Japan+Tsunami

=Japan Tsunami-= Discussion runs Monday, March 14th through Sunday, March 20th

An 8.9 Earthquake off the coast of Japan last Friday sent a devastating Tsunami into Japan's Pacific coast. Towns were obliterated. Thousands died. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced. The economic impact on the Worlds 3rd largest economy is immense. 2 Nuclear power plants cut off from electrical power to run their cooling pumps are in the process of melting down- a disaster that if it happens would be even greater than the Tsunami. The World has offered help- starting with search and rescue teams and nuclear know-how. The U.S. military which has had bases in Japan since WWII is very active in the relief effort.

What do you know, what have you seen, what do you think ? What lessons are to be learned about natural disasters, disaster preparedness, search and rescue, basic needs, fragile infrastructures, nuclear power risks, international cooperation...?