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First I was nervous

Then I became committed

Now in recovery

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Much to my surprise

My bicep tendon just snapped

Now repaired I am

Revolutionary alternatives are emerging in the energy arena.

One example is a hydroelectric fuel cell invented in Vietnam. Fueled only with water - fresh, salt or waste, it may begin to be sold in June. Priced at merely $1,600 for a 2,000 watt generator.

See Moving Beyond Oil and Cheap Green at www.aesopinstitute.org for an overview.

That site opens with "400 Chernobyls?" an unrecognized mortal nuclear threat.

Solar flares can collapse power grids worldwide for months or even years.

Nuclear plants without grid power for a few days are meltdown candidates.

Survival has become an unrealized challenge - and an opportunity.

Wise action can prevent grid collapse with new technology.

Other new technology can decentralize electric power production with cost-competitive breakthroughs such as the hydroelectric fuel cell.

If we act boldly, soon enough, the effort can provide the missing boost to the world economy and generate large numbers of jobs.

RE: The true "cause" of the Fukushima Disaster: RE: Initial cause: TEPCO and the entire Nuclear Industry are DESPERATE to avoid the concept that an BIG EQ can start a meltdown because it puts EVERY land based Reactor at RISK of creating a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster...

Many believe that TEPCO "fiddled" with the 3/11/11 operators data (they have done this in the past) http://wp.me/p21p6a-Ws and http://enenews.com/?p=15466

just enough to make it appear that the Tsunami was the "cause" because most people Globally are not afraid of Tsunamis'... http://www.counterpunch.org/?p=32982

I think the Big Quake shock the reactor complex so hard that many critical piping connections failed and that the leakages of highly radioactive water actually started the meltdown process, which was completed when the power was lost to the cooling pumps, remember they ran out of cooling water and were in no position to pump sea water into the reactors...

RE: Fuel Rod Storage Pools at Fukushima: From Mitsuhei Murata's letter to the UN link: http://enenews.com/?p=30009 snip

I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for your considerate letter dated 2 March, 2012. Your moral support for a United Nations Ethics Summit will remain a constant source of encouragement for my activities.

Please allow me to pay a tribute to your great contribution to strengthen nuclear safety and security. The current Nuclear Summit in Seoul is no doubt greatly benefiting from the high-level meeting you convened last September.

I was asked to make a statement at the public hearing of the Budgetary Committee of the House of Councilors on March 23. I raised the crucial problem. of N0.4 reactor of Fukushima containing1535 fuel rods. It could be fatally damaged by continuing aftershocks. Moreover, 50 meters away from it exists a common cooling pool for 6 reactors containing 6375 fuel rods!

It is no exaggeration to say that the fate of Japan and the whole world depends on NO.4 reactor. This is confirmed by most reliable experts like Dr. Arnie Gundersen or Dr. Fumiaki Koide.

Here are two of my favorites from the above website:

Don't forget that initially SCE told everyone that this was no bid deal, then there was no leakage, then a insignificant amount leaked and then only a small leak and then just a tube or two then the NRC asked for more info because of PUBLIC pressure and now it comes out that it is a MAJOR Concern for all of SoCal...

If this progression sounds familiar just remember that TEPCO in Japan did the very same thing when they had their Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster in Fukushima on 3/11/11...

TEPCO and the entire Nuclear Industry is DESPERATE to avoid the concept that an BIG EQ can start a meltdown because it puts EVERY land based Reactor at RISK of creating a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster...

TEPCO "fiddled" with the 3/11/11 operators data just enough to make it appear that the Tsunami was the "cause" because most people Globally are not afraid of Tsunamis'...

Sure the data shows they were adding "makeup" water; but ask yourself why was that extra water suddenly required in such massive amounts? The answer is MASSIVE RADIOACTIVE WATER LEAKAGE caused by the QUAKE! Think of all the weakened condenser tubes, weakened wiring piping penetrations, and old seam welds at supporting reinforcements all starting to fail at the same time because of the BIG ground movements caused by the EQ and the after shocks...

We all know what happens when you shake up a soda can and then start to open it.

