http://news.linktv.org Link TV News Videos (Filtered by topics: Japanese nuclear safety) en-us Sat, 13 Oct 2012 12:24:00 -0700 Copyright 2011 Link Media, Inc. http://news.linktv.org/videos/fukushima-nuclear-disaster-tepco-admits-it-played-down-tsunami-risk?start=0 The company that operated Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant has admitted that it played down safety concerns before the March 2011 Tsunami. The announcement on Friday is the first time the company has acknowledged that the meltdown of three reactors at the plant could have been avoided. Sat, 13 Oct 2012 12:24:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/fukushima-nuclear-disaster-tepco-admits-it-played-down-tsunami-risk Fukushima Dai-ichi, 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Japan, Nuclear power plant, Fukushima Prefecture, Nuclear safety, Japanese nuclear safety, Al Jazeera English The company that operated Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant has admitted that it played down safety concerns before the March 2011 Tsunami. The announcement on Friday is the first time the company has acknowledged that the meltdown of three reactors at the plant could have been avoided. http://news.linktv.org/videos/japan-after-the-tsunami?start=0 On 11 March 2011, Japan's worst ever natural disaster killed almost 20,000 people. This report reveals the controversy surrounding it and the pain of rebuilding under the fear of radioactivity.<br /> Thu, 16 Aug 2012 11:08:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/japan-after-the-tsunami 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Sendai Earthquake of 2011, Japan, Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Japanese nuclear safety, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Radioactive contamination, Nuclear meltdown, Natural disaster, Nuclear and radiation accidents On the 11th of March 2011, Japan's worst ever natural disaster killed almost 20,000 people. This report reveals the controversy surrounding it and the pain of rebuilding under the fear of radioactivity. ---- Around the world the Japanese were praised for dealing with the March 11 earthquake with stoicism and patience. But one year on and there is still an arduous struggle for reconstruction that prevents people from returning their lives to normality. While the government promises that the country's situation is under control, the poor handling of the crisis and widespread misinformation has lead to a lack of trust and fears about radioactive contamination. "Contaminated food is entering the markets throughout Japan. For me this is quite frankly, very worrying", says a Japanese radiation expert. An increasing number of people don't trust official data and in cities like Tokyo there is a palpable, but often unspoken sense of fear. "The scientists say there is no reason for concern. I would like to believe this but I still worry that the situation could become even worse." As a proud nation, Japan watched several cherished myths crumble on that fateful day in March, not least the safely of its nuclear power plants. Japan now faces a crucial choice: suppress the events of 2011 or learn from them. http://news.linktv.org/videos/shrouded-in-secrecy-tepco-announces-release-of-nuke-crisis-calls?start=0 Japan's beleaguered energy company TEPCO has announced it will release "teleconference videos" of secret crisis calls that took place during the most crucial days of the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown. However, some key audio remains missing. Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:22:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/shrouded-in-secrecy-tepco-announces-release-of-nuke-crisis-calls Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Naoto Kan, Japan, Teleconference, Japanese nuclear safety, Japanese management culture, Prime Minister of Japan, Nuclear power, Nuclear meltdown Japan's beleaguered energy company TEPCO has buckled to pressure and announced it will release "teleconference videos" of the secret crisis calls that took place during the most crucial days of the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown. However, key audio from then-Prime Minister Naoto Kan remains missing. Many people, including Kan, believe TEPCO is still trying to conceal information. http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-july-1-2012?start=756 A Japanese parliamentary inquiry has concluded last year's nuclear meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was "a profoundly man-made disaster — that could and should have been foreseen and prevented." Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:18:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-july-1-2012 United States, Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Sendai Earthquake of 2011, Japan, Syrian Civil War, Newmont Mining Corporation, Extraordinary rendition, Syria, Bombing of Guernica A Japanese parliamentary inquiry has concluded last year's nuclear meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was "a profoundly man-made disaster — that could and should have been foreseen and prevented." We speak to former nuclear industry executive Arnie Gundersen about the report and what it means for U.S. nuclear facilities, in particular the 23 with a similar design to the Fukushima plant. "There's actually some curious information on Fukushima Unit 1. That was the first one to fail," Gundersen says. "That was built by an American company, General Electric, and an American architect/engineer. So it's hard for the Japanese to blame themselves, when this was an all-American design. ... I am concerned that the industry, the nuclear industry in the United States, will say it's a Japanese problem. And it's not." We