>> at link tv we are dedicated to bringing in you depth investigations into the issues that matter to us all. hi. i'm kim spencer. every week, our original series "earth focus" tackles important environmental topics. today, we're going to lock at two reports from our investigative team. now, as you watch, i hope you'll remember that link tv is a noncommercial independent network. we depend on your financial support to bring you original programs. and to keep link tv on the air day after day. all you have to do is dial the toll free number 1-866-485-8848 or go to our website. linktv.org.

now our first report from "earth focus" probes safety issues at nuclear power generating plants. nearly five years ago, a giant earthquake and tsunami in japan destroyed the fukushima nuclear power plant. which has the same containment design as a number of american reactors. what does that mean for us? let's watch the "earth focus" special report fukushima, can it happen in the u.s.? nly here on link tv. >> today on "earth focus" a fukushima nuclear disaster in the u.s.? dr. edwin lyman of the union of concerned scientists on the possibilities. coming up. n earth focus. >> there's no nuclear reactor operating in the world today that is completely immune to accidents. my colleagues and i wrote the book about fukushima to try to

produce the most accurate representation of the accident. because if you don't fully understand the technical basis for the accident, then it's very hard to come up with solutions for preventing the next one. our book does conclude that an accident like fukushima could happen here. and we do have the opportunity to try to reduce the possibility. however, what we're seeing in the united states and the aftermath of fukushima was the various government officials including the nuclear regulatory commission and the nuclear industry telling the american public that what happened at fukushima simply couldn't happen here. >> all of the plants that we've licensed and all of the plants that we are currently reviewing will meet strict safety standards for earthquakes and other natural phenomenon. so certainly for the existing plants we believe absolutely that they can withstand an earthquake and they can meet the high standards that we've put in place. >> when you start to say

something can't happen here, you're practically inviting it to. because you're going to let your guard down and that's the biggest danger. no regulator can predict every possible contingency that could affect the nuclear power plant. you have to be prepared for anything. but it is simply too expensive to prepare for everything. in the united states, most of our plants were designed, licensed and built decades ago. and -- in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's and they were designed to a certain standard that was considered to be the best knowledge at the time, for instance, what's the most severe earthquake? and the historical record, what's the highest flood? that information was taken into account. but in some cases, the methods that were used for analyzing that data were faulty. things were left out. for instance, the impact of an

upstream dam failure was not considered. but now we believe that to be a significant risk. the acony plant in south carolina is one that's been known for a long time to be ulnerable to a dam fale -- dam failure. owned by duke energy. a plant quad cities in illinois and river flooding could put that plant under water in which case the operators would have to resort to extraordinary measures to keep the plant safe. seismic vulnerabilities is a big issue. and the most obvious vulnerable plants are those in california right now. there's only one operating nuclear power plant that's diablo canyon. the other two have been shut down but they spent nuclear -- nuclear fuel is still on site in those plants. in the central and eastern united states, over the last couple of decades, the u.s. geological survey has come to

the conclusion that seismic risk is greater than was previously believed for a number of these sites. and so these are plants where they were formerly believed to be low risk but are now higher risk. there is one plant in the united states which really needs to be considered as a unique case. and that's the indian point nuclear plant. which is only about 25 miles from the new york city border. and within the 50 miles of indian point, there are about 16 million people. and so it's certainly the highest population density around any nuclear plant in the country. as a result, it deserves special scrutiny. not just for safety vulnerability but also for vulnerability to sabotage. because we know that new york historically has been one of the most desirable targets for terrorists and indian point is a nuclear plant, fallout,

melted down, would be aimed directly at new york city. it has to be taken seriously as a potential sabotage target. one very important aspect of fukushima is that it demonstrated that the hazards of a nuclear plant accident extend far beyond the 10 mile zone that is typically designated as the evacuation zone for a nuclear plant. here the -- in the united states the n.r.c. requires every plant to make plans available for evacuation within 10 miles. if it looks like there was going to be danger, to people living beyond 10 miles, this would be plenty of time to evacuate. for some plants like indian point, you're talking about millions of people who had no idea that one day they may be asked to evacuate from a densely populated region with terrible tragedy. and i think that to rely on the ability to expand that

evacuation zone on an ad hoc basis if an accident happens is asking for trouble. right after fukushima happened, the chairman of the n.r.c. convened a task force to take a hard look at safety of nuclear power in this country. and that task force came around with 12 recommendations. so anyone who thought before fukushima that we hadn't -- no room to improve here in the united states, was probably taken aback by this thick document of all the things that we need to fix. that task force report was taken by the n.r.c. and then put through its regulatory meat grinder. and as a result, some of its recommendations remain somewhat intact. others were watered down. others have been discarded completely. nuclear power is just a very complex and expensive way to boil water.

