My recent last posts have concentrated on the huge brave mission my daughter and her partner have taken on with their "Big Ride for a Reason". FYI they are currently still sitting on the border of Pakistan waiting for their Iranian visas. It is taking some days and a refusal will no doubt drastically change their plans. Should anyone wish to support or donate please go to their official website listed in my previous post.
Their venture takes a back row whilst the world watches the disaster in Japan. One would have to be living under a rock to not have seen and heard the tragic news coming from our Asian neighbours. The 4th largest quake in recorded history of 9.0 magnitude hit northern Japan with a force that wiped whole towns out. What some of you may not be aware of is that last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan has actually MOVED the island closer to the United States and shifted the planet's axis. The Pacific tectonic plate dove under the North American plate, which shifted Eastern Japan towards North America by about 13 feet. THIRTEEN FEET! Scientists normally talk of "great" changes in nano seconds and point zero zero zero of a degree, but 13 whole feet is colossal.
The quake also shifted the earth's axis by 6.5 inches, shortened the day by 1.6 microseconds, and sank Japan downward by about two feet. As Japan's eastern coastline sunk, the tsunami's waves rolled in. The visuals on television left most of us dumbfounded and wondering what will come next. There is no doubt that our planet regularly experiences geographical changes, but these constant quakes, tsunamis and floods seem to be devastating a proportionate number of countries with frightening regularity. I have reports from residents in Tokyo which is also suffering constant after shocks that the city buildings have been shaking and people are running screaming into the streets unable to find secure shelter. Expats especially with children are attempting to fly out to wherever they can. Now the frightening news continues with the reactor damage from Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in northeast Japan. An explosion at the nuclear power plant may have damaged a reactor’s containment vessel and a radiation leak is feared. A 20km evacuation zone has been pronounced around the nuclear plant and residents are being constantly tested for radiation. At least three of the four reactor cores are believed to be imperiled. At the point of writing this post the updates are not looking good. The threat of a total melt down is very possible.
Should the worst occur we can only guess at the consequences not only for the Japanese who are already reeling from the shocks of this disaster, but for the planet as a whole not only from the huge geographical shift but now from radiation. I believe in alternative and clean energy but it would make sense that nuclear power plants should not be allowed in seismically volatile zones. I thought we learnt a huge lesson from Chernobyl! The news tells us Germany has reacted by closing down all of their pre 1980 nuclear plants and testing all others. I hope other countries follow this sensible procedure.
As always, amongst the tragedy there are soul touching stories: the woman who gave birth to a healthy baby during the tsunami, the man who lay trapped for ungodly hours under rubble surviving and the happy face of an elderly man who lost everything and under colossal odds survived entrapment in his vehicle whilst it was bashed by the rubble and water. My respect heightens for the Japanese people whose behavior during this crisis has been impeccable. There is no looting or theft like we would see in our Western cities; the people of Japan wait patiently for shelter and assistance. Many have lost their homes and their whole town but they have faith. Their spiritual strength as a nation and a people is not only to be admired but cherished. Some photos from the Associated Press & NTV Japan tell more than my words can express.
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