By Vincent L. Guarisco

It's been over a year since the most powerful 9.0 earthquake in Japan's history struck and a monstrous tsunami reached an astonishing height of 133 feet, severely damaging the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. I published my first article about this disaster back in July, 2011. Since that fateful day on Friday, March 11, 2011, every second of every day, millions of unsuspecting people continue to be exposed to harmful amounts of radiation from three reactor meltdowns. This includes a host of fission products: Iodine, cesium, strontium, plutonium and uranium. Even as I type this essay, mass exposure is ongoing on multiple continents and, as a direct result, many healthy souls will get sick and die premature deaths. However, the worst may be forthcoming ...

I truly wish the worst was over, I do. But sadly, that's not the case. In addition to the ongoing three reactor meltdowns, an even greater tragedy is poised to unleash radioactive hell. The Reactor 4 building is on the verge of collapse. According to structural experts, seismicity standards rate the building at zero, meaning even a small earthquake could send it into a radiated heap of rubble. Plus -- here's the worst part -- sitting 100 feet above the ground in a pool at the top of the building that is cracked, leaning, leaking, and precarious, are 1,565 fuel rods (give or take a few), some of which are “fresh fuel” that was ready to go into the reactor on the morning the earthquake and tsunami hit. Fresh fuel will make the situation much worse. Former clinical researcher Christina Consolo published an informative article about this and, considering how "precarious" our monetary system is as well, her title asks a valid question -- "Which will collapse first, the economy or the spent fuel pool at Fukushima?" It's worth the time spent, you can read her sobering essay here.

In addition, Robert Alvarez, a senior scholar (and nuclear expert) who served as senior policy adviser to the Energy Department's secretary and deputy assistant secretary for national security and the environment from 1993 to 1999, voiced his concern when he published an article at the Huffington Post stating the obvious, The Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Is Far From Over. Mr. Alvarez wrote... "The irradiated nuclear fuel stored in spent fuel pools amidst the reactor ruins pose far greater dangers than the molten cores. This is why: Nearly all of the 10,893 spent fuel assemblies sit in pools vulnerable to future earthquakes, with roughly 85 times more long-lived radioactivity than released at Chernobyl."

Amazingly, all of this atomic danger begs the question: who the hell is in charge of safeguarding humanity from all this radioactive madness? You would think they could at least warn us of the danger? Well, that's not the case. Perhaps if the institutions we put our trust in had their priorities in our corner, they would rightfully protect the public at large. Shamefully, the Defense Nuclear Agency (DNA), Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), etc... are all quiet a mouse on Christmas Eve. But all doubt has been removed. The entire world now knows what many of us have known for decades. That these bogus, lying institutions will never bite the filthy hand that feeds them. For if they do, it will destroy the credibility (and business) of the very industry that created a need for these same worthless institutions.

So here we are, the world is in peril and what is the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) doing about it? Nothing. Even though they could easily do it, they refuse to cut loose with the needed funds to fix this big mess. The IAEA also has a stockpile of money they could easily access to help the situation. Regardless, no one is doing a damn thing. This is unreal!

And so the story goes, the madness of this nuclear fuel-rod storage bomb will continue until its eventual collapse, which will cause imminent global exposure. And offering even less than a pittance of concern for any of this is the heartless bastards employed at the many "proxy" institutions named above. You can always rely on them to continue unabated, providing "damage control" (like they have done since the very first day the industry split the atom) emphatically embracing their role as public relations "sluts" that (as needed) receive smooth hand-rubs from powerful corporate interests to ensure they remain obedient servants. Thus, the slut owners' manual reads as follows: "Protect thy business and safeguard thy nuclear industrial complex at any and all cost. And, even if everyone falls over f-ing dead in a burning heap of glowing melted flesh, minimize and/or eliminate all exposure ramifications whatsoever (that leads back to us) in the public domain."

See the picture here? So don't expect this trend to change anytime soon, because the profiteering business of all things nuclear -- the most dangerous business in all creation --will silently operate with impunity while being protected from all public scrutiny or justice. Yes, the money rolls in, the isotopes spread out ... and the people be damned.

