Tragedies are difficult to overcome, even though one year has passed. Ever since the devastating March 11earthquake occurred, much has been snatched away.
Japan was seriously damaged by the one-two punch of the massive March 11 earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. The ensuing nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power plant has been making the situation even worse. For the meantime, all that people can do is stay away from the atomic epicenter and avoid eating foods contaminated by radioactive substances; no one knows how to cope with this disaster. Most Japanese people even do not knowhow large the actual danger zone is because there is little data published. Besides, few studies have been conducted to examine how the radioactive materials used in the nuclear plants affect real humans. When radiation leaks were detected after the reactor explosions, a government dignitary stated that there would be no immediate influence upon health. To the contrary, when he visited Fukushima on April 19, he was wearing protective clothing that covered his entire body and stayed there only a couple of minutes, although citizens around the plant were told to just stay at their homes without adequate countermeasures against the radiation leaks. Apparently TEPCO and the government are concealing the actual hazard map. A Cabinet minister who committed a gaffe by saying “Fukushima is a necropolis,” resigned from his position, probably because of complaints from those outraged by his comment and pressure from other Cabinet members or possibly lobbyists.
Meanwhile, due to an increasing fear of another nuclear crisis, almost all the domestic nuclear plants have been suspended since last March, which triggered an energy crisis across the country. In Japan, there is only one electricity provider in each district, and few alternative energy resources are ready to replace this country's major powers, namely thermal or hydroelectric power. Electricity demand in the capital is so huge that TEPCO, which exclusively provides electricity in the Tokyo metropolitan area and caused the nuclear crisis, cannot supply sufficient energy without atomic power, which led to last summer's energy crisis.
Despite these hurdles, however, the stricken areas are gradually recovering. Some media reported the incredible recuperation in northeastern Japan:
I do believe Japan is an amazingly strong country. Despite the fact that many cities were completely obliterated by the tsunami, hopes won't be shattered.
Facebook
0 コメント:
コメントを投稿