Do you believe you're being told the truth about the nuclear accident in Japan?
(PHOTO CREDIT: YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP/Getty Images)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan today, the strongest aftershock since the massive 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that followed devastated the nation four weeks ago.
One of the big concerns of course is possible further damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The Tokyo Electric Power Company - or TEPCO which runs the plant - said there were no serious incidents as a result of the aftershock.
Or so they say...
Radioactivity from the plant has poisoned the surrounding land, air and ocean. Millions of people have been exposed. And millions more could be… as radioactivity has been picked up in food and drinking water. And detected in faraway places like California.
This week, workers plugged a crack at the plant that had been gushing contaminated water into the ocean for weeks. As a result, TEPCO says radiation levels in the water off the coast there have dropped dramatically.
Yesterday, the head of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation said the Fukushima accident is not expected to have any serious impact to the health of the Japanese people. He said "We have seen traces of iodine in the air all over the world now, but they are much, much, much lower than traces we have seen at similar distances after Chernobyl."
But not everyone is feeling so certain.
In South Korea, more than 130 primary schools and kindergartens were closed today outside Seoul. People there are worried that windy, rainy weather could be carrying radioactive material from nearby Japan. North Korea also aired warnings on television for its people to stay indoors during the rain and to take a full shower if caught outside in a storm. Even here in the United States, some chefs are using sensors to test levels of radiation in the fish they plan to serve in restaurants.
Here’s my question to you: Do you believe you're being told the truth about the nuclear accident in Japan?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Fred:
You want the truth? You can't handle the truth! Just how should a government balance our right to know the truth with the perceived need to not create a panic and thus a larger problem? Can you really evacuate a million people? To where? Yet, without the truth, how can anyone try to act reasonably? In the end, we do have a right to know the truth. Honesty is the best policy.
Paul in Dayton, Ohio:
Jack, I believe they are telling what they think they know with certainty; it is most certain they don't know everything
Jeremy in Vallejo, California:
So I'm confused. Is the current California radiation level "harmless to human health," "not immediately harmful to human health," "not permanently harmful to people outside the region" or "no more than an apples-to-oranges transcontinental flight?" Perspective. In Japan they had yet another earthquake and have lived in fear and chaos for over a month. And yet, their government hasn't shut down. Nuclear disaster, natural disaster and absolute destruction doesn't keep their elected officials from their duty to the people. Yet in America... we get Harry Reid, John Boehner and a White House who is more concerned with their 2012 re-election campaign. It's times like these when we see just how far off the mark we truly are.
Craig:
No. Just too many things going wrong. They say that seafood will be safe. I ask you this. Do fish migrate? Do they set up house keeping in one spot and then stay there? If so, why do I not catch fish in the same place every day?
Louis:
The nuclear industry telling the truth?
Jim in Cripple Creek, Colorado:
The unicorn, garden gnome and I were talking this over just the other day and we all agreed that it could happen. Why not?
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Does it matter? It's halfway around the world, and there's nothing I can do about it anyway.
No, I do not believe anyone is being told the truth about the nuclear accident in Japan. Why? Could it possibly be that chaos on a global level would ensue? I think that may be a possibility. I also genuinely wonder if anyone, anywhere can truly get a handle on what the real truths are, and, if so, how do you inform people of such? Too many questions with too few answers. It is sad and scary out there, Jack.
No, it sounds like the Japanese power plants are being run by the postal service, do it on the cheap and hope nothing goes wrong. The problems being faced are so predictable that it is hard to imagine how they could have been so ill-prepared. Shame on the nuclear industry for another foul-up.
Heck no, Jack.
Sneaky stuff going on over there...
Sneaky... Pearl Harbor style.
Can not trust them – ever.
How can someone in America know what the truth is when EXPERTS in Japan are grappling with the situation, learning while they go.
Could the American liberal media just ONCE come out and say what is important for AMERICA ??
Our once great country is disintegrating before our eyes in all areas because of a few lunatics in Washington and we should worry about Japan ???
Where is honest objective TRUTHFUL journalism today ???
I believe that we are being told 1/2 truths by the Japanese government and to some extent our own government. I was raised on the principle that "a half truth is a whole lie". I am afraid that we will eventually be told that some of us are at greater risk for health and safety threats.
If radiation escaped it would be known, just like Chernobyl
It seems it doesn't matter what country it is when big business and gov't are involved in a disaster, you are always lied to. I personally find it hard to believe when you dump millions and millions of gallons of highly radioactive water into the ocean it will not affect anyone.
The nuclear industry telling the truth?
The unicorn, garden gnome and I were talking this over just the other day and we all agreed that it could happen, why not?
Jim Bailey
Cripple Creek CO
Yes we are being told the truth about Japan.the same way we were told the truth about above ground nuclear testing, chemicals in our water and poison in our food.
The truth is what they say it is .
Probably as much as we can handle, Jack, since three hydrogen explosions, a plume of radioactive dust crossing the ocean and dumping radioactive seawater are all pretty much hard to hide.
I don't think that the Japanese know what the truth is. Not being honest about it serves no useful purpose to the Japanese people or the rest of the world. It is what it is. If they recognize a problem and present it to the world then a solution might be achieved faster and more safely before its impact is irreversible. Perhaps it already is irreversible. Denying the problem will not make it go away.
The truth is that spent nuclear fuel rods should never be stored in an operating nuclear generating plant. The good news is that the worst of the radioactivity release into the environment is probably over other than the massive cleanup which remains to be done. The radiation released from Hiroshima and Nagasaki most likely was worse than the radiation pollution of this earthquake/tsunami event.
