"Manhattan Project" Video Explores Consequences of Money War

How to Survive a Nuclear Attack

http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Nuclear-Attack

How to Survive a Nuclear Attack

Seek shelter immediately...If you are a few miles out, you will have about 10-15 seconds until the heat wave hits you, and maybe 20-30 seconds until the shockwave does.

Do not look at the fireball and cloud. Under no circumstances should you look directly at the fireball. On a clear day, this can cause temporary blindness at very large distances.[5]

If you can't find shelter, seek a depressed area nearby and lay face down, exposing as little skin as possible. If there is no shelter of this kind, dig as fast as possible. Even around 8 kilometers (5 miles) you will suffer third degree thermal-burns; still at 32 kilometers (20 miles) the heat can burn the skin off your body. The wind itself will peak at around 960 kilometers per hour (600mph) and will level anything or anybody caught in the open.

Failing the above options, get indoors, if, and only if, you can be sure that the building will not suffer significant blast and heat damage...Stay away from any windows, preferably in a room without one; even if the building does not suffer substantial damage, a nuclear explosion will blow out windows at enormous distances.[6]

Wear cotton clothes...Substances like nylon or any oil based material will ignite from the heat.

Remember: it's not the initial blast that creates the high death toll; it's radiation exposure....The fallout may rain down as contaminated black soot known as "black rain," which is very fatal and may be of extreme temperature. Fallout will contaminate anything it touches.


Once you have survived the blast and the initial radiation (for now at least; radiation symptoms have an incubation period), you must find protection against the burning black soot.

Standard clothing will help protect you from Alpha particles.

Beta particles...pose a serious threat, however, to the eyes, should they be exposed for a prolonged period. Once again this is harmful if ingested or inhaled, and clothing will help prevent Beta burns.

...Avoid exposure to Gamma radiation. Try not to spend more than 5 minutes exposed. If you are in a rural area, try finding a cave, or a fallen log into which you can crawl. Otherwise just dig a trench to lie in, with stacked earth around you.

Begin reinforcing your shelter from the inside by stacking dirt around the walls or anything else you can find. If in a trench, then create a roof, but only if materials are nearby; don't expose yourself when not necessary. Canvas from a parachute or tent will help stop fallout debris from piling on you, though it will not stop Gamma rays...Use the following to help you determine the amount of material you'll need to reduce radiation penetration to 1/1000:[8] Steel: 21 cm (0.7 feet), Rock: 70-100 cm (2-3 ft), Concrete: 66 cm (2.2 ft), Wood: 2.6 m (8.8 ft), Soil: 1 m (3.3 ft), Ice: 2 m (6.6 ft), Snow: 6 m (20-22 ft)

Plan on staying in your shelter for a minimum of 200 hours (8-9 days). Under no circumstances leave the shelter in the first forty-eight hours. Ration your supplies. You will need to ration to survive, obviously; therefore you will eventually expose yourself to the radiation (unless you are in a specific shelter with food and water).

Processed foods are okay to eat, so long as the container has no punctures and is relatively intact. Animals may be eaten but, they must be skinned carefully with the heart, liver and kidneys discarded. Try not to eat meat that is close to the bone, for bone marrow retains radiation.
 Plants in a "hot zone" are edible; those with edible roots or undergrowth (carrots, potatoes...) are highly recommended. Use an edibility test on the plants. See How to Test if a Plant Is Edible.

Open water may have received fallout particles and is harmful. Water from an underground source, such as a spring or covered well, is your best bet. (Consider making a basic pit-style solar still, as described in How to Make Water in the Desert.) Use water from streams and lakes only as a last resort. Create a filter by digging a hole about 1ft from the bank and drawing the water which seeps in. It may be cloudy or muddy so allow the sediments to sit, then boil the water to ensure safety from bacteria. If in a building, the water is usually safe. If there is no water (there most likely won't be), use the water already in the pipes by opening the faucet at the highest point of the house to let in air, then open a faucet at the lowest point of the house to drain the water.


Earthquake plus nuclear facilities

Christopher Hitchens wrote in Slate: "While the "negotiations" on Iran's weaponry are being artificially protracted by an irrational and corrupt regime, it should become part of our humanitarianism and our public diplomacy to warn the Iranian people of the man-made reasons that the results of a natural calamity would be hideously multiplied in their case… earthquake plus ill-maintained covert nuclear facilities...


