More on Japan's Recovery

We just passed the year mark on Japan's great tsuanami/earthquake disaster (or rather, it's latest one). I remember because I heard about it the "next" day on my daughter's/sister's birthday. I've mentioned before how frustrated I am in getting information on the recovery of this great nation from such a devastating event and that still goes. Still, I stumbled across some before/after pictures that show how much work has already been done to recover. Just the clearing of debris impresses the hell out of me. I particularly like the first three pictures in the series:

Before the tsunami:

After the tsunami:

 

And now: 

Does that impress me? Damn straight. More pictures can be found here. Good for you, Japan. I wish you the best.

If anyone else has news on the recovery they could share, I welcome more information.

P.s. I did a search to see if I could find more. 

Here's one from three months after the disaster: Wow

Here's another from six months: Amazing - where do you even put all that debris?

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Japan's Quiet Recovery Efforts

One of the things that's frustrated me is how hard it is to get more information on Japan's current situation. Japan suffered a devastating earthquake/tsunami (for those who forgot) last March. The humanitarian crisis, the real impact on Japan and the efforts for recovery from such a cataclysmic event have all been basically ignored in our own panic (way overblown in my opinion) over the nuclear reactors.

Meanwhile, beyond our panic and jokes about radiation, a nation of people began to clean up literally miles of devastated landscape, identified and buried the dead they could find (more than 7,000 are still missing) and began rebuilding their lives. I wanted to know more about it, find out how they were doing, see their progress.

So, I was pleased to find that progress was being made, quietly and without fanfare.

Google, I heard, is working to help keep track of the progress. I don't know that these pictures come from google, but I was pleased to get some indication that things were moving forward (though my mind boggles at the extent of the work still to be accomplished). Actually, I'm amazed and astounded at the extent of the work already done. More pictures can be found here (which is where I got this one).

Good luck, Japan. I wish you the best in your recovery.

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Celebrate Earth Day!

I know, everyone's doing it today. And why not. The earth is pretty critical for all of us and, for many of us, even small changes meant he difference between life and death. And all of us are susceptible to some of her effects, whether extreme weather, earthquakes, tsunamis, drought and more.

There is some good news. Awareness of her and the effects of what we do are more acknowledged now than they ever been. That doesn't solve all the problems by any means, but it's much easier to solve problems (even the really ugly ones) when you acknowledge you have one. Look what we've managed with regards to ozone! And many forms of pollution!

The ones that remain, though, are significant and challenging.

Another key element is that people are more involved and aware and more people in more places are making an effort. That is (overall) a good thing. The problems that face us can't be solved by everyone waiting for someone else to do something about it. We all have to be involved.

So, what have you been doing?

Better yet, let me tell you what I've been doing.

• All of my incandescent bulbs have been replaced with CFLs and some of them are being replaced with LED bulbs.
• This year, we're putting up solar screens. It's a hot climate down here and our back windows face south.
• We're also going to put up radiant barrier in the roof and weatherize windows.
• We use Green Mountain Energy, which is 100% wind/solar generated.
• We're making a point of recycling (and have been for some time).
• We have a programmable thermostat and are making a point of watching our our AC usage.
• I switched out a gas guzzler and go back and forth to work with a car with three times the gas mileage. By switching out cars and changing habits, we cut our gasoline usage in half (and that was when the price was nearly twice what it is now - the cost is now close to 1/4 what it was).
  

None of these are life altering or desperately expensive, but they make a difference (including doing good things for our utility and gas bills). And each improvement works for the benefit of the earth and of me personally.

Am I doing all I can? No, but I will continue to look for opportunities. I encourage you do the same, for all our sakes.

As a special bonus, here's a list of all the satellites we have up specifically to observe the state of the earth. Check it out. There's some cool beans investigations going on and we should all know about them.

UPDATE: I completely overlooked that yesterday was supposed to be a "Wednesday Writing Workshop" that few would actually participate in - I'm not regretting this, but I'll make an effort to get back on track next week IF I can do so on travel - I'll be on travel next week.

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No Love for Cassandra

I heard an interesting story on CNN while waiting at dentist. (Note to self, one shouldn't have to go the dentist the same day you're flying out of town on travel.) Anyway, they were talking about a scientist in Italy who became convinced there was going to be an earthquake based on increased levels of radon gas. He told people to evacuate; the politicians ignored him. He went around with his "Get out NOW" message blaring from his car and they kicked him out.

And the quake happened.

The reporter's message: always listen to scientists.

*Sigh* Good message, wrong reason. Scientists can make mistakes like anyone else (including in being too cautious and not cautious enough); our strength is that we usually look at diverse data to second guess ourselves and we try to get concurrence with other scientists as a sanity check. And, all good scientists are after the truth (I've written about "bad scientists" before, so I'll leave that off here).

So, the politicians were right to be skeptical of his theory. But they were still wrong.

Because, sometimes, you know. And you don't have to be a scientist to sometimes just know. It can be canceling a flight at the last minute because you had a bad feeling about it. It can be talking to a suspect and knowing he's the one. It can be gardening outside and knowing the baby's crying. It can be listening to a sales pitch or a news story or a priest or a contractor and knowing what they're saying is dead wrong.

Those of you who don't know me will probably be surprised to hear a scientist talk like this, but I know what I've learned and I know what I know. You see, I once saw a Shuttle break up for years during reentry, in dreams, and saw it on my TV screen.

I listen now when I know.

If I hear that Cassandra voice blaring from the car in desperation, I'll be listening, there too. I've been that guy.

P.S. I'll be returning to my regular weekly features next week.

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