It’s probably a surprise that I haven’t yet updated my blog after the events of the 11th March. The Japanese newspapers refer to it as 東日本大震災 - The East Japan Great Earthquake Disaster (or a loose translation thereabouts, I'm still honing my skills). The images that we’ve all seen have been beyond anything I can comprehend, and the sheer destruction that resulted from the tsunami has wiped out lives, livelihoods, reduced homes to nothing, torn families apart. The media of course only focused very briefly on the earthquake and tsunami victims, but very quickly moved on to the unfolding events at Fukushima. Scare-mongerers in the English-speaking media were quick to throw out words like ‘Chernobyl’ and ‘government censorship’ and ‘contamination’, sparking panic amongst the ex-pats in Japan and around the world. Well, didn’t we sell a lot of newspapers? Are we all proud, journalists? Now that the situation has somewhat calmed at Fukushima, can we now concentrate on the huge humanitarian crisis in Tohoku?
Many people back home got in touch as soon as they heard about the earthquake to check I was okay. I was overwhelmed by everyone’s concern and thankful to have so many people looking out for me, even at such a great distance. It goes to show that ‘out of sight’ does not necessarily mean ‘out of mind’ and I’m so grateful to everyone. I am also hugely thankful that of all the people I know in Japan, not a single one was killed or injured by the events, though a couple have been displaced. Everyone I know is safe; a small mercy amidst such a huge disaster.
As the days have passed by since the 11th March, there have been some pretty scary moments involving Fukushima, especially in the early days when hydrogen explosions rocked four of the reactors. I have never studied nuclear reactors in any detail; fortunately I am lucky enough to have people in my life who really know their stuff as far as nuclear physics goes. From afar they have reassured me and given me the strength to carry on without fear. Others, understandably, have been scared for me, shaken by what has been reported by the BBC and unnerved by speculation by various people on the television. Even tonight, as things seem to be being brought under control, a friend was astounded that I had not yet flown back to the UK. I think I should explain why, as I know there are still friends and relatives back home who are confused by my decision.
I am far away from where the earthquake struck, where the tsunami swept inshore, and from where Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is situated. The FCO recommends Britons stay outside an exclusion radius of 80km around the nuclear plant. I am many miles away even from the border of this exclusion zone. I am in Hyogo prefecture, the other side of Japan with mountains in between. I felt the earthquake, but have not been affected at all.
I love Japan. I love the politeness with which people treat each other. I am in awe of their resolve to ‘keep calm and carry on.’ I admire their resilience as a nation, their determination to rebuild, their kindness and their spirit. I want to be a part of that.
There is nothing else I can do. I can’t get on a train and go up there, as much as I would like to. I want to turn up in Tohoku, join a search and rescue team and help them look for survivors. But it’s not that simple. All I can do is stay here, donate money, continue to work and teach like I came here to do, and spend money in this country. For their economy, which faces a rocky few years ahead, my money is a small drop in a vast ocean. But I feel beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Japanese deserve my tiny contribution more than the country I left behind eight months ago. Cameron doesn’t need my sort in his ‘big society’ anyway, and he never had my respect. But the Japanese? I owe them more than they’ll ever know for the lessons they have taught me this year.
I realise this is the most opinionated post I have ever written. I also know some of you will be thinking I am foolish for trusting the Japanese government over Fukushima. My trust is well-founded, I believe that with all my heart. I believe that the best country in the world for dealing with this situation is Japan, and whilst there have inevitably been radiation leaks (which are small when put into context) and food contamination within the affected area (limited to the affected area), I think that is to be expected. It is a nuclear accident rated 5 on the scale of nuclear emergencies, after all, and I'm certainly not denying that it is a situation to worry about. But panicking, buying up all the supplies of iodine tablets, hoarding rice and noodles.. It just isn’t going to resolve the situation. Panicking is never the answer, we just have to do what we can until the worst is over. If things deteriorate drastically (I pray that they won’t) then I imagine JET will release us from our contracts and I will come home. But I don’t believe it will come to that so in the meantime, like the rest of the nation, I’m going to keep calm and carry on. I’m following the example of the Japanese and hoping that, in the smallest of ways, I can do my part in helping them get back on their feet again as a nation.
Many people back home got in touch as soon as they heard about the earthquake to check I was okay. I was overwhelmed by everyone’s concern and thankful to have so many people looking out for me, even at such a great distance. It goes to show that ‘out of sight’ does not necessarily mean ‘out of mind’ and I’m so grateful to everyone. I am also hugely thankful that of all the people I know in Japan, not a single one was killed or injured by the events, though a couple have been displaced. Everyone I know is safe; a small mercy amidst such a huge disaster.
As the days have passed by since the 11th March, there have been some pretty scary moments involving Fukushima, especially in the early days when hydrogen explosions rocked four of the reactors. I have never studied nuclear reactors in any detail; fortunately I am lucky enough to have people in my life who really know their stuff as far as nuclear physics goes. From afar they have reassured me and given me the strength to carry on without fear. Others, understandably, have been scared for me, shaken by what has been reported by the BBC and unnerved by speculation by various people on the television. Even tonight, as things seem to be being brought under control, a friend was astounded that I had not yet flown back to the UK. I think I should explain why, as I know there are still friends and relatives back home who are confused by my decision.
I am far away from where the earthquake struck, where the tsunami swept inshore, and from where Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is situated. The FCO recommends Britons stay outside an exclusion radius of 80km around the nuclear plant. I am many miles away even from the border of this exclusion zone. I am in Hyogo prefecture, the other side of Japan with mountains in between. I felt the earthquake, but have not been affected at all.
I love Japan. I love the politeness with which people treat each other. I am in awe of their resolve to ‘keep calm and carry on.’ I admire their resilience as a nation, their determination to rebuild, their kindness and their spirit. I want to be a part of that.
There is nothing else I can do. I can’t get on a train and go up there, as much as I would like to. I want to turn up in Tohoku, join a search and rescue team and help them look for survivors. But it’s not that simple. All I can do is stay here, donate money, continue to work and teach like I came here to do, and spend money in this country. For their economy, which faces a rocky few years ahead, my money is a small drop in a vast ocean. But I feel beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Japanese deserve my tiny contribution more than the country I left behind eight months ago. Cameron doesn’t need my sort in his ‘big society’ anyway, and he never had my respect. But the Japanese? I owe them more than they’ll ever know for the lessons they have taught me this year.
I realise this is the most opinionated post I have ever written. I also know some of you will be thinking I am foolish for trusting the Japanese government over Fukushima. My trust is well-founded, I believe that with all my heart. I believe that the best country in the world for dealing with this situation is Japan, and whilst there have inevitably been radiation leaks (which are small when put into context) and food contamination within the affected area (limited to the affected area), I think that is to be expected. It is a nuclear accident rated 5 on the scale of nuclear emergencies, after all, and I'm certainly not denying that it is a situation to worry about. But panicking, buying up all the supplies of iodine tablets, hoarding rice and noodles.. It just isn’t going to resolve the situation. Panicking is never the answer, we just have to do what we can until the worst is over. If things deteriorate drastically (I pray that they won’t) then I imagine JET will release us from our contracts and I will come home. But I don’t believe it will come to that so in the meantime, like the rest of the nation, I’m going to keep calm and carry on. I’m following the example of the Japanese and hoping that, in the smallest of ways, I can do my part in helping them get back on their feet again as a nation.