Tehran Nuclear Research Center is located in suburban Amirabad, according to this article.

View Larger Map



Active faults around Tehran — courtesy of IIEES:

Iran seismic hazard map — courtesy of IIEES:

Iran fault activity — courtesy of IIEES:

Israel's nuclear weapons: Time to come clean

• An excerpt from an editorial in The Guardian today:
• 
  
• "Both America and Israel believe that Israel should retain its nuclear weapons while Iran should not be allowed to acquire them. With the Brazilian and Turkish scheme for the transfer of nuclear material spurned and tougher UN sanctions against Iran on the way, this is an unexamined contradiction which undermines much Middle Eastern diplomacy and cannot be for ever skirted. It is impossible to imagine even the first steps towards a true nuclear settlement in the Middle East without Israel abandoning its obfuscations on nuclear weapons and admitting, as other nuclear powers do, that security is a collective as well as an individual matter."

Some background on Israel's nuclear weapons from another site.

My opinion is that Israel/Palestine should join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and be inspected just like everyone else in the treaty. This would calm things down a bit, eroding some of the support for hardliners in Iran and Lebanon who accuse Israel of bullying.

But I also don't want to see the people who are currently governing Iran acquire nuclear weapons--because look what the hardliners are doing to their own people. What would they do to their "enemies" outside Iran? Plus, there is an apocalyptic fringe of Shia that welcomes the end of the world. I don't want extremist religious groups to have access to nuclear weapons--including extreme Christians, who also have an apocalyptic fringe.--Julie Jigsawnovich

• 
  

France & Iran Detainee Swap?

BBC reports:

"A French lecturer charged with spying in Iran after last June's disputed election will be allowed to leave the country on Sunday, says her lawyer...

"The 25-year-old was accused of espionage and e-mailing photographs of anti-government protests...

"The BBC's Hugh Schofield in the French capital says that with France at the forefront of efforts to punish Iran for its nuclear programme, there has been suspicion Ms. [Clotilde] Reiss was being held to put pressure on Paris.

"Last week, France freed an Iranian engineer whom it detained for allegedly exporting electronic parts illegally to sell to Iran's military.

"The US had wanted to extradite Majid Kakavand, but a French court rejected the request last week and he was allowed return home."

Obama administration discloses size of U.S. nuclear arsenal

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/03/AR2010050302089.html?waporef=obinsite

Clinton and Ahmadinejad Voice Support for Nuke-Free Middle East

(AP) UNITED NATIONS - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "reiterated his country's support for establishing a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East, an Arab-backed idea aimed at Israel's unacknowledged nuclear arsenal of perhaps 80 bombs.

"Clinton, too, repeated U.S. endorsement of a Mideast "nuke-free" zone. The challenge would lie in negotiating a specific process for achieving that goal.

"Egypt has proposed that this 2010 NPT conference back a plan calling for the start of negotiations next year on such a Mideast zone. The proposal may become a major debating point in the monthlong session." Read the full article here.

(We are going to need the uranium for electical power when we run out of oil. Besides, scalar weapons make nuclear weapons obsolete.--Julie Jigsawnovich)

A Nuclear-free Middle East Would Include Israel

(Ellen Tauscher is Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security.)

"…QUESTION: Yes, my name is (inaudible) Egyptian newspaper. The American invitation for a non-nuclear Middle East region, what exactly about the Israeli program – Israeli nuclear program. Is there any American push for the Israeli delegation to unveil its nuclear program? Thank you.

"UNDER SECRETARY TAUSCHER: We are working with our friends in Egypt and many members of the non-aligned movement and other Arab states on the 1995 Middle East WMD-free zone resolution. Israeli is a not a party to the NPT, will not be at the NPT. What’s important to see is that we have a very good opportunity to go forward both on balancing the requirements of the 1995 resolution for a opportunity to look to have a free zone in the Middle East and the areas of noncompliance – the countries of noncompliance that are also in the Middle East. So I think –

"QUESTION: But there isn’t any American push on the Israeli state to unveil itself –

"UNDER SECRETARY TAUSCHER: The United States has always stood for universality of the NPT."

Watch the video and read the full text of Press Releases: Briefing on the Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference
 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:41:41 -0500 here.

Protest Against Ahmadinejad at the UN

Iranian friends told me about this protest against Ahmadinejad's upcoming visit to the UN. Everyone of all nationalities, races and political persuasions are invited to attend. Just don't bring divisive signs or flags. Myself, I'm particularly angry that Iran got a seat on the Committee on the Status of Women when Iran has a bad record on women's rights, and other human rights.

