Today marks two weeks since the Tohoku earthquake demolished an entire region of the country, killed over 20,000 people and put the rest of us in elevated danger from radiation. In addition to keeping our household running, Asako and my attention is divided between doing what we can for those in the north and closely monitoring our safety.
Each day begins with a ritual of sorts. While the coffee brews, I check the International Atomic Energy Agency update (click) on the status of the reactors in Fukushima. What I appreciate about this site is that it appears to offer whatever factual information is available and doesn’t sensationalize the developments or set-backs. Originally, I opened the page each morning thinking there might be something to celebrate. While I am confident that the authorities and the engineers are doing everything they can to remedy the situation, progress is painfully slow and the unknown details, as evident in this slideshare (click) from yesterday, are still frightening.
Winds of Relief
With a cup of java now in hand, I run through the most recent radiation levels in Yokohama (click), then check the current wind patterns (click), and now that water has become a topic of interest I use the translation functionality of Google Chrome and open information about the water supply in Yokohama (click).
Aftershocks are still so frequent that I usually have reason to check the most recent earthquake information (click) to see about the epicenter and magnitude of the shake we just felt. As an example, in the time that I’ve been writing this blog post we’ve felt two gentle earthquakes in Yokohama both with a magnitude of 1-2. Each time, I look to this information with a bit of trepidation – even smaller quakes here can be big quakes farther away. The people of Miyagi and the efforts on-going in Fukushima certainly face enough challenges as it is.
Immediate Earthquake Information
When I feel like I can to start the day with an informed perspective, my mind turns toward the needs of those less fortunate. This morning, in the middle of our scheduled spring break, our head of school called for a voluntary meeting of available high school student council representatives and faculty advisors, along with the high school principal to talk over what aid we can offer as a community after students and faculty return in April. We had an effective clothing drive last week and there has already been a lot of discussion about future directions on our facebook group (click). Please join us.
Yesterday night, Asako shared with me a story of a community caught on the outer edge of the Fukushima evacuation radius called Souma. The population of the town is 70,000 but only 20,000 remain now and their food, water, and other provisions are quickly running out. Due to their proximity to the Daiichi nuclear power plant, people are reluctant to make deliveries. Even when emergency care is required, self-defense force vehicles must go in place of ambulances that will not and help transport those in need of hospital care. An organization called Souma Aid (click) has organized a delivery of desperately needed supplies to this town literally stuck in the middle.
Volunteers have collected provisions including bottled water, food, first aid supplies, books for children, heat packs, blankets, among many other items and arranged for a truck and willing driver to take this shipment directly into town. Beyond mere supplies however, Souma Aid asked people making donations to take one extra step. On every item is taped a short note of encouragement – a gesture of hope from people like us, undoubtedly concerned for their own safety, but aware of just how fortunate they are to still be able to help someone else. – AC
Posted On: Friday, March 25th, 2011
Posted In: Blog
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Comments: 11 Responses
Your ‘daily routine’ is similar to mine. I have been doing the ‘earthquake watch’ over family in New Zealand since September and now Japan. The huge difference being that mine is from the perspective of ‘outsider’, of one who can visualize daily life in Japan or in New Zealand but does not have the added experience of “daily life post earthquake”. The other difference is that in addition to checking on the shaking, I check in on “Who Is Adam Clark” for a clear, insightful perspective. Thanks for providing the ‘calm amongst the storm’ – you should be a counsellor or something :)
Hi Sonya,
Thanks for your reply here. I know from those few days in Calgary during the initial events in Japan that the ‘outsider’ perspective is really difficult. Putting outsider in quotes like you did really sums it up. On the one hand, it is not a matter of being an outsider because the events in New Zealand and Japan have much of the same meaning and significance as they would for an insider. On the other, not being physically inside the situation makes it challenging to know what the day-to-day reality is and complicates the process of getting our feet back on the ground because the outside physical context doesn’t carry us forward in recovery.
In more stable times I assume no one wants to read (and I don’t want to write) about my morning routine. For now, though, our process is an example of a way to move ahead. As concerned as I am for people in Japan, I am also thinking of the “insiders outside” many of whom are debating how/when to return to Japan or trying to make sense of the situation for their friends and families. If it’s helpful then I feel really lucky. Thank you :)
As usual, thanks Adam! and Sonya, I appreciate your reflections too! Love the counsellor comment! :) -Audrey
hmmm I might have to give this counselor thing some serious consideration :) Thanks Audrey and Sonya you brought a smile to my face.
Hey Adam,
Your updates and reflections on what is happening are awesome, thanks :) We feel a lot of guilt having left and not being able to directly help out, J wants to come back and head up north to help with the relief efforts….Im not so sure! We went to a great fundraiser taiko drumming the other night, and it is awesome to see that our small community here in Tassie is so involved and concerned. You guys take care and thanks again for keeping us updated with everything :)
Hi PJ,
Thanks for your post here. Great to hear about all the support going on there. I understand your feeling but at the same time, as that Taiko fundraiser makes obvious, there is work to be done all over about this. Also tell J that he doesn’t need to worry about heading up to Tohoku to help out, most of the people in the regions hardest hit have been relocated south. Much of this upcoming week for us will be spent at the shelters or volunteering at the supply drive happening at school. The key thing, I think, is for people to do what they can from where they are. Good to hear from you – AC
Adam, Thanks for the perspective and access to information links. It helps a great deal. JAC
You might like this one, although it is a little slow to be updated:
http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/detail/1303986.htm
jules
Great link, Jules! Thanks for sharing that. – Adam
Hi Adam,
I thought of you right away a couple of weeks ago when the earthquake occured. Glad you are doing ok! Please keep posting and stay safe. Take care,
Lesley
Thanks for thinking of us, Lesley, and for reading these pieces. It has been (and continues to be) an incredibly powerful experience. Because of the depth of the tragic events in Miyagi and the damage occurring from the nuclear plant, I feel the rest of us have an obligation to learn as much as humanly possible from these events. It may sound cliche but from the sacrifices people have experience up North I have been helped to appreciate every new moment. From the nuclear plant, I question again how much is enough. What do we need to sustain a decent quality of life? Japan relies so heavily on manufacturing that inexpensive electricity is fundamental and when all is well, nuclear power is clean. When it goes wrong, as we see again in Fukushima, it is scary in the biggest sense of the word. Thanks again for your reply. – Adam