begin today's show in Japan, where a new parliamentary inquiry has concluded last year's nuclear meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant could have been prevented. The investigating commission appointed by the Japanese Diet concluded, quote, "It was a profoundly man-made disaster—that could and should have been foreseen and prevented." The commission held the government, regulators and a nuclear operator responsible for the triple meltdown that occurred in March 2011 after a powerful earthquake and tsunami struck the country's northeast coast. Shuya Nomura is a member of the commission investigating the nuclear accident. SHUYA NOMURA: [translated] Man-made disaster, we are able to say, that based on all the facts gathered, that the cause of the accident was, in fact, we believe, to be man-made. The more than 600-page report urged greater safety around nuclear plants and called on parliament to closely monitor a new nuclear watchdog due to be launched in a few months. It also urged the government to be more transparent about its relationship with the nuclear industry. Meanwhile, last weekend, thousands marched across Japan to protest the resumption of nuclear power generation. The country halted its nuclear production earlier this year for the first time since the 1970s but resumed on Saturday by bringing one shuttered plant back online. This is protester Akiko Kondo. AKIKO KONDO: [translated] While saying they're going to restart, there continue to be various problems, even with Oi nuclear power plant. When I hear this, and under these circumstances, to have the plant running, all I can really say is that the government and all those involved really shock me. Well, for more, we're joined by Arnie Gundersen, a former nuclear power industry executive. He's the chief engineer at Fairewinds Associates and co-author of the Greenpeace report, "Lessons from Fukushima." He often provides independent testimony on nuclear and radiation issues to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other government agencies. Arnie Gundersen, welcome to Democracy Now! Hi. Thanks for having me. Well, your initial reaction to the report released by the Japanese parliament? Well, you know, we can no longer call it the Fukushima Daiichi accident. An accident is when a bolt of lightning comes out of the blue, and you have no idea why—what caused it. This report hit the nail on the head. This was man-made. The Japanese have known for at least 20 years, and perhaps a lot longer, that tsunamis of the size that could hit Fukushima Daiichi were in fact likely and never did anything about it. There's a coziness between the regulator and the people that run the nuclear power plants, not just in Japan, but worldwide. This report focused on that relationship between the regulator and the power plant owners in Japan. And one of the fascinating parts of the report is that it says that at least one of the reactors may not actually have been damaged by the tsunami but actually by the earthquake itself, that preceded the tsunami, which would at least suggest major structural flaws in the design of these reactors to withstand earthquakes. Yeah, there's actually some curious information on Fukushima Unit 1. That was the first one to fail. Interesting, too, that was built by an American company, General Electric, and an American architect/engineer. So it's hard to—for the Japanese to blame themselves, when this was an all-American design. Strange things happened before the tsunami hit on Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1. Also, though, there's some bulges in Fukushima Daiichi Unit 4. And those bulges are called something: a first mode Euler strut bulge. And they're definitely seismically induced. So, I don't think the nuclear industry wants to acknowledge that their seismic codes may be faulty, but I think it's certainly likely, and I agree with the report. And what implications might this have for other nuclear plants here in the United States, for instance, who maybe have had the similar design to the—to Unit 1 in Japan? There's 23 plants in the United States that are essentially identical to all three of the Daiichi plants that blew up. And, you know, I'm of the opinion that they should all be shut down. We had a bad design back in the '70s. This design was known to be bad. There were a series of Band-Aid fixes, but it never really got to the root cause that this is just too small a containment. It's interesting. Two days after the accident, Nuclear Regulatory Commission key people were discussing it, and one of them blurted out, "These are the worst containments in the world." So if we know they're the worst containments in the world, why are those 23 plants still running in the United States? And where are some of those 23 plants in the U.S.? There's a few in the East: Pilgrim, Vermont Yankee, Oyster Creek. There's a bunch in Illinois: the Dresden plants right near Chicago and the Quad City plants. And there's also several in the Southeast. So they're all essentially east of the Mississippi but in—near areas where there's high population densities. And the parliament report was also deeply critical of the response to the disaster by the government and by TEPCO, the operator of the Daiichi reactors. Could you talk about that, as well? Yeah. I was on CNN three days after the accident saying that this is as bad as Chernobyl. And the Japanese never made that acknowledgment for eight weeks. And that affects emergency planning. They didn't move women and children out of the high radiation areas fast enough. They really didn't want to admit what independent observers knew was already occurring. And it's a separate catastrophe from the fact that they had ample warning that it could happen. And when you