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Irapuato
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Powerful quake hits Japan. AlJazeeraEnglish on Mar 10, 2011 An 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's northeastern coast around 0546 GMT on Friday. It caused a four-metre tsunami in the port city of …More
Powerful quake hits Japan.

AlJazeeraEnglish on Mar 10, 2011 An 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan's northeastern coast around 0546 GMT on Friday.

It caused a four-metre tsunami in the port city of Kamishi and its tremors shook buildings in the capital Tokyo, over 300 kilometres away.

Now Taiwan has issued a tsunami warning.
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2011: Powerful quake hits Japan on March 10, 2011
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Powerful quake hits Japan on March 10, 2011
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Japan Nuke Plant Operator to Dump Radioactive Water Into Ocean
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Japan Nuclear Plant Owner Confirms First Deaths as Workers Fail to Contain Leak
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Japan on 'Maximum Alert' Over Nuke Crisis www.foxnews.com/…/japan-maximum-a…
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Damaged reactor may be leaking radioactive water, Japan says
edition.cnn.com/…/index.html
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Conditions at Japan Nuke Plant Worsen as Workers Race to Cool Overheating Reactors
www.foxnews.com/…/conditions-japa…
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Aide Reflects on Resource, Risk of Nuclear Power
Lauds Rescue Workers in Japan
VATICAN CITY, MARCH 20, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Nuclear energy is an immense resource for man but the questions about its risks must not be neglected, says a Vatican spokesman.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, made this reflection on the latest episode of "Octava Dies."
He spoke about the …More
Aide Reflects on Resource, Risk of Nuclear Power

Lauds Rescue Workers in Japan

VATICAN CITY, MARCH 20, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Nuclear energy is an immense resource for man but the questions about its risks must not be neglected, says a Vatican spokesman.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, made this reflection on the latest episode of "Octava Dies."
He spoke about the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan, noting that the images "which have been transmitted for days, continue to disturb us and make us raise questions."
The priest continued, "At first they evoked dramatic memories of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean six years ago that left in its wake a frightening number of victims, but even more: a sea of suffering and sorrow that calls on our compassion, our solidarity, our prayer."
Japanese authorities are currently reporting 8,450 deaths, 2,701 people injured, and 12,931 people missing after the disaster.
"But after a few days," Father Lombardi stated, "the world's attention turned from the destructive wave to the disaster of the nuclear plants."
On Friday, International Atomic Energy Agency Chief Yukiya Amano stated that the crisis at the nuclear plants is "extremely serious."
There have been explosions and radiation leakage at the power plants due to the destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami. Some 200,000 people have been evacuated from their homes near the plants.
"The Japanese," Father Lombardi acknowledged, "have shown that they have learned how to anticipate with foresight the dangers of earthquakes in an admirable way, constructing buildings capable of resisting the strongest quakes."
He added, "And nevertheless on this occasion Japan's technological progress has manifested a weak point, that was, in a certain sense, unexpected."
Wave of fear
The priest explained, "It only took one of the more than 50 Japanese nuclear plants to be seriously damaged by the quake for a new wave [...] of fear over another insidious cause of death -- besides that of the seaquake -- which is spreading through the entire world."
He affirmed, "Nuclear energy is an immense natural resource that man tries to use in his service, but if it gets out of control it rebels against him."
The Jesuit noted, "And no one knows better than the Japanese what the effects are of energy unleashed from the heart of man rebelling against him."
He continued: "The security of the plants and the safeguarding of radioactive material can never be absolute.
"It is right and obligatory to return to reflect on the correct use of technological power, on its risks, on its human price. The Pope recommends this often."
Father Lombardi acknowledged, "Today in the plant that has gone haywire a handful of heroes are generously offering their lives for the safety of many people-- like the firefighters of 9/11."
As at that time, he concluded, solidarity and "love for others, even at the price of one's life, is the true light in the darkness of tragedy."
The priest stated: "It indicates the direction to seek. It is the same direction as Jesus' path to Easter."
www.zenit.org/article-32072
Irapuato
U.S. Launches Cruise Missiles Against Qaddafi's Air Defenses www.foxnews.com/…/france-fires-li…
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Bishops Voice Solidarity with Japan, Urge Catholics to Support Efforts of Catholic Relief Services Following Earthquake
WASHINGTON (March 16, 2011)—Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), expressed the prayers and solidarity of the U.S. bishops and Catholic for the people of Japan following the March 11 earthquake.
