Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: What Now?

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  • BenWilson, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    The coastal land around the reactor has suffered considerably worse than just about anything the reactor could do, already. Its value has taken a pretty big hit already, the property there being covered in salt water and wreckage, and thousands of the locals having lost their lives.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • stephen walker, in reply to SteveH,

    the cost of the nuclear disaster will be extremely high. TEPCO has lost a third of its base load generating capacity. the economic losses stemming from electricity shortages in the TEPCO service area alone will be enormous. no once knows how much losss will be caused by contamination--there seems good reason now to think it might get to a significant level. Fukushima I is completely fcuked. the cleanup and decommissioning bill will be huge. for you to sit in nz saying it's not such a big deal really makes me feel ill.and if you think there won't be 100,000 people out of work because of the disruption from the nuclear plants (not the earthquake and tsunami--there are already half a million refugees) you don't know shit about the Japanese economy.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    As I said on another thread…

    The actions of the police in Christchurch have done nothing but hinder the recovery by not allowing anybody to go anywhere…. by stopping people seeking out their loved ones and securing their possessions in the name of “Safety”.

    And then I read…

    Christchurch business people want answers as to why their “Posessions” were bulldozed with nothing said.

    Leaseholder Stephen Weatherall was outraged the building had been demolished without notification.

    “How can they wipe somebody’s business off the face of the Earth and not even explain why they are doing it?” he said.

    He said no-one was taking responsibility for the demolitions.

    “I can’t describe how I feel about Pete Scalia. They didn’t even give him a chance to get in there. They can give you all this garbage about why they did it, but his whole life has been demolished.

    “He’s wiped out now. Everything he owned is just a pile of rubble."

    He will not be the only one.

    The priority was to make the central business district as safe as possible.

    Don’t worry, everything is Bon, with Team A merry Key.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I really should check my facts a little better. The Government are doing something.

    Cabinet has agreed to establish a Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquake, Prime Minister John Key has announced.

    The inquiry will examine issues around the built environment in the Christchurch CBD including, but not limited to, the CTV and PGC buildings, as well as the adequacy of the relevant building codes and standards into the future.

    The Royal Commission will also take into account, but not be limited by, a technical investigation already underway by the Department of Building and Housing into the performance of the Canterbury Television, PGC, Forsyth Barr and Hotel Grand Chancellor buildings.

    Now, about those people living in cardboard boxes in New Brighton?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Well, Fletcher Builing has announced that it can start building a "1000 homes" right now...doesnt say where, and doesnt mention the fact that the company is hated by a number - a rather large number- of smaller businesses based in CHCH and environs who feel the ground has been (sorry) wiped out from under their feet...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Just want to compliment TV3 and Campbell for actually interviewing real scientists about the Ken Ring bollocks. Coherent interviews and coherent editing all made for a good story.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Cabinet has agreed to establish a Royal Commission into the Canterbury Earthquake, Prime Minister John Key has announced.

    And he's already suggesting that criminal charges might be laid as a result. Against whom, exactly? The architects? The builders? The owners? Assuming the buildings were appropriately assessed after September, and the engineers' advice followed, who's done anything criminal?
    Plus, given the quake exceeded current design standards, how can one possibly get to a conclusion of negligence? Sounds to me like he's blowing hot air to try and make himself sound tough - and, therefore, trustworthy.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    And he's already suggesting that criminal charges might be laid as a result. Against whom, exactly? The architects? The builders? The owners?

    The earth, obviously. There must be a statute that applies...

    Seriously, you're right - it's all posturing, just as he postured about not taking the games away from Christchurch. He has no substance.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Yes, it was nicely done. JC has managed to make it clear that he was only apologising for his interview manners, not his assessment of KR's magic powers. HIs team did a grand demolition job too.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Ok then. Now that the really important stuff is sorted out, how about some houses for people to live in, you know, when you can get round to it, no hurry.

    I think you're assuming there's a zero sum game there. The people that work on reconstructing sports stadium turf probably otherwise wouldn't be working on building houses or essential services so they're not slowing those things down at all.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Kyle Matthews,

    The people that work on reconstructing sports stadium turf probably otherwise wouldn't be working on building houses or essential services so they're not slowing those things down at all.

    Maybe, maybe not. I wouldn't have thought there was enough work in NZ to justify specialist turf installers for that grade of facility. Drainage contractors, though, definitely have other things to be working on.

    Plus it's the propriety of where the money has gone. As a friend observed on FB, there are bodies being pulled out of collapsed buildings, tens-of-thousands are without sewage facilities, many are sleeping in tents or on sofas, and the first big monetary commitment from the government goes to a sports facility.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Kyle Matthews,

    I think you're assuming there's a zero sum game there.

    Nah, merely being disingenuous. ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Note to future historians, more on this saga at this newer thread.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Sorry that was on the wrong thread. It was supposed to be on the Arie thread.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Business owners complain about not being allowed to retreive items from buildings before demolition.

    The protesters were led by photographer Kurt Langer, who said the group were afraid their buildings would be demolished before they were allowed back in to salvage anything.

    ...

    "It's a complete communist state telling us we can't go in. They'll probably demolish all our buildings and everything in it and the demolition companies will get it all, the gold, silver and artefacts ..."

    Civil Defence national controller John Hamilton this week said the decision to take apart adjacent buildings was sometimes made on site by the Usar team and not the contractor.

    Buildings were demolished only after engineering and heritage reports by Christchurch City Council heritage planners and the Historic Places Trust.

    Mr Hamilton said officials would do everything possible to contact building owners and he had to be satisfied that had happened before a building could be taken down. It was the owner's responsibility to inform tenants.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    Sorry if this is the wrong thread but this is a really good piece about low dose radiation hazards. It's not something you want to do casually but there really is very little knowledge about what happens when people are exposed to low doses and no certainty that the effects from high dose actually translate down to low dose.

    Have a read http://www.the-scientist.com/images/yr1997/mar/opin_970303.html

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I'd put it in the Japan Moves thread, given there's no radiation issue in Chch

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sacha,

    Business owners complain about not being allowed to retreive items from buildings before demolition.

    The Standard has a post about the topic now. Includes an allegation that private demolition compaines are acting without Civil Defense autorisation. No evidence offered, and the usual warnings about quality of comments apply. But surely this is a story for some journo to investigate.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    I’d put it in the Japan Moves thread, given there’s no radiation issue in Chch

    I dunno, they do some crazy shit out east. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Emma Hart had a reactor in her gazebo...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart,

    had a reactor in her gazebo...

    Is this... some kind of euphemism?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Emma Hart,

    He's gonna melt you down!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I can see this ending badly..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to nzlemming,

    I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Emma Hart had a reactor in her gazebo…

    That'll explain the strange glow at night

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming, in reply to Sacha,

    Ending badly?

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Greg Dawson, in reply to nzlemming,

    I dunno, they do some crazy shit out east. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Emma Hart had a reactor in her gazebo…

    Radiation and a gazebo?!

    It just gets worse and worse!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 294 posts Report Reply

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