EMERGENCY RALLY!

Ahmadinejad at the United Nations

*Monday, May 3rd, 2010* at 10am-12noon*

Dag Hammarskjold Plaza (47th St. between 2nd & 1st Ave.s)

Wear green. No flags no Factions.

*The time of his speech may change. We promise to keep you informed

when/if we have new information. Please visit www.whereismyvoteny.org

for more information

Missing Iranian nuclear scientist 'resettled' in the US

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/julian-borger-global-security-blog/2010/mar/31/iran-nuclear-weapons

Noruz Greeting from President Obama

Nuclear Concerns and Sanctions: New Yorker Talks with Tehrani Friend

 

by Julie Jigsawnovich

New York--Amid growing international concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and renewed talk of not only strengthening sanctions, but bombing Iran, I spoke with my 21yr old Iranian friend who lives in Tehran. We met on the internet through our shared enthusiasm for certain kinds of music, and have found that we can also talk about religion and politics without fighting. In accordance with his wishes and those of another Tehrani friend who created the illustration for this article, I will not publish their names. 

JJ: I went to a panel discussion about Iran recently where an American General talked about bombing Iran. My American friend asked what we can do to support human rights in Iran, but the General avoided the question at first. He returned to it, mentioning that for awhile it looked like Iran's Green Movement might topple the regime--but the Iranian regime cracked down hard. I wondered to myself--the US is worried about Iran getting nuclear bombs, but what if Iran already has nuclear bombs and hasn't used them? What do you think, doost-e man?

They have bombs called Shahab 3, but not the uranium to put on them. 

Iran has the missiles, but not the enriched uranium to make them nuclear?

Yes. 

When they get it, do you think they will bomb the "Zionist regime" of Israel?

I don't know if they're looking to get nuclear bombs. I don't know. 

If Mousavi was Iran's president, would Iran be less dangerous than with Ahmadinejad as president--if Iran did get nuclear bombs?

Really there is no big difference between Ahmadi or Mousavi, because everything is in the hands of Ayatollah Khamenei--Supreme Leader. 

And Sepah. Some people here think Sepah, the Revolutionary Guards Corps, have more power than Khamenei now.

Yeah, they have. They have a lot of money, a lot of forces, and a lot of men. 

What do you think of the conflict in Yemen--and the Saudis against Iran?

I'm not interested! But in religion, Saudis are Vahhabi. And Vahhabis think that Shia's are Moshrik. Do you know what Moshrik is?

Moshrik = heretic?

 

Mmm, it's hard... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirk_%28Islam%29 And I've heard that Vahhabis believe that if they kill two Shia's in life they will go to heaven. I don't know exactly, but it must be something like this. This is not a modern war. I say it's the old fashioned Islam War.

Do Shia's believe that if they kill people, they will go to heaven?

I've never heard of it. But in Quran there are a lot of ayes about killing.

Ayes?

Ayeh. Ayat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayah

Some people here in the US say Islam is a religion that supports violence. But some Muslims here say, "No, it supports love." What do you think?

Quran is so complicated. You can have both impressions of Quran.

The Christian Bible is complicated too. The Old Testament seems to support violence. But Jesus supported non-violence.

Creed people do violent things.

Creed people?

People that believe in religions--like hard Muslims or Jews or Christians.

Religion can make people into tools.

Yeah, exactly.

The US is worried about Iran getting nuclear bombs, partly because Iran is religious--more religious than the US.

Yeah.

Are you worried about Iran getting nuclear bombs?
 

Of course. People will die. War is not a good thing. Ayatollah Khomeini has a quote, "War is a good thing."

The US has been trying to negotiate with Iran, but Iran is taking so much time. Some people in the US think Iran is just stalling in order to get time to get nuclear bombs.

But if the US is going to bomb Iran, they will just bomb the nuclear facilities in Esfehan and Ghom. 

And Natanz and Bushehr. Maybe more, if the US or Israel know about more. This could make a radiation problem.

Yeah, a lot of people will die--maybe me too.

What should the US do?

Be more diplomatic. Stop sanctions.

How would stopping sanctions help?

Then the Islamic Republic couldn't say the US is not showing good will and is not being honest.

What is the relationship between sanctions and honesty?