Fukushima was caused by the failure of the reactor to withstand the ground movements caused by the huge EQ, which by the way, was built far beyond the spec's of ANY US reactors...

What will happen when CA get the BIG One, better yet, can the USA afford a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster?

and

A Prediction!

I believe that the CURRENT PROBE into San Onofre will expose many more questionable tubes and also an ongoing coverup of safety related info that was concealed in order to sidestep NRC notifications. San Onofre has the worst safety record of all US reactors and it just makes sense that the Operator will be trying very hard to keep the lid on anything that draw attention to their reactor or it's operation.

The NRC gave the Nuclear Industry a "PASS" on the tube wear issue before on San Onofre and many of the other reactors around the Country http://wp.­me/p21p6a-­77L BUT NOW

They are realizing that they have a much bigger problem than they first "imagined"­; metal erosion/weakness cannot be tolerated when the radioactiv­e leakage is not only high in temperatur­e and pressure but also high in amount of radiation!

Would you use a dangerous leaking pressure pot day after day,... or would you be smart and replace it with something safer?

Fragile tubes and a BIG EARTH QUAKE could makes a large number of those tubes all Fail AT ONCE; which is what I think happened in Fukushima!

While we all may not buy into all of these allegations, the fact that this "minor mishap" at the plant has grown into something that is unprecedented makes me think that those units may never operate again. And that's after they just spent $ millions on a new boiler/steam turbine for one of them and are on track to do the same for the other. Are we to come down to a choice of dangerously flawed nuke plants vs. coal fired generation? A real Hobbes choice, and one that seems unnecessary. Then there is the matter of all the other nuke plants around the nation. Are many/most of them in similar danger? And how about the rest of the world? This could snowball.

I read a huge number of great comments about this in the San Clemente Times article:

NRC: Power Plant Restart Hinges on Assurances of Safety

Read more: San Clemente Times - Local News, Businesses, Classifieds, events, in the San Clemente, CA area. http://sanclementetimes.com/pages/full_story/push?need_to_add=true&content_instance=18157899&id=18157899#cb_post_comment_18157899

This is a much BIGGER safety issue than we have been told by CSE or the NRC...

San Onofre Reactor Emergency = SORE

The nuclear Industry always tries to pick a "FLUFFY" non-threating name...

I wonder why?

"Shut Down San Onofre Rally" - April 29, 2012 http://is.gd/45VTnP

I hope you can make it to one of our upcoming events. You can ride the No Nukes Express from Balboa Park! No driving required!

http://residentsorganizedforasafeenvironment.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/2nd-peaceful-protest-at-san-onofre-sunday-april-29-2012/

Solana Beach City Council on San Onofre - 6:00pm tonight!

Sorry for the late notice. This meeting in Solana Beach tonight was going to be just another city council meeting regarding our safety concerns at San Onofre, but we just confirmed that for the first time, Edison will be there in person to make a presentation also. We have never had a public discussion with them participating. They usually just attend and say nothing in their defense, even when asked to do so. This represents a major shift in their approach and we think it will be a dramatic difference. I hope you can be there to show your support. The media will be there, and it would definitely help to have you there with us. We also will be making public the latest findings on the steam generator issue from Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds who has been hired as an independent consultant for Friends of the Earth.

If you need a ride tonight we’ll try to make that happen for you. If you are going and want to give someone a ride or if you are looking for a ride, please meet up at Carrow’s parking lot on Pico at 5:00. I guess the drivers better stand alongside your cars so people can identify you. We must leave no later than 5:15 to be on time!

FYI – You can find a recap of our historic private meeting we had last Friday with NRC Chairman Jaczko here. The media results from that event topped 90 news bureaus covering that story around the globe.

The steam generator issue is especially significant because we had a much closer call than the public was aware of when they failed. They have been shutdown since January 31 and we have done fine without nuclear power ever since. The notion that we may have blackouts this summer have been contrived by the industry. We have excess power even without them, yet they will do anything to get at least one of the reactors up and running again this summer, regardless of the potential for a far worse catastrophe.

Here are some talking points...

