Naoto Kan, building a new, improved Japan
Tokyo (AsiaNews) - As in the past, when faced with a tragedy, Japan wants to get back on its feet again after the tsunami that hurled itself against its shores in the northeast on March 11 with great violence of 10 meter high waves, bringing destruction to towns and villages. The disaster has not only been caused by nature but also by man: the deadly wave hit the Fukushima nuclear plant, ripping its roof off (see photo). For the nation it was "the worst crisis in its 65 years of post-war history," said Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
But as in similar situations Japan is not giving in, rather its is rising to its feet again. On April 14, Kan committed himself to rejuvenating the country to turn it into one of the most desirable places in the world. In the first meeting of the Reconstruction Committee he said: "I want to present a plan that will be a great opportunity to renew Japan and create a better society for all the Japanese people."
The reconstruction Committee was entrusted to Makoto Iokibe, president of the National Defence. Iokibe, who is also expert on the history of diplomacy, said that the reconstruction needs to be supported by the entire nation and have the cooperation of all parliamentarians, regardless of political alliances.
Global effort to rebuild.
It is not an easy task for at least two reasons. First, because the Fukushima nuclear plant that was hit by the tsunami and has become a source of dangerous radiation that is destined to last for many years lies right in the heart of the area in need of reconstruction. Secondly, because in order to avoid another disaster of destructive waves, housing centres will have to be rebuilt in the hills of the hinterland.
Strong collective identity, ability to assimilate other cultures and values and a high level of education are the three characteristics of the Japanese people, which the current crisis has again highlighted. Added to this is the tremendous international respect that Japan has garnered since the war.
The flow of public and private aid even from foreigners, missionaries and lay people, living in Japan has impressed many. Defining this reconstruction effort as a "global" one is not rhetoric.
Foreign support has taken several forms: from rescue teams to search for survivors and to move displaced people to safe areas, financial contributions and commitments to clean up the disaster region from the mountains of mud and debris.
On an immediate diplomatic level, the contribution of China and South Korea has been generous and qualified, two nations that in the first half of last century were humiliated by a harsh Japanese militarism. Seoul sent teams specialized in rescue operations and large amounts of clothing impermeable to radiation. A journalistic survey conducted in China about the Beijing government’s abundant aid to Japan shows that out of one million 500 thousand Chinese and one million 200 thousand respondents approved.
More than a month after the disaster in Ushinomaki, one of the city’s severely damaged, 18 foreign volunteers from an NGO, are working to clear debris from a commercial district. These and many other young foreigners living in Japan feel happy to help their adopted homeland. And for all this, the Japanese have responded with a sincere "thank you". A Frenchman of 32 years said: "I wanted to do something good for Japan, a nation that I deeply love. When the survivors of the disaster, say 'thank you', it gives me a feeling that I can not express in words. "
In this "global" collaboration, the contribution of U.S. military personnel has been and is particularly strong. SinceMarch 13 about 20 thousand U.S. soldiers are in the disaster area to provide aid, search for victims among the ruins and coordinate the operations of other rescue groups.
TEPCO ordered to pay compensation.
As frightening as the destruction of coastal cities appear, what is most feared now is the "invisible enemy" of radiation escaping from the reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
In that regard, the government issued two orders. First, it has forced citizens who lived within 30 kilometres from power plant to evacuate the affected area. Then it ordered TEPCO "Tokyo Electric Power Co”., the company that owns the nuclear power, to pay out a provisional compensation of 50 billion yen to the displaced. TEPCO has agreed to pay 1 million yen to 750 thousand yen per household and the individuals before "Golden Week", which is the holiday week between late April and early May.
But it is a "temporary" compensation. From calculations, however approximate, it seems that two trillion yen (23.6 billion U.S. dollars) are needed to fully compensate those affected and rebuild the power plant. It seems that the TEPCO, though it is the most powerful of the six electricity supply companies, is unable to support the enormous cost. Already government circles are talking about the dismantling of the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant and bankruptcy of the company.
Rainbow of hope among dark clouds of suffering.
From Tokyo I watched the long television reports that the Japanese network NHK devoted to the tragedy. The composure and attitude of the nobility of survivors inspires admiration.
Their noble acceptance of suffering together with their self control is not to be confused with stoicism or fatalism. It is a collective virtue gained through millennia of history where the alternation of life and death, joy and suffering has taught these people to be realistic. Thier religious and philosophical genes are expressed by the term "Mujo" which, in a very rough Western translation, means "impermanence." Yamaori Testu, director of international studies in Japan points to this very concept. The professor, however, does not hold back from reporting an atmosphere of scientism that seems to prevail in the Japanese mentality of the last century. Days ago a Japanese scientist during a television program on the disaster in an attempt to tranquilize listeners, merely said that such catastrophic events occur once every hundred years. A "scientific" argument, which fails to lift anyone’s moral.
"In times of crisis, the Anglo-Saxon Christians make use of the Bible," said Yamaori, and clarified his thoughts by joining two dates that are related to two epochal events in the history of the last hundred years: the September 11, 2001, the day of barbaric terrorist attack on the "twin towers" in New York, 11 March 2011, the day of the tragedy of Fukushima. On the day of the tragedy in New York, notes Yamaori, U.S. President George W. Bush tranquilized American citizens by citing a passage from the Old Testament: 'Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me', and now the president Barack Obama, tackling the problems of the absurdity of war and terrorism, recourse to the precepts of love and peace, citing the New Testament. "
The message, in this circumstance which Yamaori transmits to his fellow citizens is simple and profound: faced with events that devastate the human heart, consolation and courage to begin again are not born of scientific thoughts but religious ones.
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10/09/2014
24/03/2011
