Drowning

This is Excalibur.

Today, Sunday July 21st, sees the nation going to the polls to vote in the Upper House election. The previous Lower House election, three months ago, was a landslide for the ruling LDP, and today's election is set to strengthen Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's iron grip on the national government. The majority of the public just want political stability and economic recovery; a vocal minority are more than concerned about Abe's racist, nationalist views and his revisionist policies.

Election victory expected 

On the energy front, TEPCO is lobbying hard to restart the nuclear program. Fossil fuels have taken up the shortfall in supplying energy needs, as Japan's government has consistently failed to bring renewable energy sources up to the level where they could be a viable alternative. So, while TEPCO gets ready to switch on the reactors again, news from Fukushima No. 1 plant shows that the crisis is still not over ...

Radiation increasing 

 It also shows the real cost of nuclear accidents; the contamination of the surrounding ocean in increasing and likely to get worse. 

Contaminated groundwater has reached the sea

In the meanwhile, do you remember the people who had their homes and lives destroyed by the 3/11 tsunami? Well, the Japanese government doesn't. 

The slow pace of rebuilding for the future

 Let me reiterate Excalibur's position; we are not opposed to nuclear power as such. We are pointing out that the people in charge of the nuclear program are incompetent, and cannot guarantee the nation's safety.

We are pointing out that the government will lead the nation down the road that leads back to the Edo Jidai - and the Japanese people will sit back and do nothing to stop it.

Unless you think differently. If you wish to protest or make a contribution, or to help the families still suffering, check out the book below, available on Amazon.

3/11: The Fallout by Patrick Fox. 

This is Winston Saint reporting. 

Big Science

Excalibur is back from its tour of Japan, and once more ready to take up the sword. Our report from the disaster zone, for early July 2013, is as follows.

The crisis at the stricken Fukushima # 1 nuclear plant is far from over, as TEPCO's efforts at preventing further seawater contamination seemed destined to failure. Tests have showed frighteningly high levels of strontium-90 at a monitoring well 27 meters from the seashore.

Strontium in groundwater soars

The politician's sound trucks have taken to the streets again - blasting public areas with propaganda at deafening volumes - because the Upper House election (following May's Lower House election) will take place later in July. Many Japan-watchers are predicting that if the incumbent party wins, proving that there is no longer any effective opposition to them, then Prime Minster Abe will get to work on his real agenda - the dismantling of international ties and the revision of all school textbooks describing Japan's aggressive role in World War II.

The campaigning intensifies

Suffering Fukushima residents ignored by national politicians

Abe also has his sights on the National Constitution, and this detailed article by Colin P A Jones outlines the proposed changes.

The LDP charter; things to come (link not available - article released July 2)


In other corruption news, the verdict has been returned on the executives who carried out the Olympus fraud scandal. Did they go to prison? Did they ****.

Olympus criminals avoid prison

This is Winston Saint, and this is ...

to be continued.