JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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2
Heda_Madness
As I said THIS isn't the place to discuss this but let's put it this way. Do you know how many towns and communities were destroyed by the tsunami. Do you know how many people were affected. Do you know what percentage of the additional money is being allocated to each person or each town. Do you know the difference between the amount awarded to Rikuzentakata in Iwate to the amount awarded to Ishinomaki in Miyagi. Do you know the answer to all of these questions? If the answer is no then your rebuttal is meaningless.
The point is that despite what members of this board will have you believe it's not black and white.
Posted in: Tsunami refugees dig in for harsh winter
5
Heda_Madness
Samantha, thank you for your kind words. However, I haven't done much, I've just done what I can. There are many who have done more than me. Incidentally, I met a French girl, who was living in Scotland and decided to come here to help. She deserves more credit than I do.
I've been involved in the Aid relief since March. I've seen things that I'll never unsee. I've seen the military going through debris looking for bodies, I've seen the utter joy on children's faces when we've delivered a box of carrots - the first they'd seen for a month and I've felt the raw emotion of the elderly lady last week who was struggling to hold back the tears as she thanked us. I've also felt the amazing warmth of the people as they insisted we came in from the cold and have a cup of coffee. These, and other memories, I will take to my grave.
But I will not accept anyone making light comments on the people's suffering. There was nothing amusing in March. And there's nothing amusing now. That's not to say that when we are there it's all sombre, because it isn't. Communities ARE being rebuilt and life is being reborn.
But it's not a joking matter, especially from someone sat in the comfort of their own room however many kilometers away from what was a disaster zone, and what is now a recovery zone. And if people want to give me negative ratings for that point of view then so be it. I know that I can look myself in the mirror and think I did my bit.
As I said, communities are being rebuilt and will continue to be so. This is worth watching if you haven't already seen it, and you may want to have a box of tissues with you when you do... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpFroWi1lP0
Posted in: Tsunami refugees dig in for harsh winter
6
Heda_Madness
Most people aren't covered for natural disasters, I THINK that something like only 20% of those who lost their homes were covered but I may be wrong on that.
Posted in: Tsunami refugees dig in for harsh winter
4
Heda_Madness
Last point not directed at you Cricky, as you've clearly been involved and have an understanding of the sher scale. Lot's haven't though. And they are the armchair experts...
Posted in: Tsunami refugees dig in for harsh winter
4
Heda_Madness
I'm well aware of the foreign companies who tried to bring in temporary housing however there are a lot of units standing empty because the residents have moved on or there wasn't the demand. As I mentioned above, not everyone qualified for temporary housing so it's quite possible that the 20,000 mentioned were not those elligible for the houses. So that particular person who they spoke to wasn't aware of their situation. There's been a lot of movement of the population and it's hardly surprising that not everyone has been accounted for.
PS loving my negative ratings on previous post for suggesting that someone do something to help. Presumably it's just a bit to warm to be sat behind their computer...
Posted in: Tsunami refugees dig in for harsh winter
4
Heda_Madness
I think you may have forgotten the scale of the disaster... Tens of thousands of people were left homeless. The temporary houses, are, awful. Having said that they're perfectly acceptable as a temporary measure. When they have lost everything, they still have some form of shelter.
The 20,000 quote above is probably out of context. The local government were responsible for everyone who lost their houses to the tsunami and went to the shelters. They were not responsible for those who's houses were damaged but could be lived in. Call it a bureaucratic misquote if you like.
A lot of comments from people who really don't know what they're commenting on.
Posted in: Tsunami refugees dig in for harsh winter
4
Heda_Madness
None of that matters...
There's no evidence to suggest that the Japanese fleet received a distress call. But you are sure that they ignored it.
Well you can't argue with that logic...
Posted in: Huge waves damage Sea Shepherd boat during chase
4
Heda_Madness
According to Yuri, the ONLY ship to respond was the Steve Irwin. Therefore we can assume that the SS's own ship, the Bob Barker also didn't respond. I wonder if there's a reason for this, perhaps the distress call they made out was only to the Steve Irwin which was near? Or because it was on a different frequency or something.
But it certainly opens questions why a boat that was between the whaling fleet and the incident didn't respond to the alleged cry for help. Yet the board feels that the whalers were at fault.
And let's just remember that adds years ago the SS made claims that the whalers had sailed off and left the Ady Gil to sink. Despite their own photos which proved the opposite.
