Image Source: D. McCandless via Gawker Assets.
In Japan, cherry trees blossom in the spring only briefly - usually for about a week or two. The blooms (or Sakura (桜 or 櫻; さくら)) are so beautiful and ephemeral that the nation tracks the expected dates when the trees will flower - and stops in a ritual of flower-viewing called Hanami (花見) to appreciate them when they arrive. Depending on the area of Japan, Hanami takes place between January and May; it usually reaches Tokyo in early April (in 2012, the best viewing in Tokyo wil be April 6-15, for other cities, see here). Hanami parties vary in style: on April 7, Vloggers in Japan are organizing a Hanami online Youtube party (see the invitation: Hanami 2012 - It's on bitches and here).
In these spring days,
when tranquil light encompasses
the four directions,
why do the blossoms scatter
with such uneasy hearts?
Ki no Tomonori (c. 850 – c. 904)
Cherry blossoms in Fukushima (2009). Ironically, Fukushima's rural setting was idyllic before 2011 crises. Image Source: Wiki.
Hanami arrives in Tokyo just as nuclear news headlines are starting to get even more dire. The paradox of natural beauty and natural toxicity is ironic and tragic, a symbol of 20th century science gone wrong. Governments have been quietly increasing the official amounts of safe radiation exposure (see here, here, here, here). The graphic at the top of this post is a standard radiation dosage chart (click on the image to enlarge). The death toll from the disaster currently stands at around 20,000.
While there are a lot of little MSM reports circulating (see my list of hyperlinked headlines below) about what is happening with nuclear fallout, the press are not giving these stories the daily full-blown coverage which would bring them front and centre to public attention. It is almost as though the world is holding its breath. If this crisis tips over into an undeniable, cataclysmic catastrophe then the press will return to big coverage. Otherwise, the Internet gives those still following this mess the drip-drip-drip trickle of little horrors. Considering that nuclear power and the means to control it intimately depend on water, it is ironic that in Asian tradition, this is the year of the Water Dragon (see also here).
The press - as with this example in New Zealand - are being encouraged to publish 'feel good' human interest stories about how people in Japan are getting along despite worries and hardship, that is, "to grasp the total picture of recovery." (Expect to see some feel good Hanami stories - maybe?) But on 3 March 2012, German TV (ZDF) warned in a program entitled, "The Fukushima Lies," that if the spent fuel which is precariously cooled in rickety Reactor 4 were to melt down because of a building collapse, work on the other reactors would cease. Japan would be ruined and the world would change (via Conspiracy.co). Here is a translated excerpt:
Narrator: Yukitero Naka and his people know what is really happening in the nuclear ruins. [...] Even if they were able to create enough qualified engineers and staff for the next 40 years, one problem remains that could change Japan and the world.
Question: Is the nuclear power plant safe now?
Yukitero Naka, Nuclear Engineer: Well, that’s what TEPCO and the government says, but the people in there don’t believe it. There is still a great danger. My personal concern is the fourth reactor block. The building has been strongly damaged by the earthquake.
There are approximately 1300 spent fuel rods in the cooling pond on level four. In the level above newer rods are stored as well as a lot of heavy machinery. This is all very, very heavy. If another earthquake occurs then the building could collapse and another chain reaction could very likely occur.
Narrator: So, a meltdown under the free sky which would be the end of Japan as we know it today. The radiation would be direct deadly. The work on the ground would be totally impossible. The most likely consequence is that reactors 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 get out of control. Armageddon!
Fukushima Evac Retro Cunard Line Redux. Image Source: Fukushima Diary.
In Japan, people are talking about moving within the country or even emigrating - mostly to South Korea. There are also initiatives to move Japanese children abroad. These projects are similar to the protective efforts undertaken for children from the Ukraine and Belarus in the 1980s, who spent summers with families in the UK, Europe and North America. See: here, here, here, here and here. Japanese residents are demanding Citizens' rights to evacuate (see also here). There is an ipetition here calling for accurate statements of radiation levels in Japan and subsidized evacuation from an 80 kilometre radius around the Fukushima plants. The petition also requests a revision of the government's stated 'safe' levels of radiation exposure: "We are demanding that across the land of Japan, the 'safe' legal limit in radiation exposure be reset to the default of 1 millisievert per year!" There is a photojournalist's report on Japan's nuclear evacuees and their life in temporary housing, here.
