I know that I have been almost exclusively focused on the Fukushima situation even as the Middle East is erupting and the West has declared war on another small, oil-rich country. I wish I had time to analyze both situations with equal attention. Since I don’t, I’m focusing more on the situation in Japan, which I see is still the more dire of the two.
Analysis of another ‘shaky-cam’ video released yesterday reveals what appears to be a startling hot-spot in the rubble of Reactor #1, which we will examine below.
The Fukushima nuclear situation is the most drastic nuclear event of our lifetimes, and could easily surpass Chernobyl in terms of its impacts on the world economy, to say nothing of the people living near and downwind of the reactors.
I am simply aghast that the reactor situation almost entirely disappeared from the front pages of the US news media over the March 20-21 weekend, to be replaced by (comforting?) images of military and technical superiority against Libya.
While I am quite concerned about the timing, strategy, and intent that lies behind this sudden support for the Libyan rebels (Wag The Dog, anyone?), it is clear to me that what happens in Japan next has a greater chance of impacting most of the rest of the world, to say nothing of Japan itself.
Here’s an example of the latest news, such as it is, about the reactor situation in Japan:
Japan Makes Gains in Its Nuclear Fight
Radiation Levels Are Down and Two Reactors Are on Grid
March 21, 2011
TOKYO—Japan appears to have turned the tide in its battle to stave off nuclear disaster, restoring power to parts of the Fukushima Daiichi plant and bringing down radiation levels with a marathon water-spraying operation.
Officials cautioned that many steps remain before the plant is fully under control, and the possibility of larger radiation discharges still exists. But for the first time, Japanese leaders voiced optimism that the worst of the crisis is over.
“We have achieved a certain level of success,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said on Sunday.
Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co., known as Tepco, said reactors No. 1 and No.
by yagasjai 