The most valuable lessons concerning the inherent risks of nuclear power is for North Korea and Iran to study carefully before comitting their countries to similar peril.
When it comes from any government we are all mushrooms & fed "stuff" so no I do not believe what is coming from either the Japanese or mine but what can I do? Nothing.
Yes... The Japanese have nothing to gain by lying about this unfortunate catastrophy....
The words "truth" and "nuclear" do not belong in the same sentence.
No but we are not told the truth about anything. The media has done a poor job in this regard.
No. The corporations have circled the wagons. The truth might have us putting solar panels on our homes and having zero energy bills. (Why the heck aren't we doing that anyway??)
No. Here is a question for you. If a leak is fixed or has to be fixed why then do you have to start pumping heavy water into the ocean?
Just to many things going wrong, They sa that sea food will be safe. I ask you this. Do fish migrate? Do they set up house keeping in one spot and then stay there? If so, why do I not catch fish in the same place every day?
Isn't it the Japan currant what gives the gulf of Alaska. a moderate temp.?
Nothing stands still. If this heavy water has a half life of 10 thousand years and new active water is added to the mix every day for 10 years that can not be a good thing. It has gone on far to long to stop it now.
Louis in Illinois
No I do not believe we are being told the truth about the nuclear accident in Japan. I also believe if I were in a position of power with relation to this disaster I would also not be telling the world the truth. It is the nature of things.
If what is being told comes from Japanese politicians, then the answer is a loud NO.
All politicians of all countries are first and foremost never to be trusted completely. They either lie or mis-speak or omit some facts or twist some facts or overlook some facts or make up some facts, falsely blame others for the wrongs or falsely claim credit for the rights, and always opt for a more favorable explanation of events if the real truth threatens their credibility.
I doubt anyone knows the truth at this point. When the truth is discovered, we will get all the details...........in about 20 years.
I believe it like I believe our government told us the truth about WMDs, about who was REALLY responsible for 9/11, about how much money they REALLY get from the fat cats who REALLY rule out country, etc. You don't have enough space or time to complete all that were REALLY lied to about. Eve of Texas
Setting aside their incompetency I think they are being truthful by in large. The sad fact is that I don't think they know much more than what they have reported so far. Although the trust level for the government is much higher in Japan as compared to the US, people are beginning to question their capability. Whether or not TEPCO is being truthful is another question.
So i'm confused. Is the current California radiation level "harmless to human health" , "not immediately harmful to human health" , "not permanently harmful to people outside the region" or "no more than an apples-to-oranges transcontinental flight?".
Do you believe you're being told the truth about the nuclear accident in Japan?
Jack, what does it matter if we are told the truth or not. What would change if we were told the whole truth? We are thousands of miles away. Raditation is already all around us.
Jenna
Roseville CA
large companies never tell the truth when the story is negative againt their image. the government is the same way. the answer is no.
Gezz Jack, we can't the truth from our own Government on the Nuclear Leaks that have happened over the years. We can also look at the BP BS over the Oil Spill, now Transocean, lol.
How are we to believe anything from a Country like Japan who has so much pride that all they wish to do is Save Face and Honor?
I get more Truth from 6 Grand Babies that are smarter then any type of a Politician. My 3yr Old when the Alarms go off, so No, my family doesn't trust anything about what we hear right now.
Maybe the TEPCO Executives need to have a nice Swim in local Beach's around the Plant. Maybe, just Maybe we will get some real Truthful Answers then.
Tea
Central Florida
We're never told the truth about environmental disasters when profits are involved. Human lives barely make the list. I find it telling that the US wanted its citizens to move further away than Japan suggested. What's with that – the denser the population the more expendable people become?
I believe them as much as BP.
"No! Do you ever listen to me? I doubt it! By the way ways Jack, canada is going to upgrade there Hydro! have you ever seen a transformer-overload halfway up a telegraph-pole during an Electrical-Storm? I used to watch them regularly in Ontario. Now they're finally going to spend a few billion on upgrades. So watch out Uncle sam. Your 'Grid' is about to take a pounding. I keep telling you there is only one real-grid: It is an Iron-core right central under where you sit! It is the only Electro-Magnet this planet uses! Zillions of Zillions of Trons are drawn into our atmosphere every second. Feeling warm?? You will!"
Yes, we're getting the truth, just like the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny.
Jack, I don't believe there being honest about a situation as serious as a nuclear disaster simply because, they don't have much positive to say. When their admitting to dumping millions of tons, of radioactive water, in the ocean, off their own coast, I fail to see anything positive they could spin.
I think humanity really takes it on the chin when it comes to nuclear. Not only do we have to deal with radiation contaminating our earth, we also strugle with its lawyers, lobbyists, and economists.
Jack,
Being a cynic, I doubt I will ever be disappointed, because there is "no way" I believe the government or big business anywhere? We live in a world "of image;" therefore, these officials in Japan and also here in the US cannot be trusted.
Sorry, to say these words, but this is how I feel. I was hoping to purchase property in Hawaii or Florida (near the polluted ocean), but I cannot see allowing myself to be exposed to greater risks.
Joe, Binghamton, NY
When ever theres any kind of disaster that could cause stocks to drop, no matter the consequence to the public safety. It's not a matter of believing were being told the truth, it's knowing were not!!!
Do I believe either TEPCO or the government are telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? About as much as I believe any of our politicians or corporate executives whenever they open their mouths.
