Review of the 3/11 Disaster
Just three years ago, a big natural disaster hit Japan, which also triggered a nuclear accident.
Though it was huge tsunamis that took on 20,000 lives in the Pacific coast lines north of Tokyo, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident gave a more serious impact on all the Japanese people. Indeed, the tsunami devastated roughly 10% of Japanese seaboard regions, but the nuclear issue covers all of the Japanese land.
If no nuclear accident had followed the tsunami disaster, Japan should not have suffered so much infliction economically, socially, and psychologically. Conversely, the M9.0 earthquake seems to have occurred to induce great tsunamis, so that eventually a 15-meter tsunami attacked and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi (No.1) Nuclear Power Plant.
There are many aspects in the tragedy of 2011. But the gravest point is that the 3/11 Disaster exposed evil accompanying a policy to promote nuclear energy. It also pointed us at how foolish we have become due to success in building up this material civilization, as our minds darkened by material desire missed so many signs and omens giving a warning to prepare for a big earthquake and a big tsunami.
For example, Japan experienced a big earthquake around the commercial center of West Japan in 1995, which killed 6,000 people. In 2004, a huge tsunami was set off off Sumatra Island, Indonesia, causing more than 200,000 deaths around the Indian Ocean. In 2008, the Great Sichuan Earthquake of China made 90,000 people meet their death and 15 million citizens urgently evacuated, while probably some nuclear facilities of the Chinese military in the region were seriously damaged. And finally, in 2010 a powerful urban earthquake in Haiti brought death to more than 310,000 citizens. Truly we have had a plenty of signs of ill presage before March 11, 2011.
If we, the Japanese people, had been afraid of and respected God or Heaven more, we must have sensed any extraordinary warning in the above incidents in the world. But leading politicians, elite bureaucrats, and corporate executives did not humbly check and correct their behaviors. They were enjoying high living in Tokyo and other major cities. While they had observed tragedies and plights of the US which faced the 9/11 Terror, the subsequent War on Terror, and the 2008 Financial Crisis, they did not get prepared for any coming crisis in Japan.
Before the 3/11 Tsunami, engineers of Tokyo Electric Power Co. (the owner of the Fukushima Daiichi Plant) realized a possibility that their nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture could be hit by a 10-meter high tsunami, while the Plant was designed just to withstand a 6-meter tsunami at most. Even some professors reported before March 11, 2011 that the Pacific coast line of the Tohoku region, including Fukushima, had experienced a huge tsunami every 1000 years, while the last one occurred just 1,100 years ago. A then nuclear regulatory office of the Japanese Government must have been aware of these matters, but they didn't take any action to enhance anti-tsunami features of the Fukushima Daiichi Plant. Though no one has been put in trial due to negligence in their duty to protect the nuclear power plant, it is apparent that there was a big fault those elites of the Japanese society should admit.
With serious repentance, Japan should abandon the promotion of use of nuclear energy. But now the Japanese Government is about to examine applications filed by utilities to restart their nuclear power plants, since all the 50 or so nuclear power plants have been stopped in the wake of the Fukushima accident. Probably, by 2020 when the Tokyo Olympics is held, Japan will have 10 nuclear power plants in service. It is not pleasant at all.
God gave a big warning to the US with the 9/11 Terror on their status as the militarily sole super-power on the earth. God also delivered a big admonition to the world with the 2008 Financial Crisis on pursue of wealth Wall Street businesses was driving. And He warned us against use of the nuclear energy with the 3/11 Disaster of Japan.
And logically, if we don't hear Him fully, something more terrible could happen.
August 31, 2012
Japan for Sustainability (JFS)
Japan for Sustainability (JFS)--a non-governmental organization (NGO) that provides environmental information from Japan to 188 countries -- announced the findings of its international web survey of opinions from around the world regarding Japan's soon-to-be-decided direction on energy policy to 2030.
Zero Scenario (zero nuclear power by 2030)...70% (224 responses)
15% Scenario (15% by 2030)...15% (47 responses)
20-25% Scenario (20 to 25% by 2030)...10% (34 responses)
Other...4% (13 responses)
Don't Know...1% (4 responses)
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Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.