KAHIHI

The triple blow of an earthquake, tsunami and radiation has devastated Japan to a level that is unimaginable. First the earthquake of 9.0 magnitude on March 11, immediately after that the chaotic tsunami the world watched on their TV screens, and now the tsunami-damaged nuclear power reactors in Fukushima Daiichi Plant that are leaking radiation. The tsunami has now caused over 11,000 deaths and left many thousands missing. This has been Japan’s worst disaster since America dropped atomic bombs in 1945 over Japanese cities Nagasaki and Hiroshima during World War II.

Tsunami is a Japanese word meaning a surge of very large waves caused by an earthquake occurring in the sea. The word has become globally known due to the frequent occurrences of tsunamis. The Japan is surrounded by sea, and earthquakes frequently occur in their seas and on land. Earthquakes and tsunamis are part of Japanese life. A beautiful Japanese wood block print of 1831 entitled “the Great Wave of Kanagawa” by the artist Hokusai has become more famous in recent years. The picture depicts a giant wave in the sea with a struggling boat, and the famous Fuji Mountain in the background. (A print can be searched and viewed in the Internet.) Largest waves ever recorded were from the tsunami in Japan in 1971; they were 84.7 meters high, but caused no damage. March 11 tsunami waves were about 9 meters high.

Japan is the world’s third largest economy. Japanese people are intelligent and technologically advanced. Why didn’t they foresee the possible trouble when they built the Fukushima Nuclear Plant near the sea about 40 years ago? It is inexcusable. The tsunami came ashore in 10 minutes instead of in officially announced 1 hour. The Japanese now admit that they have no technology to predict the earthquake and tsunami with accuracy. Electricity supply in Japan has now been drastically reduced. Japanese people never experienced electric outages before. Japan is not out of the woods yet.

In our day to day life, a so-called safe radiation from body x-rays, chest x-rays, CT scans, dental x-rays, airport x-rays that one is exposed to remains in the body; it never goes away. Total radiation accumulated in the body over the years can cause cancer.

Some European countries have now abandoned their nuclear programs. The Jaitapur Nuclear Project in Ratnagiri, Maharastra is in the making. Other forms of energy such as wind power, natural gas, solar etc. may be considered for electricity in India. Ratnagiri is a seismologically sensitive region where earthquakes can strike. The reactors even with latest technology may not withstand the earthquake beyond the magnitude of 6.0 depending on where the epicentre is. Japan’s March 11 earthquake registered a 9.0 magnitude on the Richter scale, with epicentre 80 miles away in the sea; all the damage to the reactors was from the tsunami and not from the earthquake.

My heart at this time goes out to the Japanese people. I lived in Japan. I love Japan.