Of course not! I used to live near the Army Chemical School and a Monsanto plant. Nobody told the truth about the poisons emanating from those locations, either. I wouldn't believe the government or any major corporation if they said today is Thursday.
Susan
Tuscaloosa AL
The truth? Of course not Jack. We are just being slowly fed some pablum. One day the truth will come out–just not yet.
I doubt anyone knows the truth, even with our sophisticated heat sensors and spy satellites.
We aren't technologically advanced enough to comprehend all the potential damages to future generations.
I can't speak to the level of honesty coming from the Japanese government, but I do believe that the U.S. Government is minimalizing the effects of the radiation here in the US. Remember, this is the same government that told us the air around ground zero was "safe" immdiately following the attacks. Tell that to the first responders who have either passed away or are having their bodies ravaged by disease. All of us, including the Japanese people are being lied to.
Todd from Columbia Maryland
Jack, no nuclear plant could have survived this type of accident. I am not sure they themselves know the total extent of the damages coupled to the fact they are trying never before used methods to stop the leaks even to the point of asking workers to give up their lives to save many. What could they say that would not cause even more problems. Our heart and prayers are with these people and let us hope and pray there is indeed a follow up stage in the near future.
No, I do not believe we are being told the truth. Having work in DOD and NASA, catastrophies are rarely presented on the up and up.
We probably are not receiving the truth about the Japan Nuke Accident, but it is very possible that our experts don't have all of the answers and probably won't until the "dust settles" at a later date. We do know that millions of tons of radioactive material were dumped into the Pacific Ocean, but we don't know for sure how contaminated it will be when it arrives on the West Coast and what effects it will have on marine life. Small amounts of radioactive material have arrived by air, but it doesn't appear to be harmful.
I guess we just wait and see, and if we die, then we know the disaster was worst than expected.
While the world was watching Youtube videos of the power plant exploding like a nuclear bomb, the news media was reporting that no such event occured. When radio activity millions of times beyond the legal limit was leaking into the ocean and sky, the media was reporting that these were safe levels and would be dispersed. The truth is:
The operator of Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear plant said Tuesday that it had found radioactive iodine at 7.5 million times the legal limit in a seawater sample taken near the facility, and government officials imposed a new health limit for radioactivity in fish.
The reading of iodine-131 was recorded Saturday, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said. Another sample taken Monday found the level to be 5 million times the legal limit. The Monday samples also were found to contain radioactive cesium at 1.1 million times the legal limit.
Now elevated radiation levels have been found in Americas milk. Our government response is now to change the acceptable radiation standards to the new levels...Good God! Do they not care about our children? I guess we will have to put coffee on their cereal instead.
Probably about as much truth as we were begin fed by BP a year ago.
Not on your life!! If we were told the truth, the whole of North America would probably be in a panic.
It is too bad that we are using a source to produce power in which there are so many unknowns on how to handle it. I'm sure there will be many years to come before we know the true impact ...
Not really. But actually one thing I have heard makes me very happy.
I heard tht the Japanese plan to stop the leak of nuclear material from some containment thing using "liquid glass".
That makes me feel great, as liquid glass is what is keeping my coolant from leaking into my oil in my truck. And I have been a little leery about that. But if it is good enough to contain nuclear waste, I am CONFIDENT that it will keep my truck free of water in the oil FOREVER!
Whoopee!
The truth? From who, Japan or the US? Remember, some of our own nuclear power plants are of the same design as the type in Japan.
Our Gov't has a lot to lose by admiting just how bad it can get should the same disaster happen in this country.
People would be screaming to shut down our plants if they actually knew the whole truth.
Its all about exceptable losses. Human loss that is.
DDT, Agent Orange, Dioxin, WMD's. Don't they always tell us the truth?
Of course we're not being told the truth. And it's not like they've started to lie just now. Chernobyl exploded on April 26, 1986, but it took until May 3 for the USSR to fess up ... and that was because of high radiation levels detected in Europe for which no one could locate a source. And then there's the nuclear reactor in northern NJ that went supercritical in 1985. Biggest cover-up ever.
I am no expert, but if a brilliant mind, and noted champion of human rights like Kim Jong Il is warning his people then I am certainly going to listen.
It seems to me that we are being exceptionally well informed about this dead serious situation in Japan. No-one listened years ago when i was but a wee lad when the problems of disposal of nuclear waste were determined by consensus to be unsurmountable because such a determination stood in the way of profits. :Now, it seems, those profits have turned deadly (for the second, third... how many times?) again. Again JQPublic pays with his life after paying with his sweat for corporate greed. Yeah, we know the truth... just ain't anyone anywhere stating it.
If you think for one second that anyone will learn anything from this demonstration of nature you are seriously misguided, Jack. I gonna go back under my rock.
I don't believe the US Government is telling the truth about anything so I can't begin to even think about the Japanese Government lying to me and in all honesty I don't give a hoot.
What!! We are seldom told the truh. I believe if it comes to 48 hours and the budget is not comppleted, their should be a law that the negotions be televised nationallly so, we, the people, can see just who and what is going on up there
Jack:
No and one asset the Japanese have to generate rebuilding cash is a "Nuclear Godzilla" plugging the hole to save humanity. I will wait for the DVD, excuse me the Bluetooth !
