On Japan and trust

Okay, suppose you're Japanese right now.

Let's also suppose you're not in one of the main towns or cities that was truly devastated first by the earthquake and then the tsunami so you have electricity, if even for part of the day.  That means, too, then, that you have access to radio and television.

So you know your country got hit by the earthquake and then the tsunami.

You also now know that first one, then two, then, finally three nuclear reactors are having big and difficult problems, having been shut down by the tsunami.

Your government tells you to be calm, all is well.

Then there is an explosion at one of the plants.

Your government tells you it's okay.

Next day, there's another explosion at another nuclear power plant.

Again, your government tells you not to be alarmed and that everything's okay, just keep keeping on.

Third day and there is another, third explosion at one of the power plants, this one at the one that wasn't even producing power so it's a real surprise.

Government again says we're okay.

Then news that radiation is leaking from one or some of the plants.

Oh, and your government just said maybe it's a good idea to stay inside, what with the radiation and all but that everything's okay.  (Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic here).

And that's where you are today.

Now, mind you, you and I both understand that that's what a government has to do in order to keep the calm and not have there be panic in any part or parts of the country--that is, say everything's okay and that they've got things under control.  I understand that and it's to be expected.

But if you're in this situation, what do you REALLY believe, in your "heart of hearts", so to speak?

At minimum, I'd believe that they may or may not know what they're talking about and that we may or may not be okay.

Also, at minimum, both sitting here and if I were there, I would hope we're okay, sure, but also realize that it will likely be at least a year and possibly more until we really know what happened here and the extent of the threat to the country.

And the world.

Whatever is going on, the Japanese may or may not want to keep up by reading either Kyodo News (http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/78267.html) or The New York Times right now (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/world/asia/16fuel.html?_r=2&hp).

That is, if they have food, water and shelter.

Links:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110315/ts_nm/us_japan_quake
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/03/15-4
http://www.propublica.org/blog/item/following-disaster-news-from-japan-heres-our-reading-list