Nuclear Over-reaction?

On Monday Russell went back to work.  He didn't wear a suit.  Instead he wore jeans and comfortable shoes just in case he might have to walk home.  He didn't have to.

Scheduled rolling blackouts began.  Only two of 23 prefectures in Tokyo were exempt.  The one we live in and the one Russell works in.  How lucky is that?  It has nothing to do with us.  We live in an area with a lot of embassies.  I guess it pays to work for the government.  The area Russell works in is a major business corridor.  Considering Japan just dropped 86 billion in coin to keep the economy stimulated the last thing you want to do is turn out the lights.

The U.S. Embassy sent out another email with an update on all the issues going on including tsunamis, rolling blackouts, earthquakes, nuclear evacuations... It reads like an apocalypse memo.  Plus they encourage you to tell your family where you are and tell you not to travel.   If you're interested you can go to the link below and see the latest advisory.

http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-warden20110314-02.html

My favorite message thus far is this one:

A Message from Ambassador Roos to American Citizens in Japan

March 13, 2011

The U.S. Government is communicating closely with the Japanese Government on events as they unfold. We have and will continue to mobilize all appropriate resources. The U.S. Government and all necessary experts are fully engaged in analyzing the issues, including the Fukushima reactor issues, in close consultation with the Japanese Government. We are committed to providing you with all necessary information as we receive it. There is no double standard – what we advise our Embassy personnel will be provided to all Americans.

Please understand that there will continue to be substantial misinformation in the public. We urge American citizens in Japan to follow the instructions of Japanese civil defense authorities. The Japan Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) has recommended that people who live within 20 kilometers of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Okumacho evacuate the area immediately. No other evacuations have been recommended.

I thought everything was getting back to normal, well except for the 6.0+ aftershocks,  when Russell calls 

to tell me our neighbors have decided to get out of the city too. Then I find out the French and German

embassies are advising their citizens to leave the country.  What's up with that?  I'm suddenly growing 

more concerned and wondering if we're being naively optimistic about this whole thing.   I keep 

reminding myself what Russell told me about Chernobyl, the worst nuclear plant disaster of all time, 

that only a 30 kilometer radius was affected.  We live more than 250 kilometers south of the plant

currently having issues.

But why the sudden change of heart and why is the U.S. Embassy's point of view different than the 

others?  We theorize that: a) the neighbors left because they have kids and b) the U.S. Embassy has

significantly more expats in Tokyo than the other countries and the Americans (at least according to 

CNN) are directly involved with aiding the distressed nuclear plant and therefore better informed.

Then Russell sends me this story from a professor at MIT:

http://www.businessinsider.com/japan-reactors-pose-no-risk-2011-3#ixzz1GYAeAp1Q

It basically says there's nothing to worry about. 


We start investigating places to stay in South Japan just in case and start self-medicating with
a bottle of wine.