if we don't fully learn the lessons of fukushima, and incorporate them into sfour that we are s here setting the stage for catastrophe. simply because we have the opportunity now to correct some of the problems of the past, and if we don't take that opportunity fully, then we'll -- no one but ourselves to blame when -- when or if it does happen. >> we will go back to more special reporting from "earth focus" but i want to talk with you what about it takes to bring this unique programming. we created the weekly "earth

focus" series 10 years ago because no one else was covering the environment on a regular space. now with our ground-breaking reports on fracking, unsafe chemicals in the home, the pesticides that are killing our nation's honey bees and so many other topics, we make sure you are informed about threats to our environment and to ourselves. if you see the value of the "earth focus" weekly series, and if link tv is a crucial part of your life, then become a supporter today. making a contribution is easy. just visit our secure website. link.tv.org or call us at -866-458-8848. -- 1-866-485-8848. look at what you can get when you make a donation. because of your financial support that link tv is able to bring you engaging, informative and motivational programming. so make the choice right now. to become a sustaining supporter with a gift of $25 or

more each month. and we will thank you with our link tv reusable grocery bag. this spacious shoulder bag is made in the u.s.a. from recycled materials. help both the environment and link tv by making your contribution today. thank you. >> we really appreciate your generous support and remember, if you choose the no gift option, all of your donation goes to link tv. and it's 100% tax deductible. you know, link tv is the only place to find the programs you've come to depend on for truly independent television. uncompromising documentaries. environmental investigations. and news from diverse global sources. link tv dares to challenge the status quo. without big corporations influencing what we broadcast. but we need your help to continue link tv's mission. generous contributions from viewers like you allow us to acquire and produce great

programs like "earth focus" and keeps link tv on the air week after week. maybe you've been sitting at home watching our programs intending to make a donation to link tv. but still haven't quite gotten around to doing it. well, there is no better time than now. just go online to our safe and secure website. that's link.tv.org or you can make your tax deductible donation by calling 1-866-485-8848. let's take a look at ways you can help. >> link tv brings current topics, cultural events and rare and informative programming thanks to your support. take this time right now to make a generous donation of $1,000. and in return, we'll send you the best of link tv. books. d.v.d.'s and logo items. everything to keep you up to date with all that link tv has to offer. plus this collection comes with an exclusive audio u.s.b. drive filled with your favorite earth

at risk speeches. from derrick jensen, to van dana sheba to alice walker to fomc lindsia, take this with you to be informed and inspired. because of your support link tv can bring powerful stories in unseen perspective he is. thank you. >> your contribution helps us present "earth focus." the weekly series on link tv that is the leading environmental investigative program on american television. now, we're very proud of that fact but it's a sad commentary that no one else is covering the environmental beat. this comprehensively upon national tv. when we need it most. each week, we commit prominent air time for "earth focus" so that the people fighting threats to the environment, countering climate change, and working hard to come up with sustainable alternatives can reach the millions of people who watch link tv each week. you can heche make that happen. call 1-866-485-8848.

and make a generous contribution right now. or go online to linktv.org where you can check out the special gifts that we have to offer. it's our way of thank you for keeping link tv alive in communities all across america. remember, as a noncommercial channel, we do not sell advertising. and get no funds from the monthly fees that you pay your satellite provider. that's why we have to interrupt link tv's commercial-free schedule and turn to our viewers a couple of times a year to meet our modest budget. and to produce our unique programs that enlighten you about critical topics like the environment. so please call today. or go to our website link.tv.org. now, let's watch another "earth focus" report. cold rush looks at the opening of the arctic region as climate change melts the northern ice pack, leading to a new russian-american competition for shipping lanes and poile-gas exploration.

-- and oil-gas exploration. only here on viewer-supported link tv. >> today on "earth focus" the global consequences of a changing arctic. coming up on "earth focus." >> having traveled to the arctic region it's really hard to describe the experience. of standing and looking out over miles and miles and miles of ice floes as far as the eye can see. a majesty unparalleled. on the planet. >> at the northern most part of the earth the arctic covers over five million square miles. and includes parts of the u.s., canada, greenland, iceland, norway, sweden, finland, and russia. >> the arctic is very, very different depending on where you go. even within individual countries. you might have a very developed aspect.

