Fukushima radiation is changing whole ecosystems in Japan’s forests
Japan Scientists: Truly unusual deformities in Fukushima — Forests may be evolving into different ecosystems — “There’s been a sudden, large change” http://enenews.com/japan-scientists-truly-unusual-deformities-in-fukushima-theres-been-a-sudden-large-change-forests-may-be-evolving-into-different-ecosystems
February 27th, 2013
Excerpts from ‘Radiant Wildlands‘ by Winifred Bird and Jane Braxton in the Spring 2013 issue of Earth Island Journal
[…] When Joji Otaki began looking closely at the [pale grass blue butterflies] the size of a silver dollar, however, he was struck by abnormal patterns in the dark dots on their wings. Then he noticed dents in their eyes and strangely shaped wings and legs.
Otaki, a professor at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, was in the Abukuma Mountains west of the disaster site collecting butterflies to study their response to the accident [2 months after 3/11].
[…] the aberrations they found took them by surprise. Abnormalities in the first generation were within normal boundaries. But when Otaki bred these butterflies in his laboratory, mutations in the offspring increased to 18 percent. That suggested inherited genetic damage. Field samples collected in September 2011, representing the fourth or fifth generation of butterflies since the disaster, had even higher abnormality rates. The changes may not all have been caused by radiation; Otaki had previously found evidence that temperature can affect wing markings. But the deformities his team found in antennae, legs, and other body parts are truly unusual, says Hokkaido University entomologist Shin-ichi Akimoto, who is studying the impact of Fukushima fallout on aphids. The abnormalities are troubling not only because insects are commonly assumed to be more resistant to radiation than humans, but also because they suggest the Fukushima nuclear disaster may be changing individual species, even entire forests.
“There is no question that ecosystems as a whole are suffering,” Otaki says. “There has been a sudden, large change.”
[…] As plants and animals continue to live in these irradiated environments, forests themselves may be evolving into different ecosystems. […]See also: Biologist on Mutated Butterflies: Study is overwhelming in its implications for humans — Japan Researcher: Insects were believed to be very resistant to radiation — Irregularly developed eyes, malformed antennae, much smaller wings (PHOTO)
Pacific Ocean fish to be studied for Fukushima radiation
L.A. Times: NOAA to start testing wildlife for Fukushima contamination http://enenews.com/l-a-times-noaa-to-start-testing-wildlife-for-fukushima-radiation
February 26th, 2013
Title: Radioactive tuna from Fukushima? Scientists eat it up
Source: Los Angeles Times
Author: Eryn Brown
Date: February 25, 2013
Title: Radioactive tuna from Fukushima? Scientists eat it up
[…] In coming months, the three researchers and colleagues at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other institutions plan to analyze hundreds more bluefin tuna, as well as albacore tuna; mahi mahi; ocean sunfish; opa; mako, blue and salmon sharks; loggerhead turtles; and sooty shearwaters, a type of migratory seabird.
They’ll examine samples collected in New Zealand, Hawaii and Alaska as well as in California. They might look through archived specimens for salmon and whales to test. Other research groups may track the contamination to study marine animals too, [Dan Madigan of Stanford University] said.
If scientists find Fukushima radiation in swordfish, for example, it will be the first evidence that the species migrates across the entire Pacific. […]
“Amazing”
They concluded that their tracking method worked, and that Fukushima provided “an unprecedented opportunity” for scientists to use radioactive tracers to follow animal movement. “This was just nature being amazing,” [Nicholas Fisher of Stony Brook University] said.
He imagines pulling together a map of the Pacific crisscrossed by the paths of radiation-toting animals — “an amazing image of transport … all from a little dot” in Japan, Madigan said.
See also: HuffPost: “Radioactive Fish Found In California” — Is it a good thing?
Fukushima’s radiation will have greatest impact on girls- World Health Organisation report
Japan to Begin Restarting Idled Nuclear Plants, Leader Says NYT By MARTIN FACKLER and HIROKO TABUCHI Matthew L. Wald contributed reporting from Washington. February 28, 2013 “……..According to the study, girls exposed as infants to radioactivity in the most contaminated regions of Fukushima Prefecture faced a 70 percent higher risk of developing thyroid cancer than would be expected normally. The report pointed out, however, that the normal risk of thyroid cancer was just 0.75 percent, and that the additional lifetime risk would raise that to 1.25 percent.
Girls exposed to radioactivity as infants in the most heavily contaminated areas also had a 6 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer, and a 4 percent higher risk of developing cancers that cause tumors. Meanwhile, boys exposed as infants had a 7 percent higher chance of developing leukemia.
The study also said that about a third of the emergency workers who remained to try to stabilize the Fukushima Daiichi plant were estimated to have a slightly increased risk of developing leukemia, thyroid cancer and other types of cancer.
The analysis was based on data available as of September 2011, and takes into account airborne contamination as well as contaminated food, water and other sources of contamination, the WH.O. said. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/world/asia/japan-to-begin-restarting-idled-nuclear-plants.html?_r=0
Native title laws should shift the onus of proof away from Aboriginal claimants
PM missed native title chance: Keating, BY:BRIDGET CORMACK The Australian February 25, 2013
PAUL Keating says the Gillard government has lost an opportunity to make a vital amendment to Native Title laws that would shift the onus of proof away from indigenous claimants.