I do not think we are being told the whole truth, mostly because it is an evolving situation. I think we know what we need to know, and for the most part, people here are just over reacting. People in the U.S. have an irrational fear of nuclear energy, stemming from the secrecy surrounding the development of atomic bombs. The sooner we get past that, the sooner we will have a cleaner environment and cheaper electrical bills.
tampa, fl we have never been told the truth about nuclear power here in america, let alone japan's current disaster. watch for the new growth industry to be in geiger counters, radiation badges, and radiation suits–for the general public to use at home. i'm sure our current administration will also find a way to set up another federal agency headed by a czar, to pay for it under obamacare too.
They might have been able to lie to us at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, but with instantaneous news cycles now and the snoopers everywhere I think we are getting the truth, as much as it is known, by those feeding the information. I don’t think anyone really knows all the ramifications of this disaster because we have never been down this road this far before and most of what we are getting now is more theory then known fact. I don’t think anyone is intentionally lying to us.
NO we're not being told the truth. One trait of politicians is UNIVERSAL, and that is....if their lips are moving, they're lying
If the truth be told, it certainly wouldn't come from any government!
Quite Honestly Jack I Do Believe We Are Being Told The Truth About The Radioactivity In Japan From The Media And From Washington And Japan And I Think Everyone I Listed Has Pretty Much Been Honest And Told The Truth. The Warnings Have Been Issued And Are Out There I Just Hope And Pray Everyone Is Listening And Paying Attention!
Scott Stodden (Freeport,Illinois)
We're never told the truth about nuclear accidents. Hell, we're never told the truth about ANYTHING, Jack.
It's always, "there's no harm to the public".
Ya, right.
It's very unlikely that we are being told the truth and even if we were the media wouldn't report for fear of offending someone.
Jack, I believe the truth is being diminished. There's an obvious stand to stop widespread shock, kind of like the Roswell incident...except real. It makes sense to do so, but at this point I think the Japanese people need to know what's going on around them, they've been through enough.
No, We are not being told the truth.....That would hurt the nuclear business and that's more important than human life.....
Due to the fear of possible radioactive material in rain water, North Korea is advising its population to take showers. North Korea has showers? I'm impressed. I assumed that this kind of technology was limited to the Glorious Leader and his inner circle...
No. I can't remember the last time we were told the truth about anything by our own government. Can you?
We wont know the truth about this till 20 years down the road in a History Channel documentary!
Jack, I ceased believing what the government told me when the Warren Commission came out with their report! I'm waiting for HOPE and CHANGE in 2012 because it sure as heck didn't happen with the current squatter in The White House.
I lived about 22 miles from the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant at the time of the accident there. It is strikingly similar that we are not being told everything about the Fukushima Daiichi accident, just as we were not told everything about the TMI accident. It's in the best interest of the power company, TEPCO, to try to downplay the problem, just at it was for MetEd/GPU Nuclear at the time of the TMI accident. If they told us everything, we'd all be running for the nearest fallout shelter!
I believe that we're getting as much truth from the Japanese government as we are about our own congressional meltdown.
I think that we have probably been glowing in the dark for years! Hell they lace my food with corn sugar – even at the Chinese Restaurants!!! So why should a little (or a ton) of radiation matter? Cancer rates are off the wall... You can't tell me that something isn't majorly wrong here anyway!
SO WHY NOT A RADIATION COCKTAIL!!!
Debra,
NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't believe we are being told everything and neiher do a lot of people. If they did, why can no one even find a Geiger counter for sale in stores or online? Survival equipment is flying off shelves. Not many people believe what any government says any longer due to the cover-ups in the past.
No....and I will never again eat any seafood from Japan, especially sushi! I can't believe anyone living in Japan would do so either.
This is a new paradigm! People are being told as much as is known! TEPCO and the nuclear scientists around the planet have NEVER experienced what is happening in Japan! How can you tell a person something that you yourself don't know?
For the most part, I feel we're being told the truth. On the other hand; It would seem beneficial to not disclose any danger that might be posed by the nuclear threat. Certain details about the level of radioactive material in our food or in the rain might be kept under wraps to avoid an inevitable panic.
I don't know the truth. But, I bet the Japanese do. Thanks to the U.S., they have accumulated the most experience and data of any people on the planet when it comes to the long-term effects of massive radiation exposure.
We weren't told the truth when nuke tests were done above ground. Has anything changed? When officials say it's safe you better be prepared to get out of there.
Probably not Jack, but i know that radiation saved my ex-husbands life.
He has colon and liver cancer. Those radiation treatments saved his life for sure. So think about that one Jack. A new twist on the affects of radiation.
Jack:
I lived in Japan for 5 years. they are without the kindness people in the world. Though, as a foreigner, I always felt I was the last to know any details. If a building was on fire, I'd be the last one to hear about it. We are not being told the truth, they want us to think they have the situation under control, but in reality, they need help. And, that is the truth.
Jack, it would be a miracle if we were getting the truth since the only information we are getting is coming from the masters of deceit.
We have never been told the truth about anything Nuclear.
The genie is out of the bottle for the third time. Can the kings con men get it back in? It is too late.
no,
The media is greatly exaggerating the problem. It makes for great catch lines to say that radiation is being detected in California, and neglect to report that it is less than what you get from one minute in the sun.
Science and numbers don't lie. If the equipment used to measure radiation has a specific reading, it's not lying. The media has to stop being so sensationalist to just cause pandemonium and listen to the people who actually have a PhD in these topics. Yes, governments should be cautious and inspect. And I do think our oceans are going to suffer the consequences of this tragedy. But creating havoc when science is telling you otherwise is just adding to the problem.
What I DON'T Believe is that the Republicans want to stop funding food inspectors right now! Even chefs know that there's radiation in some of our food sypply.