In his March …More
Bishops Voice Solidarity with Japan, Urge Catholics to Support Efforts of Catholic Relief Services Following Earthquake
WASHINGTON (March 16, 2011)—Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), expressed the prayers and solidarity of the U.S. bishops and Catholic for the people of Japan following the March 11 earthquake.
In his March 14 letter to Archbishop Leo Jun Ikenaga, SJ, of Osaka, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan, Archbishop Dolan said the “estimates of suffering, loss of life and physical damage challenge our ability to grasp the reality of such an event.”
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the humanitarian agency of the U.S. bishops, is responding to the tragedy and receiving donations, said Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona, chairman of the CRS board.
“These will be used for the immediate humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable and support the local Catholic Church in its on-going mission,” said Bishop Kicanas. Catholics interested in supporting the work of CRS can visit: crs.org
The full text of Archbishop Dolan’s letter follows:

Dear Archbishop Ikenaga,
I write today conscious of the terrible earthquake that has struck Japan. The first news reports of the preliminary estimates of suffering, loss of life and physical damage challenge our ability to grasp the reality of such a massive event.
My letter is to make a first contact with you to assure you of the prayers and solidarity of the bishops and faithful in the United States at this difficult moment. We commend the Church and the people of Japan to the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, asking her to care for all of those left in conditions of suffering because of the quake and the aftershocks.
I know that our Catholic Relief Services has already been in touch with Caritas in Japan. They are already studying the situation with the goal of being as helpful as possible in responding to the tragedy.
Again, Archbishop Okada, please know of our prayers and solidarity with you at this moment.
Faithfully in Christ,
Most Reverend Timothy M. Dolan
Archbishop of New York
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2011/11-052.shtml
Irapuato
"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom. Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls. Most Holy …More
"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom. Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls. Most Holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as your special child. Amen." It is a prayer we should circulate urgently.
Irapuato
Japan's nuclear agency spokesman conceded that a "Chernobyl solution" of burying the reactors in sand and concrete was in the back of the authorities' minds.
Millions in Tokyo remained indoors on Friday, fearing a blast of radioactive material from the complex 240 km (150 miles) to the north, though prevailing winds would likely carry contaminated smoke or steam away from the densely populated city …More
Japan's nuclear agency spokesman conceded that a "Chernobyl solution" of burying the reactors in sand and concrete was in the back of the authorities' minds.
Millions in Tokyo remained indoors on Friday, fearing a blast of radioactive material from the complex 240 km (150 miles) to the north, though prevailing winds would likely carry contaminated smoke or steam away from the densely populated city to dissipate over the Pacific Ocean.
Japan's nuclear disaster, the world's worst since Chernobyl in Ukraine 25 years ago, has triggered alarm and reviews of safety at atomic power plants around the globe.
President Barack Obama, who stressed the United States did not expect harmful radiation to reach its shores, announced that he had ordered a comprehensive review of domestic nuclear plants and pledged Washington's support for Japan.
news.yahoo.com/…/us_japan_quake
Irapuato
Tokyo governor apologizes for calling quake divine retribution
By Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor
The governor of Tokyo apologized on Tuesday for saying the earthquake and resulting tsunami that left thousands dead were divine punishment for Japanese egoism, a leading Japanese news service reported.
"I will take back (the remark) and offer a deep apology," Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara said …More
Tokyo governor apologizes for calling quake divine retribution
By Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor
The governor of Tokyo apologized on Tuesday for saying the earthquake and resulting tsunami that left thousands dead were divine punishment for Japanese egoism, a leading Japanese news service reported.
"I will take back (the remark) and offer a deep apology," Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara said at a Tuesday news conference, according to Japan’s Kyodo News.
On Monday, Ishihara had told reporters, "I think (the disaster) is tembatsu (divine punishment), although I feel sorry for disaster victims," according to Kyodo News, which translated Ishihara's remarks from Japanese.
