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Fukushima to get 20,000 cherry trees on 190-km coast

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And some time some where along that same coast line another tsunami will come and all the cherry trees will be destroyed.

Put them somewhere else, where people for all generations can appreciate them

0 ( +11 / -11 )

As much as this does seem like a nice gesture and i am aware it comes from a privateer I'm pretty sure that 20,000 homes would be more useful.

3 ( +13 / -10 )

I'm glad to see cash is no being spent in such productive ways. Rolls eyes.

4 ( +15 / -11 )

Typically ridiculous.

1 ( +12 / -11 )

As much as this does seem like a nice gesture and i am aware it comes from a privateer I'm pretty sure that 20,000 homes would be more useful.

Haha. The cost of one cherry blossom plant equals the cost of one house!

If it's just so simple to build 20,000 houses, then go and do it, please. Only then will you start to fathom why the process is stalling.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

And some time some where along that same coast line another tsunami will come and all the cherry trees will be destroyed.

So we shouldn't rebuild Tokyo when the inevitable happens? Or Kobe? Or the West coast of the US? Or any area that suffers landslides? Tornadoes etc. No, let's just give up.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

I don't have a problem with this. It's a nice gesture for the future.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Put them somewhere else

Where?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Sweet. A tree every 10 meters :)

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I'm helping to plant a huge amount of cherry trees and pine saplings along the coast this weekend ^_^

5 ( +8 / -3 )

They will light up at night..

-4 ( +3 / -6 )

They will light up at night..

With peoples smiles!

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Brilliant. As usual, empty ritual trumps genuine action. Pretty as blossoms are, they are a long way down the list of priorities for the people of Fukushima.

This is actually insulting. But the locals will lap it up, no doubt. Mention of the word "Sakura" provokes a Pavlovian reaction which overrides thought.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

As usual, empty ritual trumps genuine action

No, as usual ranting trumps reading. Let me partly summarise the article for you. Organisers (residents, volunteers and those who fled the atomic disaster) say they want something to welcome nuclear evacuees in three decades' time.

This is actually insulting. But the locals will lap it up

The same locals that are actually doing it.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Good news for bees too.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I'm sure those in temp homes are happy to hear this...

-2 ( +5 / -9 )

I'm sure those in temp homes are happy to hear this...

I'm sure they are as it appears that some of those are the ones instrumental in organising it.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

I'm sure those in temp homes are happy to hear this...

I reckon they would be too. Hmm but if they were to for some reason somehow confuse it with government spending or something, well that would be a bloody outrage. Because cherry blossom saplings cost just so much to begin with, especially over a ten-year time frame.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

generally trees are imprinted to match the seasons of the area they are from. The sakura will have to match the area or might bloom too early. This will affect their ability to grow in the area anyway and nothing to do with the accident. If however the trees are from a nearby enough area it should be able to avoid failure

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

When the authorities have just scrambled to restore power to cooling systems at the Dai-Ichi plant, there really are much higher priorities than pretty flowers for a few days once a year.

I don't think TEPCO are taking time off work to plant saplings.

1 ( +6 / -4 )

Residents, volunteers and those who fled the atomic disaster are set to plant 20,000 cherry tree saplings in Fukushima's coastal Hamadori region over the next 10 years.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

So, no one can live there for at least 30 years, but they can go there over the next 10 years to plant trees. hmmmm.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So we shouldn't rebuild Tokyo when the inevitable happens? Or Kobe? Or the West coast of the US? Or any area that suffers landslides? Tornadoes etc. No, let's just give up.

Certain areas shouldn't be rebuilt as shown in the Tohoku quake and tsunami. People IGNORED the signs that were left by their ancestors telling them that a tsunami came to this point or that. Maybe parts of the Tohoku area SHOULDN't be rebuilt and people SHOULD move.

BTW your examples don't bear merit, we are talking about a specific event (tsunami) not a quake, nor tornado, and rebuilding on flat coast line is irresponsible.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

So, no one can live there for at least 30 years, but they can go there over the next 10 years to plant trees. hmmmm.

Yes.......I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that exposure to any radiation for one day every now and then is just a wee little bit different from living in the area for the next 30 years.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

The message:

A nice place to visit, but...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Maybe parts of the Tohoku area SHOULDN't be rebuilt and people SHOULD move.

BINGO. Just a click of the fingers should be enough to move everyone and everything to higher ground.

As for any trees being planted near the shore, they are not people.

1 ( +5 / -3 )

with organizers saying they want something to welcome nuclear evacuees in three decades’ time.

Talk about a meaningless gesture that will only let these "organizers" feel better about themselves. Most of the evacuees, unfortunately, are well on in years and will never likely see these in "three dacades". Why not focus on real reconstruction, rather than gestures? Of, right, I forgot, we are talking about Japanese government.

-4 ( +3 / -6 )

more radioactive pollen for those suffering allergies for years to come!!

-4 ( +2 / -4 )

Talk about a meaningless gesture that will only let these "organizers" feel better about themselves

Talk about a detached, possibly jealous, statement.

Most of the evacuees, unfortunately, are well on in years and will never likely see these in three dacades

There are younger people, there are kids, who will have kids, etc etc. Try thinking just a little bit further down the line. Having larger cherry blossom trees there would be infinitely better than not planting any now.

Why not focus on real reconstruction, rather than gestures?

Haha. Real. Like what? Make some suggestions to this group of residents, volunteers and nuclear evacuees then.