29 June 2011, wildfire at Los Alamos nuclear facility; time lapse filmed by local resident. Video Source: Youtube.
- Japanese government drawing up plans to evacuate Tokyo area of 39 million people (4 April 2012)
- Japan Gov’t Study: Fukushima radiation reached Alaska via ocean in under a month (MAP) (4 April 2012)
- Caldicott: If Spent Fuel Pool No. 4 collapses I am evacuating my family from Boston (VIDEO) (4 April 2012)
- Radiation plume heading toward Hawaii, says Japan gov’t study — Fukushima-contaminated water to hit in under 2 years — Ocean may be 50% of EPA’s maximum contaminant level for drinking water (PHOTO) (3 April 2012)
- Highest Estimate Yet: Fukushima about equal to Chernobyl, says US gov’t funded study (3 April 2012)
- Government Insiders Warn of Tokyo Evacuation Threat (3 April 2012)
- Forever: Iodine-129 “a growing radiological risk” — 15.7 million year half-life — Almost undetectable — Traveled along with iodine-131 from Fukushima — Concentrates in hotspots (3 April 2012)
- Scientists measured 2,000 trillion becquerels of Cs-137 in one study area — Would’ve been much higher, but radioactivity was transported away by time of sampling (3 April 2012)
- Former Prime Minister Kan reveals nuclear coverup — After Fukushima he’s “devoting himself to nuclear activism, he now wants to abolish nuclear power in Japan” (VIDEOS) (3 April 2012)
- Japan Gov’t: Radioactive Fukushima water to hit Hawaii within 2 years — Ocean may be 50% of EPA’s maximum contaminant level (3 April 2012)
- *UPDATED* Study: Fukushima contamination may be spreading south of Tokyo — NOT blocked by Kuroshio Current as widely reported — “A potential pathway for contaminated water” (3 April 2012)
- Tokyo radiation monitor spikes to 400% average after storm passes Fukushima, Japan (VIDEO) (3 April 2012)
- Fukushima Radiation Moving Across Pacific Ocean (3 April 2012)
- Tokyo elementary school conceals contamination situation (2 April 2012)
- Reports of radioactive black cyanobacteria spreading to Tokyo area (2 April 2012)
- Fukushima fallout in New Hampshire (2 April 2012)
- 40,000,000 Bq of iodine-131 in a single bed of kelp off Southern California — Amount most likely larger (30 March 2012)
- Southern California had 2,500 Bq/kg of iodine-131 in seaweed — Over 500% higher than other tests in U.S., Canada (30 March 2012)
- Zero Hedge: California slammed with Fukushima radiation (30 March 2012)
- Study: Fukushima radiation plume contacted North America at California ‘with greatest exposure in central and southern California’ (29 March 2012)
- Mother: School had children clean up highly contaminated area and relocate dirt — Without telling parents (27 March 2012)
- Fear of radiation a “psychiatric disorder” in Japan — The Cure? Have them work at decontaminating radiation, says doctor -Mainichi (26 March 2012)
- German TV: Armageddon if Spent Fuel Pool No. 4 collapses and melts down — Could change the world — Most likely consequence is that reactors 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 get out of control — Interview with nuclear engineer (VIDEO) (26 March 2012)
- Gov't testing "suspicious black dust" for plutonium (21 March 2012)
- Official at Meeting: "We recognize that there are black materials everywhere in the city" of Minamisoma (21 March 2012)
- Strange: Pieces of highly radioactive mystery black substance cling to magnet (20 March 2012)
- Local official detects 130 microSv/hr from black substance on roadside -- Japan TV starting to cover mystery? (19 March 2012)
- Press Conference: We like to tell some serious news today -- Seems that radioactive substances are "combining together" -- "We are seriously wondering how much radiation has been spread" (19 March 2012)
- Report: Radioactive "black dust" in Fukushima City, 60km from meltdowns (17 March 2012)
- Asahi: Incident at nuclear plant systematically covered up by South Korea — Official first learned of ‘mishap’ at local restaurant (16 March 2012)
- Developing Story’ at Los Alamos: “No timetable for any release of details concerning what the substance actually was” — Even newspaper got automated 911 call — Businesses on DP Road still waiting for all-clear — Advised to shelter in place (15 March 2012)
