Saturday, April 9, 2011

10 nice things to learn from Japan

This was passed around the net, and I thought I would share.
THE CALM - Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.
THE DIGNITY - Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.
THE ABILITY - The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn't fall.
THE GRACE - People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.
THE ORDER - No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.
THE SACRIFICE - Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?
THE TENDERNESS - Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.
THE TRAINING - The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.
THE MEDIA - They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.
THE CONSCIENCE - When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Where is the leadership in the Nuclear incident?

I always try to remain objective and to think logically, But the
Japan Nuclear problem has went from "what are you worrying about you sissy"
to "this is not good". Let's rewind.  Three weeks ago Japan suffered a 9.0
earthquake followed by a Tsunami which crippled a nuclear facility. Little
was done.  We all watched with bated breath as Japanese Hero's struggled to
start back up the cooling system (myself proclaiming them heroes).
Meanwhile, those in the nuclear community calmly stated the crisis was over
and must be entombed in concrete.  Nothing could be done at this time, we
were in no real danger of the radiation, and that was true, but now, nearly
a month later, radiation is indeed finding its way to some 15 states in
America.  The levels are supposed to be low exposure and nothing to worry
about, but the Nuclear Information and Recourse Service states that "all
levels of radiation have been proven to cause cancer".  Now, I would not
again, call this as a reason to panic as we are exposed to radiation on a
daily basis. Those of us in the Rocky Mountains live with Radon, a natural
radiation; those with granite counter tops are already exposed to more
radiation than from the nuclear "fallout".  Nonetheless, potential exposure
is becoming a concern. A UN study on Chernobyl found that radiation was
gained from the consumption of milk and specifically spinach.  So while we
can live just fine around it, we simply cannot eat certain foods. Wonderful,
you say. Well It gets worse: every single day the Fukushima meltdown pushes
more and more radiation into the atmosphere, slowly building, and it is
going to, at some point, physically affect us all. Potassium Iodide pillscan be handed out to prevent thyroid cancer, but these are no gems as they
cause hyperactive thyroid.  Then we have the problem of leukemia. Leukemia
can be treated, but who the hell wants to go through that?  Now, this could
easily be solved by building a tomb around the nuclear plant, It could all
be solved from outside intervention and assistance, but there are two main
problems, the first being Japan and their pride. Their intense pride is in
the way from refusing help from the outside world, help which is desperately
needed as their people will live with this for generations.  And not just
people in the immediate vicinity of the plant, but the whole of Japan will
be affected, all be it on different levels. So, I hereby call for the
prosecution of the Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Human Rights abuses.
If he was to take gas his people, what would be the difference? He is at
this point engaging in willful and wanton destruction of the Japanese
people
. Next the problem being our own President Obama who seems to believe
that vacation at this time of need is more important than taking care of his
own people. As the "leader of the free World" he should be on the phone
right now with Naoto Kan demanding the plant be entombed, but no, Obama
instead chooses to gallivant and show off his family. Meanwhile Japanese
people suffer, and in turn, American people possibly could live with long
term side effects of this as well. People, where is your outrage? WHERE?
This is your life, and that of families', your children's, and your
friends'.  All are at stake at this time, why are you not writing, calling,
protesting, or doing anything?
I am not a religious man, but I will leave this thought saying, God Help us
all, we truly are going to need it.