A poster currently distributed around Japan reminding people the maximum potential of the supplies they purchase as survival supplies run low in the country.
Taken from the original article here comparing Korean and Japanese media.
I thought this is really interesting and I do see this huge difference in reporting between say CNN and NHK.
Reporters with Japanese state broadcaster NHK always make sure to say before interviewing victims of natural disasters, "My heart goes out to the suffering you have endured" or "Don’t be discouraged." NHK reporters must gain permission of victims before filming them and eat their packed lunches in their cars, away from the view of victims. And they always use mobile phones, because public phones must be left free for victims to use. These are only part of strict guidelines in NHK’s disaster reporting manual.
The manual contains detailed instructions on how to cover natural disasters. Anchors and reporters are prohibited from using expressions such as "massive," "severe" or "fierce" to prevent viewers from panicking. Earthquakes can be described using expressions like "significant tremor" or "strong earthquake." Unclear or exaggerated language based on conjecture is also prohibited.
Since it is a public institution operated with taxpayer money, NHK’s goal during disaster coverage is to broadcast news fast and accurately. The aim of disaster reporting is to minimize the damage. The NHK News Center conducts mock disaster coverage exercises every night, and NHK staff in charge of disaster coverage have to live within 5 km of the company’s headquarters so they can come to work quickly in an emergency.
NHK’s reporting stood out during the latest earthquake. As they reported on the disaster that left tens of thousands of people either dead or missing and made over 500,000 homeless, NHK calmly reported the news, without recourse to images of blazing fires or wailing victims. Instead, it repeatedly broadcast vital information for victims, such as the location of hospitals and the availability of water, electricity and gas.
The Korean media was more emotive, with both state-run and private media overflowing with terms like "destruction," "pandemonium," and "chaos." They reported that roads were "completely" disabled, while the tsunami was "hugely destructive," while "entire towns" disappeared.
The fact that Japan has an exemplary state-run broadcaster probably played a large role in the orderly and calm response of the Japanese people.
Some sad, some a relief, here’s a growing compilation of stories involving animals in the affected regions in Japan I found on the internet.
My heart goes out to all the lives affected by this catastrophe, be it human or animal life. For those of us who have no means to help in physical action when disaster strikes, we can consider donations.
Call for DONATIONS to help the situation in Japan, you can find out more on the human and animal rescue missions and donate to the following organizations
American Red Cross
Your gift to the American Red Cross will support our disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific. On those rare occasions when donations exceed American Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters
a coalition of three groups – HEART-Tokushima, Animal Garden Niigata and Japan Cat Network. Their intention is to keep animal rescue on the agenda, provide shelter space and coordinate some earthquake/tsunami animal rescues.
ARK will accept as many animals as possible, those made homeless from the TOHOKU-PACIFIC earthquake and tsunami which occurred on 11th March. Any donations will be used for the animals made homeless in this terrible disaster.
New updates will be placed first, according to news date.
Dog Companions after the Tsunami
Taken in Arahama, Sendai City, dated 14 March 2011
original article from exawarosu.net came with a lot of local bashing of the reporter and TV crew for not helping the dogs, my personal opinion is that the crew fulfilled their duty of reporting and gathering information so that the teams concentrating on rescue could take over.
Based on the little experience I had from amateur animal rescue (amateur meaning me trying to rescue animals myself…:/), its very easy to mess up a rescue when you don’t have the right supplies (food, containers) and skills to handle the animals, the animals would have ended up more afraid than earlier and even run away to places that humans can’t access…
These dogs look to have been separated from their owner after the tsunami, with one apparently injured from the video.
From the youtube video link, a comment dated 16 March 2011 indicates both dogs have been rescued!
“These 2 dogs have been rescued! Helped by a team of volunteers led by the owner of a pet food company : Kenn Sakurai – the only way they can access the region is on dirt bikes w/ cages strapped on the back. It took them 2-hrs to ride them to the nearest shelter in Mito, Ibaraki-ken. The white one still at the vet & his defender is waiting at the shelter.”
Hoping the owner is safe as well and reunites with these dogs soon.
last updated on Wednesday, 16 March 2011
No pets in some evacuation shelters?
