This is a very brief diary to again solicit help for the Japanese people and to express my chagrin and frustration at this site for focusing on the power plant and not on the bigger issue of helping the Japanese people. A disclaimer first. I have many friends and family in Japan, am not Japanese, but my wife is.
The only major diary on this site, i.e. mothership, related to the disaster is purely and simply a collection point for the pending nuclear disaster and a repository for nuclear industry bashing and some "schadenfreudism" related to Japan. NB I am not a big fan of nuclear power and believe that our technology has not evolved enough to make it either reliable or safe. BUT I want to focus on helping people in Japan rather than using this site to do what I believe is currently being done.
I have pretty much given up on changing this viewpoint and the mothership title and purpose and am on the verge of giving up on this site for the first time ever because of the smugness,hubris and deep prejudices of some who have responded to this disaster.
But one last attempt. The Japanese people involved in this tragedy have been immensley brave and strong willed. When we contrast the official reaction and official courage shown in Japan to what was shown in the US during Katrina and the BP disaster this is very apparent. A few points:
1. Japan's fire, politicians and police in the affected areas showed immense courage and most lost their lives trying to get other people out. Contrast this to the US' use of troops to hunt and kill food foragers (NOLA), the use of police and national guard to prevent people from going to safe areas (NOLA) and the use of BP to control access and damage control. An indication of the bravery is the firefighters who all lost their lives to do their duty, not unlike the NYFD. Link =
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/...
2. Lack of apparent interest in helping the Japanese people expressed on this site runs counter to what we exhibited with Haiti and Katrina. Give up your hubris, prejudices and whatever else and contribute. Now.
Link = http://www.globalgiving.org/
3. The reporting of the extent of the earthquake and the tsunami has usually underreported the size of the tsunami and the lack of the ability of humans anywhere to plan for it. Leading to two perceptions; one that the Japanese were underprepared and two that they were unable to do so. Get over it the tsunami was at least 23 meters and possibly more. Preparations were infinitely better than anything in the US.
Link = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/...
4. The few diaries, comments or whatever that are just plain racist. Sorry no better word for it but talking about a peoples' innate docility is racist. Stop it. The Japanese have exhibited most of the traits we only wish we had in the US in this disaster. Such things as sharing, honesty, innovation in getting supplies and helpfulness. I sometimes get the impression that many of those on ths site still believe that most Japanese wear kimono most of the time, work for a Japan Inc company, that there IS anything like Japan Inc (at least any different from the US or UK corporate/gov collusion) and that most Japanese quietly revere the emperor. Sheees!