Of, right, I forgot, we are talking about Japanese government.

And yet we're not. Or shouldn't be. But that's how some roll here isn't it.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

A wall would probably be a better investment but at least they'll be some firewood for after the next tsunami. This has to up there with "saving" a dead tree in wastes of money that could've provided housing for evacuees.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Try thinking even further down the line. How will this amazing waste of money help rebuild Fukushima or stop the next disaster? Instead of spouting gov rhetoric try thinking a little. These trees may look nice but serve no purpose and will not help rebuild things like homes, business's, schools or the like which are all needed more than this. I do like cherry trees though. They smell nice.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

This has to up there with "saving" a dead tree in wastes of money that could've provided housing for evacuees

Nope. This project is non-government too. If you have a problem with how residents, volunteers and nuclear evacuees decide to make a contribution instead of doing nothing (eyes in your direction), take it up with them.

Instead of spouting gov rhetoric try thinking a little

This has nothing to do with the government. But don't let that stop you.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Dai, it doesn't matter if it is government or not. The fact that people are thinking of planting trees instead if helping people is what people are commenting on. It is oh so Japanese to use money for something like this rather than for what actually needs to be done.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

it doesn't matter if it is government or not

Yes, it does. Do you think small private organisations have anywhere near the kind of funds needed to build a number of houses, let alone hundreds, or thousands, or tens of thousands, or hundreds of thousands? Do you know just what kind of figures we are talking about and how hard it is to get the communities to agree on plans to move forward, not to mention actually carrying them out? But no, conclusion is this group is doing something worthless, and they should be building houses somehow.

Having cherry blossoms in bloom when people move back is of high value, however much you want to poo poo it.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The Crittendon Plan!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Any idea how much it costs to buy and plant 20000 trees?! Could get a few homes out of that.

Having a decent roof over your head is more important than trees. How about this, if you ever lose your place of residence and I gave you a tree, how appreciative of the gesture would you be? More so if I planted the tree at your former residence where you no longer live and are not allowed to live? It would be rather silly to do, no? This is the issue here. People are doing such things without actually thinking what better things they could be doing instead. Kindness is fine and dandy but useless kindness is a waste.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Do you think play ground of hope should stop providing playgrounds because it's not the same as a house? or the countless other NPOs who are doing things to help and support the people of the region.

I find it incomprehensible the logic of people on this board. People who haven't ventured anywhere near the region can be so critical of something that the people are organising. Does it affect you? Is it your money? Are you actually doing anything to help them?

No, you're sat behind a key board slagging them off for trying to make THEIR region look nice. For them.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

You have little idea of what I, and others on the board, have done and are doing.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

My post followed yours but wasn't directed specifically at you, but as you've responded perhaps you could explain why you think you know better than what the people of the region want for themselves. It has no impact on you or your life. does it? Whenever you post I question why you remain in Japan. You clearly seem to hate it.

Some of the people of the region are trying to do something to help their lives and their region and for that they should be applauded. Not trampled on.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Readers, that ends the bickering. Please focus your comments on the story and not at or about each other.

If a new house cost the same as a tree I'd probably go with a tree. But assuming I hadn't lost all reason and logic then I'd be happy with a load of trees. That is infinitely better than every time I look down from my hill I see open space, or piles of debris or weeds. I won't see any life, because life has gone from there. And the lack of life would take me back to 3/11 to the day I lost my house. To the day that I lost my friends.

No, I'd be quite happy to see some trees. Some life. Some future.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

20,000 trees at what - 1,000 yen a tree?

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The above article does mention how cherry tree roots deal with salty soil.

Without this information the whole article is pretty meaningless.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

More so if I planted the tree at your former residence where you no longer live and are not allowed to live?

Is that what this group is doing? No, it is not. They are planting the saplings along Route 6 - a highway which runs from Tokyo to Sendai and about 130km through Fukushima - as well as other roads.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

This is the issue here. People are doing such things without actually thinking what better things they could be doing instead.

The group has been picking up garbage from the streets and so on for the last five years. But, they should be somehow building houses now with magic money. Anything else is hogwash isn't it.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Having a decent roof over your head is more important than trees.

How would an NPO involved with cleaning/beautifying the environment suddenly develop the ability to build a decent roof?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

It is oh so Japanese to use money for something like this rather than for what actually needs to be done.

This is nothing more than an anti-Japan rant with zero thought given to who is doing what and why.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

This is what I question. The trees are being planted to raise spirits, and hopes. Yet the scientists have warned some places have the possibility that "Living" things my not be inhabitable for many years. What happens if the trees die off? Could this possibly do more damage in the long run? I do hope for the sake of the people there that the most if not all trees survive, and they can find peace and hope for a better tomorrow no matter what it brings.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

30 years time those cheery blossoms might have deformed into something completely different. no amount of painting, dressup, camouflage will get me anywhere near that place!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Really, it's none of your business. If the people who live there want to plant trees, they don't need to ask you. Really, get a life.

I think that people would find this uplifting, if something else was actually being done about it in the process. But this is Japan, where symbolic rituals rule over actual practical concerns, so nothing is likely being done about it, so they remain cynical.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Instead of trees, it would be more fitting to build a statue of Albert Einstein. And they should build the statue as big as The Statue of Liberty! And they should have this well-known quote inscribed on it very clearly: "Nuclear power is one hell of a way to boil water."

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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