“Before we hit the disaster stricken areas of Sendai today, we spoke to this woman on the street toward the center of the city. She broke down and in tears, told us how she was from a hard hit area, but didn’t evacuate because they wouldn’t let her take her dog (Yusuke). She stayed with him in a shaking house for three days she said, and told us Yusuke was extremely stressed from the ordeal. She thanked us for being there to help.”
Sendai Television Inc. (http://joox.tv) reported a message on their bulletin board regarding contact from Tashirojima (Cat Island). On March 14 approximately 2pm local time, two tourists from Aoba-ku, Sendai were confirmed safe in one of the shelters on Cat Island. Though the post was later removed from the bulletin, we were able to retrieve it through Google caching (screenshot).
Most of people and cats are doing ok on the island, but they are very short of necessities such as food and water. A Self-Defense Forcehelicopter has landed on Tashirojima (cat island) and rescue effort is underway.
“Just to give everyone an update on Tashirojima, cat island. The people and cats are safe but short of food. A volunteer looked into transporting food by boat, but the is too much debris in the water. A helicopter is the only way. The army will probably get a helicopter ready soon so we are looking into the possibility of asking them to take cat food too,” stated by Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, a coalition of three no-kill rescue groups: Japan Cat Network, Heart Tokushima and Animal Friends Niigata.
Many other rescue groups have been on the road to send relief to the devastated areas, but traffic is the biggest hurdle for them to get to the places. The same trip that used to take only a couple hours, now takes 7 or longer hours to get to. Many shelters are also affected by limited gas supply for transportation and scheduled power outages.
Animal Welfare will be deploying a team to assess needs regarding animal rescue. “”As we saw most recently in Haiti, major disasters require long-term planning and a concerted effort between NGO and governmental ranks to ensure that the greatest number of animals and humans benefit from the intervention.” You can donate to help.
Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support have set up a fundraiser for people who want to chip in and help. You can check out Japan (Nippon) SPCA to send your support.
“This is the start of our trip to get closer to the areas affected. We packed the van with supplies from Animal Friends Niigata (where any animals we find will be brought back to, given proper medical care). What you see is pet food, kennels, leashes and capturing equipment.”
“Natsuko Komuro was riding a horse in Miyagi Prefecture right before the devastation began; she had to abandon her beloved pet to escape. She jumped in her car and sped away but was soon caught up in a crush of traffic. "The traffic lights had stopped working and there was massive congestion, rows and rows of cars," she told the BBC. On Sunday, she went back to her home to look for her horse, but it was in vain. "Words fail me," she said, "because there is nothing here, the things that are supposed to be here, everything is gone." More than 200 bodies have been recovered in Komuro’s area.”
A man and a little muddy dog rescued by a fireman was reunited based on the local newspaper.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
SDF SEARCH TEAMS ARRIVE IN JAPAN
“Our six SDF Canine Disaster Search Teams have arrived in Japan and will soon be traveling to the devastated region where the skills of the canines are critically needed to find people trapped in the rubble.
The teams flew by way of Alaska where the plane touched down to re-fuel. An airport van shuttled the dogs and their handlers to the snow so they could stretch their legs (and paws!).
They arrived in Japan around 10:30pm PST at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan. The 12 dogs did very well on the flight over and are bedded down with their handlers to rest after their long journey. They will soon be receiving official search assignment, traveling to the areas with the highest probability of survivors.
All rescue personnel will be awaiting a “BARK ALERT” from the dogs, letting them know there is someone alive, possibly unconscious, in need of rescue. Everything the teams have learned during their intensive training will be put to use in saving lives.”
Singapore sends search team with dogs to assist Japan
“Singapore on Saturday deployed a team of five search specialists and five search dogs to Japan to assist in search operations after Friday’s superquake.
The Singapore Civil Defense Force’s Urban Search and Rescue contingent has experience participating in search and rescue operations in other Asian countries including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.
Four members of the same team sent to Japan only recently returned from New Zealand’s Christchurch, where they helped in the aftermath of the quake that occurred there on Feb. 23.”
my name is dina and I was born in 1982, mount alvernia, singapore. this is a blog compilation of the things and people who have filled my life with fun, love and warmth.
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