OKINAWA, JAPAN — The death toll is on the rise after a massive earthquake slammed Japan on Friday. According to local police, more than 200 bodies were found in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai. The magnitude 8.9 earthquake — the biggest on record in Japanese history — then triggered tsunami, fire outbreaks and a full-blown nuclear emergency.
By chance, I happen to be in Japan at the moment on a fellowship through the East-West Center. I’m now in Okinawa, just off the mainland. There are no reports of damages in the Okinawa area.
Cell reception has been wonky across the country, so people are having issues getting in touch with loved ones in the affected area. Japanese have been glued to the TV non-stop. I'm hearing through friends in Tokyo long aftershocks are being felt.
This is a big quake even for Japanese standards. They get these all the time, just like Southern California — there was even one earlier in the week. But, Japan typically doesn't see as much damage because buildings are built to withstand this type of thing and must pass strict codes. Despite the sturdier than average buildings here, many more deaths and injuries are expected.
A Tokyo native told me she was thankful the quake didn't happen during breakfast or dinnertime. Many homes are made of wood, so in a big quake like this, it could have sparked even more fires.
Leave a Comment:
So very sad. Huffington Post has an amazing contact list for sending aid or help of any kind to Japan at the site
Can not find a place at Dylan Ratigans site to post this Put it up over at Glenn Greenwalds site sent it to a few other lefties
"
Please contact the Dylan Ratigan show and call him out on his bull@!$%# statment
Look I like Dylan Ratigan. But twice in the last week I have heard him say that the left has been "silent" on the Bradley Manning treatment. We all know this is bull@!$%#.
Hope you contact the show and challenge this bull.
JUST SENT THIS TO HIM
Jesus Mary and Joseph Ratigan. Just heard you say for the second time on your program that the left has been silent on Bradley Manning's treatment. You are deaf dude. Glenn Greenwald, Marcy Wheeler (Emptywheel at Firedoglake, Ray McGovern and many others have been howling about his treatment. One of your guest just sarcastically asked where Code Pink has been on this critical issue. If only you folks would pay attention, clean out your MSM ear ----ing wax you would hear the left as well as Code Pink howling about this issue.
Lawrence, thanks for this opportunity. I just saw how you had rep. Grothmann on your show. The man is fully and completely unaware of the truth. I use to live in his district and still have many friends there. They are all circulating recall petitions, not because of the money issues, it is completely about the bargaining rights. He is also giving false information about the insurance cost. I was a teacher negotiator for 27 years in his district. The WEA Trust insurance was cheaper then most insurance policies, with the same coverage. Anyone can go on line and check the operating costs and find out the Trust has the lowest administration cost and the best rate of claim payment. Thank you for standing up this Grothmann person. He is a representative from a very republican district, one with the highest percapita income of any place in Wisconsin, so has no fear of miss leading the public, because very few reporters challenge him on anything. There are people circulating recall petitions for his recall, they may not succeed, but they are getting many signatures. Thank you again for the honest and right on reporting of the facts, he refuses to accept.
Bill
Why should I trust what Mr. O'Donnell says on the air? Seems to me that he is slanted and not much better than the twits on Fox News. Tonight (mar. 11) he had the chance to show that he is genuine purveyor of the truth after the republican guest pointed out that not all police and firefighters unions in the state had supported Gov. Walker. A simple "Sorry I'll check this out" would have spoken volumes about his integrity.
In the aftermath of the earthquake in Japan, were is all the finger pointing, blaming the goverment,rioting,looting, and killing like after Katrina? Americans can learn something from the people of Japan. God Bless them!
God to Earth.
God to Tsunami.
God to Man.
Apparently... You do not like it here.
Who cares about the tsunami in Japan America has its own problems to worry about like the war we are in I think that our fellow americans are more important than Japan. We have enough people that are homeless and starving to worry about. I SAY SCREW JAPAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stop War. Be stewards of a healthy planet. Help each other.