- Los Alamos sends reverse-911 call warning residents -- People told to stay indoors -- Container released unknown gas -- Caused "flash" on contact with air -- Roads closed, Hazmat team dispatched to Material Disposal Area B (15 March 2012)
- Chemical in landfill ignites at Los Alamos (15 March 2012)
- Los Alamos Monitor: Road open after HAZMAT situation on lab property (14 March 2012)
- Watch: Alpha radiation detected 50km south of Fukushima in Iwaki City -- Up to 1,000 times more dangerous than beta or gamma equivalent (14 March 2012)
- Study claims Tokyo newborns had ‘safe’ 1,140 microsievert thyroid dose — Only counted food and water — Did not include inhaled radioactivity — Did not include first 10 days when iodine and other short-lived isotopes peaked (13 March 2012)
- Der Spiegel: Fukushima Fallout: Cancer Fears and Depression Plague Japanese Refugees (9 March 2012)
- Massive amount of mystery black substance found on road in Minamisoma after several days of rain and snow -- Emitting 50 microSv/hr (PHOTO) (7 March 2012)
- Controversy after US gov’t estimate showed 40,000 microsievert thyroid dose for California infants from Fukushima — Data not released to public — “Very high doses to children” (6 March 2012)
- Japan Today: Fukushima residents seek immigration to North Korea (6 March 2012)
- Report: Gov’t hid radiation simulation because it was “very, very bad” — Japan professor — Showed serious contamination over wide area (4 March 2012)
- Kyodo: Radiation forecast can “by no means” be released to public decided gov’t on Mar. 15 — Showed radioactive cloud could spread over Tokyo area (3 March 2012)
- All of Western US and most of East Coast, Midwest, Canada covered with airborne particles at various altitudes on March 20, Fukushima plume model shows — Based solely on Reactor No. 1 explosion (PHOTO) (2 March 2012)
- US Regulator: We've got to stop labs from testing for Fukushima radiation -- "Tell them to back off" -- Worried about them talking to press about 'consequences' (2 March 2012)
- Young child describes decontamination on BBC: I had to shower in a tent — They threw away my clothes, that made me sad (VIDEO) (2 March 2012)
- Study: First time in history xenon-133 detected in Southern Hemisphere — Cs-137 also measured — Darwin station, Australia (1 March 2012)
- NRC worried about US National Labs “chomping at the bit” to help with Fukushima Radiation analysis – Call lab directors and say “Knock it off” (28 February 2012)
- HCR: Mystery black radioactive powder detected outside school -- Local official posts 3 videos of black substance (24 February 2012)
- USGS: Los Angeles area had highest cesium deposition in US after Fukushima (23 February 2012)
- “Unthinkable”: Reports surfacing of radioactive sheep in parts of Norway containing 4,000 Bq/kg (21 February 2012)
- Mystery Continues: Original 295 microSv/h black substance remains untested -- Locals getting suspicious? (19 February 2012)
- Canada denies refugee status to Japanese trying to escape Fukushima radiation (18 February 2012)
- Calgary Sun: Japan’s nuclear evacuees denied Canadian refuge (18 February 2012)
- OPCOM emergency survey of more black dust finds alpha radiation of 45 microSv/h -- Measured at public housing project in Minami Soma (18 February 2012)
- UPDATE: Original mystery black substance was never tested -- Much more radioactive than official's black dust -- Detector shows 95,880 cpm -- Up to 60,000 cpm in beta -- New alpha info (17 February 2012)
- Mystery black substance has 1,000,000+ Bq/kg of cesium -- Seen all over Minami Soma -- Officials meeting to discuss findings (16 February 2012)
- Mystery: Radioactive black substance reported 25km from Fukushima -- Latest measurement over 95 µSv/h -- Strong alpha emitter detected (12 February 2012)
- Xinhua: Radioactive Iodine-131 detected in Austria (7 February 2012)
- Fire at nuclear facility in Moscow: Grey smoke and bitter smell reported — Reuters source says fire crews were denied access — Russia says no risk (6 February 2012)
- Radioactive Iodine-131 detected by Sweden, Norway, Finland — “Most likely a reactor or a isotope-source at a hospital” (1 February 2012)
- Telegraph: Accident at China nuclear reactor — Alarm over prospect of radiation leak — Uses highly enriched uranium Cover-up denied (27 January 2012)
- Report Kazakhstan: Containers of dead babies and body parts found at radioactive waste site — “Even their amputated limbs and fetuses posed a danger to others” (26 January 2012)