There is no question that the world has not had a full-disclosure from the Japanese government and/or energy producers. There are two many unanswered questions. Having been in Pennsylvania during the Three-Mile Island event, there is much more information that can be made public. Unfortunately there seems to be nothing that the rest of the world can do. Now we have restaurant chefs in California testing the fish that they are about to serve for radiation.
No, I don't believe that we are being told the truth at all! I don't think that we will ever be told the truth. Hell, look at BP and their corny commercials saying "come back to the Gulf the waters are clean" we are still getting tar balls on the beaches here in Florida! Clean my ASS!
Probably about as much truth as we got from the US government in the 50s & 60s about the hazards of atmospheric and underground nuclear testing. My parents were concerned about radioactivity in milk from fallout.
Are we being told " The truth about the nuclear accident in Japan?"
Can a Wood Chuck chuck wood?
I have come to learn that you can not trust anything that company representatives or government regulators say about nuclear problems. This has been demonstrated again and again in any nation utilizing nuclear power. The industry has some of the best lobbyists and spends billions to create a positive image.
Sorry I met without a doubt, they are the kindest people in the world.
You must be kidding !!
7 million times the legal limit, yet here are the talking heads ridiculing those of us worried and telling us it's nothing to worry about
In all reality , what can they say, if they told us the truth the US would descend into chaos and looting.
Yes Jack why would they lie to us and if I click my heels together 3 times and say I do believe, I do believe, I do believe, maybe the truth would be known, I'm not eating in any Japanese restaurants for a while, my heels are hurting i've been clicking them too much, 🙂
We are never told the whole truth its usually for "our own good" just so we dont panic and for good reason. For if we cant even be calm when we dont get enough caramel in our macchiattos, how do you think we would handle america your doomed from your own doing.
Hell no I don't believe them.
Haven't from the very start.
Sooner they cement it in, the safer the world will be.
Think of all the tagged Salmon that will be leaving the pacific N.W.
After they make that big circle in the Pacific, they will be unedible.
Its gonna just get worse.
Probably not, Jack, but on the other hand, I don't see how detailing the uninformed reactions of people who probably don't know any more than you and I know (The North Koreans telling everyone to take showers if they've been out in the rain, or U.S. chefs using geiger counters to test the vegetables) helps to enlighten any of us.
Absolutely Not. I also believe that the waste they have been dumping into the ocean is totally illegal and totally damaging the planet. We all know where that water is headed. United States will be hit with the fallout of that, and all the fish in the ocean will be contaminated as well. Why aren't we stopping them from doing this? They are ruining the planet.
Heck NO!! When does government ever really come clean whether it's in Japan, Africa, South America or US. It is unfortunate that there is no government that exist on honesty and integrity. Plain and simple, this issue in Japan is being downplayed to the point that even any idiot would know better. They need to stop trying to minimize the information and get real with people and explain solutions to protect the people and the environment we live in.
I do believe that Japanese and TEMPCO are not telling the truth. Why? Because of mass rioting. My question is does any of TEMPCO's CEO's eat any of the food grown since the earthquake? Or any sushi?
If history has thought us anything, it is that the truth about disasters of this sort have always been hidden. The ramifications of the truth from a corporate or nationalistic point of view are far to great, and once you start a lie there is absolutely no point in even hinting at the truth. Another issue that needs to be addressed is the investment that entities have in Japan from all over the world, I do not think anyone wants negative press to hurt their assets.
Jack, that would be a big fat NO. The corporate mentality is to deny all wrong-doing and blame the effects of such on something else. It doesn't matter if if it's BP or TEPCO. This corporate mentality as well as the corporations which think they can lie about everything as long as they put enough commercials on TV–has got to GO!
NO. Mainly because I think they are totally lost as far as what to do! The owner of the plant is no where to be found~he's been happy racking in all this money for decades now he's in hiding. I do not believe we are being told just how serious it is. As usual. Matters not, our government or another.
Henderson Nevada
No, deffinately not from tepco, as for the japanese gov't I doubt it. Japan lost a lot of credabilityfrom downplaying the disaster, but I understand why. They needd to keep citizens from panecing. As for the fish, I prefer the glow of rainbow trout.
How could anyone think we are being told the truth? Tepcos comments defy logic. You can tell they have never been held accountable for anything. They say they are dumping highly radioactive water in the ocean that thousands of times above normal but in the next breath they say that its ok. When does the world stop the incompetance??
People are not being told the facts about nuclear energy in general, and the media is very much to blame. Reports like yours use hyperbole to make people fear nuclear power. Most people think a tiny amount of radiation will kill them- this is nonsense. Humans have done far more to increase our health risks by destroying the ozone layer, allowing more solar radiation to reach us. People are over-reacting to the Japanese accident, fueled by media hype.
Jack, I just don't know.... and the fact that I just don't know is reprehensible. My comment should have been (able to be) "Absolutely, Jack!"
– Allen in FL
Well Jack, whether or not the TEPCO and the Japanese government is being honest with the rest of the world is, of course, a very important issue. But when one considers the massive amount of nuclear radiation pouring into the ocean off Japan's coast, and the potentially damaging effects on marine wildlife, shouldn't the Japanese people also be concerned about "Godzilla" strolling into Tokyo sometime soon?
NO!.. The Government and This Company have a past of be less then truthful...It is like BP all over again but Far Far worse... And I ask this question...Where was the Common Sense when These plants were built in a High Percentage tsunami Region , not to mention Why were the generators The Back Up Generators located on the Ground in a High Tsunami Region??? So No, Neither do a lot of their people and We should all Pray for them...And The Big Blue...
