Thoughts on Japan

[Stinky The Clown]

I've been to Japan more than once. It is a lovely country where I was made to feel welcome by the wonderful people who live there.

I find myself unable to wrap my head around the devastation there. To be sure, the Indonesian tsunami defines the word "devastating." This, for me, however, is different. First, because I have been there. Second, because it hit a very advanced country, with very sophisticated infrastructure. Scenes from Indonesia then and Japan now are so similar. That puts into clear focus the frailty of the human condition and the frightful power of natural forces.

Now we watch in horror as not one, not two, but three nuclear reactors are at Condition 4 and getting worse. A Condition 7 (Chernobyl) is very possible. You know it is desperate when then start pumping seawater in to cool the cores.

How vulnerable we all are.







In contrast to all this, there is the ever detestable CNBC right wing asshole Larry Kudlow's thoughts to contrast with mine: “The human toll here,” he declared, “looks to be much worse than the economic toll and we can be grateful for that.”

[Demeter]

1. Definition of Unsustainable Economy/Society

made even worse by this man-made disaster of nuclear power plants.

[northoftheborder]

2. I appreciate your remarks.

I have never been to Japan, but it has always fascinated me. Traits common to the nation seem to be a sense of order, industry, politeness, artistry. They manage to live cooperatively in huge cities, with millions packed in small apartments, but they adapt, and create a well-organized and accommodating society. Are these impressions correct? This is my sense from afar.

I know there is a criminal element there, but nothing like what we have. I observed that television commenters had said there had been no looting or violence in the wake of this horrible event, and they are short of food and water in many places.

[northoftheborder]

3. Reasons for nuclear energy in Japan....

To fuel their large industries, with few natural resources, such as oil or coal or gas, they were forced to go the nuclear route. If two plants go down, it is going to hurt their economy badly.

[Lucky Luciano]

5. My fiancée is from Kobe - she said there were some looters during Japan's last big quake in 1995.NMR

[KT2000]

4. Did LK really say that?

If so, tht is pretty sick.

[Lucky Luciano]

6. My fiancée and I were planning to be married in early April in her home town of Kobe.

We already planned to be very low key and just have a few people over, but now we will definitely be very subdued out of respect even though Kobe is far from the destruction this time.

We still plan on enjoying Kyoto and Nara and we plan on spending time with he family in Kobe. We will also sleep many nights in various Ohn-Sens.

It will be my first time in japan though I have been to six other countries in Asia. I still plan on enjoying the trip and all the people I will meet. The dstruction still makes me sad though.