Japan Hit by 8.9 Earthquake

By now most of you should know about the tsunami which followed and that the numbers are:

Dead: 300
Missing: 584
Injuried: 947

These numbers are from Honshu. Those who have family in Okinawa-Setanaoko has confirmed that there were no damages to the island.

There were many homes lost due to the flood, so the numbers could go up significantly due to shortages of food and the like.

If you have clothes that you are looking to give away, or even just have some cash to spare, the Red Cross has opened up a fund for the relief effort.

I've got a friend on his way there.. Apparently a nuclear power station is leaking (just the cooling systems, not the core), there was a malfunction with the backup systems, temp + radioactivity is rising. I hope they don't end up with Chernobyl lava over there, they've got enough to deal with as it is.

I saw some videos on the news, I'm quite amazed some people there weren't following earthquake safety procedures (such as hiding under a table). I've got (another) friend there and she's even got a helmet just for that in her flat !

The news footage is breaking my heart.

I'm sure you can tell that Japanese culture is extremely important to me.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all affected by this.

The reactor has had a second explosion that has caused more radiation leakage which has been detected 100 miles off the coast.

OK - The following I am saying as a level headed human - not as a Jedi(ist) etc - whilst I do have a Science degree I dont call myself a scientist (our teachers called us wise in all and specialised in none).

Now I have been reading a lot of crap on the web and in the press as well as hearing and seeing it.

Firstly - these events were not and could not be caused by solar storms or the coincidental fact that the moon is currently at its closest proximity to earth for 19years - in fact the last fact may well have been a saving grace for japan (if you know even a little you will understand what effect the moon has on the oceans).

Secondly - Japan is a part of the 'ring of fire' it got its name from the geological fact is volcanically ans seismically active region (and nothing to do with hot curry).

Japan has regular quakes - this one was exceptional - possibly the biggest sine the 17th century (1600's) if not ever.

So before folks make stupid rash statements - do a little bit of research and learn about plate tectonics, also understand what causes a tsunami and learn what makes some places more susceptible than others.

I have also read lots of criticism about Japan having nuclear energy. Again remember the Japanese are well used to quakes, they are smart cookies as a nation and plan well ahead for what they can - again this event is exceptional - no one can plan for everything. Japan is also a densely populated country and much of its landmass is actually more or kess uninhabitable - what little land it does have is used for living and agriculture - it has littl in the way of oil and coal for electrical generation.

The point it they need power from somewhere and nuclear was to them the best viable option. I am sure when these reactors were built, they were designed to cope with pretty big quakes - but how can you design for something that has never happened before?

So everyone - instead of criticising the Japanese for their choices in the past (who hasnt made mistakes?) lets all do our best to help them NOW with whats important NOW.

I am sure the Japanese themselves will be the first to point fingers about mistakes and scrutinise everything once they have everything sorted out. I am also sure in the spirit of the rising sun, the people of Japan will rise above this challenge bigger and better than before.

I feel its safe to say had such an awful thing happened here in the UK - the whole country would have descended into chaos and disorganised rabble of looters by no - I feel the world can and should learn from Japan's example - my admiration for their sheer courage and resolve has no words to express it.

Nature is both a beauty and a bitch and we are ALL at her mercy.

So please folks - do what you can to help a country in need and finally - my sincere thoughts and best wishes to those directly affected, now is NOT the time to mourn the lost for they are not the ones suffering.

MTFBWY - A / SYW

I forgot to add this -

Earth Day is fast approaching - Earth Day is a day designated to reflect on 'Mother Earth' and to raise awareness about the natural environment around us.

I would like to suggest that this Earth day be treated somewhat differently and used as a day of solemn reflection to ALL affected by natural disasters.

Obviously Japan is high in our minds, but so should too be New Zealand and the various nations globally who annually suffer att he hands of nature through floods, famine, etc etc.

May I ask everyone to also think on this - next time your having a bad day, think of these others, does it not put your little trivial woes into perspective?

MTFBWY - A

Actually, using nuclear energy isn't a mistake, using boiling water reactors in regions that are more likely to suffer from power cuts isn't very smart though. pressurized ones better handle the heat when the external power source is lost. Also using uranium in reactors is dumb, using plutonium is dumb too (although that's mostly because of environmentalists), now thorium, there's the future. Why more cash and energy hasn't been spent on that instead of new uranium reactor designs is beyond my understanding.

Just received an interesting email with before and after pics you just hover over and can slide across to see the changes.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/japan-quake-2011/beforeafter.htm

It's interesting to see that the wooden buildings that have been built to fall in harmlessly have worked so well.

A friend of mine works at an asnhram in India and is connected with Amma. They will be sending positive prayers and thoughts to Japan with a daily recital of the following mantra (108 times):

lokah samastah sukhino bhavantuu

This roughly translates as \"May Eternal Peace & Goodwill Prevail in the Whole World\"

The recital will be at 9pm every day, India time. This is 3.30pm GMT, 10:30am EST, 9.30am CST, 7.30am PST. All are welcome to join in