in the arctic and then you might have underdeveloped areas. >> this is a place where with significant urban settings, as well as very small indigenous tribal communities. >> northern norway called the paris of the north. beautiful city. amazing infrastructure. better roads than washington, d.c. they have underground tunnels and roundabouts. >> much of the arctic is unpopulated and little explored. winter temperatures can plunge below zero fahrenheit. summers average 50 degrees above zero or higher. >> it is a very challenging region to do work in. it is cold. and it is dark. and it is remote. >> in the arctic everything happens at a very slow rate. if you put your foot down on some piece of moss or some grass it will take years or decades to regrow. >> the one thing that is not happening slowly in the arctic is change. >> scientists tell us that every day, they are profoundly

stunned by the dramatic change that is occurring in the arctic. >> the arctic is warming faster than any other place on earth. and one of the ways in which that is demonstrated is in the retreat of summer sea ice. which has been shrinking dramatically over the last several decades. >> according to nasa scientists, the arctic is losing about 30,000 square miles of sea ice each year. that's an area the size of maine. since 1980, 40% of sea ice cover has disappeared. scientists expect the arctic ocean to be largely free of summer ice by mid century or sooner. >> the ice reseeding -- receding has an impact on the environment and on the flora and fauna in the arctic and that changes traditional with a ways of life in greenland or alaska that hunters can no longer get to the seals because the ice is receding. >> but there are other more

troubling consequences. melting sea ice accelerates warming. ice reflects the sun rays back into space. but dark open waters exposed by loss of sea ice absorb them. >> what scientists believe is happening is the more that ice cap shrinks, that dark water absorbs heat faster. and it becomes the cycle where the warming actually begins to go faster than what has been projected. >> so the less ice we have there, and the less surface for the sun to bounce its rays off of, the warmer the whole planet becomes and that's what we get into what we call feedback loops. so the arctic is a bellwether for the rest of the planet. that if the arctic absorbs a lot more heat, because the ice is gone, it could have ramifications for the rest of the planet. >> the arctic is a global air conditioner. it helps regulate climate and weather patterns. as the arctic warms, wind patterns shift affecting weather in north america and europe.

the melting of the greenland ice sheet will also have ramifications for the rest of the planet. it stands to raise global sea levels by 20 feet or more. >> that will impact places like bangladesh. asia. even in the united states. the louisiana coast. the florida coast. >> in will still take several hundred years. but that's many times quicker than anything we've previously seen. and the greenland ice sheet is definitely melting at unprecedented rates. >> throughout the arctic, permafrost, frozen ground below the soil, is melting. >> permafrost which would be a very firm foundation year around on which to build airports, roads, schools, houses, is thawing causing foundations to sink and crumble and having buildings actually collapse. that's not just happening in alaska. it's happening in russia and

other places as well. so the engineering and designing and construction of buildings and public facilities has to change. it has to change pretty quickly. >> but permafrost melt is not the only problem. as the arctic sea ice melts, storms produce stronger winds and waves. exposing coastal communities to severe erosion. >> coastal erosion, which is eating away at the shoreline of villages, means that people are losing schools and tank farms. and roads. to a very powerful storm season. it didn't use to happen. >> 180 alaska native villages are presently suffering from floods and erosion. one of them is kivalina. this bear-year island village is losing up to eight feet of shore to erosion each year. it's long-term survival is at stake. alaska's northern coast has some of the highest shoreline erosion rates in the world. >> over 20 communities on the

coastine of northern alaska have been identified as places where either they have to move or they will have to move. because they won't be able to be sustained where they are anymore. but where is the money going to come from to move those villages? >> the warming of the arctic brings many destablizing changes. but at the same time, it opens up the region to new opportunities. >> that shrinkage of arctic summer sea ice means that people are speculating about the possibility of everything from shipping to oil and gas to additional economic development. that might have some rather major implications both domestically and internationally. >> right now, there are two main passages, the northern sea route or the northeast passage over the russian arctic. primarily. and then the northwest passage which is through the canadian archipelago. >> the northern sea route is the one right now that has the most economic potential. rotterdam to tokyo, for

example, from the netherlands to japan, is 40% shorter through the northern sea route compared to the suze canal. the northwest passage still a lot of ice. the ice likes to stay between all the different islands and not really a shortcut to anywhere. >> the northern sea route stands to potentially transform global shipping. >> this arctic seaway -- >> today only limited traffic along the northern sea route. but turning this route into a global commercial highway is a strategic priority for the russian government. >> so the arctic is very closely tied and linked to national development. in russia. if russia wants to remain prosperous or develop hydro carbon resources they need to do it in the arctic. >> the arctic remains one of the most promising areas in the world. for future oil and gas opportunities. so it is an energy storehouse. there are also significant minerals available in that region. >> there's these famous numbers

by the u.s. geological survey that 13% of undiscovered oil and 30% of undiscovered natural gas are located in the arctic. >> shrinking. ice cap now makes offshore exploration in the arctic feasible. most of the reserves are thought to be in the russian and american arctic. >> so what russia needs is technology. they do not have the technology to do offshore drilling. so they needed western technology. and they also needed western financing to help. >> so what we see are joint ventures between western corporations like shell and exxon and state-owned companies like rozneft and gazprom. >> after the crisis over crimea and ukraine western european and american sanctions have targeted technology needs. and those companies cannot provide the technology and they can't provide the financing that would help. so now that energy production has slowed.