say you initially warned that it was as bad as Chernobyl, what is your assessment now, with all the additional information that's come out, as to the potential long-term impacts of what happened in Japan? If there's any luck here, it's that the wind was blowing offshore, and about 80 percent of the radiation wound up in the Pacific. The amount of radiation released was clearly as much as Chernobyl, but most of it headed out to sea. That, by the way, wouldn't be the case in Illinois, for instance, where these reactors are surrounded, no matter which way. My estimate is that over the next 30 years we're going to see about a million cancers as a result of this. And, of course, it could have been worse had the wind not been blowing out to sea. The report also was—criticized the decision of the Japanese prime minister to rush to the site within a day of the disaster, saying that he actually impeded and delayed the efforts of the workers on the scene to control the disaster. Could you elaborate on that? You know, when you bring in the prime minister, attention is diverted from what's really important, which is the nuclear accident. You know, Jimmy Carter did that right after Three Mile Island. He came about three days after the accident in an attempt to quell the public fears. But this was different. There was a grave disconnect between Tokyo Electric and the prime minister's office. They didn't trust each other. And, of course, the prime minister, well, is taking credit, claiming that he forced Tokyo Electric not to abandon the site. And on the opposite side of the argument is that he arrived on site and diverted attention. I think it's a secondary issue to the broader issue of the fact that, you know, the regulator and the utilities were essentially in bed together. Also, it was quite unusual that the report leveled some criticism at the culture of Japan and the tendency of the public to not question the authorities, to not tolerate dissent, and really suggested that the attitude and the culture of the Japanese public needs to change. Do you consider that unusual in a report of this type? It's tough for the Japanese to admit that culturally they really respect authority. And I would agree that the report was right spot-on that they need a more healthy dialogue back and forth. But, you know, it's not just Japan. When—you know, I was a senior vice president, and when I was fired, I was talking to a highly placed nuclear attorney in Washington. And he said, "Arnie, in this business, you're either for us or against us, and you just crossed the line." So, the industry, no matter if it's in the States or in Japan, is essentially a closed fortress, and independent experts have a very difficult time having their opinions aired. And also, what do you think will be the impact of this report here in the United States? Obviously, the Obama administration is on record as supporting an expansion of more nuclear plants here in the United States. And how do you think this will affect that direction that the Obama administration and many Republicans in Congress support? Well, I am concerned that the industry, the nuclear industry in the United States, will say it's a Japanese problem. And it's not. The influence of corporate money has an insidious effect on Congress. And it's really not a Democrat or Republican issue. There are no Democrats and Republicans when it comes to nuclear: they are all pro-nuclear. You know, we just saw that. There were some hearings about Chairman Jaczko, who was the NRC—the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The industry didn't like the fact that he was trying to regulate, so they actually had congressional hearings trying to put him on the carpet. And as a result, he resigned. So, this kind of corporate pressure on Congress works its way down to the commissioners. There's five of them. And the commissioners affect the staff. So it's just as insidious here as it is in Japan—and, in fact, I think, worldwide. Well, Arnie Gundersen, we want to thank you, former nuclear executive and engineer. Thanks for joining us. We'll have to break, but we'll return in a minute. Stay with us. http://news.linktv.org/videos/japan-restarts-first-nuclear-reactor-since-fukushima-disaster?start=0 Japan restarted its first nuclear reactor at the Kansai Electric Power Ohi nuclear plant on Sunday. It's the first reactor to go back online since Japan shut down all 50 of its reactors for safety checks following last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster. Sun, 01 Jul 2012 19:12:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/japan-restarts-first-nuclear-reactor-since-fukushima-disaster Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Japan, Japanese nuclear safety, Kansai Electric Power Company, Anti-nuclear movement, Nuclear power, Nuclear reactor technology, Protest, Economy of Japan, Nuclear safety Japan restarted its first nuclear reactor at the Ohi power plant on Sunday. It's the first reactor to go back online since Japan shut down all 50 of its reactors for safety checks following last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster. http://news.linktv.org/videos/honorable-resignation-of-japanese-nuclear-execs-fails-to-convince-protestors?start=0 Anti-nuclear protestors in Japan demonstrated outside TEPCO's annual shareholders' meeting on Wednesday. At the meeting, TEPCO announced the resignation of 20 executives from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:40:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/honorable-resignation-of-japanese-nuclear-execs-fails-to-convince-protestors Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Japanese management culture, Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Anti-nuclear movement, Japanese