Posted in: Huge waves damage Sea Shepherd boat during chase
1
Heda_Madness
Few points...
Firstly, this has nothing to do with the government's response to the earthquake/tsunami but the response to the nuclear incident. The headline is misleading.
Secondly, before we all blame the government for the location of Dai Ichi, the height of the sea wall etc let's remember how long they have actually been in power (hint it's less than 4 years which is the time one poster said it would have taken to build a sea wall high enough).
Thirdly it's just wrong to tarnish all of Fukushima with the same brush. And helps no-one. It certainly doesn't help the people in the north who's own national post office refuses to deliver to them. But will deliver to Fukushima city which was far more badly contaminated.
Finally going on the tablets point, ALL over Tohoku are signs saying 'expected tsunami inundation area end'. Sadly, in most cases they were wrong.
Posted in: Japan's response to disaster confused, full of errors, report says
1
Heda_Madness
It is amazing how many people can come to this conclusion based on what they've read on Japan Today/other biased news sites/1 five second video clip conveniently edited. Yet neither the Australian nor New Zealand investigations were able to come to such a conclusion.
Posted in: Anti-whaling activists use drone to track Japan fleet
-1
Heda_Madness
You have to love these threads, whenever you post a fact you get a negative rating because people are too lazy to do their own research.
Posted in: Anti-whaling activists use drone to track Japan fleet
-3
Heda_Madness
You mean the 7th century.
Posted in: Anti-whaling activists use drone to track Japan fleet
6
Heda_Madness
If you saw the complete and utter joy on the faces of the children you wouldn't ask that question. Or felt the raw emotion of the elderly lady as she struggled to convey her appreciations. Or accepted the hospitality of residents of the of the residents who insisted that the Santana come in for a hot coffee because it was a cold day.
You wouldn't need to ask that question. In fact I'm stunned how anyone could ask that.
Posted in: Santas distribute gifts in Tohoku
0
Heda_Madness
Police are investigating to see whether the traffic light was green or red at the time of the incident.
This accident happened because someone, either the driver or the mother, went through the crossing on a red light. It's tragic and would appear to have been totally and utterly avoidable. It wasn't caused by the type of Bicylce etc but simply because someone didn't see the red light.
Posted in: Mother cycling with 2 daughters run over at crossing; both children die
-2
Heda_Madness
Those photos were taken well after a lot of the clean up had been done. It's virtually impossible to describe what it looked like in March/April.
Posted in: Google Street View explores Japan disaster zone
0
Heda_Madness
or able to live a meagre existence. You only need 1-2000 yen a day to live on if you have your accomodation paid for/living in a tent.
She's absolutely spot on with her comment though, you can either help or you can sit by and let others do it. Well done to Nakagawa-san, Tokyokawasaki and everyone else who has been involved in the clean-up/recovery/raised money/donated etc.
Posted in: I have a simple calculation for life. When you see people in need, you have two choices, either you help or you don't. I have to help.
-1
Heda_Madness
Thus adhering to the rules stipulated by the IWC.
Posted in: Japan whaling authorities sue Sea Shepherd in U.S.
-5
Heda_Madness
1800 complaints from Tokyo, 60 people from Ota-ku.
I think they are listening to the people and seeing that the vast majority of people either don't care or support what they're doing. Or how else can you explain such a low percentage of people complaining.
Posted in: Residents of Tokyo's Ota Ward express concerns over Miyagi debris disposal plans
-3
Heda_Madness
GW - I'd argue that given the fact I'd moved from the inside lane to the outside lane to allow any cars coming on to the expressway easy access to the road that it couldn't possibly be regarded as being dangerous or wreckless. The car that didn't look that went across three lanes was wreckless and dangerous but I was going fast. And I'd be amazed if I was the only person on this board who has travelled on the Tomei at around 140 km/h
Going back to this accident, as well as the fact that they were travelling too fast for the conditions, what odds that they were travelling too close together. When I travel in traffic on the Expressway, I like to give enough room between me and the car in front. Unfortunately many see this as an excuse to pull out in front of me.
Posted in: Speeding blamed for pileup involving 8 Ferraris, 1 Lamborghini
1
Heda_Madness
Speed - agreed.
Posted in: Speeding blamed for pileup involving 8 Ferraris, 1 Lamborghini