Libya and Egypt - Chaos and Consolidation

LIBYA:

ثوار ليبيا يدخلون راس لانوف بعد سيطرتهم على العقيلة و البريقة و اجدابيا و كتائب القذافي تنسحب
Libyan rebels enter Ras Lanuf after having gained control over al-Aquila, al-Brega and Ajdabia while Gadafi's units are retreating.

مراسل الجزيرة: الثوار يستولون على أسلحة خلفتها الكتائب في راس لانوف
A correspondent of Al-Jazeera [says] that rebels captured weapons left back by [enemy] units in Ras Lanuf.

مراسل الجزيرة: الثوار يأسرون 40 مرتزقا في راس لانوف
According to a correspondent of Al-Jazeera, the rebels captured 40 mercenaries at Ras Lanuf.

Captured: A relative of Gadafi ?


مراسل الجزيرة: ثوار ليبيا يستعيدون السيطرة على مدينة راس لانوف
A correspondent of Al-Jazeera [says] that Libyan rebels are gaining back al-Sidra near the town of Ras Lanuf.

متحدث باسم الثوار: الثوار يسيطرون على ميناء مصراتة الليبي و 7500 أجنبي عالقون فيه
[A speaker] of the rebels [says] that they have gained control over the port of Misrata al-Libia where 7500 foreigners are being [stranded].

Foreign refugees at a Misrata camp:


Report from Karthoum:

EGYPT:

رئيس الوزراء المصري عصام شرف يصل إلى الخرطوم في أول زيارة خارجية لأرفع مسؤول مصري منذ نجاح ثورة 25 يناير
The Egyptian prime minister Asam Sharif arrives in [the Sudanese capital of] Karthoum on his first foreign visit as a [high-ranking] Egyptian official since the successful revolution on January 25.

البورصة المصرية: وقف التداول مؤقتا جراء ارتفاع أسهم للحد الأقص
The Egyptian stock market: Ending of the temporary circulation of a risky hausse of short-term titles.

Egyptian stock market in Kairo:

Japan - Dangerous Leakage

Due to a dangerous leakage in, at least, one reactor radioactive iodine gained access to seawater. The actual iodine intensity is now 1.250 times higher than normal. The day before it was only 100 times higher.
On Wednesday, three rescue workers had already received a dangerous dose of radioactivity while they had to pass a pumping room that is still partly flooded with water leaked from one of the reactors.





Decontamination of the world's greatest aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan which participated in rescue operations during the first days after the earthquake and tsunami impact when a nuclear catastrophe at the Fukushima energy plant was already in sight.

Violence in Syria العنف في سوريا

العنف في سوريا
إدانات و ردود فعل دولية
Violence in Syria
Condemnation and Nationwide Reaction

وكالة الأنباء الفرنسية نقلأ عن مسؤول سوري: مقتل 10 متظاهرين في مدينة الصنمين جنوب البلاد
The French news agency [AFP] informed that a Syrian official told them about 10 protesters who died in the town of al-Sanamin in the southern part of the country.

قتلى و جرحى برصاص قوات الأمن السورية خلال تفريق مظاهرات في عدد من المدن و القرى تطالب بالإصلاح
Dead and wounded left by bullets from Syrian security forces during the dispersal of demonstrations in many townships and villages and that are demanding a reformation [of the state].

ردود فعل دولية منددة بأعمال العنف ضد المتظاهرين في سوريا
Nationwide reaction invoking the violent [security] operations against protesters in Syria.


Supporters of the Regime of Basher Assad:


International Voices:

المتحدث باسم البيت الأبيض: ندين بشدة أعمال الغنف في سوريا و نحث الحكومة على التقيد بالسبل السلمية
A spokesman of the White House [said]: "We are intensely taking notice of the violent [police] operations in Syria, and we are urging the government to stick to peaceful measures."