nuclear safety, Nuclear power, Japan, Fukushima Prefecture, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Tokyo At the company's annual shareholders' meeting, TEPCO announced the resignation of 20 executives from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The electric power company is facing a 67 billion yen compensation claim for the 2011 disaster. http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-may-25-2012?start=111 Preliminary results from Egypt's first competitive presidential election indicate there may be a runoff between Mohamed Morsy, the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate, and Ahmed Shafik, Mubarak's ex-prime minister. A three-month review by New Jersey's attorney general has concluded the New York City Police Department did not violate state laws when it conducted extensive surveillance of Muslim groups with help from the CIA. In Montreal, nearly 1,000 were arrested as mass Quebec student strike passed its 100th day. And we examine controversial plans to close or privatize public schools in several Pennsylvanian cities. Plus headlines, and more. Fri, 25 May 2012 10:33:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-may-25-2012 Egyptian presidential election, 2012, Egypt, Ahmed Shafiq, Mohamed Morsi, United States, Montreal, Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Student debt, Education in the United States, Islam in the United States The owner of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant has admitted the amount of radioactive materials released in the first days of the nuclear disaster was almost two-and-a-half times the initial estimate by Japanese safety regulators. The company, TEPCO, said the nuclear accident released far more Iodine-131 than previously estimated. The radioactive substance can cause thyroid cancer. Based on TEPCO's current figures, the Fukushima disaster represented about 17 percent of the radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl accident. http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-april-17-2012?start=143 The Associated Press wins a Pulitzer prize for exposing NYPD's CIA-linked intelligence program, which led to widespread spying on Muslims. After 40 years in solitary confinement, two members of the "Angola Three" remain in isolation in a Louisiana Prison. And Norway's Johan Galtung, a peace amnd conflict pioneer, reflects on the Norwegian massacre and Afghanistan War. Plus today's headlines, and more. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:08:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-april-17-2012 NYPD, Muslim, Angola Three, Johan Galtung, Norway, CIA, United States, Solitary confinement, Anders Behring Breivik, Islam in the United States Increased Shelling by Syrian Government Threatens Ceasefire Government troops in Syria have broadened shelling attacks on opposition areas, casting more doubt on a U.N.-backed ceasefire brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan. The number of people killed in Syria has been rising steadily after a brief moment of quiet when the ceasefire took effect last Thursday. On Monday, at least 26 people were killed across the country, although one activist group put the death toll at 55. Activists say shelling by government tanks killed at least two people in the southern town of Busra al-Harir. At least five people were killed when the government shelled parts of the central city of Homs in an apparent push to claim the last remaining rebel strongholds there. A six-member advance team of U.N. observers arrived in Syria over the weekend, and more monitors are expected to arrive this week. Australia To Withdraw Troops Early from Afghanistan Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced today Australia will withdraw its troops from Afghanistan earlier than planned. Gillard said troops would begin pulling out this year and most would be home by the end of 2013. Gillard made the announcement two days after militants waged a 18-hour attack on Kabul that left more than 50 people dead. Norwegian Anti-Muslim Killer Says He Would Commit Attack Again The Norwegian man who killed 77 people last year said that he would do the same thing again. Anders Behring Breivik has pleaded not guilty and said he acted to defend his country against Muslims. In a prepared statement Breivik said: "I have carried out the most sophisticated and spectacular political attack committed in Europe since the Second World War." Many relatives of the victims of the massacre in Norway are attending the trial. Trond Blattman lost his 17-year-old son. bq. Trond Blattman: "I don't think that looking in his eyes will give me any answer to anything actually. He gave one answer himself and that was when they showed this video of his crazy views of how his society should look like and how the world should look at him and what kind of a world he wants and that is not the kind of world we want to see and hopefully he don't have a lot of supporters for his views, either politically or ideologically. I think this man is a mass murderer and that is what he is going to be judged as." Senate Republicans Block "Buffett" Tax on Wealthiest Americans Senate Republicans blocked an effort by Democrats to advance the so-called Buffett rule to ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share in taxes. The proposed rule — named after billionaire Warren Buffett — would have imposed a minimum tax rate of 30 percent for households with adjusted gross incomes of at least $2 million. Jim Yong Kim Named Head of World Bank, Maintains U.S. Lock on Post The World Bank has named Jim Yong Kim as its next president, maintaining a seven-decade U.S. lock on the post. Kim is a global public-health expert and president of Dartmouth College. He co-founded Partners in Health with Dr. Paul Farmer. Kim will be the bank's first leader drawn from the development world rather than politics or finance. For the first time ever, the U.S. nominee for the position faced opposition as candidates from Nigeria and Colombia challenged Kim's nomination. Palestinian Prisoners Launch Massive Hunger Strike in Israeli Jails Some 1,200 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have reportedly begun an open-ended hunger strike. An additional 2,300 declared they would not eat for one day as Palestinians mark Prisoners' Day. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports the hunger strikers are protesting against what they call "humiliating" measures in Israeli prisons, including strip searches of visiting family members and night searches of prison cells, as well as the jailing of many prisoners without trial. Several Palestinians are already on extended hunger strikes including Tair Halala and Balal Diab who have not eaten for 48 days. Khader Adnan, a Palestinian who ended a 66-day hunger strike in February, is due to be released from prison today. Candidates Appeal Ban from Egyptian Presidential Race Three contenders for the Egyptian presidency have filed appeals after they were barred from running by the country's election commission. In total, the election commission disqualified 10 presidential candidates, including Omar Suleiman, who was intelligence chief under ousted president, Hosni Mubarak. Suleiman and two other candidates have appealed the decision. The commission's move came after a massive crowd gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday to protest the inclusion of figures from the Mubarak regime in the presidential race. Elections are scheduled to begin on May 23. Amnesty Report Slams Bahrain for Human Rights Abuses A new report by Amnesty International criticizes the U.S.-backed Bahraini government for continuing to commit human rights violations against anti-government protesters. Suzanne Nossel is executive director of Amnesty International USA. Suzanne Nossel: "It continues to hold large numbers of people in detention. It has imposed very harsh sentences on people without fair trials. There are 14 opposition leaders that remain in custody. There has been no high level accountability for those abuses. So we see window dressing in the form of independent investigation that gave an aura of seriousness on the part of the government in terms of living up to their human rights responsibilities, but very little in the way of follow-through." Japan's Last Nuclear Plant to Shut Down Next Month Japan will go without nuclear power for the first time in decades after the last plant currently operating in the country is shut down early next month. Japan's trade minister said two reactors that have been idling since the massive earthquake and nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi facility would not be brought back online before the country's last plant is shut down. Before the Fukushima crisis last year, nuclear power made up about 30 percent of Japan's electricity demand, but all but one of the country's 54 reactors are currently offline following safety concerns. U.S.-Filipino Military Exercise Draws Protests in the Philippines Nearly 7,000 American and Filipino troops have begun a major joint military exercise that will include combat drills near disputed South China Sea waters. The exercise comes as the United States expands its presence in the region. On Monday, dozens of Filipino student activists protested outside the U.S. embassy and called for all U.S. troops to leave the Philippines. U.S. and Filipino military officials claimed the military exercises were not meant to provoke China. This is Marine Brigadier General Frederick Padilla. Frederick Padilla: "Well this exercise, from our standpoint, is not linked to any particular situation. It is merely an opportunity for us to work on our relationship and be able to be ready. And again this year, the scenario is the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario. So that's what we're focused on. It's to build on that bond, build on relationships where we can respond better should there be a crisis that comes." Argentina Moves to Nationalize Major Oil Company Argentina has unveiled plans to nationalize the country's largest oil company, YPF. In a major push to reclaim sovereignty over the country's natural resources, Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said Monday the government would seek a 51 percent share in the company. She accused the firm's majority owner — the Spanish company Repsol — of failing to meet Argentina's energy needs. The move has sparked an outcry from Repsol and the Spanish government. Taur Matan Ruak Elected Third President of East Timor Since Independence Taur Matan Ruak has been elected president of East Timor becoming the country's third president since it won independence from Indonesia 10 years ago. Ruak was the last commander of East Timor's National Liberation Army, Falintil, before independence. FCC Fines Google $25,000 for Impeding Probe of Data-Collection Practices The Federal Communications Commission is seeking a $25,000 fine from internet giant Google after the company "impeded" and "delayed" a probe of its data-collection practices. The FCC examined how Google secretly collected personal information, including emails and text messages, through its Street View location service. The $25,000 fine is the maximum penalty for failing to comply with an investigation. Google made nearly $3 billion last quarter, or $25,000 in profits every 68 seconds. Google has faced increased scrutiny in recent years over possible privacy violations. In 2010, the Federal Trade Commission dropped its investigation of the