“Japanese politics is tainted with egoism and populism,” Ishihara had said Monday, according to Kyodo News. “We need to use tsunami to wipe out egoism, which has rusted onto the mentality of Japanese over a long period of time."
religion.blogs.cnn.com/…/tokyo-governor-…
Irapuato
The State Department has set up an e-mail address — japanemergencyusc@state.gov — at which Americans could seek help leaving the country. www.msnbc.msn.com/…/world_news-asia…
Irapuato
Sister Sasagawa also suffered the pain of stigmata in the palm of her hand. But her most famous experience involved the voice she heard from that "Our Lady of All Nations" statue. "My daughter," it said, "you have obeyed me well in abandoning all to follow me. Is the infirmity of your ears painful? Your deafness will be healed, be sure. Be patient. It is the last trial. Does the wound of your hand …More
Sister Sasagawa also suffered the pain of stigmata in the palm of her hand. But her most famous experience involved the voice she heard from that "Our Lady of All Nations" statue. "My daughter," it said, "you have obeyed me well in abandoning all to follow me. Is the infirmity of your ears painful? Your deafness will be healed, be sure. Be patient. It is the last trial. Does the wound of your hand cause you to suffer? Pray in reparation for the sins of men." The nun also had heard this prayer: "Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom. Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls. Most Holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as your special child. Amen." It is a prayer we should circulate urgently. Now 79, Sister Agnes is no longer in Akita. The convent at Akita remains open, for the faithful to venerate the statue. But there still lingers controversy among bishops over the authenticity. Intriguing it is, however, the way one prediction, issued by the Blessed Mother at Akita, already materialized. This had to do with that message that Sister Sasagawa would one day be cured of her hearing disability. For indeed, on October 13 one year shortly after the experiences, the nun suddenly heard the phone ring -- and answered it. On the other end was a shocked Bishop John Ito -- who knew Sister Agnes was deaf and was aware of the prophecy that she would one day hear. It was Bishop Ito, as head of the Niigata Diocese, who later issued the approval of Akita on April 22, 1984 -- Easter Sunday. Meanwhile, October 13, of course, is the anniversary of the great sun miracle at Fatima. www.spiritdaily.com/sisteragnes.htm
Irapuato
🤗 Roman Candle: Shock Begins To Turn To Anger In Japan by NPR Staff and Wires March 16, 2011 Shock among survivors of Japan's earthquake and tsunami turned to anger Wednesday as nearly a half-million people displaced by the disaster and resulting nuclear crisis remained crammed in makeshift evacuation centers, many with few basic necessities and even less information. The governor of northeastern …More
🤗 Roman Candle: Shock Begins To Turn To Anger In Japan by NPR Staff and Wires March 16, 2011 Shock among survivors of Japan's earthquake and tsunami turned to anger Wednesday as nearly a half-million people displaced by the disaster and resulting nuclear crisis remained crammed in makeshift evacuation centers, many with few basic necessities and even less information. The governor of northeastern Fukushima prefecture, the site of a badly damaged nuclear power plant, fumed over what he saw as poor government communication and coordination. "The anxiety and anger being felt by people in Fukushima have reached a boiling point," Gov. Yuhei Sato told broadcaster NHK. He said shelters do not even have enough hot meals and basic necessities for those living near the plant who have already been relocated. In a rare address to the nation, Japan's Emperor Akihito called the nuclear crisis "unprecedented in scale" and urged the country to pull together in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. "Nobody knows how many people will die," the 77-year-old emperor said, "but I fervently hope that we can save as many survivors as possible." Prime Minister Naoto Kan also appeared on television, ordering officials to take radiation level readings and relay them to the public. The official death toll from the disaster has reached nearly 3,700, but authorities expect that figure to climb to more than 10,000 because so many are still listed as missing. A blanket of snow in parts of the devastated northeast added to the misery for millions of people faced a sixth night with little food, water or heat. Police said more than 452,000 people were staying in temporary shelters. 