I was not up to writing in February and then there was March.
I admit to having been damaged--not directly by the quake or the horrible black tide, but by the images of such great loss and having those horrors go hand in hand with such worry for the future.
The French Embassy evacuated people from Tokyo, the US State Department (ridiculously) recommends that Americans not travel to Japan:
"The State Department strongly urges U.S. citizens to defer travel to Japan at this time and those in Japan should consider departing".
This warning was found on the Dept. of State website and is NOT helpful. I think that their statement just adds to the confusion. I live in Kyushu. Why should I consider leaving my job, my extended family and abandon people here who depend on me? My friends and family back home--who are unaware of the geography of Japan will read these "official" warnings and begin to beg me to "come home" or send me table salt. (The British Embassy is passing out iodine in Niigata--also far away and unaffected by the earthquake damage and tsunami.)
I know that there has been bungling and deception--TEPCO, the power company that runs the reactors in Fukushima have been trying to cover up their greed and idiocy for years. Still, this is NOT Chernobyl. Radiation damage is and will be limited. Rumors fly, but based on what is currently known, it is still very, very safe.
"I quote from the "this is not Chernobyl" site above:
"The only thing I’m worried about getting “exposed” to is the sensationalism in the foreign press that is causing widespread panic."
It has not yet been two weeks and there are already some signs of light. This is JAPAN folks--stoic, resilient, Japan. It will rise again from the ashes.
Thank you so much for this post - and I am so pleased to hear you are safe and well. Thank you for clarifying things a little - I have got to a point where I avoid any media coverage because there is so much focus on horror and not enough on hope and love and resilience which is everywhere there is humanity. I have no doubt that Japan will get through this bravely and beautifully.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you
I am so happy to "see" you again! Although, I've heard the same, it's really nice to hear again (and again) from someone in the know.
ReplyDeletePersonally I just think most of America is unable to explain why there hasn't been more chaos, violence and looting. I believe there's some underlying jealousy rearing it's ugly head in the media.
Thank you for your comments. We are safe and moving forward. Japan's long heritage of having to and being able to rebuild itself will serve it well. And America should be jealous...
ReplyDeleteSo pleased to hear something non-sensationalist from someone actually involved. The media needs sensationalism to sell its product. Ordinary people will tell their stories as time passes. Thinking of you all in Japan.
ReplyDelete