Street View service after Google pledged to improve privacy protections. OWS Activists Arrested at Foreclosure Auction, Near Stock Exchange In Occupy news, 14 Occupy Wall Street protesters were arrested after they tried to disrupt a foreclosure auction inside a Bronx courthouse. The protesters were issued summonses for disorderly conduct for singing during the proceedings. Meanwhile New York City police made several arrests last night near the New York Stock Exchange where Occupy protesters have been sleeping on the sidewalks for the past week. AP Wins Pulitzer for NYPD Muslim Spying Series; Manning Marable Wins for Malcolm X Book Columbia University has announced the winners of the 96th annual Pulitzer Prizes. Two online publications — The Huffington Post and Politico — each won Pulitzers for the first time. Other winners included the the Associated Press for its coverage of the New York City Police Department's clandestine surveillance of Muslims and the New York Times for its coverage of how the wealthiest U.S. citizens and businesses exploited loopholes and avoided taxes. The late Manning Marable won the Pulitzer Prize for history for his book, "Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention." Alaskan, Kenyan Activists Among 6 Winners of Goldman Environmental Prize Six environmentalists have been named winners of the 23rd Goldman Environmental Prize. Alaskan-Inupiat activist Caroline Cannon won for her work to protect against drilling in the Arctic seas. Caroline Cannon: "When I met with President Obama a couple years ago, he told me that he knew what it felt to be treated as a second-class citizen. He made a promise to work with the Inupiat people, and to protect our way of life, that gave me hope. Now is a time to hold him to that promise." Kenyan activist Ikal Angelei won a Goldman prize for her campaign to block the construction of one of East Africa's most significant infrastructure projects, the GIBE-3 dam, that could lead to the region's Lake Turkana drying up. Ikal Angelei: "The biggest the challenge was working with a community who's having already a lot of problems. Access to food, access to healthcare, insecurity, lack of government support. It's so hard when you're talking about environmental rights and resource governance when we are having people thinking 'Can I get a meal today?' and we will see what tomorrow brings. So that was the hardest challenge, working in an area where the community is already in conflict over resources, it was really hard to bring them together and say 'Listen, we understand what are the issues but as of now we have to speak as one voice.'" The other winners were Ma Jun from China, Evgenia Chirikova from Russia, Edwin Gariguez, of the Philippines and Sofia Gatica from Argentina. http://news.linktv.org/videos/situation-inside-fukushima-reactor-worse-than-previously-thought?start=0 Recent investigation found one damaged reactor at Japan's crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant has extremely high levels of radiation and very little water to help cool it down. Authorities haven't been able to probe two others that had meltdowns. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 11:01:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/situation-inside-fukushima-reactor-worse-than-previously-thought Fukushima Dai-ichi, Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Japan, Nuclear meltdown, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Nuclear power plant, Containment building, Sendai Earthquake of 2011, Nuclear safety, Tsunami Recent investigation found one damaged reactor at Japan's crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant has extremely high levels of radiation and very little water to help cool it down. Authorities haven't been able to probe two others that had meltdowns. http://news.linktv.org/videos/japan-tsunami-anniversary-tomiokas-last-inhabitant?start=0 The town of Tomioka lies inside the Fukushima exclusion zone. Once home to 16,000 people, now only Naoto Matsumura remains, braving loneliness and radiation to feed a menagerie of animals left behind after the disaster. Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:00:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/japan-tsunami-anniversary-tomiokas-last-inhabitant Sendai Earthquake of 2011, Fukushima Prefecture, Tomioka, Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Tsunami, Nuclear and radiation accidents, Japanese nuclear safety, Nuclear meltdown, Nuclear power plant Tomioka was once home to 16,000 people, but now only Naoto Matsumura remains. The town lies inside the exclusion zone set up around the stricken Fukushima nuclear reactor after last year's devastating tsunami. Without electricity and running water, Matsumura braves loneliness and the constant threat of exposure to elevated levels of radiation to feed a menagerie of animals left behind. http://news.linktv.org/videos/stories-from-tohoku-japans-youth-rise?start=0 To mark the one-year anniversary of the devastating triple disaster in Japan, LinkAsia presents an excerpt from the upcoming film "Stories from Tohoku: With Heart and Hope," directed by LinkAsia Consulting Producer Dianne Fukami. The film looks at how the younger generation is using social innovation to rebuild the region. Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:26:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/stories-from-tohoku-japans-youth-rise Japan, Tōhoku region, Sendai Earthquake of 2011, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Fukushima Prefecture, Nuclear safety, Earthquake, Tsunami, Japanese nuclear safety, Nuclear and radiation accidents To mark the one-year anniversary of the devastating triple disaster in Japan, LinkAsia presents an excerpt from the upcoming film "Stories from Tohoku: With Heart and Hope," directed by LinkAsia Consulting Producer Dianne Fukami. The film looks at how the younger generation is using social innovation to rebuild the region. http://news.linktv.org/videos/japan-government-concealed-fukushima-disaster-dangers?start=0 The manager at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant said it was still vulnerable, nearly a year after a tsunami crippled the facility. A report made public Tuesday found the government had withheld the potential dangers of the disaster. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:09:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/japan-government-concealed-fukushima-disaster-dangers Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear disaster, Japanese nuclear safety, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Japan, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Sendai Earthquake of 2011, US-Japan relations, Nuclear safety, Tsunami, Nuclear power plant The manager at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant said it was still vulnerable, nearly a year after a tsunami crippled the facility. A report made public Tuesday found the government had withheld the potential dangers of the disaster. http://news.linktv.org/videos/inquiry-slams-fukushima-nuclear-response?start=0 An inquiry into the tsunami disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant in northern Japan has found the operators and government were irresponsible in their reaction. Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:55:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/inquiry-slams-fukushima-nuclear-response Fukushima Dai-ichi, Japanese nuclear safety, Nuclear power, Japan, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Public inquiry, ABC News (Australia) An inquiry into the tsunami disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant in northern Japan has found the operators and government were irresponsible in their reaction. Japan's PM Noda receives an investigation report from Yotaro Hatamura, chairperson of the Investigation Committee on the Accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations of Tokyo Electric Power Co., in Tokyo http://news.linktv.org/videos/possible-breakthrough-in-nuclear-clear-up?start=0 Scientists in Japan think they may have found a way to remove caesium radiation from contaminated ground around the Fukushima nuclear plant using microbes. Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:53:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/possible-breakthrough-in-nuclear-clear-up Japan, Caesium, Nuclear power, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Japanese nuclear safety, Radioactive contamination, Soil, Nuclear safety, Environment, Euronews Scientists in Japan think they may have found a way to remove caesium radiation from contaminated ground around the Fukushima nuclear plant damaged in the earthquake in March. It involves using microbes to attracts particles from the metal caesium in soil and water. So far results have been very encouraging and the scientists are keen to test the procedure on the ground as soon as possible. http://news.linktv.org/videos/concerns-grow-in-japan-over-reactor-safety-tests?start=0 Japan's government has confirmed that the country's out-of-action nuclear reactors could be turned on again, if they pass post-Fukushima safety tests. Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:53:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/concerns-grow-in-japan-over-reactor-safety-tests Japan, Nuclear power, Japanese nuclear safety, Protest, Tokyo, Nuclear safety, Yukio Edano, Nuclear and radiation accidents, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Nuclear reactor technology Japan's government has confirmed that the country's out-of-action nuclear reactors could be turned on again, if they pass post-Fukushima safety tests. But no timetable for the tests has been given. Ministers had announced last month that the plants were safe to open. Yukio Edano, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary said "This new set of standards is aimed at guaranteeing the safety of nuclear power generations and at gaining the trust of the general population in the safety of nuclear facilities." http://news.linktv.org/videos/anti-nuclear-protesters-take-to-streets-of-tokyo?start=0 Japan's reliance on nuclear power may change in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami -- that is, if protesters have anything to do about it. A vocal protest movement that started online has now moved to the streets. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:29:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/anti-nuclear-protesters-take-to-streets-of-tokyo Japan, Nuclear power, Anti-nuclear movement, Tokyo, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Japanese nuclear safety, Protest, Social media, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Environment Japan's reliance on nuclear power may change in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami -- that is, if protesters have anything to do about it. A vocal protest movement that started online in Japan has now moved to the streets. Our Tokyo contributor, Rebecca Milner, tells us more. It's been more than three months since the earthquake and tsunami hit eastern Japan, however tensions still remain high over the Fukushima nuclear power plant and the future of nuclear power in general in Japan. Anti-nuclear demonstrations continue to take place around the country. Most recently, on June 11, organizers called for a global day of action, which resulted in several protests around the country, the largest of which took place in downtown Tokyo. Demonstrations, in general, in