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Harvey Wasserman, Common Dreams . . . A stunning new report indicates the U.S. Navy knew that sailors from the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan took major radiation hits from the Fukushima atomic power plant after its meltdowns and explosions nearly three years ago. Many of the sailors are already suffering devastating health impacts, but are being stonewalled by Tepco and the Navy. The $4.3 billion carrier is now docked in San Diego. Critics question whether it belongs there at all. Attempts to decontaminate U.S. ships irradiated during the Pacific nuclear bombs tests from 1946-1963 proved fruitless.Still radioactive? (stock photo)
Stars and Stripes . . .
When the March 11, 2011 disaster struck, the Reagan was on its way to Korea, according to Reagan sailors who participated in Operation Tomodachi. They turned around and immediately made their way for the Japanese mainland, passing through a sea of debris. Sailors told Stars and Stripes that they believe they were as close as five miles off the coast of the stricken plant that spewed radiation into the air and sea.The ship's ventilation system might have been contaminated? What other systems might have been contaminated?The US Navy's "investigation" of the turret explosion on the USS Iowa doesn't give me much confidence that we'll be told the truth about conditions aboard the USS Reagan during its exposure to Fukushima radiation, or about what action has been taken to decontaminate the $4.3 billion dollar carrier. Wasserman . . . In the midst of a snow storm, deck hands were enveloped in a warm cloud that came with a metallic taste. Sailors testify that the Reagan’s 5,500-member crew was told over the ship’s intercom to avoid drinking or bathing in desalinized water drawn from a radioactive sea. The huge carrier quickly ceased its humanitarian efforts and sailed 100 miles out to sea, where newly published internal Navy communications confirm it was still taking serious doses of radioactive fallout.Still taking serious doses of radioactive fallout.For how long? Wasserman . . . Tepco and the Navy contend the Reagan did not receive a high enough dose to warrant serious concern. But Japan, South Korea and Guam deemed the carrier too radioactive to enter their ports.Tepco and the Navy are insisting that all is well.Yeah. Thanks for looking into this, keep up the good work!
David Koch
A prominent philanthropist, cancer survivor, and American businessman, David Koch, has given millions to the cause of cancer research, while his company—Koch Industries—has lobbied against formal recognition of formaldehyde as a carcinogen, The New Yorker reported in a piece published today. [...]The National Cancer Institute published a study in 2009 concluding that formaldehyde causes cancer in humans. [...] [P]rior to the May 2009 study, the National Cancer Institute had also performed a preliminary study that linked formaldehyde to leukemia, but members of Congress including Sens. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and David Vitter, R-La., managed to delay the EPA from officially designating the chemical as a “known carcinogen.” [...]Koch Industries bought Georgia-Pacific, one of the world’s largest plywood manufacturers—a process that uses and produces a great deal of formaldehyde—in 2005. But David Koch cares deeply about cancer victims. Not so much about preventing people from getting cancer by keeping carcinogens out of the atmosphere, but once they've got it, he's there. You know what else besides formaldehyde are carcinogens? Butadiene and benzene. About that, August, 2013: Flint Hills Resources reported a benzene and butadiene leak late Tuesday at its olefins plant in Port Arthur, Texas, the company said in a filing with the National Response Center.According to the filing, 325 pounds of butadiene and 268 pounds of benzene was released into the atmosphere. The report also stated there was an equipment failure that caused the leak and that it has been secured.You know what happens next: "Flint Hills Resources is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc." And guess who ranks #14 in the top 100 of Political Economy Research Institute's Toxic 100 Air Polluters? "The Toxic 100 Air Polluters ranks corporations based on the chronic human health risk from all of their U.S. polluting facilities." "Chronic human health risk." Yep, and the fact-checkers are the bad guys when it comes to a cancer victim.
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Friday, February 28, 2014
With just 41 votes, Republican senators block veterans benefits bill, Republican lobbyist drafts bill barring 'self-declared homosexual football players' from NFL teams et al
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