The former prime minister, who ushered in Australia’s first Native Title laws two decades ago, said the government should have seized the chance to change the laws to make it easier for Aborigines to win rights to their traditional lands. Mr Keating gave a rousing speech yesterday on North Stradbroke Island, 30km south east from Brisbane, where he urged the Quandamooka people to make the most of their hard won land rights, recognised after 16 years of negotiations in an agreement endorsed by the Federal Court in 2011.
While theirs was a victory, he said, the Native Title process was still “far too slow” and the law desperately needed to be given the long-mooted amendment so Aboriginal claimants no longer have to prove a continuous association with their land. “I think the current government has lost the opportunity now to make the amendment,” Mr Keating said. “It would pass the Senate with the Greens and the Independents.”
Mr Keating said the test for proving continuity relied on “written traditions” and was at odds with the “oral traditions” of Aboriginal people.
On the 20th anniversary of the Mabo decision last year the government proposed landmark changes to Native Title laws, including a definition for “good faith” negotiations and allowing historical extinguishment of native title in national parks to be disregarded.
The bill did not reverse the onus of proof. Continue reading
Canada to make medical isotopes by non nuclear methods – no nuclear reactor needed
Canada to fund non-nuclear sources for medical isotopes By Randall Palmer and David Ljunggren | Reuters –28 Feb 13, OTTAWA – Canada expects to be able to make enough medical isotopes through non-nuclear methods by 2016 to replace those now produced by an aging reactor and better assure an uninterrupted supply for medical imaging, a government minister said on Thursday.
To that end, the federal government will fund three research institutes developing cyclotron and linear accelerator technologies for production of isotopes on a commercial scale, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said.
Canada’s only current source of the isotopes is a problem-plagued reactor at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd’s facility at Chalk River, Ontario. The reactor is licensed to run until 2016.
“Our challenge now is to prove that cyclotron and linear accelerator production can be commercially viable. … We envision a future where isotope production will no longer require highly enriched uranium — a weapons-grade material,” he said.
The government will give a total of C$25 million ($24.3 million) to the three facilities for this goal…. http://news.yahoo.com/canada-fund-non-nuclear-sources-medical-isotopes-190403191–sector.html
No way yet found to stop scandalous radioactive water leakage from Hanford Nuclear reservation
Governor: Nuclear waste leaking at an estimated 1,000 gallons a year — “No available technology to plug the leaks” at Hanford http://enenews.com/governor-nuclear-waste-is-leaking-an-estimated-1000-gallons-a-year-no-available-technology-to-plug-the-leaks-at-hanford
Associated Press, Feb. 27: Radioactive waste tanks may be leaking some 1,000 gallons per year at Hanford Nuclear Reservation, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Wednesday officials are still evaluating how to effectively remove the remaining material from the problematic tanks. The 1,000-gallon figure is a rough estimate based on the 
early assessment of six identified leakers. Inslee said the leakage numbers are still being evaluated to determine exactly how much has been lost and how fast the waste is leaving the tanks. Inslee said there’s no available technology to plug the leaks […]
Businessweek, Feb. 27: The Energy Department has expressed concern that contamination from the single-shell tanks may be making its way toward the Columbia River, which supplies drinking water and agricultural irrigation.
A Sustainable Energy Future for Western Australia
Creating a sustainable energy future for Western Australia http://www.infolink.com.au/c/Sustainable-Energy-Association-of-Australia/Creating-a-sustainable-energy-future-for-Western-Australia-n2501656 1 March 2013, The Sustainable Energy Association of Australia promotes the development and adoption of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable energy technologies and services.
SEA released its policy position recently, ahead of the Western Australian State Election on 09 March 2013.
The policy document ‘Creating a sustainable energy future for Western Australia’ draws on the substantive views of SEA members who were surveyed on what they would like to see from the next State Government.
Five key recommendations: Continue reading
Cowra Peace Bell will fly Aboriginal flag, as well as Australian national flag
Aboriginal flag to fly at Cowra Peace Bell, Cowra Community News, 28 Feb 13 THE Aboriginal flag will be raised to fly permanently beside the Australian flag at Cowra’s World Peace Bell in a ceremony to be held next Tuesday, March 5.
Aboriginal and community leaders will attend the Darling St ceremony, to start at 10am. The flag-raising honours Cowra Shire Council’s decision to fly both flags.
“There was a consensus at our last council meeting to honour our original residents by flying the (Aboriginal) flag beside council’s flag,” says Mayor of Cowra, Bill West. “This decision follows a request from the local Aboriginal community to consider the permanent flying of the Aboriginal flag to recognise their unique position as our first Australians.”
The Aboriginal flag is now well recognised as that of Australia’s original inhabitants – the black top-half symbolising the Aboriginal people, the red bottom-half representing the earth, and the yellow circle in the centre signifying the sun, says Cr West.
“Council recognises the unique status of Aboriginal people as the original owners of the land; flying the flags together symbolises an acknowledgement of a shared future for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people built upon the principles of diversity, equity and social justice,” the Mayor says….. http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php?newsid=3007&id=2
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 