- Moscow Times: 29 Fetuses Found at Uranium Site Excavated in Kazakhstan (26 January 2012)
- Calgary Sun: “No need to panic – probably” about Fukushima fallout that rained on Canada — Gov’t “hasn’t even released the data” (22 January 2012)
- Lawmaker: Serious questions arising about why Canada gov’t failed to alert public about radioactive rain after Fukushima (19 January 2012)
- Greens say Health Canada failed to reveal radioactivity in rainwater (18 January 2012)
- NHK: Japan gov’t gave SPEEDI radiation forecasts to US military, NOT own citizens (16 January 2012)
- Over EPA limit: Cesium levels in San Francisco area milk now higher than 6 months ago (16 January 2012)
- Canadian fish-eaters threatened by Fukushima radiation (16 January 2012)
- Canadian Official: Iodine-131 in rainwater was above recommended level for drinking water during March — “It should not exceed the guideline” — Gov’t failed to disclose findings (14 January 2012)
- Physician suspects Canada will see more cancers, decreased fetal viability, decreased fertility from Fukushima — We expect them to be generational (14 January 2012)
- Strange: Dramatic drop in background radiation just before radioactive cloud detected in Australia (14 January 2012)
- Australian gov’t confirms radiation cloud over East Coast — Radiation spike 8 times normal reported — Concerns about Fukushima fallout (13 January 2012)
- South Korea: Radioactive store-bought seaweed measures 0.81 microSv/hr — and 20 microSv/hr on tissue used to wipe car hood (VIDEOS) (4 January 2012)
- New Study: Aerosolized plutonium from Fukushima detected in Europe — Spent fuel indicated (2 January 2012)
- Gov’t projections assumed ONE becquerel per hour was leaking from Fukushima — Actual rate reached at least 10 Quadrillion times higher (29 December 2011)
- Canada TV: Japan debris hits BC — Warned about radiation — “Never seen such a large quantity of debris” says resident — Moving much faster than expected — Estimated twice as big as Texas (PHOTOS & VIDEO) (16 December 2011)
- Paper: First Japan debris hits US, Canada — People warned about radiation — Recommended for Police to have Geiger counters — “Bodies will likely begin washing up in about a year” (15 December 2011)
- Japan Expert: It was a nuclear explosion at Reactor No. 3 — I believe fuel rods were blown out of spent fuel pool (13 December 2011)
- Dozens of radioactive tires from Japan confiscated by Russians: “Emitting excess levels of gamma and beta rays” — “Unsafe to bring into Russia” (4 December 2011)
- Cobalt-60, Cesium-137 found by Taiwan researcher on Orchid Island — Cesium-137 exceeds gov’t limit, yet report says it does not (29 November 2011)
- Study: Much of Japan’s east, northeast likely contaminated — Yet included NO radiation data before March 19, when explosions spread massive amount of fallout (17 November 2011)
- Experts on iodine in Europe: Something very unpleasant has happened — Either serious accident or reactor emergency required venting radioactive substances (17 November 2011)
- ANALYSIS: European radiation safety agencies detect traces of iodine-131 in air, source of leak unknown (17 November 2011)
- Reuters: Budapest-based lab likely source of radiation release (17 November 2011)
- Business Insider: Mysterious radiation leak discovered across Europe (17 November 2011)
- France detects Radioactive Iodine fallout (16 November 2011)
- Iodine-131 now detected in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary… other countries — An indicator of nuclear chain reaction — 10 days after criticality talk at Fukushima (11 November 11, 2011)
- Hungarian gov’t radiation expert: Iodine-131 detected in Budapest, but it’s OK because "this is far below the levels found after Fukushima" (11 November 2011)
- Senator: We need agressive plan to deal with mass of “toxic debris” headed to US from Japan — Concern over hazards to people, fish & clogged waterways (10 November 2011)
- Radioactive Cesium found on South Korea streets (5 November 2011)
- Cesium-137 hotspot detected in Seoul, South Korea — Emitting 1,000% normal background radiation — 1,200 km from Fukushima (3 November 2011)
- Hot particles found at 2 out of 3 US monitoring stations during April, including Boston — “There will be an increase in cancers, especially on the West Coast” says nuke expert (VIDEO) (1 November 2011)
