The operator of the troubled nuclear power plant in Fukushima started pouring 11 000 500 tonnes of weakly radioactive water into the ocean to the repair of the cooling circuits of the reactor and prevent a catastrophe worse than Chernobyl. Moreover, Japan hinted that the disaster occurred on 11 March in the Northeast and the subsequent nuclear accident could have an impact on environmental policy.
More than three weeks after the tragedy, the provisional report from the police stood at 12 000 157 15 000 confirmed dead and 496 missing, whose bodies were most likely carried to sea by the tsunami. The central Fukushima Daiichi (No. 1), located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, about 250 kilometers north of the megalopolis of Tokyo and its 35 million inhabitants, could not resist a tidal wave of 14 meters.
The power system of the six reactors broke down, stopping the cooling pumps nuclear fuel. Four reactors began to heat up dangerously, causing explosions and radioactive smoke. After day and night poured tens of thousands of tons of water at the facility, the workers, firefighters and soldiers managed to prevent the fuel rods melted, thus avoiding a nuclear catastrophe much more severe than that of Chernobyl in 1986.
But this operation caused massive flooding in local and underground tunnels, which were invaded by thousands of tons of radioactive water, which hindered the work of repairing the power supply and cooling circuits. The spokesman for plant owner Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), recalled that contaminated water had accumulated in machinery spaces, particularly in the reactor 2 with a level of radioactivity over a thousand mSv per hour, that prevents any human activity.
"We need to Transfer any tanks designed for the treatment of waste. But these deposits are currently full of 10 thousand tons of water weakly radioactive. You have to remove to make room," he said. TEPCO representative said that such discharges, to be held for five days, would not consecuencuas health.
Part of contaminated water from the reactor 2 is discharged into the ocean by a gap of 20 centimeters discovered in a pit located above sea level. "There has been no significant changes in the amount of water leaking. We have not achieved the main goal of stopping the flow of water," TEPCO spokesman said.
While continuing the race against the clock to prevent uncontrollable catastrophe Fukushima Daiichi plant, Japanese officials attending the international UN negotiations on climate suggested that Japan could revise down its objectives in reducing emissions carbon. The nuclear accident will force Japan to review its ambitious target of 25 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 compared with 1990 levels, according to press reports.
This objective can be revised, said Hideki Minamikawa, Japanese Vice Minister of the Environment, Bangkok. Moreover, Greenpeace considered "partial and contradictory" information provided by the authorities over radioactive risks and announced that it would carry out more precise studies of samples, especially vegetables and milk.
"We hope to be able to provide independent analysis and clear advice to the population," said Rianne Teule, Greenpeace expert on radioactivity. Finally, from the violent earthquake three weeks ago, plunging Japan into the worst crisis of its history since the Second World War, growing concern about the impact of this drama for the third world economy.
A poll on Monday suggested that the blow may be massive. The Bank of Japan said that according to the Tankan quarterly survey of confidence in forecasting major Japanese manufacturers for the April-June quarter will fall to 2 points, taking into account the effects of the earthquake and tsunami, to +3 for companies that responded before the drama. 
More than three weeks after the tragedy, the provisional report from the police stood at 12 000 157 15 000 confirmed dead and 496 missing, whose bodies were most likely carried to sea by the tsunami. The central Fukushima Daiichi (No. 1), located on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, about 250 kilometers north of the megalopolis of Tokyo and its 35 million inhabitants, could not resist a tidal wave of 14 meters.
The power system of the six reactors broke down, stopping the cooling pumps nuclear fuel. Four reactors began to heat up dangerously, causing explosions and radioactive smoke. After day and night poured tens of thousands of tons of water at the facility, the workers, firefighters and soldiers managed to prevent the fuel rods melted, thus avoiding a nuclear catastrophe much more severe than that of Chernobyl in 1986.
But this operation caused massive flooding in local and underground tunnels, which were invaded by thousands of tons of radioactive water, which hindered the work of repairing the power supply and cooling circuits. The spokesman for plant owner Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), recalled that contaminated water had accumulated in machinery spaces, particularly in the reactor 2 with a level of radioactivity over a thousand mSv per hour, that prevents any human activity.
"We need to Transfer any tanks designed for the treatment of waste. But these deposits are currently full of 10 thousand tons of water weakly radioactive. You have to remove to make room," he said. TEPCO representative said that such discharges, to be held for five days, would not consecuencuas health.
Part of contaminated water from the reactor 2 is discharged into the ocean by a gap of 20 centimeters discovered in a pit located above sea level. "There has been no significant changes in the amount of water leaking. We have not achieved the main goal of stopping the flow of water," TEPCO spokesman said.
While continuing the race against the clock to prevent uncontrollable catastrophe Fukushima Daiichi plant, Japanese officials attending the international UN negotiations on climate suggested that Japan could revise down its objectives in reducing emissions carbon. The nuclear accident will force Japan to review its ambitious target of 25 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 compared with 1990 levels, according to press reports.
This objective can be revised, said Hideki Minamikawa, Japanese Vice Minister of the Environment, Bangkok. Moreover, Greenpeace considered "partial and contradictory" information provided by the authorities over radioactive risks and announced that it would carry out more precise studies of samples, especially vegetables and milk.
"We hope to be able to provide independent analysis and clear advice to the population," said Rianne Teule, Greenpeace expert on radioactivity. Finally, from the violent earthquake three weeks ago, plunging Japan into the worst crisis of its history since the Second World War, growing concern about the impact of this drama for the third world economy.
A poll on Monday suggested that the blow may be massive. The Bank of Japan said that according to the Tankan quarterly survey of confidence in forecasting major Japanese manufacturers for the April-June quarter will fall to 2 points, taking into account the effects of the earthquake and tsunami, to +3 for companies that responded before the drama.
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