وزير الدولة البريطاني لشؤون الشرق الأوسط و شمال أفريقيا: أشعر بالقلق الشديدد إزاء استخدام العنف ضد المتظاهرين, لجميع السوريين الحق في التعبير عن رأيهم بطريقة سلمية
The British minister of state in charge of Middle Eastern and North-African affairs [said] : "I [heard] about the intensifying disorder [confronting] the use of violence against protesters. For all Syrian citizens, [there is] the right to express their opinion in a peaceful way."

Algier - Uprising of the Citizens

يوم ثان من المواجهات بين قوات الأمن الجزائري و مواطنين يحتجون على هدم منازلهم في أحد الأحياء بالعاصمة الجزائر
Second day of confrontation between Algerian security forces and citizens who are confronting the demolition of their houses in one municipal district of the Algerian capital.


Algerian president Bouteflica:



Additional Information:
There have been clashes as well between protesters and security forces in the Syrian town of Daraa. Up to now, reliable photos of the Syrian uprising are rare.

Japan - Radiation Report

It's like getting a stomach X-ray every hour and free of charge
(above).

Damage done by tsunami to the Fukushima nuclear plant no.1.
This should be part of the pumping facility that failed when it
was needed afterwards. Photo was taken from a helicopter
shortly after the tsunami came in (below).

Libya - Gadafi's Air Force Destroyed

NATO Jet going to be Refuelled in the Air.

إطلاق نار كثيف و قذائف دبابات من كتائب القذافي على المجمع الصحي بمصراتة و سقوط قتلى
Concentrated shooting and tank granades from Gadafi units on a [hospital] compound at Misrata left [many] dead.


The International Alliance - Targets and Combat Zones

قائد بريطاني: دمرنا سلاح الجو الليبي
A British commander [says]: "We destroyed the Libyan air force."

قائد بريطاني: نتابع قوات القذافي عن كثب و نهاجمها متى هددت المدنيين
A Brish commander [says]: "We are following Gadafi's troops from close and we attack them whenever they are endangering civilians."


Wrecked Rocket Launcher

Libya - German Inconsequence

"What did the foreign minister of Germany have in mind all the time ? First, he acclaimed Arabic freedom fighters in their revolutions and made himself acclaimed on Tahrir square in Cairo. Then he demanded the overthrow of Gadafi - only to shrink back in the security council afterwards. This has not much in common with a foreign policy based on values."

This is what Germany's former minister of foreign affairs Josef Oskar "Joschka" Fischer said after the actual foreign minister Guido Westerwelle (Liberal Party) defended the position of the Merkel government that had come to the decision not to take part directly in the military action against Gadafi. Such leaving all activity within the European Union to France who then shared the international military action on its own.

"Was hat sich der deutsche Außenminister dabei gedacht? Erst schlug er sich auf die Seite der arabischen Freiheitsrevolutionen, ließ sich auf dem Tahrir-Platz in Kairo feiern, dann forderte er den Sturz Gaddafis - nur um schließlich im Sicherheitsrat den Schwanz einzuziehen. Mit einer an Werte gebundenen Außenpolitik hat das nicht viel zu tun gehabt."

News of the Day:

Libyan radar facilities destroyed near Benghazi during nightly attacks by the international alliance. CNN reporting. March 22, 2011.

Japan - Danger to the Public - Part II

In order to complete my earlier comment on danger to
the people of Japan by radioactivity emerging from that
damaged plant of Fukushima, I have to stress again the
importance of photon energy when it comes to the impact
on human health.

Any radiation characterized by a low energy of photons
(which is comparable to a high wavelength) is especially
hazardous to human health. That will mean a very high
risk of developing different types of cancer for all those
who get in direct contact with or incorporate particles
emitting low-energy beta-radiation. This is the case for
some most important nuclids of Iodine and Caesium now
emitted from the power plant.

It should be noted that biological effects are triggered off
rather by the exposure to such "soft" beta-radiation which
is very common in the reaction chain of nuclear fission than
by short-time exposure to "hard" gamma-radiation or X-
rays. This might be due to a greater absorbance efficiency
for low-energy particles or X-rays with a rather long wave-
length while any high-energy radiation like fast neutron
bombardment or gamma-rays simply passes through the
human body without being absorbed by human tissue if the
time of exposure remains relatively short and the intensity
of such radiation within certain bounds.