- Soviet Radiation Doctor on Kazakhstan: We were wrong -- A huge new group has appeared... The children of parents who have been irradiated (VIDEO, 1hr 2min) (30 October 2011)
- “High concentrations” of radiation hit US and Canada — Plume was rich in Cesium-137 and “close to the surface” from Vancouver southward — See also Hawaii, Florida (MAPS) (28 October 2011)
- 27.1 Quadrillion becquerels of cesium alone flowed into sea — Doesn’t include first week of crisis! — Still 30 times what TEPCO claimed — Warning that ‘significant’ pollution to remain (29 October 2011)
- TV: “We don’t want to create a panic, but it’s good to know” — Radioactive tsunami debris coming to Hawaii “much earlier” than predicted (VIDEO) (29 October 2011)
- France: 20 times more cesium was released from Fukushima into sea than TEPCO claims (28 October 2011)
- French Gov’t: Fukushima to make Pacific TWICE as radioacitve as after atmospheric nuclear testing in ’60s — “Significant” releases could persist (27 October 2011)
- Japan allows triple amount of cesium in food than Chernobyl did — Over 50% of store-bought seafood samples contaminated with radiation (20 October 2011)
- Paper: “Now evidence has emerged that the radiation in Canada was worse than Canadian officials ever let on” — Radioactive coverup? (20 October 2011)
- Tokyo Researchers: Radioactive plankton are “so heavily contaminated” — Food chain fears — Continuously carried southward from Fukushima (15 October 2011)
- Report: NRC analysis indicated “elevated child thyroid” in Alaska, Pacific island… With only 1 of 3 reactor cores releasing radiation (7 October 2011)
- New Scientist: “Plutonium from Fukushima was expected to rapidly disperse in the Pacific Ocean — Instead, it seems that the levels remain high” (2 October 2011)
- Chernobyl expert: Fukushima is “largest delivery of radiation into the ocean ever seen” — “We still don’t know how much was released” (29 September 2011)
- ‘Sobering’ Results: Ocean currents keeping radiation from being diluted — Highest cesium values not necessarily closest to Fukushima (29 September 2011)
- Scientists: Radioactivity in sea NOT falling off — Hypothesis says Fukushima groundwater is leaking radiation (29 September 2011)
- Canadians suspicious over radiation testing of seafood — Official “puzzled” gov’t withholding where samples were taken (20 September 2011)
- Radioactive manganese-54, silver-110m and cobalt-60 found in seaweed sample 30km south of Fukushima (16 September 2011)
- Atmc.jp now posting Fukushima radiation forecast maps from Swiss Meteorological Bureau — Latest shows particles traveling across Pacific (VIDEOS) (7 September 2011)
- Radionuclides from the Fukushima accident in the air over Lithuania: measurement and modelling approaches (25 August 2011)
- Argentum-110m detected in marine life: China researchers — All water samples contain strontium-90 (24 August 2011)
- “Tends to concentrate in the testicles”: 360+ atoms of radioactive sulfur per day may have been inhaled by Californians after Fukushima (17 August 2011)
- Xinhua: Gov’t says “waters in China have been affected by the radioactive materials” from Fukushima — Contamination levels higher than what Japan claims (16 August 2011)
- Radioactive sulfur in California spiked to highest levels ever detected: University researchers (15 August 2011)
- Vancouver Paper: Health Canada detected massive amounts of radioactive material from Fukushima — Iodine-131 spiked above maximum allowed limit at 4 of 5 sites (4 August 2011)
- Los Alamos: Firefighters are battling to clear bone-dry brush from 20,000 barrels of plutonium-contaminated waste three miles from the monster New Mexico blaze (2 July 2011)
- Leaked emails show British gov’t worked with nuke companies on PR campaign to downplay Fukushima — Degree of collusion “truly shocking” (30 June 2011)
- British government’s plan to play down Fukushima (30 June 2011)
- Los Alamos fire: Permimeter of nuclear lab set ablaze to protect site from wildfire (30 June 2011)
- Los Alamos fire: Initial air samples show no elevated radiation (29 June 2011)
- Los Alamos fire forces lab closure, possible toxic plume (29 June 2011)
- 392 nSv/hr today in South Korea (VIDEO) (16 June 2011)
