Tohoku Disaster

It's hard to write a blog so closely connected with Japan and not attempt a response to the recent events that have destroyed most of the northeastern coastline of the country. Like many, I watched the first video clips throughout the morning of the first day, shocked by the magnitude of the earthquake and the relentless wave of salt water that pushed so far inland. Calls and computer messages came in from concerned friends and family even as we tried to establish the whereabouts of our own family members in Japan so that we could establish a modicum of peace of mind for ourselves and worried inquirers. Once we were able to discover and share the news that our immediate family members were safe, our focus shifted to the unfortunate who lost their lives and loved ones in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.

While the early death toll of over ten thousand pales in comparison to the Haiti earthquake, it by no means diminishes the degree of tragedy so many individuals are experiencing right now. As difficult as it is for us to grasp their loss on a personal level when living a continent away, we can offer assistance through legitimate aid organizations. I will be making my donation through the Canadian Red Cross. Whichever organization you choose, remember to ensure that it is a credible one, as disasters like this always bring out a few morbid con artists who will defraud a sincere donor without compunction.

Where will the money go? Obviously, there are search and rescue operations to perform, debris to be cleared, temporary shelters to be constructed, and emergency food and water rations to be provided. It is quite possible that some of the smaller villages and towns will not be rebuilt, and of those that are, the populations will remain at lesser numbers than they were pre-quake. That said, don't believe the headlines questioning if Sendai will rebuild. Hiroshima rebuilt after experiencing far greater devastation without breaking the spirit of its citizens, and I have no doubt that Sendai will do the same.

Even in areas farther from the epicentre, such as Sakura, Chiba, water and electricity supplies have been sporadically interrupted. This has caused bottled water supplies to sell out at local retailers, underscoring the need to get aid to the country as soon as possible.

Whether in interviews with Embassy staff or newspaper editorials I have read, one common theme has emerged--Japanese are moved by the moral support being offered as much, if not more so than the financial support. One doesn't have to be a member of a well trained search and rescue team to make a contribution. There are many ways to show your support and make your concern felt. Offer whatever you can.