No I don't believe we are being told the truth and I haven't from the start.I've always felt the information we were getting was limited,I mean think about it, if the truth was told what panic there would be. A few weeks back when they said that there were low levels of radiation here in Calif and along the West Coast and in milk no one seems to be concerned I am very concerned. But I've noticed the public just goes with the flow when we are told the levels are miniscule. If there wasn't radiation to begin even a trace amount which they say is acceptable is too much. I'm just saying!
Why would I believe any government about anything they say? Even if the amounts of radiation reported are true, no one is adding them up. A little in the air, a little in the water, a little is the fish, a little from my stove, etc. It all adds up, as a Californian I take all pollution very seriously, and realize I can keep my body clean, better then I can keep the environment clean. Laugh if you want but in twenty years when there is a cancer outbreak, guess who will have the last laugh.
I do not believe we are being told the truth. The Japanese goverment cannot handle the devistation they have caused globally so why should we believe they are being honest. They are over there heads. And now the world will suffer..Our ocean is destroyed. Our air as well. And I will not let anyone in my family eat anything that has come from the ocean. Most of the time our own goverment does not tell the truth why should we believe Japan is honest with us.
Not at all. They never seem to tell us the truth about anything important, so why start now.
We have not been told the truth about the US budget so why would anyone think we are told the truch about a nuclear accident.
I think we're being told the least amount of information that the authorities will hand out. I live on the West Coast of the US and I felt unsafe even with the smallest amount of nuclear particles in the air we received, to say nothing of what the effects will be our our ocean waters. I don't like nuclear power. We should be concentrating on clean energy, like solar and wind power, that can't hurt our Earth.
We only have one Earth and we could never heal it. So yes, any damage done is TOO much. We can't afford these 'mistakes' or accidents in nuclear reactors that can't be foreseen in our future. We need to know the truth at all times, period!
I think it is very apparent that the truth is not being told. Someone can go on easily found mainstream websites and get more info than what Japan is telling. I Don't think the question should be are we getting the truth. It should be, "What is the truth?". All the media is doing is helping these companies beat around the bush and passively draw people away from the solution/ truth. Any knowledgeable person would be able to look at the questions from the media and see through the veil.
Jack–Get real! When have we ever been told the truth about anything? I didn't believe them about the Louisiana oil spill and I'm not buying the garbage they are giving us about the nuclear disaster in Japan. The only one I believe is Anderson Cooper when he tries to keep them honest. Years from now, we will probably still not know the truth and nothing but the truth.
Well Jack, no. Just like the oil spill, I believe that Texco is lying. They don't want to lose money, so they are downplaying it as much as they can.
We haven't been told the truth about anything important since since WWII.
No the japaneese has a hard time showing they have done anything wrong on their part. It is all part of saving face which never admitting guilt.
Man has never learned its lesson from being careful of harvesting energy. Oil spills, Solar panels cracks, hydrogen gas explodes. Make them into weapons! Make them into roads! what a good idea until an accident happens. Then the worry goes to who to blame. How about make a back up plan so accidents that are possible to happen won't happen. I guess it wouldn't be anytime too since we can't go back to the moon.
The Truth? Surely, you jest! The fine folks at TEPCO either do not have a clue of what is actually happening at their nuclear plants or are so scared at the immense scale of the disaster they are facing that they dare not tell us the TRUTH.
I believe we will be truly shocked when the TRUTH does come out!
Jack,
I dont believe we are being told the truth about the nuclear crisis. If the governments of the world knew the world was going to end they wouldn't tell us either in order to keep the peace. The whole world is already on edge with everything going on these days.
Thanks
NO, the truth has not been spoken by elected officials globally for years. Truth in todays polotics is not what matters anyway. I vote for the lesser evil from either party because only voting your party or to even claim a party is not wise in my eyes. When a university in California tested the radiation in tap water and it was 181 times the safe amount but elected officials say its okay…You do the math.
Hi Jack...I believe our media is truly telling us what THEY are being told by the Japanese power company that is running the show...I definitely DO NOT believe that the power company is telling ANYONE the "truth"...they probably feel that no good could come of it...and they're probably right...bottom line, I dont plan to eat any fish (or any other foods) coming from that part of the world in the foreseeable future..
Dan, Columbia,SC (NOT a Republican, believe it or not!)
Of course they are not telling the truth neither government officials nor officials tasked with checking reactors. Their job is to keep their jobs and to make sure their employer continues to receive funding ergo insuring their continued employment. Hasn't anyone learned anything from Chernobile? Kay from Virginia Beach
truth that I cannot see, hear,touch,taste,smell is hard to believe in
In the late 70s and early 80s I worked at Zion Nuclear power plant ,50 miles north of Chocago. In 3 years I saw the control operators use marijuana, a pipe fitter came into work with high radirtion levels, Com Ed had to get the glass he drank out of ahd the bar stool he used the day before. The last year I was cutting a hole for our HVAC duct work when we cut a major elect lines. We shut down the north reactor ,the drawings as built were not up to date. Jack I shut her down.,a draft man lost his job . I was told to keep it on the QT
No. The truth and nuclear power are polar opposites. You are dealing with an industry that is bulit on deception, lies, and secrecy. If people knew the real truth there would be no nuclear power industry
D, Davenport
Hampden, MA
There is no way I believe or would ever believe that we are being told the truth about the Radioactivity in Japan nor on the United States West Coast ! They never have told the truth about anything...why would they start now ?