- Independent French radiation commission warns Europe that health risk from Fukushima fallout is “no longer negligible” — Says US west coast has 8-10 times more contamination (11 April 2011)
- Officials unsure what to do next — Korea calls Japan’s handling of Fukushima “incompetent” (10 April 2011)
- Uranium-234 detected in Hawaii, Southern California, and Seattle (9 April 2011)
- US Department of Energy lab in Pacific Northwest has “declined” to make nuclear fallout results public, after initially releasing data (6 April 2011)
- Anaheim, CA has highest amount of radioactive fallout of any EPA air monitoring station in Continental U.S. for iodine-131 (31 March 2011)
- Spike in radiation levels for West Coast? “Abnormal” readings on 8 of 18 EPA monitors for California, Oregon, Washington — Devices now “undergoing quality review” (22 March 2011)
- Fukushima nuclear plume “covered most of North America” — Now over N. Atlantic; Including Caribbean, Canada’s east coast (19 March 2011)
"A child is checked for radiation on March 13, 2011, two days after the catastrophe. Mass screenings and long-term studies should help determine the consequences of the radiation exposure. But experts are skeptical that the Fukushima disaster will lead to an overall rise in cancer rates (report from March 2012)." Image Source: Reuters via Der Spiegel.
"An anti-nuclear demonstration in Tokyo on Sept. 19, 2011. The mental stress caused by the catastrophe is significant, and many of the evacuated people suffer from depression (report from March 2012)." Image Source: Reuters via Der Spiegel.
"A woman cries after being allowed to enter her home within the 20-kilometer exclusion zone for a short visit. People from the region surrounding the Fukushima nuclear plant worry about radiation and cancer (report from March 2012)." Image Source: Reuters via Der Spiegel.
"Shigeko Hashimoto's shrine sits atop cardboard boxes in her temporary housing in Koriyama, Miyagi Prefecture, August 18, 2011. These are the only items she took with her, believing she would return soon to her house when she evacuated. (© Phyllis B. Dooney) (report from March 2012)" Image Source Phyllis B. Dooney via Boston.com.
On Youtube, there are a lot of people measuring radiation in their localities with Geiger counters. Authorities strongly discourage amateur efforts to gauge and interpret technical information about radioactivity and radioactive fallout. From an official point of view, the only thing these videos record are popular anxiety, since most people don't know what they are doing or what the numbers mean. For every alarming video showing high levels of radiation background, there are others showing normal levels. Rainwater can also be naturally radioactive due to radon washout, which causes confusion:
Here are a few links on amateur Geiger readings, with some news reports:"Intense gamma radiation from radon progeny accreted in/on rain during and following thunderstorms '... 214Bi and 214Pb, initially exceeding up to 100's of cts/sec ... .' Apparently, thunderstorms concentrate radon gas because the atoms are positively charged and are attracted to electrically charged thunderclouds. There is also 214Bistmuth and 214Lead in the rain, they are daughter products of radon decay. The radiation is completely natural and it decays away after a few hours, the isotopes have short have-lives. It deserves more research, as there are risks to people who drink fresh rain water."
Japan: general; map of Japanese Geiger counter Youtube videos in Google maps; Google earth file; MSNBC Worldblog article on Japanese DIY radiation measurement; Safecast website (home of Japanese DIY radiation measurements)
South Korea: Seoul; Grocery store seaweed
Australia: Melbourne; Melbourne; Darwin, Northern Territory
United States: US Radiation Network (provides amateur-submitted readings, updated in real time every minute); Los Angeles; Los Angeles; Los Angeles (hot dogs!); Santa Monica; St. Louis, Missouri; Oklahoma City; Minnesota; Grand Canyon; Colorado; Colorado; Kalamazoo
Canada: Lake Louise; Edmonton; Toronto; Toronto; Toronto; Montreal
United Kingdom: London; Glasgow
France: Paris; Paris; Paris
Austria: Salzburgerland (State of Salzburg - natural uranium)
Russia: Elektrostal; Krasnodar
Ukraine: Chernobyl; Chernobyl; Chernobyl
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