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12 Mar 2011 14:40

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World: ShortFormBlog Summary Sandwich: Japan Earthquake day two

12 Mar 2011 11:23

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World: Japan quake: Thousands missing in Minamisanriku ALONE

  • 9,500 people are missing in Minamisanriku: CNN source

12 Mar 2011 10:09

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World: Update: The latest Japan earthquake death toll numbers*

  • 637 the current official death toll after yesterday’s quake and tsunami
  • 653 the number of people  missing after the quake broke out in Japan
  • 400+ bodies have been found but are unaccounted for in the totals source
  • * Editor’s note: Please take heed of the note we made last night on death tolls for the current quake. The devastation is just too wide for specific numbers right now.

12 Mar 2011 08:50

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World: Japan quake: Why Twitter rumors are particularly unhelpful right now

  • And this is what we hate about social media. In the fact of grave international tragedy, real media sources have to spend time writing stories to debunk (or in this case, point out) completely unhelpful claims propagated by misguided Miley Cyrus fans. It’s to Twitter’s discredit that it’s the top item that pops up when you hop into Twitter’s search for “#tsunami.” source

12 Mar 2011 08:34

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World: Fukushima blast: Sea water the coolant of choice for reactor

  • We’ve decided to fill the reactor container with sea water. Trade minister Kaieda has instructed us to do so. By doing this, we will use boric acid to prevent criticality.
  • Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano • Explaining what will happen next in the wake of the Fukushima blast in Japan. For what its worth, Edano says that, although there was an explosion, it didn’t affect the core reactor. “The nuclear reactor is surrounded by a steel reactor container, which is then surrounded by a concrete building,” he said. “The concrete building collapsed. We found out that the reactor container inside didn’t explode.” Sea water, eh? Interesting coolant choice. source

12 Mar 2011 00:28

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World: Japan quake: Nuclear energy could fall out of favor again, maybe

  • then After a period where nuclear power gained popularity, Three Mile Island, green groups and the movie “The China Syndrome” helped hurt the reputation of the power source.
  • now With a higher focus on safety, the risk of danger is much lower and growth has returned – but trouble in Japan could once again turn popular favor against it. source
  • » Two sides, two arguments: Green groups AND nuclear advocates have their talking points here – groups in favor of nuclear energy say the precaution prevented a much worse situation with the Fukushima reactors. Green groups say any leak of radioactive gas proves the dangers are too high. Of course, if this happens, it kinda throws everything out the window.

11 Mar 2011 20:47

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World: Japan Quake: Some early death toll estimates, with an asterisk*

  • 402+ number of confirmed deaths in the Japanese quake this week
  • 1,000+ could have died, according to estimates by Kyodo News agency
  • 3,000+ homes were destroyed on the coast of Honshu Island alone source
  • * – Why we’re wary of the death toll numbers: The dramatic scale of this disaster does not encourage firm estimates, so we’d like to offer these numbers, which some of our readers have asked for, with a warning: They’re subject to change. This incident is far too huge to offer hard statistics right now. For example: Police in Sendai said that there were 200-300 bodies on the shore at least. Considering the scope of the disaster in Sendai alone, it’s entirely possible that many more will be found. Maybe in a few days we’ll have a better idea.
 

11 Mar 2011 15:53

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World: Video shows Japanese skyscrapers wobbling during quake

  • Three cheers for structural integrity: Although it’s pretty harrowing to see high-rises sway back and forth, it does look like the buildings managed to survive – at least for as long as the camera was running. The title of the video could provide a clue; any of our Japanese-speaking readers care to translate? [hat tip: FrumForum] source

11 Mar 2011 14:19

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World: Proof in the pudding: Why Japan’s disaster-preparedness works

  • Undoubtedly this is the largest natural disaster to have hit Japan in decades. We will still need to follow the news to see what the final toll is, as well as to learn whether there were parts of the preparedness system that did not work properly. The most important lesson to take away is that concerted and rationally formulated mitigation methods do work in limiting the damage, even from a disaster on this scale.
  • FrumForum writer Noah Kristula-Green • Offering some perspective on the Japan quake and tsunami from a disaster-preparedness angle. Kristula-Green, who lived in Japan during his elementary and high school years, recalls the constant earthquake and tsunami drills he had to do, just in case something happened. What’s interesting is the way he twists the whole issue on the U.S. — noting some recent arguments against such things. “There is a strain of libertarian and conservative thought which believes that public services and regulations are not just wasteful but are inherently incapable of ever being beneficial,” he writes. “The Japanese experience should lead to a reevaluation of that claim.” source

10 Mar 2011 13:53

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World: Libyan opposition continues to gain international legitimacy

  • YES Hillary Clinton will meet with Libya’s opposition source
  • » On France’s heels, the U.S. bolsters legitimacy: The Secretary of State plans on meeting with the head of the opposition council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, a former justice minister who resigned when Muammar Gaddafi’s violent reaction began tearing throughout Libya in February.