In the 2003 film ‘Elizabeth – the Golden Age’, the Virgin queen laments that ‘…..great spaces makes us small’ So, conversely small spaces makes us large. Is this some part of the rationale why such a technically advanced race that are the Japanese, find themselves in such dire traits today, as they believed that they could control and take advantage of the immensity of nature without consequence?
In the last 7 days, it seems I have also traveled back in time, but maybe not as far back as my former illustrious queen. On Friday, I awoke with aching limbs, and fever and all I could do is flounder like a fish out of water on the couch. As I experienced the worst flu imagined, I kept watching CNN nightly as the world literally changed yet again before my very eyes as the 9.0 earthquake shook Japan.
Anderson Cooper may not have had grey hair contrasting his steely stare back in the eighties, but he may have more familiar with the sentiment and anxiety of students like myself back in 1982, protesting at the height of the cold war the use of nuclear weapons and the British policy of increased use of nuclear energy. Back then, there was very loud voices saying ‘What if?’ What if an accident happens? Just one mistake could be incomprehensible and one which would resound through future tens of generations. But if history teaches us anything it is that complacency breeds where history progresses without event. Although notably bar Three Mile Island, which was contained and Chernobyl (how quickly do we forget).
Yet, here we are in 2011 and who would have thought such a rapid secession of events coming together bring the world to the very doomsday scenario that we feared 30 years ago. On Saturday, apparently iodine pills have been clearing the shelve and Geiger counters are the new de ri·gueur accessory of choice. It’s only after the rationale assurance of cooler heads, that you realize who can can blame hotter heads to prevail? Actually, in hindsight scrub that! Those people actually willing to pay over the odds for iodine ‘anti-radiation’ pills should be given a sever shake and that money sent to Japan relief instead. Of course U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin didn’t cause further panic when she stated that it was right to be prepared and backed buying radiation antidotes ‘as a precaution’. Precaution to what? Japan is 5000 miles away!
It is also alien to western eyes the scenes that we continue to witness as the Japanese as a people without panic or anger as they act stoically in the face of so much destruction and despair. Truly an example of how individuals come together and believe in raising above and helping each other in times of crisis.
Unfortunately, it is not all positive for what is happening post the Tsunami, and the Japanese own response in dealing with such a calamity. The need for transparency of information, and a credible voice from the government of Japan during this nuclear emergency was critical. As former Major of New York, Rudy Giuliani stated, he would ‘…recommend they put one person in charge to give a consistent message, a credible message about whats going on.’ As Giuliani demonstrated himself during 9/11, a leader who stepped up, and set the direction and tone during a major crisis is critical to be able to move forward and make progress out of the mess of any disaster.
Yet, throughout all this mess – it is the original people who step up and put their lives in risk to limit the potential awfulness of nuclear situation right now. Apparently they asked older employees of Tepco (the private utility company running these reactors) to stay and man the sites, with the theory that older employees were more likely to die of old age than gaining cancer from radiation exposure. And they have. As quoted in straitstimes.com a Plant worker stated: ‘People have been flaming Tepco. But the staff of Tepco have refused to flee, and continue to work even at the peril of their own lives ‘
Among the chaos, a British Aid Team sat in Toyko airport for two days waiting for embassy officials to get their documentation together, which they didn’t. They flew back to London in frustration without being able to do the vital work of recovery. Canada is also in under fire for not chartering aircraft for Canadian wanting to leave. Their counterparts including the US, Australia and France have done so. But for all the frustration one only to remember who is really suffering here. Such as 30 children at Kama Elementary School still waiting patiently for their parents to come and get them. Harrowing.
In the meantime……
peaceout sisters……
skinnyscronnybrit.com 