Close-up video of Fukushima destroyed reactor, firefighters at plant

Today is the anniversary of the meltdown at Three Mile Island. That was nothing compared to what is happening in Fukushima. I have confidence that the Japanese will do their best to control this event and limit contamination. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those working at the Fukushima power plants and those who suffered from the earthquake and devastating tsunami.

Latest information from Japan

Current up to date information on the developing crisis in Japan.

NHK World in English

You can go to Ustream directly with this link.

Ustream link

Images of Disaster

Students hold candles as they pray for Japan's earthquake victims inside their school in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad March 11

Tsunami makes it way onto Sendai airport.


Houses swept by tsunami in Natori City


Residents check the damage done in Sukagawa City, Fukushima Prefecture


Helicopter flies over Sendai

Link to donate to the American Red Cross On-Line

Meltdown - Remembering the Past

Three Mile Island, Middletown, Pennsylvania

It seems that Japan's Fukushima's nuclear plant is melting down. Having lived near three mile island during the 1979 meltdown, I know what that feels like. It is a horrible feeling. You cannot see radiation yet you know it is devastating. My parents sent my kid brother to live with relatives in Philadelphia for 3 months until the situation was contained. I went to work each day with a travel bag in the trunk just in case. We listened to the radio all day long waiting for notice to evacuate the area.

I was also in Japan when the Kobe earthquake occurred in 1995. While I was staying in Kawasaki at the time and felt no effects of the earthquake directly, I did see how it affected the Japanese people who had friends and family in and around Kobe. Japanese homes are built with heavy tile roofs. The homes collapsed completely under the weight of the tiles.

That is nothing compared to what is happening in Japan. The flooding and collapse of infrastructure have compounded the situation.

Earthquake

My thoughts and prayers go to those affected by the tremendous earthquake in Japan. Below is a picture from Sendai airport. Earthquakes are something that the Japanese live with every day. It reminds us of how fragile life is.

Bancho Primary School - Haiku Connection

Bancho Primary School in Matsuyama has a rich history and is associated with Haiku Poet Shiki Masoaka, who was friends with literary great Natsume Sōseki.











Literary Promenade connected with Shiki and Soseki