We Can Know ... ?

With all of the natural disasters and the radiation leaks from Japan, I find myself wondering about the end of the world.  I know I'm not the only one.  

I don't spend every waking moment thinking about it.  It's just when I hear of something else terrible, like another earthquake or Japan dumping radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.  

Did you know that there have been 107 earthquakes since January 1, 2011 with a magnitude 6.0 or greater (you can do a search of all earthquakes here)?  There were only 60 earthquakes 6.0 magnitude or greater in the same time period in 2010.  In fact, there were only 173 total in 2010.  Going back further, there were only THIRTY-FOUR earthquakes above 6.0 in 2009 in the same time period.  And only 161 in the entire year.  This intrigued me, so I kept thinking about it.  

I went back a few years and this is what I found:

It certainly looks like we've had a lot of strong earthquakes this year.  Many, many more than in this time period in years past.   The average for the past 10 years (in this time period) is 0.462 earthquakes of 6.0 magnitude or greater per day, or one earthquake every 2.29 days.  For this year, there are 1.138 earthquakes of 6.0 magnitude or greater per day, or one earthquake every 0.879 days.  

Scary, right?  I really shouldn't think about it as much as I do.  It just intrigues me, and then I have to do some research!

Anyway, I'm not the only person "researching" about possibilities for the end of the world.  I keep seeing these "We can know" billboards all over Denver:

Basically, these people think that they can predict the rapture.  The rapture will begin on May 21, 2011 (the actual end of days will be October 21, 2011).  Do I believe them?  No.  But, funny thing, they think that the rapture will begin with a giant earthquake.  ;)

They claim that the Bible has shown them the date.  I think it's a load of crap.  But, I'm sure there are plenty of people who believe.  Otherwise, how could they afford all of the billboards?!  ;)

Anyway, I often wonder about groups like these.  I mean, this isn't the first group who have "predicted" the end of times at a specific date.  Obviously, all of the previous groups have been wrong.  So, what happens to the group?  Do they come up with some kind of excuse and continue or do they accept failure and disband?  What happens to the members?  Do they lose faith after God broke God's supposed "promise" to destroy the earth on X date?  Or do they join the next end of days prediction group?  

I don't know.  I imagine that it could be quite disappointing for members.  But, since I'm enjoying my time here on earth, I'm going to go ahead and hope that they are disappointed.  ;)

More radiation

I read an article today titled: Radioactive water from Japanese nuclear plant dumped into sea.  When I read the title, I'm sure that my jaw dropped.  Then I read the article.  I was even more shocked.

The operator of Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant began releasing about 11,500 tons of radioactive water into the sea Monday evening so that it could make room in storage tanks for even more severely contaminated water.

Some 10,000 tons of the water being released into the ocean was being taken from a communal storage facility near the No. 4 reactor. Another 1,500 tons was being released from the vicinity of the No. 5 and 6 reactors — which have been less troubled than reactors Nos. 1 through 4. The amount of water being released is equivalent to more than four Olympic-size swimming pools.

Although the water being released had levels of radioactive iodine 131 more than 100 times the legal limit allowed for sea discharge, the government approved the release as an "emergency" measure so that water with 100,000 times more radiation than the water found in a normally functioning reactor can be removed from the basement of the turbine building at reactor No. 2 and stored somewhere on the site.

Is this not completely shocking to everyone else?  ONE HUNDRED TIMES the legal limit??  That really freaks me out.  I keep hearing reports about the radiation being under control and that it's not really going to pose a threat to humans.  How could that not pose a threat?  And what about the sea-life in the area.  And shouldn't it be up to more than just Japan whether or not they leak radiation into the ocean?  It's not like the water doesn't go anywhere other than Japan.  This affects the entire planet.  

It's just really frustrating to me.  I made light of it earlier and said something about Godzilla being on his way, but seriously folks, this is terrifying.  It makes me glad that I don't eat seafood (go vegetarian!).  What is this going to do to the sea-life in the area (and beyond)?

Radiation Questions

There are so many conflicting reports coming out of Japan that I don't know what to think.  Most are saying that the radiation levels are not dangerous.  However, a good many are saying that the levels are something to be concerned about.  

What are we supposed to believe?  XKCD has a chart that is floating around in internet-land lately.  It describes the amounts of radiation and what is considered dangerous.  It's actually really helpful.  If you're like me, you don't really understand what the numbers mean.  This helps put things in perspective.  

However, I'm still terrified of radiation.  This article describes how I feel about it:

Science has never found such a "safe" threshold, and never will.  
In the 1950s Dr. Alice Stewart showed a definitive link between medical x-rays administered to pregnant women and the curse of childhood leukemia among their offspring.
After a fierce 30-year debate, the medical profession agreed.   Today, administering an x-ray to a pregnant woman is universally understood to be a serious health hazard.

Those who pioneered the health physics profession---towering greats like Dr. Karl Z. Morgan and Dr. John Gofman---set a definitive, impenetrable standard.  A safe dose of radiation does not exist.  All doses, "insignificant" or otherwise, can harm the human organism.   

So, what am I supposed to believe?  There are always going to be conflicting reports.  I am of the group voting "No" to nuclear power now.  Before I was relatively neutral.  

George Monbiot also changed his mind about nuclear power.  He's now in favor of it.  He says:

You will not be surprised to hear that the events in Japan have changed my view of nuclear power. You will be surprised to hear how they have changed it. As a result of the disaster at Fukushima, I am no longer nuclear-neutral. I now support the technology.

A crappy old plant with inadequate safety features was hit by a monster earthquake and a vast tsunami. The electricity supply failed, knocking out the cooling system. The reactors began to explode and melt down. The disaster exposed a familiar legacy of poor design and corner-cutting. Yet, as far as we know, no one has yet received a lethal dose of radiation.

That was written on March 21st.  I wonder if Mr. Monbiot is starting to change his mind now that reports of groundwater contamination, seawater contamination and food contamination are surfacing.  

I am obviously not an expert on radiation or nuclear power.  I'm not sure if that makes me more or less scared.  I do know that I don't like the thought of any radiation.  So, now that the radiation (in small levels) has reached the U.S (Colorado, Oregon, Hawaii, Washington, California, Boston, the Carolinas, Nevada, and Maryland), this is officially our problem.  

Only time will tell what the consequences will be for this disaster.  Obviously the earthquake and tsunami already killed thousands.  Now we will play the waiting game to see if the after-effects will be.  It may be that the radiation is minimal and will not cause any real damage here.  However, it could also go the other direction.  Especially since we haven't seen the end (the radiation is still leaking).  I know we will all be hoping for the best... but, I think it's definitely time to stock up on gas masks, potassium iodide, clean water, and general supplies.  Oh, and don't forget weapons!  I see the zombie apocalypse on the horizon.  ;)  Kidding!  ...sort of.