I know it's hard for most folks to wrap their minds around the severity of this situation -- to grasp that the whole system is corrupt inside and out, from top to bottom -- to fully understand that our fundamental birthright to inherit a healthy, livable environment is on the verge of forever being compromised -- to truly come to the realization that we are ruthlessly being poisoned on a cellular level by a radioactive assassin that is silent, invisible and has no smell or taste.

Although some of us will get to live a while longer, the most vulnerable among us -- infants and our youth -- will suffer the ultimate price because they have always been and remain the first casualties of radiation exposure. In fact (insert gasp here), not that many of them would want to live anyway after seeing how deformed they are; many fetuses will not even make it out of the womb to experience the miracle of birth and life. Sadly, hot radioactive particles or rays have no age boundaries when destroying the chain of life. They indiscriminately attack cells that are developing the fastest, so this is especially bad news for the youth of future generations.

Many of you may perceive this article as bit depressing, harsh or even hateful. However, before you cast judgment, perhaps you should take a moment and try to imagine walking in my shoes for the past five decades. For if you do, you may gain a clear understanding of why I can't paint a rosy picture about all of this. Perhaps you would if you had a father (as I do) who honorably served his country in two world wars, walked on the ashes of Hiroshima and afterwards, was ordered to go to the nuclear gallows and participate in atomic testing. Then, after doing so, as a kid and for most of your adult life, watch him get very sick and suffer as his spine painfully fuses together, partially paralyzing him. Throughout your whole life, you were forced to watch your government try to sweep your father under the carpet like a worthless piece of dirt, just as they had done with countless others. In truth, most everyone on the opposing side wished my father would keep his mouth shut and just quietly die. Indeed, stories such as this can hit a little closer to home than most prefer. It's life experiences such as this that gives a person a clear understanding in real terms of how the world precariously turns.

But the story does not end there, although to some degree, it did have an inspiring end. For decades, I also watched my parents fight the powers at the forefront of the anti-nuclear movement. I'm proud to say that after a lifetime of bureaucratic battle, they finally won and helped pass Federal Legislation that guaranteed that more than 250,000Veterans got their needed healthcare and benefits. Something the Defense Department, the government, the VA, the entire nuclear industry and all the supposed watchdog organizations fought tooth and nail to prevent every step of the way. Unfortunately, this round, we don't have the luxury of a lifetime to cure this big problem. This time, we're in BIG f-ing trouble.

However, I refuse to give up all hope. I want to see my children and grandchildren live long and prosperous lives worth living. I suppose there is hope that a great awakening can quickly spark the mighty flame of activism that can save humanity from this pending disaster; that world governments can put their differences aside and come together as a world-wide consortium to contain this nuclear monster. However ... thus far, I have seen no sparks, smelled no smoke, nor do I see any hint of flame happening. And for these many months, I have not even heard a tiny sound-bite in our mainstream media. So, for the love of God, for the sanctity of life and for everything good that is to occur in this journey, please get involved now and help us save the world for what could be our most tragic moment in human history. Stand with me and be the mighty architects of change! Let all of us assemble as one huge mass of movers and shakers and demand this disaster be dealt with, no matter the cost. It comes down to this -- either we come together NOW or suffer the consequences of inaction. The choice is ours.

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Authors Bio:

Vincent L. Guarisco is a freelance writer from Arizona, a contributing writer for many web sites, and a lifetime founding member of the Alliance of Atomic Veterans. The 21st century, once so full of shining promise, now threatens to force countless millions of us at home and abroad into a dark abyss of languishing poverty and silent servitude; a lowly prodigy of painful struggle and suffering that could stream for generations to come. I'm wishing for a miracle, before it is too late, the masses will figure it out and will stand as one and roar. So, pass the word -- it's past time to take back what is ours -- the American Dream where the pursuit of happiness, the ability to live in a free and peaceful nation is a reality. We bought it, and we paid for it. It's time to take it back.