Therefore, the Japanese government recently launched
restrictions for the shipping of raw milk and vegetables
like spinach from Fukushima prefecture to other parts of
the country.

Libya - Punishing the Tyrant

After the Paris Summit for Support of the Libyan People, yesterday March 19, 2011, about 112 U.S. and British missiles have hit special targets in Tripolis and Misrata. The U.S. are using their Tomahawk cruise missiles to be launched by navy vessels while the British have fired Polaris missiles from submarine. Furthermore, British and French air force are prepared to enter Libyan territory whenever they want. According to German radio news, the coordination of all military action of the allied forces should be located on a U.S. base in Germany, even though Germany is not directly involved in any combat mission.


U.S. navy ship launching a cruise missile (above)

البنتاغون: 112 صاروخا أطلقت من بوارج و غواصات أمريكية و بريطانية
According to the Pentagon, 112 missiles were launched from U.S. and British [navy] ships and submarines.

دوي انفجارات و انطلاق المضادات الأرضية في العاصمة الليبية طرابلس
Sounds of explosions and of [responding fire i.e. anti-aircraft fire] in the Libyan capital of Tripolis.

Polaris missile launched from submarine (below)




French Mirage jets taking off (above)

مصادر للجزيرة: الطائرات الفرنسية دمرت 4 دبابات تابعة للقذافي في قصف جنوب غرب بنغازي
[Different] sources told Al-Jazeera that French planes destroyed 4 tanks
[of the Gadafi forces] in a bombardment South West of Benghazi.

French air force jet ready to take off (below)





Late evening news of Al-Jazeera:

شهود عيان: تجدد القصف في طرابلس ودوي مضادات تطلق من محيط منزل القذافي
Eyewitnesses report on a resume of bombardment in Tripolis and the noise of [responding fire] spreading from the residential area of Gadafi.

شهود عيان: تجدد القصف في طرابلس و إطلاق مضادات قرب مقر إقامة القذافي
Eyewitnesses report on a resume of bombardment in Tripolis and [responding fire] near the residence of Gadafi.


Eyewitness report from Misrata township (marked on the below map)



مصادر للجزيرة: قصف عشوائي في شارع طرابلس بوسط مصراته
[Different] sources informed Al-Jazeera of a risky bombardment of the center of Misrata on the road to Tripolis.

موسى: قصف القوات الدولية لليبيا يختلف عن الهدف من فرض حظر الطيران الذي أقرته الجامعة
[The secretary-general of the Arab League] Moussa said that the bombardment of Libya by international forces is different from the aim of an obligation to prohibit any flight as has been declared by the League.

Secretary-general of the Arab League (below)

Libya and Yemen - Latest News

LIBYA

After the United Nations imposed a no-flight zone on Libya, Gadafi sent his foreign minister to declare his government's will to stop all military action at once. Libyan opposition, however, is still suspicious and is celebrating the no-flight zone.



رويترز: فرنسا و بريطانيا و الولايات المتحدة تطالب قوات القذافي بالتوقف عن التقدم نحو بنغازي
According to Reuters [news agency], France, Britain and the United States
demand the troops of Gadafi to stop their advance towards Benghazi.


رويترز: نائب وزير الخارجية الليبي يقول إن كتائب القذافي لن تدخل بنغازي التزاما بوقف اطلاق النار
According to Reuters, the Libyan vice-minister of foreign affairs said that
Gadafi's units will not enter into Benghazi [immediately after] a cease-fire.

---

YEMEN

مراسل الجزيرة: مواجهات عنيفة في شارع الرباط قرب ساحة التغيير في صنعاء
A correspondent of Al-Jazeera reported about violent confrontations
in Rabad Street near Tariir square in Sanaa.

الأطباء في المستشف الميداني في صنعاء يناشدون زملاءهم الالتحاق بهم لاسعاف المصابين
Doctors in urban hospitals of Sanaa are calling their colleagues to join
them in order to help the victims.