Barbara Callahan (Shreveport, Louisiana )
They cannot tell the truth because they certainly don't want to create a panic but more importantly, they don't don't want to stop the Neo Liberal economic engine. So a little contaminated food and the possiblity of a few thousand cases of cancer supports the greed of the wealthy in three ways. One, they continue to sell cheap goods from Japan, two it satifies the stock market, and 3 it keeps the private and very expensive American cancer clinics operating with new customers. It a win win win situation for them They can then pat themselves on the back for adapting to such a horrific situation.
I realize that the nuclear plant partial meltdown is a worrisome happening, but no-one has mentioned the hundreds of above ground atomic tests that the U.S. and Soviets performed from the late forties till it was banned many years later. The many mega- ton blasts blasted radiation many miles into the air and I am sure spread many miles from the testing site. We are all still around and havent died yet from those tests, I am sure we live through this one.
Does the phrase," Houston, We have a problem here". ring to anyone?
We do not know the facts because the techs and engineers at the plants don't fully understand the scope of the problem nor has anyone formulated a solution. This is uncharted territory for nuke energy. Short term, bad, real bad. Long term, worse, much worse.
Nope. No way to trust those Japanese. They've been lying lying and more lying and situation getting worse. We def need to hold Japan accountable for all the damage.
I believe both the American experts who advised correctly the radius of exposure vs the Japanese version of a much smaller area and I have no reason to dispute the UN experts. What is most frustrating is that all my life (68 yrs) I have heard about ways to produce energy and can visualize God banging his head against the wall saying, "I gave those idiots the sun, that's that's the good news – the bad news is that I gave them free will."
NO! Why would they lie to us? The truth is out there if we (the watchers of the information being provided) keep our eyes open. First, the 11,000 tons of water being pumped on the reactors to "cool them" was to avoid a meltdown. They knew that all the water being pumped was passing over and through the Toxic Radiation, and going into the ocean long before the announced water release. We are all grown ups, and we pay attention, so what we hear from the press in Japan, is ignored (by us), and we pay attention to the running dialogue for our "Truth".
Tepco and the Japanese government have lied and played down the nuclear disaster from the beginning. The Japanese people do not believe their officials and neither do I. Once a liar, always a liar. Tepco reminds me of BP during the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico last year. Tepco is just as dishonest, self serving and incompetent as BP. The Japanese government seems to be at the mercy of Tepco for their information similar to the US government when Obama allowed BP to handle the gulf oil crisis. Thank goodness the UN and other international experts are in Japan now. I hope the UN is truthful.
Absolutely NOT. Tepco has notoriously withheld information regarding it's business and now with financial liability so high, it is unlikely the truth will be provided. Whenever something "unpopular" needs to be done (such as dumping radioactive water in the ocean) Tepco intentionally withheld the announcement until the last minute. The situation at the DaiIchi plant has not gotten better. The only way to keep these rods cool is to pour water on them, but the water needs to go somewhere. If they do not find a way to remove the fuel rods, it's just a matter of time before one or all explode. Now with a second plant facing "hot rods" in Miyagi prefecture, Japan is facing complete economic meltdown. Tepco's history of falsifying information is the reason noone believes them now, The govt of Japan should not critize international media for putting out false info. Had Japan been honest in the past, people would not be so critical now.
Tepco and the Japanese government have lied and played down the nuclear disaster from the beginning. The Japanese people do not believe their officials and neither do I. Once a liar, always a liar. Tepco reminds me of BP during the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico last year. Tepco is just as dishonest, self serving and incompetent as BP. The Japanese government seems to be at the mercy of Tepco for their information similar to the US government when Obama allowed BP to handle the gulf oil crisis. Thank goodness the UN and other international experts are in Japan now. I hope the UN is truthful.
It was an education for me back in 1979 one that taught me to never believe what the government tells you. Three Mile Island was a tremendous disaster and so was the reaction to it by our great government. Workers at the plant were told to evacuate with their families but others were not given much at all in terms of the deadly exposures they were subjected to. My brother lived in Etters,PA just across the Susquehanna from TMI. The incidence of cancer in the area is for greater than one would expect and my brother is one of the victims. No, Jack, never trust the government is a lesson that should be taught in all of our schools.
No, I do not think we have the WHOLE truth about what is going on at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. I know it is dangerous but without reporters involved there will be no transparency from TEPCO or the Japan government since they are listening to TEPCO.
Maybe if you guys in media would stop showing up for the budget press releases – since the free press is all the Senators and Congressmen are interested in – not balancing the budget – and started reporting on real news like what is happening in Japan we might know more of the truth.
I am appalled at the amount of radiation is leaking into the ocean without any real outrage from the press. Start reporting the exact isotope and how long it lasts along with the amounts and you will get more people interested. I really feel sorry for the people of Japan who are being given nothing as far as facts about the accident and disaster at Fukushima.
Absolutely not, Jack; the moment I heard the news of the quake and tsunami that day being near a nuke, I held my breath. Having worked as a mechanical maintenance contractor in the industry for a dozen years I learned the nuances of the workings of an identical plant. As the news leaked out over the coming days and weeks, I often foretold to myself what was going to eventually happen. Though the circumstances that created this tragedy are highly unlikely of occurring to any of the GE Mark I's in this country, it certainly gives you pause when considering the age of these US plants and their hosting regions...