'Something's Just Not Right' Doualy Xaykaothao, reporting for NPR, visited one such shelter set up in a school gymnasium in Koriyama city, about 40 miles southwest of Fukushima. She said people were still dazed by the tragedy and craving more information from the government. Men and women at the gym, where about 400 people had taken refuge, huddled in near-freezing temperatures despite a kerosene heater that provided a bit of warmth and made hot water for tea. In one corner, a 69-year-old grandmother wearing a face mask sat on a small blanket, with bags and a box stacked next to her. She read a newspaper featuring a front page photo of the crippled reactors at Fukushima, one burning and smoking. The woman said she was alone at the shelter and had been unable to contact family members in the hardest-hit city of Sendai. In tears as she spoke, she said she has long been against nuclear power, especially in a region prone to earthquakes. One man who arrived at the shelter said he used to work at the Fukushima power plant cleaning up biochemical waste. The man, who identified himself as Maeda, said he had come from Okuma, about 30 miles to the east. He said some of his friends still work at the plant, but said he trusts that everything will be OK. "Nothing to worry, for myself, for my family, and for everybody," he told NPR. But Xaykaothao said many others were less sure. "People are now starting to get angry," she said. "A couple of days ago, people were still in shock, just trying to figure out what was next for them or how to reach safety. "Now, they are starting to realize that something's just not right — this could be done faster, the information could be more accurate," Xaykaothao said. "And of course the big question now is what is really happening at this nuclear plant." Assessing The Damage Amid the human suffering — unprecedented for Japan since the end of World War II — experts were making their first back-of-the-envelope calculations of the economic costs of the catastrophe. Some say the cost of the destruction is likely to exceed that of the 1995 Kobe earthquake, which Standard & Poor's estimated to have been $159 billion. The four most severely affected prefectures — Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima and Ibaraki — are home to key industries ranging from farming to auto parts to electronics and make up some 6 percent of Japan's economy. The biggest port on the northeast coast, Sendai, was essentially destroyed by the quake and tsunami. It handled mainly container shipments of exports including rubber and marine products, office machinery, paper goods and auto parts. Three others — Hachinohe, Ishinomaki and Onahama — were severely damaged and will very likely be out of commission for months. Six oil refineries that can turn 1.4 million barrels of oil a day into fuel — a third of Japan's refining capacity — also have been shut down. Two closures were due to fires, and an out of control blaze at one refinery raged for a sixth day. "The destruction to ports, power plants and oil refineries in northeast Japan has been extensive," economists Matt Robinson and Ruth Stroppiana at Moody's Analytics wrote in a report. "The cleanup will take months, and the rebuilding of key infrastructure will take substantially longer." Enlarge Toru Yamanaka /AFP/Getty Images People rest on the floor at a evacuation center after the recent tsunami and earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture, on Wednesday. Toru Yamanaka /AFP/Getty Images People rest on the floor at a evacuation center after the recent tsunami and earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture, on Wednesday. U.S. Aid Ships Forced to Change Course President Obama was meeting with USAID Administrator Raj Shah on Wednesday to review U.S. aid efforts for Japan, as well as in Haiti, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Middle East and Africa. The review comes as 13 U.S. Navy vessels have been deployed to help provide humanitarian assistance to northern Japan. Some of the warships have had to change course to avoid radiation over part of the eastern shore of Japan. Other ships en route must navigate through massive debris fields. Eight ships were already on site and an additional five were moving into position. Lt. Anthony Falvo, aboard the command ship USS Blue Ridge in the South China Sea, said the American warships in position along the Japanese coast have been able to deliver 25 tons of aid, including food, water and blankets. They've also helped transport Japanese first responders to the disaster sites. Falvo told NPR that radiation-detection equipment aboard the carrier USS Ronald Reagan found enough radiation Tuesday to raise concerns. So the Reagan and other U.S. ships in the area changed course as a precaution. "What they've done is move just north, 180 nautical miles away from the Fukushima site, just ensuring that they are not downwind of the radioactive plume," he said. "These are very, very low levels of contamination," Falvo added. "It's equivalent to one month's natural background of radiation from the sun, so what we're doing is, we're taking every precaution." Those precautions include making sure Navy personnel are wearing their flight suits with the sleeves rolled down and protective coverings on their boots. Anyone who goes off the ship is tested for radiation before coming back onboard. Poor flying conditions Wednesday also hampered relief efforts. Pilots on the deck of the Reagan said they were unable to fly because of a lack of