قيادي في الحزب الحاكم اليمني يعلن سحب مبادرته لاحتواء الازمة و ملاحقة المسوؤلين عن أحداث اليوم
Leaders of the ruling party of Yemen announce the beginning of [their party's] initiative [to solve the] crisis and a criminal prosecution of those who are responsible for today's incidents.


So far, dozens were wounded or died. The dead and the wounded were brought into a nearby mosque.
Pictures delivered by Al-Jazeera, Arabic service, are showing some of the most violent scenes ever seen since the uprising against the actual president began.

Japan - Mourning the Dead

Mourning the Dead (above)
Counting the Dead (below)



After earthquake and tsunami, Japan is now mourning the dead. Meanwhile at the Fukushima nuclear plant no.1, the desperate fight against nuclear catastrophe is reaching its final stage. The water cannon provided by municipal police was not efficient enough to help cool down reactor 3 and its storage department of unused uranium rods. Therefore, water cannon trucks provided by an airport fire brigade had to be used. Such trucks are able to produce a greater water pressure. NHK World, Tokyo, March 17, 2011.



Latest news: Tokyo fire brigade provided 5 vehicles and 20 fire fighters. As two of the vehicles are using water cannons mounted on special cranes, water injection into the reactor 3 casing from above and at short distance is now possible. Meanwhile radiation at the facility seems to be stable at 20 mSievert.

Japan - Last Resort

In order to cool down reactor 3 at the Fukushima nuclear plant
no. 1, there have been made efforts to fill the roofless reactor
building after the explosion with water dropped from helicopters.
Such, the outer receptacle of the reactor could be cooled down
to a certain degree. Another project to be started soon includes
the use of a water-cannon provided by the municipal police.




The following picture is showing a list of dead and missed people
in the region affected by earthquake, tsunami and / or nuclear
catastrophe. The confirmed death rate sums up to 4377, three
municipalities being extremely hit by natural disaster.
Among the most haunted districts is the Fukushima township near
to its destroyed nuclear plant with 533 recorded deaths. The overall
number of missing people in the coastal region is 9083.



The below picture is showing a map of the nuclear plant and its
environment in Fukushima prefecture. Both nuclear plants and
the security belts of 20 and 30 km around the exploded reactors
of plant no. 1 can be easily found in the lower part of the map.
Straight above is the airport of Sendai township that should not
be affected by either earthquake or tsunami because the Japanese
comment (written in Chinese Kanji characters) is reading that its
runways (1200 m and 3000 m) are operational between 7:30
and 21:30 and that a 24 hours service might be possible. That
seems to be due to the distance from devastated area (*) of
708 m and 400 m of those runways which obviously saved them
from tsunami impact and makes them an important destination
for aid to be delivered now.
* = "distance from devastated area" is the only realistic
explanation of the 708 m and 400 m data given in the map,
as, this time, the Japanese comment is given in Japanese
Katakana or Hiragana script which I cannot interpret.

---

After the horrible development at Fukushima nuclear plant no. 1,
Western countries are discussing the risks of nuclear energy on
a high national level:


Members of the French parliament are gathering on a symposium where
reactor security is being debated [Telesur TV, Caracas]. France is one
of the nations extremely dependent on nuclear energy. Up to now, a vast
majority of citizens has been in support of the long-standing energy
concept in France.

---

- blueprinteditor.blogspot.com -
Excerpt from visitor statistics for the last 30 days,
showing most frequent recorded visitor countries:

Japan - Power Plant Finished

The actual state of reactors 3 and 4 after their explosion:


After the explosion of reactor 3 and 4 at Fukushima energy plant, there is now only one option left to reduce fire and cool down reactor 3: Pouring water down from army helicopters. Additionally, damaged water pumps will be replaced as soon as possible by U.S. company General Electric who delivered the original pumps that crashed during the tsunami impact. NHK World, Tokyo, on March 16, 2011.