Japan are quite rare. In the decades since Japan began rolling out its nuclear power program, scattered, small-scale protests have erupted occasionally. But since Fukushima, everything has changed. Through Twitter and social networking sites like Mixi, thousands of web users have joined new online communities, with names such as oppose Nuclear Power, Natural Energy, and Tepco is to Blame, which have become active clearinghouses for information, opinion and video sharing. News websites that allow for commenting have been racking up comments numbering in the thousands for stories chronicling the latest statements from Tepco and government officials. Like this recent story, for example, that had bloggers up in arms: As reported on Yahoo News last week, Diet member and Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party, Ishihara Nobuteru, said in regards to the anti-nuclear movement: "Considering the extent of the situation, I can understand the mass hysteria." Ishihara may be regretting his choice of words. Writes one Yahoo! News reader: "His true voice comes through. This is why I can't support his party." 22,000 readers agreed with that post, while some 12,000 disagreed. Another writes, referencing a controversial foreign anti-whaling campaign: "It's just like he says. The anti-nuclear activists are as bad as the Sea Shepherd." 17,000 readers agreed with that statement, while close to 27,000 disagreed. Meanwhile bloggers took to their keyboards to vent frustration at a political class seen as being largely out of touch with public sentiment. One blogger, who goes by the name Zara writes: "Hasn't the Liberal Democratic Party been deceiving us for years about the safety of nuclear power? What's going on isn't mass hysteria, it's an awakening from a mass hypnotism, from the myth of safety." From another, who goes by the name Rikka: "On the news this morning, I learned that a dairy farmer, despairing over his business in the wake of the nuclear disaster, committed suicide. He left a note to his fellow farmers that says, 'Please keep fighting and don't succumb to the disaster.' Is that what you call mass hysteria?" An opinion poll taken last weekend by the liberal newspaper, the Asahi Shimbun, found out that nearly 75 percent would favor a gradual phase-out of Japan's nuclear power industry. In Tokyo, this is Rebecca Milner for LinkAsia. http://news.linktv.org/videos/japanese-public-rejects-nuclear-power?start=0 Almost three-quarters of Japanese people who voted in a poll would like to see nuclear power phased out of Japan. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:25:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/japanese-public-rejects-nuclear-power Japan, Nuclear power, Japanese nuclear safety, Government of Japan, Japanese people, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Public opinion, Sendai Earthquake of 2011, Fukushima Prefecture, Italy Almost three-quarters of Japanese people who voted in a poll would like to see nuclear power phased out of Japan. The country is still struggling with the Fukushima disaster caused by the earthquake and tsunami three months ago - the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl 25 years ago. A Japanese government spokesman admitted voters could have been influenced by the rejection of atomic power in Italy's referendum on Monday. http://news.linktv.org/videos/work-resumes-to-stabilize-japan-nuclear-plant?start=0 Work to stabilize Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant has resumed after work was suspended due to a plume of black smoke seen coming from a reactor. Japan's nuclear safety authority said two employees were taken to hospital after being exposed to radiation. Earlier, more white smoke was seen coming from at least two of the site's damaged reactors.<br /> Tue, 10 May 2011 14:42:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/work-resumes-to-stabilize-japan-nuclear-plant Fukushima Dai-ichi, Japan, Nuclear safety, Nuclear power, Fukushima Prefecture, Japanese nuclear safety, Sendai Earthquake of 2011, Euronews Work to stabilize Japan's stricken Fukushima nuclear plant has resumed after work was suspended due to a plume of black smoke seen coming from a reactor. Japan's nuclear safety authority said two employees were taken to hospital after being exposed to radiation. Earlier, more white smoke was seen coming from at least two of the site's damaged reactors. http://news.linktv.org/videos/radiation-renders-japanese-fish-unsafe?start=0 At the Tokyo fish market, it's much quieter than usual. Tests showed the level was more than 1200 times above the legal limit. At the moment, the government says Japanese fish is safe to eat. Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:01:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/radiation-renders-japanese-fish-unsafe Nuclear power, Fukushima Prefecture, Sendai Earthquake of 2011, Fukushima Dai-ichi, Fukushima Dai-ni, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, Japanese nuclear safety, Tsukiji fish market, Al Jazeera English The concourse of a stadium is now home for 2000 people. They were evacuated from towns close to the damaged nuclear power station in Fukushima, as radiation started to leak from the crippled reactor buildings. The people have clothing, food and shelter but they also want information from the government about the situation at home. At the Tokyo fish market, it's much quieter than usual. One seller told us business was down 60 per cent. That figure could get worse with news that more radiation has leaked into the ocean near the power plant. Tests showed the level was more than 1200 times above the legal limit. At the moment, the government says Japanese fish is safe to eat. Al jazeera's Wayne Hay reports fromTokyo.