and exxonmobil has left. its prourks -- production project -- >> you could argue the ukraine sanctions might have put certain development five or 10 years behind. >> the collapse of oil prices in 2014 has stalled offshore oil drilling plans by chevron and norwegian, danish and french oil companies. offshore development in this faragal and pristine environment has some experts concerned. >> many of the technologies that have been used in the lower 48 in responding to spills, whether they are a small or large, involve mechanical recovery systems that do not assume that they are operating in ice. and ice creates a variety of problems. in terms of responding to spills. >> a recent government study said that if oil is produced in the -- off the coast of alaska, there's a 75% chance of an oil spill. that would -- that could

absolutely decimate communities on the north slope of alaska who rely on the animals in the ocean for food. if there was a 75% chance of me getting on plane and having that plane crash, there's no way i would go near it. >> environmental concerns about spills in the arctic led greenpeace activists aboard the go 0 on c sunrise to owned -- m of >> does not present any threat to safety and security of any person. or property. or the marine environment. and unacceptable risk to the arctic environment. both in russia and globally. >> the first thing we have to do is to stop the hosing, stop the hosing because they're in position, it becomes unstable and may fall 15 meters on the foot of the platform. so we have to stop hosing so we

can entertain the situation of the activists. over. we propose you evacuate all personnel because we will start our -- so we think that more people will be injured. >> in the end, russian authorities arrested all 30 members aboard including two independent journalists. and imprisoned them for three months. this group of activists is known as the arctic 30. they were eventually granted pardon and released. >> it was a very strong russian reaction. i think that also was telling us that russia is asserting its sovereignty in the arctic. and people who cross that sovereignty better beware. >> will the opening of the arctic lead to more clashes? will this resource-rich region become a source of conflict and tension? >> to date the relationship of

the eight arctic nations including russia has been a good relationship. i think largely based on a pretty simple premise which is that there is more of a shared interest than there is a competing interest. >> i would say that there's very little risk of escalating tension in the arctic. that is of course not to say that the conflict somewhere else in the world could potentially migrate into the arctic. >> and maybe the arctic could be a place where we can rebuild trust. and rebuild the dialogue with russia. because the arctic is so important to them, maybe this is place where we can start again. >> if countries can come together and protect this incredible place, and say this is a place where we're not going to exploit, we're going to protect it, then i think we have a shot at preserving our future.

>> aye. i'm kim spencer back with you after another great "earth focus" report. link tv's research shows that millions of americans watch this original series each year. and that nearly 70% of regular "earth focus" viewers take some kind of action based on what they've seen. whether it's volunteering with a group or calling their elected representative. this is the kind of impact link tv is having. but to keep us on the air, we need you to make a tax deductible contribution today. call now. toll free. 1-866-485-8848. or visit our secure website. link.tv.org.

and when you give, you get. >> link tv brings current topics, cultural events, and rare and informative programming thanks to your support. take this time right now to make a generous donation of $1,000. and in return, we'll send you the best of link tv. books. d.v.d.'s. logo items. everything to keep you up to date with all that link tv has to offer. plus this collection comes with an exclusive audio u.s.b. drive. filled with your favorite earth at risk speeches. rom derrick jensen, to donna sheba to alice walker and thomas lindsay, take it with you to become informed and inspired and because of your support that link tv brings you powerful stories in unseen perspectives. thank you. >> we've really appreciated your generous support. and remember, if you choose the no gift option, all of your donation goes to link tv. and it's 100% tax deductible.

we truly need your help to continue link tv's mission. you know, we get no funds from your satellite provider. from the government, or from selling commercials. that's right. it's contributions from viewers like you that allow link tv to stay on the air. without commercial interruptions. so take this moment. to do your part. call 1-866-485-8848. or go online to our website linktv.org. don't delay. please. do it right now. we need our viewers' financial support to acquire the bold programming that you can watch both on tv and online at our website. like uncompromising documentaries, our diverse cultural programs, and news reports from around the world. please don't think others can fill in the gap. the only way link tv can deliver independent media that you can trust, week after week after week, is with your help.

and we need it right now. so from all of us here at link tv, thank you so much for joining us.