Cooling off reactor 3 by helicopter:


Comment by Ulysses:
As to the explosion of reactors 1, 3 and 4, it was said they were due to hydrogen emitted from the reactor. Now, hydrogen can be produced from water that is used as a coolant fluid in such reactors. It is known that reactor fluid usually contains a certain amount of H2O2 that has to be generated from water H2O under the influence of radiation. Thus, the formation of hydrogen H2 must be due to the following summary equation:
2 H2O => H2O2 + H2
The mechanism of H2 formation should be based on a so-called radical type reaction. Under high-temperature conditions, however, H2O2 will soon decay to water H2O and oxygen O2 that is adding to the oxygen atmosphere inside the reactor receptacle. The explosion observed in all three reactors is now a violent recombination of hydrogen and oxygen in a mixed atmosphere:
2 H2 + O2 => 2 H2O
This formation of water H2O from the gaseous elements hydrogen and oxygen can be triggered off by any spark inside the reactor casing. Such spark might be generated by the electric system of the reactor or by accumulation of electric charge in the moving mechanical parts of the facility.
Unfortunately, hydrogen molecules H2 are of a very low size that makes it possible to them to "tunnel" through any regular building material. Hence, the exlosion can take place anywhere inside the reactor building what makes it difficult to determine the actual damage of such explosion from the outside. Only an increased amount of radiation leaked from the reactor building can therefore be a sign for possible damage to the inner or outer receptacle of the reactor's core.

"Good Winds" are coming soon:

Japan - History of a Nuclear Disaster

A short description of the development at the Japanese nuclear power plant that lead to the present situation of two reactors being exploded and probable core melting. The documentation is followed by further news from the area that has been devastated by earthquake and tsunami. NHK World TV, Tokyo, on March 14, 2011, 19:00 GMT.

Japan - Danger to the Public

According to Japanese authorities the radiation level near the exploded
reactor 1 could be described by an equivalent dose of 50 µSv (micro-
Sievert) which is generally regarded as rather harmless. In comparison
with a value of 50 mSv per year which is the German standard limit for
occupational exposure to ionizing radiation, that measured value can be
interpreted as follows:
50 mSv or 50.000 µSv per year is equal to 50.000 : 200 = 250 µSv per
day (on 200 days of work!) or 250 : 24 = 10,4 µSv per hour.

Therefore, one might hold the measured 50 µSv to be an acceptable
dose under the present circumstances of an exploded reactor.

Yet, it should be stressed that the equivalent dose H is by definition
including a factor q intended to weigh the influence of the kind of
radiation observed:
X-rays, alpha-, beta- or gamma radiation with different wavelength
or energy ( short wavelength means high energy ).

equivalent dose: H = q x D with D = energy dose [J/kg] and q = "1"
(usual setting for the weighting factor)

Now, the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of radiation is known
to differ in a range of about one order of magnitude depending of
her energy. That leads to the necessity of determination what kind
of radiation is present and refixing of the weighting factor q. A study
made at the German university of Marburg has come to the conclusion
that the standard weighting factor of one has to be reduced at least
by a factor of 50-60. Same goes for the standard equivalent dose
which must be reduced equally from 50 mSv per year to 1 mSv for
occupational exposure. For public exposure a reduction from 1 mSv
per year to 0,02 mSv per year has to be considered.

The proposed limit of 0,02 mSv per year for public exposure is equivalent
to 20 µSv per year. Now compare these " 20 µSv per year " to the 50 µSv
measured at the Japanese power plant at "time zero" after the explosion !

As we can assume that a broad variety of isotopes is leaving a broken
reactor, and that such isotopes are falling apart by emitting different
kinds of radiation, the real long-term danger to the public cannot be
predicted. The measured isotopes of 137-Caesium for example are
decaying by emission of some kind of beta-radiation that is usually
regarded as especially harmful to human tissue.

By the way, many years ago I had been in charge of radiation security
for my working group which includes a special preparation course to be
finished with an examination. Such are the requirements in my country.
Therefore, you can believe that I still know what I am talking about.

Next are the evening news of NHK World, Tokyo,
recorded on March 13, 2011, 18:00 GMT: