Massive earthquake and tsunamis hit Japan

[Minnie_the_Minx]

There was a sad story on AJE tonight, a mother and her two children trying to find their house amongst the wreckage of a north Japanese town. The children had been in school when the tsunami hit and the school was built on higher ground specifically to protect against tsunami. Anyhow they were looking for their dad, who was not there, they found a piece of wreckage where they thought their house used to be and the little girl managed to find a family photo of their dad.

News is full of stories like that

 

[weltweit]

News is full of stories like that

Yes, it is true. Very sad.

I think the eventual death toll will be a lot higher than it is being estimated at the moment.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Yes, it is true. Very sad.

I think the eventual death toll will be a lot higher than it is being estimated at the moment.

Well I think we've all known that from day 1. I don't even know why they're bothering to estimate numbers when it's been obvious from the start that thousands never managed to escape the tsunami.

Read today that Jin Abe and his grandmother are alive and well in hospital. He doesn't remember much, which is probably a good thing.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Story here of an organisation who have created a bath and showers for the homeless.

http://blogs.channel4.com/world-news-blog/japan-the-town-that-lost-its-walls-but-kept-its-dignity/15581

 

[story]

The Japanese are pretty fastidious about bathing and cleanliness. I was wondering how they were coping with this incidental but crucial part of the the problem.

Needs must etc.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

The Japanese are pretty fastidious about bathing and cleanliness. I was wondering how they were coping with this incidental but crucial part of the the problem.

Needs must etc.

I know. Seems like such a small thing, but I bet it cheered them up no end

 

[xes]

Another 6.6 "aftershock"

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Another 6.6 "aftershock"

that's the biggest for a while isn't it?

 

[xes]

It is indeed, and they've had another 6.6 and a 6.4. Both sizeable quakes in themselves. But they do seem to be getting less frequent. Just imagine what would have happened if all of that energy would have been released at once!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

It is indeed, and they've had another 6.6 and a 6.4. Both sizeable quakes in themselves. But they do seem to be getting less frequent. Just imagine what would have happened if all of that energy would have been released at once!

Just imagine if they could harness the energy of earthquakes for power! They could get rid of all those power plants

 

[Crispy]

Just imagine if they could harness the energy of earthquakes for power! They could get rid of all those power plants

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/en...-volcanoes-with-geothermal-energy-plants.html

More or less

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/en...-volcanoes-with-geothermal-energy-plants.html

More or less

I'm guessing they don't create enough power though, or they'd need loads of them? Don't know how much space or anything they take up, how much they cost etc. but the last para struck me:

Today, there are currently 18 geothermal power stations in operation in Japan, although there combined output accounts for no more than 0.20 per cent of electricity generated domestically.

 

[shaman75]

Anyone who has visited or worked in Japan will tell you it is like landing on another planet. Beyond the baseball caps and Western clothes, the Japanese people have a distinct culture of their own, which is entirely alien to our own values. They are militantly racist and in the past have been capable of great cruelty.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/a...PoW-grandad-wouldnt-mark-minutes-silence.html

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/a...PoW-grandad-wouldnt-mark-minutes-silence.html

What? Everyone would say it's like landing on another planet? Er no, I would liken it more to visiting a different country.
Way to make a sweeping statement. The Daily Mail might be interested to know they generally consider themselves quite similar to the british.
And why bring up the past all the time? We are not exactly a shining example of kind and caring invading / conqueroring empire.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

What? Everyone would say it's like landing on another planet? Er no, I would liken it more to visiting a different country.
Way to make a sweeping statement. The Daily Mail might be interested to know they generally consider themselves quite similar to the british.
And why bring up the past all the time? We are not exactly a shining example of kind and caring invading / conqueroring empire.

and the British in their history have never been capable of cruelty?

What's even funnier is, I'm sure on your other thread, I actually linked to a Daily Mail story of a reporter on the ground there who said everything's fine and even quoted a Japanese man who said the Japanese are very like the British with their stiff upper lip

eta: oh, that's all already mentioned in the article but I wrote that before I bothered reading the article

 

[dennisr]

Fuck the the tory filth. Back to humanity....

One way to donate as trade unionists would be to the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) Earthquake Appeal:

Japan Earthquake Appeal: Zenroren and the Japan Federation of Medical Workers Union (NIHON-IROREN) are sending doctors, nurses and essential supplies to hospitals and Zenroren prefectural offices.

Messages of solidarity to:
Keisuke FUSE, Director, International Bureau, k-fuse@zenroren.gr.jp

Donations to support relief work by the union:
Beneficiary Bank: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd.
Branch: Akihabara Branch (626)
Its Address: 3-1, Kandahirakawa-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0027
Beneficiary Bank Swift Code: BOTKJPJT
Account Name: ZENKOKU ROUDOUKUMIAI SOURENGOU
Payee Account Number: 3031551
Payee Address: 4F, 2-4-4, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo,
113-8462, Japan
Payee Telephone: +81-3-5842-5611
Payee Contact: Keisuke FUSE, Director, International Bureau,
k-fuse@zenroren.gr.jp

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Well it looks like the newsbots are moving on to juicier meat. They were interviewing a tsunami victim who had lost her family when the news came in that Liz Taylor had died. They literally dumped the interview and jumped on the new story. It made me a bit sick, TBH.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Well it looks like the newsbots are moving on to juicier meat. They were interviewing a tsunami victim who had lost her family when the news came in that Liz Taylor had died. They literally dumped the interview and jumped on the new story. It made me a bit sick, TBH.

FFS

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Repaired in 6 days

Can't see that happening in the UK

 

[Miss Caphat]

wow. I always wonder when I see that pic what the scientific explanation for the road splitting right along the white line is. anyone know?

 

[Crispy]

The white paint reflects more sunshine, so the tarmac underneath gets less hot during the day, so it expands less than the tarmac either side, so it puts the boundary between the two sides under stress, so it's weaker alnong that line so that's where it splits when shift around by an earthquake.

 

[Crispy]

I reckon

 

[xes]

quakes can read, and underneath the road it says "tear along the dotted line"

 

[story]

@ xes.


At first glance I thought those before-and-after photos must be the wrong way around. Impressive.

Can't see that happening in the UK

Or if it was, they'd not bother fixing the fence as well.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

View attachment 14410

Repaired in 6 days

Can't see that happening in the UK

How the hell did they sort that out so quickly? I wouldn't even know where to start.

 

[laptop]

wow. I always wonder when I see that pic what the scientific explanation for the road splitting right along the white line is. anyone know?

Almost certainly the lines are painted along joins in the tarmac... where they laid one carriageway at a time, then the extra bits at the sides.

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

wow. I always wonder when I see that pic what the scientific explanation for the road splitting right along the white line is. anyone know?

I reckon the drew the white line in after, just to make it look orderly

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

quakes can read, and underneath the road it says "tear along the dotted line"

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

As impressive as that road is, they've also done a grand job of the airport

http://blogs.channel4.com/world-news-blog/japan-tsunami-what-tsunami/15611

 

[story]

I've been wondering what on earth they're going to do with all the tonnes of broken cars and so forth. Landfill? Recycling?