5 nuclear reactors were affected by this earthquake, one had been so affected, (Cooling system was compromised on Friday), that they evacuated the surrounding area by the Fukushima Reactor, which subsequently had its reactor cover blown today, (Saturday, but thankfully unlike the Chernobyl incident in Russia many years back, the core was not exposed and the cores container was still intact.)
Radiation levels reached 1000 times normal outside the Fukushima Reactor, the amount one person can receive in 1 year normally.
This is being rated a 4 out of 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale; INES. Chernobyl in Russia was a 7, Three Mile Island in the U.S. was a 4. Although before this is all said and done, could be a 5 depending on how the situation plays out and what the International Atomic Energy Agency ends up reporting.
Over a 1700 Japanese Citizens are missing, with 564 confirmed dead and more presumed. This will probably rank among the worst in Japanese history but not as bad as the one that hit Japan in 1923 in the Kanto Plain, or the one that caused widespread damage to Kobe, Japan in 1995.
The resulting Tsunami damaged a good portion of the North-Eastern Coast of Japan, and even resulted in a U.S. Man being swept out to Sea in California, (Search by U.S. Navy has been called off, Man considered dead), Boats in Oregon were sunk, and flooding damage occurred in Hawaii.
Over 200,000 Japanese Citizens are homeless and living in tents and other places provided by the local Emergency Services. Power will more than likely be spotted for the areas surrounding the affected area, since Fukushima is essentially down, and the other four will be going through repairs. Tokyo Electric Power Company; TEPCO, is calling for Electric blackouts and asking Japanese Citizens to conserve what they can.
Knowing Japanese People; they will handle this like a well oiled machine being run by Swiss clockworks. However, they are still Human and as people like us, will be dealing with pain and suffering, loss, hunger, sadness, grief, and will be clinging to hope.
What we; you my readers and myself must remember is; just because this is a World away, does not mean we are not responsible for helping, or making people aware.
The World came to our rescue during Hurricane Katrina with food supplies and housing. The American people and its companies also helped out in a similar fashion, in fact Chicagoland were I live, we took in the most refugees during that incident, and got people back on their feet.
Remember the Tsunami that affected the whole of the Indian ocean and left Millions homeless and thousands dead? Many Americans took part to help out the victims of that major disaster as well.
So how can we easily help those affected in Japan?
Use these Services already available to us:
- AMERICAN RED CROSS - U.S. mobile phone users can text REDCROSS to 90999 to add $10 automatically to your phone bill. Or visit http://www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
- INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS - Sending relief teams and supplies to the area. Call 1-800-481-4462, or visit http://internationalmedicalcorps.org.
- SAVE THE CHILDREN - The relief effort providing food, medical care and education to children is accepting donations through mobile phones by texting JAPAN to 20222 to donate $10. People can also call 1-800-728-3843 during business hours or visit www.savethechildren.org/japanquake to donate online.
- GLOBAL GIVING - The non-profit which works through grassroots efforts says Americans can text JAPAN to 50555 to give $10 through their phone bill. Or visit http://www.globalgiving.org/.
- INTERACTION - The group is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations and lists many ways to help on its site, http://www.interaction.org.
- NETWORK FOR GOOD - The aggregator of charities has a list of programs and ways to donate to relief efforts. Visit http://www.networkforgood.org.
- WORLD VISION - The Christian humanitarian organization focuses on children, aiming to lessen the emotional and psychological damage that many children suffer during crises. To donate, visit http://www.worldvision.org.
- GLOBAL GIVING - The Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund was launched at GlobalGiving.org to garner funds that will be given to a variety of relief organizations helping victims of the earthquake. It has already raised over $100,000, particularly from concerned Twitter users around the world. The project page explains:
- SALVATION ARMY - personnel are organizing efforts in Tokyo and will soon send a team to help the severely damaged city of Sendai, Japan. To contribute to earthquake relief, text ‘JAPAN’ or ‘QUAKE’ to 80888 to make a $10 donation or visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.
- Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) - is sending two three-person teams to the Iwate and Miyagi prefectures in Japan. To learn more about the organization’s efforts or make a donation, visit Doctorswithoutborders.org.
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