]

It's not something I'm thinking about to be honest as I have no control over it. I'm more concerned for the people living in Japan and how they're going to recover from this. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgot some of the footage I've viewed since last Friday

 

[M21MFS]

Take it you heard about the international rescue corp, being refused permission to work there due to a balls up...thanks to the British Embassy.

It's a disgrace that red tape can get in the way at a time like this!

 

[lkc]

Yeah, heard about that - it's a typical cock-up from Britain. Can't believe we have a team of people willing and able to help but our own Embassy in Japan won't issue the correct paperwork. FFS, they need all the help they can get

 

[M21MFS]

Surely that's where common sense should kick in?

Folk who do this kind of rescue work know what they're letting themselves in for. They know the risks involved and are obviously willing to have a go if there's a chance of making a difference. Seems a waste of bloody time and money flying all the way out there just to have to come home again!

 

[lkc]

You'd think so but since when has common sense ever had the edge over bureaucracy.

 

[mrcinquecento]

what's happened in japan is simply horrific, my thoughts are with every single one of them going through this tragedy.

people are saying the nuclear threat is not chernobyl....did anyone watch news 24 late last night? the had a scottish nuclear expert on who was absolutely crapping it and basicly said while the technical details are different to chenobyl, the way it's developing is just as serious, infact while 1 reactor going can be accounted for, 2, 3,4 or more certainly could not. the experts can only guess how bad it's going to be, but on a scale of bad, it will certainly be into disaster of catastrpophic proportions if it's not brough under control in the next 48 hours. 24 hours later.....the situations worsened further and it's even more out of control. they are losing the battle and losing it badly.

 

[lkc]

And this ^^^ is why I'm trying not to think about it (note to self, don't read this thread)

I really admire the people who are willing to forgo their lives trying to prevent this disaster. They're true heros

 

[mrcinquecento]

And this ^^^ is why I'm trying not to think about it (note to self, don't read this thread)

I really admire the people who are willing to forgo their lives trying to prevent this disaster. They're true heros

indeed. those working at the power plant sum up the good side of Human nature, full of admiration for them especially at this time, tbh they'd be forgiven for saying f this, im out of here

 

[M21MFS]

Heres hopin things improve today! Im not sure that the emperor appearing on tv was a good sign!

 

[steve119]

I'm with Rob in saying that the weather could take the fallout anywhere in the world, and totally agree with Mark that these people that are trying to fix the problems are nothing short of heros!!

I think the japanese definately must be due some good luck after the crap they have had to put up with the last week or so!!:juggle2:

The scary thing though is that japan is the forefront of technical brilliance, so if they can't sort this then the rest of us would have no chance!

 

[clock34]

tbh (not taking away from them) they live so close to it that if they never went to work they would be ****ed so might aswell go to work and try and save themselfs.


were too far away for definate to have any lasting affects so not worried at all. but scared for japan. feel for them.

 

[imported_richard33dees]

indeed. those working at the power plant sum up the good side of Human nature, full of admiration for them especially at this time, tbh they'd be forgiven for saying f this, im out of here

Couldn't agree more Mark

I'm quite interested in the whole nuclear thing and have been avidly watching what has been unfolding. The workers who turn up to tackle this disaster deserve recognition for putting there lives in danger to try save the rest of the Japanese population and the eventual damage that will be felt throughout the world.

Having said that, IMHO this was a disaster waiting to happen. Looking at the position of the power plants on the north east coast line in relation to the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and tsunami's occur. Looking at the aerial images available, there are no sea defences to protect the plant, whether it be the main reactor's or the backup generators. From what I've seen today, there attempts to re-power the coolant systems have failed and they were counting on this to avert more catastrophe.

Having studied several Japanese buildings during my time at Uni, there earthquake knowledge is second to none and the buildings will be over engineered to withstand the most powerful of quakes. But to design against tsunami's will be far more challenging. It will be quite a long time before Japan will begin to recover from the devastation suffered, I firmly believe they will recover and become stronger for it.

 

[Andi9386]

While I feel sorry for the Japanese, I do wonder how the UK would cope if a Nuclear Power Station blew up.
I worry as approx 1hr north of me is Hunterston Nuclear Power Station....
But my thoughts are with those frantically trying to find loved ones amongst the rubble.

 

[mrcinquecento]

just been on the news that radioactive particles have been detected in the air around Glasgow from the fukushima plant in japan.

miniscule amounts and its totally harmless, but it just goes to show you are never too far away to get effects if something serious happens on the other side of the world

 

[madyak]

Whilst it makes a good headline to report that radioactive iodine which potentially may have come from Japan has been spotted shopping in Buchanan Galleries. The reality is that the poor mopes like me stuck in Aberdeen in a granite house get exposed to much higher 'natural background' levels of radiation than have been measured by SEPA today.

 

[imported_richard33dees]

I was just reading the BBC report saying about levels in Glasgow and Oxfordshire. As madyak says, good headlines make people read the papers so they'll be quids in with folk panic buying. I expect everywhere will pick up some additional radiation readings, but could it only be from Fukushima, who knows as that wouldn't be made public knowledge an Japan will be a scapegoat for any other leaks for a good while yet

 

[Andi9386]

As I've said before I feel for the Japanese right now.
Thye have been frantically trying to cool the spent Nuclear Fuel Rods down at the Power Station, without sucess & now the basemtns are flooded with contaminated Water, which is now making the job far more dangerous than it was before.