I am next to Maine in Canada, Our nuclear reactor is detecting radiation from Japan, NewFoundland Canada ( almost the furthest place away) detected it 2 weeks ago.
Clearly the Governments are not being forth coming with all the details of this Global disaster.
I read GE owns a good chunk of Media , perhaps this is why we only see a very few stories on it? Wouldn't surprise me.
I have no faith we are getting the clear picture of the danger involved.
But perhaps that would cause to much chaos.
Janice
New Brunswick Canada
We should heed Dr. Helen Caldicott's warnings: the nuclear radiation is dangerous for the whole hemisphere. We are not being told the truth about the health effects of this cesium spewing into the air and ocean, and this is not "harmless" at all!
It is outrageous that these plants were built on the fault lines. We must direct all our efforts to contain the ongoing dissemination of radioactive materials.
Instead we are distracted with government shut-down, Gadhaffi, Charlie Sheen and other stressors that confuse the issue.
No. The Japanese have a "lose face" problem that results in a daddy-kiddies relationship. We're the kiddies who get lied too. Who's the idiot who built six nuclear power plants next to one another? It's the same reason you lite one firecracker and not one firecracker that is attached to a bunch.
Never in a million years! And why would they when the fate of the world's #1 and #2 economies "lie" in the balance? Aren't plants like Toyota still shut down to this day – you think they would ever admit there was a serious problem, draw a permanent exclusion zone around the place like they did Chernobyl and shut them down forever! Everyone cheered when the Soviet Union collapsed – you think they'd ever let Japan go down in flames the same way. No – instead they (Japan and US) just raised all the limits of what is now considered "safe" so they can tell the public everything is within the legal limits. Just like with the Debt, when you hit the limit just raise the limit. Their actions and/or lack thereof are proof a full-blown cover-up has been underway since Day 1 to hide and downplay any serious discussion of these multiple nuclear meltdowns that many experts willing to tell the truth admit are worse than Chernobyl.
No! I do not believe the information coming from Japan or the news
media. I believe the Japanese and the news media are withholding
information – with the justification of not creating panic. As time goes
on and people are dying from the "No more than a plane ride", exposure.
Will everyone who sensors information which could allow people to
take precautions, accept responsibility for the premeditated act of
keeping important information from them, contributing to the deaths
of a mass number of people? Investigative reporting must now mean
reading whatever is safe or edited for you. How much disappointment
can Americans take?
Jack,
Do you NOT want the fishermen to test the fish?
The testing being done all over the world, detecting these minute amounts of radioactive material, is a testament to how careful we are being when examining this issue. The "reporting" of these test results, and of this event in general, is shameful. Everyone screams "OMG Radiation" every 5 minutes and then fails to mention that the radiation has a half life of under one minute, or eight days or whatever it may be.
The truth about what is happening in Japan is available. The fear-mongering by most of the reports I have seen on CNN and other commercial news outlets borders on criminal.
Jack,
Not at all. Politicians do not know how to tell the truth, they are born liars and thieves, and that's the good things to say about them.
The fact is that Japan's government officials have been lying to their people for years. About numerous things. Why would they be truthful now? And assuming the US government knows the real threats to our health in this country from the Japan disaster, they are going to downplay it b/c there is nothing they can do anyway and a nationwide panic is the last thing they want to deal with.
You see this with every horrific event in the world. It's all over the news for awhile and then it just gets brushed under the rug so the officials don't have to deal with it anymore. Say, what happened to deep water drilling after the BP spill? Oh yeah...everyone forgot about it, so they are good to go ahead and pick up right where they left off. Nothing changes. People complain and do research into "a better way of doing things," but those changes never get made.
You have to take your health and safety into your own hands. The administrations created to ensure our safety are mostly a farce. Smoke and mirrors.
NO! when it comes to covering their rear ends or to further their agenda's, corporations and Governments lie to their people, We have seen this in much too many instances the truth is always a victim and in the end so are we.
Jack, I stopped questioning the information provided to me a long time ago because I created my own formula. If I am told a situation is not bad, I multiply it by 10. If I am told that it will be very bad, I divide by 10. So let's see, based on my formula, we need to run for cover when it rains over here too. Jack, try my formula and tell me what you get..
Yes, I do believe we're told the truth about the radiation situation!
But, only as they know it!
It might be worse then they realize. Because they might not be able to get close enough to the reactors to access the disasters.
I will say this though, North Korea is said to hate Japan. They launched a rocket, which became a missile aimed at Japan.
North Korea tested a nuke. They fired torpedoes at South Korean
ships recently.. And now an Earthquake occurs on the eastern side of
Japan away from North Korea, which destroys a Nuclear Power Plant
Did God do this for North Korea? If so why?
I think that we are not being told the hold story, if you remember last year when the BP spill happened at the coast of louisiana, BP denied knowledge in many things infront of congress in order to protect there interest, image and stocks. I wouldn't be surprised if the situation in Japan would be the same.
I have to ask myself if I can trust information from my government this ONE time. They don't exactly have a stellar reputation for truth. With all the lies, deception, mis-information and dis-information fed to me by my government, I'm gonna go with 'no'.
The Japanese government is too dependent on TEPCO for information on the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi. TEPCO has been lying and falsifying data for decades to the nuclear regulator. TEPCO stock is down over 50% and the liabilities will bankrupt the company. A crisis is the best time to make the drastic changes that are needed in Japan. TEPCO must be nationalized. To allow it to continue with its unsafe practices is to court the ultimate disaster of irradiating the crowded city of Tokyo.