 Keep SORE shut down until after the Health study is completed.  Reduce RISK of a double meltdown in SoCal.  Increase property Values.  De-Commissioning SORE will jump start the SoCal economic recovery, by providing good paying jobs for many years!  The USA cannot afford a Trillion Dollar Eco-Disaster.  Nobody can afford to lose their property to radiation

This message is from the Peace Resource Center of San Diego www.prcsd.org

URGENT! Two City Council Meetings this week in North County re: San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant

Sorry for short notice, but things are happening fast on the San Onofre issue!

Two Important actions about the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant will take place this week! We need people who live in Carlsbad and Solana Beach and surrounding areas to attend these two local city council meetings!

The City of Irvine has voted to take a position opposing the continued operation of San Onofre. Activists are working to keep San Onofre closed have been attending City Council meetings in Carlsbad and Solana Beach urging their cities to also take a position. They need our support!

1. Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Attend the City of Carlsbad City Council meeting, 6 p.m. City of Carlsbad 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008

Activists/experts will speak during the Public Comment section asking for the city to put the item on their agenda and take a position.

1. Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Attend the City of Solana Beach City Council Meeting, 6 p.m. 635 S. HWY 101 Solana Beach, CA 92075

The City Council will discuss taking a position on San Onofre

Item C1 on the Agenda; see Staff report and recommendation here: http://solanabeach.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?meta_id=118171&view=&showpdf=1

We want to extend this effort to other cities in San Diego County. If you are interested in working on this in your city, please contact Carol Jahnkow, [email protected]; 760-390-0775

Sign the California Nuclear Initiative petition today. If we get this on the ballot for November, the decision to effectively keep the plant shut down will be up to the people. Sign and mail petitions by Monday 4/9/2012. Download petitions at http://sanonofresafety.org/

Thanks Dave Rice for posting the Safety Allegations Chart! The public needs to know this plant has the worst safety record of all US plants. And that record continues today. Edison says they are improving, but employees tell us they are scared to death to report safety problems for fear of losing their jobs, so now less safety problems are being reported! San Onofre has the highest rate of retaliation against employees, too! The NRC says there is nothing they can do about it because there is no regulation that covers this -- they can't even issue a violation notice for this. But there is something we can do -- download and sign the petition by Monday April 9th.

Donna Gilmore

There are many of us downwind of California who are very concerned about the problems at San Onfore's nuclear power plant.

We're following the news carefully and don't feel assured from what we're learning.

The idea of re-starting Unit 2 when Unit 3 still has problems makes no sense.

Just keep them both shut down until there can be 100% assurance that there will be no future problems and radioactive releases.

Don't put profit above safety.

Don't forget to read the earlier piece on this: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs...

and then attend this:

Shut Down San Onofre Rally" - April 29, 2012 http://is.gd/45VTnP

I hope you can make it to one of our upcoming events. You can ride the No Nukes Express from Balboa Park! No driving required!

http://residentsorganizedforasafeenvironment.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/2nd-peaceful-protest-at-san-onofre-sunday-april-29-2012/

Why did it take so long for this tube-on-tube degradation in Unit 2 to become public? And only after NRC Chairman Jaczko and Congressman Issa had been put in the embarrassing position of suggesting that Unit 2 could be on a fast track for restart?

Unit 2 was down for maintenance when Unit 3's leak caused it to shut down on January 31, and the media reported on February 2: But the OC Register reported on February 2 the following: “ 'They have inspected 80 percent of the tubes in one of the steam generators at unit 2,' said Victor Dricks, spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 'Two of the tubes have thinning so extensive that they need to be plugged and taken out of service. Sixty nine other tubes have thinning greater than 20 percent of the wall thickness, and a larger number have thinning greater than 10 percent of wall thickness.' The tubes with 10 percent thinning number more than 800, he said."

After more than 10 weeks, when do we get the scorecard for each of the two SG's in Unit 2 and each of the two SG's in Unit 3?

Certainly Edison International CEO Ted Craver knows the first rule of crisis management is get the information out there quickly and accurately, then live with the consequences. Very bad form, Ted.