Thursday, June 16, 2011

JAPAN - Know grasp the outstretched hand

The inhabitants of the Tohoku [northern region of Honshu, the main island] were very brave face to the tragedies caused by the earthquake of March 11. Once safe, they calmly waited for rescue, and despite their distress, they helped those who were worse off than their own. In South Korea, until the end of April, I can say that the coolness of Japanese victims was welcomed.

However, the silence of the Japanese government to face the catastrophe of the Fukushima Daiichi plant and reconstruction plan has caused some confusion. How Japan will he be able to manage the confusion caused by the earthquake? To allow a new Japan to emerge and rebuild as quickly as possible, the government should be willing to accept help and cooperation of Asian countries, starting with South Korea.

I had many opportunities to investigate major disasters. That I will never forget, the Kobe earthquake [Jan. 17, 1995 occurred, the earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale had caused over 6400 deaths and 44,000 injuries]. Vital functions of the city of Kobe - with a population of about 1.5 million people - had been completely paralyzed.

Citizens, forced to live in schools and halls, had to withstand a harsh winter in want of water, food, electricity and gas. While I was investigating the disaster site in the extremely precarious situation, I've never been a dispute over food distribution. Asia Japan solidarity After finishing my story, on the train that brought me back from Kobe to Osaka, I remained pensive.

How the people of Kobe could they remain calm? I watched the scenery out the window. On the outskirts of Osaka, the view has changed dramatically. Buildings and houses stood straight and we could see children playing in parks, family out of shops and supermarkets with their shopping. Thirty minutes by train from the disaster area, we lived a normal life.

The people of Kobe knew that not far from their city, the living environment comfortable and safe as the Japanese had built was still within reach. They were convinced that they could be patients return to normal life. The recent earthquake left a deep wound, which awakens the suffering endured by the Japanese after World War II.

The victims of today with all their might cling to life, but, especially around the central Fukushima Daiichi, they are not able to find some of their lives one day before. In the present state of things, no one knows how it will take to revive the economy and society in crisis since the earthquake, or if we can once again live as before.

Japan must now accept a radical change that we begin to see the beginnings. For the first time, the country has accepted the aid and relief of other Asian countries. A campaign whose slogan "Save Japan" is conducted throughout the region. Japan, which had caused huge damage in Asia during the last war, has never received such support, such solidarity from neighboring countries.

The country needs to take this opportunity to endorse a system of close cooperation with Asian countries in shaping a new nation, especially as Asia now has the ability to meet this demand. For example, South Korea, which operates 21 reactors, has taken the guise of the catastrophe of Fukushima Daiichi to seriously consider measures to strengthen the security of its facilities.

In this country where natural resources are as rare in Japan, no idea applies to ensure energy can replace nuclear power has yet emerged. "At the moment, we do no alternative to our energy policy centered on nuclear," said the South Korean government, but, basically, the country is experiencing a major concern.

"Now that our two countries should engage in the development of new energy. Japan and South Korea must cooperate to take advantage of untapped resources, including natural gas deposits in Siberia, and set up a system to use them effectively, "offers a South Korean diplomat. What needs to be changed The Democratic Party (PD) Japanese immediately after taking office, presented the world the idea of a "community of East Asia." Asian countries have shown great interest in this project, however, wondering what kind of community was a country that, since the end of the war, has always turned to the West.

The Japanese government announced it was developing a concrete program as part of its new Office of National Strategy. However, this discourse has become less and less understood among senior Democrats, and the Office for National Strategy was shelved because of political disputes. After the disaster, it was possible to obtain an understanding of the international community about the Japanese habit of silence as a virtue.

But this period is over. "We will do everything we can to rebuild. We will change all that needs to be changed, "said Prime Minister Naoto Kan. Now we need Japan to show determination and present it to its neighbors concrete proposals.

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