10 Days after the Earthquake

10 days have already passed since the massive earthquake hit the northeastern coast of Japan. 21,000 people are confirmed to be dead or lost mainly in the tsunami. More than 0.3 million people are still living in evacuation centers in northern and eastern Japan.

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is not yet in a stable state. Today, white colored steam and grey colored smoke were confirmed to be generating from the No. 2 nuclear reactor and the No. 3 nuclear reactor respectively.

Radiation levels in air near Fukushima Daiichi are still high enough to harm human health. In addition, radiation levels in drinking water taken from a village more than 30km away from Fukushima Daiichi were confirmed to exceed the national environmental standard. Furthermore, radiation levels in milk and spinach produced in agricultural firms more than 100 km away from the nuclear plant were also reported not to satisfy the national standards.

The crisis has not still ended. The government spokesman Mr. Edano cannot still provide the Japanese national with a blueprint for reconstructing the devastated places and resolving the nuclear crisis. We have been reacting nervously to the consecutive announcements from the government.

I hope that Japan will overcome this crisis.