visibility. Only 15 flights with humanitarian supplies were launched from the carrier group, according to the Navy. Radiation Fears Prompt U.S. Evacuation Advisory The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo advised American citizens to evacuate areas within 50 miles of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant because of the "deteriorating situation" at the facility. "We want to underscore that there are numerous factors in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, including weather, wind direction and speed, and the nature of the reactor problem that affect the risk of radioactive contamination within this 50 mile radius or the possibility of lower-level radioactive materials reaching greater distances," the embassy said in a statement. That radius is more than four times as large as the evacuation zone the Japanese government recommended earlier this week. Concerns about radiation were at the forefront of several countries' concerns. France urged its citizens in Tokyo to return to France or head to southern Japan. Officials also called on Air France to mobilize aircraft in Asia to assist with departures. Australia told its citizens to consider leaving Tokyo and earthquake-affected areas, while the U.K. advised against all nonessential travel to Tokyo and northeastern Japan. More than 3,000 Chinese in northeast Japan have already been evacuated to western Niigata prefecture, according to Xinhua News Agency. On Tuesday, Beijing became the first government to organize a mass evacuation from the quake-affected area. With reporting from freelancer Doualy Xaykaothao in Koriyama, NPR's Chris Joyce in Tokyo, Anthony Kuhn in Mizusawa City, and Dan Charles and Rachel Martin in Washington, D.C. Material from The Associated Press was used in this story. www.npr.org/…/japan-struggles…
RomanCandle
Irapuato, thanks for posting the statistical information. In
addition to the risk of earth quake damage, the age of the
nuclear power plant should also be factored in. The older
the nuclear plant, the greater the residual radiation. Steel
and concrete degradation caused by extreme temperatures
in the nuclear reactor process poses additional risks to older
nuclear plants (eg, Vermont Yankee, USA). …More
Irapuato, thanks for posting the statistical information. In
addition to the risk of earth quake damage, the age of the
nuclear power plant should also be factored in. The older
the nuclear plant, the greater the residual radiation. Steel
and concrete degradation caused by extreme temperatures
in the nuclear reactor process poses additional risks to older
nuclear plants (eg, Vermont Yankee, USA). Fukushima (Dai
-ichi / Number One) is over 40 years old & unlike Chernobyl
is located in a densely populated region (the majority of the
100 million plus Japanese citizens live in the coastal areas).
Irapuato
US nuke plants ranked by quake risk So much for San Andreas: Reactors in East, Midwest, South have highest chance of damage What are the odds that a nuclear emergency like the one at Fukushima Dai-ichi could happen in the central or eastern United States? They'd have to be astronomical, right? As a p ro-nuclear commenter on msnbc.com put it this weekend, "There's a power plant just like these in …More
US nuke plants ranked by quake risk So much for San Andreas: Reactors in East, Midwest, South have highest chance of damage What are the odds that a nuclear emergency like the one at Fukushima Dai-ichi could happen in the central or eastern United States? They'd have to be astronomical, right? As a p ro-nuclear commenter on msnbc.com put it this weekend, "There's a power plant just like these in Omaha. If it gets hit by a tsunami...." It turns out that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has calculated the odds of an earthquake causing catastrophic failure to a nuclear plant here. Each year, at the typical nuclear reactor in the U.S., there's a 1 in 74,176 chance that the core could be damaged by an earthquake, exposing the public to radiation. No tsunami required. That's 10 times more likely than you winning $10,000 by buying a ticket in the Powerball multistate lottery, where the chance is 1 in 723,145. And it turns out that the nuclear reactor in the United States with the highest risk of core damage from a quake is not the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, with its twin reactors tucked between the California coastline and the San Andreas Fault. It's not the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, a four-hour drive down the Pacific coast at San Clemente, surrounded by fault lines on land and under the ocean. It's not on the Pacific Coast at all. It's on the Hudson River. One in 10,000 The reactor with the highest risk rating is 24 miles north of New York City, in the village of Buchanan, N.Y., at the Indian Point Energy Center. There, on the east bank of the Hudson, Indian Point nuclear reactor No. 3 has the highest risk of earthquake damage in the country, according to new NRC risk estimates provided to msnbc.com. www.msnbc.msn.com/…/world_news-asia…