Look, today Obama said, "We will talk and negotiate with Iran." Tomorrow they do more sanctions. What would you do if you were Iran? 

Well, Ahmadinejad said he might negotiate, bu the Iranian Parliament said, "No negotiation to send uranium to Russia to be enriched."

No, it's not like this. They just have the problem of HOW the trade will be done.

I hope so. I read something different. But maybe it changed again.

But if I was a politician, I would do what the IR is doing right now. It's not a good way--talking about negotiation and doing more sanctions at the same time.

Iran doesn't trust Russia so much, because Russia is taking too long with the Bushehr nuclear facility.

Russia messed up Iran a lot of times throughout history.

What about China?

We have good relations in our history with China. Do you know about negar gari?

No, what is negar gari?
 

It's an art form, a very well known Persian art form. Kamal Edin Behzad is one of the most famous artists. Negar gari miniatures are inspired by Chinese paintings.

Persian culture is influenced by Chinese art?

Yeah.

For hundreds of years?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_miniature

What effect have US sanctions had on Iran?

They've had a lot of effects on airplanes and airline industries.

Because Iran used to buy US airplanes?

Yeah, and they need parts. And the sanctions effected the oil industry, and a lot of things. But Iranians have found ways to get out of them.

Ways to get out of sanctions?

Yeah.

How?

By making them not work. They make companies in Malaysia. 

 

What kinds of companies?

I don't know exactly.

Some people here say sanctions hurt poor people the most.

Yeah, that's true.

Do you think that if the US dropped sanctions, it would stop Iran from making nuclear bombs? Or is it possible that Iran would still make nuclear bombs, plus the Iranian economy would be stronger?

Dropping sanctions would open the way to better negotiations with Iran. They can't negotiate with people who sanction. 

 











Putin and Khamenei  photo: www.kremlin.ru

You've said before that Iran is just trying to figure out HOW the uranium enrichment with Russia would happen. That is negotiation, isn't it?

Yeah, it is, but it makes it complicated when new sanctions are brought by the US. 

The US may make new sanctions because Iran is taking too long to negotiate.

Maybe, but I just saw the news on the BBC. The headline was "Obama said, 'We will negotiate with Iran.'" The third headline was, "New Sanctions." It's not good.

If US makes new sanctions against Iran, what will happen?

They won't negotiate.

What effect would stronger sanctions have on Iranian people?

You saw the airplane crash last year? That's because of sanctions.

If that is true, flying inside Iran will be very dangerous. This will effect Iranians, and also tourists. I flew from Tehran to Yazd.

Thank God that didn't crash.

Mersi, azizam. If planes crash in Iran because of sanctions, does this make Iranians mad at the US or at the Iranian government?

Iranians mostly don't know about these things.

.........................

In closing, US trade sanctions against Iran have been in place for so long, my friend's suggestion that we drop them altogether seemed quite shocking. This is a good time to closely examine the sanctions already in place. I must add that although I am concerned that innocent air passengers' safety may be jeopardized by sanctions, I also realize that passenger planes can be used for violent purposes. 

The panel discussion I mentioned in this article was presented by United Against Nuclear Iran and Bipartisan Policy Center, on November 23rd at the 92nd Street Y in New York. It included speakers General Chuck Wald (Ret.) USAF, Senator Charles Robb (D-VA), Senator Daniel Coats (R-IN), and was moderated by Dr. Leslie Gelb. UANI literature distributed at this event advocates boycotting companies who do business with Iran, while the UANI website additionally advocates sanctions that reportedly seek to prevent US taxpayer money from going to companies that do business with Iran.

I realize that boycotts could also be performed by consumers who do not support legislated trade sanctions against Iran. For instance, many Iranian Green Movement supporters requested an international boycott of Nokia-Siemens after it was discovered that they sold spy technology to the Islamic Republic of Iran which facilitated the regime in tracking down cell phone users' locations and also opening private emails. The regime exploited these new capabilities during their violent crackdown on voters questioning the "official" results of the 2009 Iranian presidential election.

Julie Jigsawnovich is a writer, artist and musician living in New York City. She is currently trading English lessons for Persian lessons. She's hopes to be able to read Iranian poetry in the original script in the future. Contact her at: jigsawnovich1@gmail.com

This article was originally published at: http://iranian.com/main/blog/jigsawnovich/new-yorker-talks-tehrani-friend-about-nuclear-concerns-and-sanctions