News
Fukushima watchdog chief: “It may not be possible to avoid dumping some contaminated water into the ocean”
The crisis at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant “has not ended”, the country’s nuclear watchdog has warned, saying the situation there is “unstable”.
Watchdog chief Shunichi Tanaka also accused the plan’s operator of careless management during the crisis.
He added that it may not be possible to avoid dumping some contaminated water into the ocean.
The comments come a day before the Japanese government is due to unveil plans to rescue the clean-up operation.
Mr Tanaka’s comments come after Fukushima’s operator, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco), said radiation levels near one tank were 18 times higher than previously thought.
However, Mr Tanaka said that reports that this level of radiation could be lethal to workers after four hours of exposure were exaggerated.
“Supposing the figure of 1,800 millisieverts per hour is correct, it is beta radiation. It will not penetrate as long as there is a 5-10 millimetre-thick plastic shield or you wear leather shoes,” he said.
The damage to the plant from the 2011 tsunami has necessitated the constant pumping of water to cool the reactors. The process creates an extra 400 tonnes of contaminated water every day.
It was revealed last month that some of that water was leaking from storage tanks at the site.
On Monday, Tepco said a patrol of workers had found a new area of high radiation near the tanks, Reuters reports.
Mr Tanaka told reporters that the only long-term solution to the problem of contaminated water was to filter it and that it might “not be possible to avoid dumping it in to the sea”.
That will be extremely unpopular with local fishermen and possibly with Japan’s neighbours, the BBC’s Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Tokyo.
The plant was crippled by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and the plant has since been hit by a series of water leaks and power failures.
The tsunami knocked out cooling systems to the reactors, three of which melted down.
The latest leak is believed to be the fourth major leak from storage tanks at Fukushima since 2011 and the worst so far in terms of volume.
Experts have said the scale of water leakage may be worse than officials have admitted.
(BBC News)
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News
Relive the Red Sea’s Golden Age: New Paperback Edition of Treasures, Shipwrecks, and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving
by Howard Rosenstein
With Forewords by Sylvia Earle and David Doubilet
Experience the Red Sea’s golden age of diving through the eyes of its pioneering figure, Howard Rosenstein. The new paperback edition of his acclaimed memoir, Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving, is a visual feast, showcasing over 200 stunning images above and below water by legendary photographer David Doubilet, the author and others.
Journey from a makeshift diving school in a train carriage to the forefront of global dive tourism. Rosenstein’s narrative weaves together thrilling underwater adventures, historical discoveries (from Roman coins to unmapped reefs), and encounters with a fascinating cast of characters, including underwater legends and world leaders.
This enhanced paperback release offers a deeper dive into Rosenstein’s story, featuring additional images, refined text, and minor corrections. Witness how his passion for the underwater world not only shaped a generation of divers but also subtly influenced the delicate peace process of the region. This is a story of adventure, discovery, and the enduring allure of the Red Sea.
You don’t need to be a diver to get lost in these pages—there’s something here for anyone who loves a good adventure, a slice of history, or a peek into someone else’s amazing life.
‘Unbelievable stories that are most wonderful because they are true.’
Sylvia Earle
‘Endlessly entertaining… A vivid memoir packed with characters and anecdotes.’
SCUBA magazine
About the author
Howard Rosenstein is a one-off who was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in 2009. In this memoir, he shares the more surprising as well as his favorite stories from the early part of his long diving career.
The book
Review copies on request – please contact Alex Gibson: alex@divedup.com |
Release date 11 March 2025
RRP GBP £25 | Paperback | ISBN 978-1-909455-54-2
216 pages | Revised 1st Edition | 234 x 156 mm
Available from Divedup.com, online and from retailers.
Dive Trade: Nautilus UK
Book Trade: Gardners Books.
Praise for Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving
‘Unbelievable stories that are most wonderful because they are true’ – Sylvia Earle
‘A page-turning memoir filled with stories of finding treasures, shipwrecks, and discovering exotic coral reefs teeming with marine life.’ – Explorers Journal, Explorers Club of America
‘Endlessly entertaining… A vivid memoir packed with characters and anecdotes.’ – SCUBA magazine
‘A very satisfying read.’ – DIVE magazine
‘A rollicking fun tale.’ – Kathy Sullivan, history-making astronaut and oceanographer
‘This is a fascinating story and one well told.’ – Divernet
‘Howard Rosenstein had a dream that he made a reality – he built, and they came.’ – David Doubilet
‘A fascinating story that, if it was not the real-life of Howard Rosenstein, it would make a first-class adventure novel.’ – Dan Orr, Diving Industry Consultant
‘A gripping tale.’ – Undercurrent
‘An upbeat tale of success with surprising twists along the way… will enlighten and entertain.’ – Jewish Book Council
‘A captivating voyage… I urge you to pick up a copy and embark on this thrilling journey’ – Amos Nachoum, award-winning nature photographer and diving travel pioneer
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