The latest news reports and the IAEA reports make me think the reactors
are now under control and cooled down. The danger of a melt-down
melt-through or recombination explosion rupturing the reactor vessel
seems to be receding.
This morning, NHK broadcast a 15-minute "look back" at developments
since the crisis began, with various clips. It was an outrageous
whitewash. They did not mention the fact that the pump ran out of fuel.
They kept referring to "the sound of an explosion that was heard"
instead of saying an explosion took place. They kept saying the reactor
cores "may have melted" or "there is evidence of melting" instead of
coming right out and saying what I think even the P.M. has admitted:
that the cores were exposed and did melt. They did not even show the
videos of the reactors exploding! That was broadcast worldwide but
instead, they showed the reactors later on smoking slightly, or with
shredded upper stories, shown from a long distance camera.
This does give a sense that the Great Cover Up has begun, and people are
rushing to escape responsibility or claim the whole thing was a natural
event and no one is at fault. That often happens in Japan. It happens
everywhere of course, but I do get a sense it is more of an ingrained
habit there. They also have an annoying habit of drastically
understating bad news and disagreeable facts. Perhaps the most famous
example was the Imperial Rescript announcing the surrender of WWII,
which says: "the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's
advantage." (That is an accurate translation.)
On the other hand, just after the whitewash segment, an independent
expert came on and sharply criticized both the government and TEPCO,
saying they have been withholding vital information and they have been
playing a catch-up game. (I guess you might translate it "they have been
a day late and a dollar short.")
Also on the other hand, I thought that P.M. Kan's address to the nation
yesterday was honest, realistic, understated and good leadership. He
spent too long introducing the subject and trying to reassure people,
but once he began reporting the situation I thought he made things
clear. I am glad that feather-head Hatoyama is no longer in office.
Kan is reportedly short tempered. He reportedly "lambasted" TEPCO. They
sure had it coming to them! Here is a report of that incident in English:
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110315004235.htm
- Jed
