Fickle Dawn

hoarr:

pantslessprogressive:

Residents Return $78 Million From Rubble

While looting often becomes an issue post-disaster, it’s been the exact opposite in Japan.

Since the March earthquake and tsunami that leveled much of Japan, thousands of wallets containing a total of $48 million in cash have washed ashore — and been turned in, ABC reports. In addition, 5,700 safes containing $30 million in cash also have turned up.

Ryuji Ito, professor emeritus at Japan’s Yokohama City University, tells the Daily Mail that these acts of integrity are simply reflective of the culture:

“…The fact that a hefty 2.3 billion yen in cash has been returned to its owners shows the high level of ethical awareness in the Japanese people.” [read more; March 13 photo: Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images]

newsflick:

Sunflowers planted by local elemenary school children grow in the tsunami hit field in in Natori, in Miyagi prefecture, July 15. Japan has campaign to grow sunflowers to help decontaminate radioactive soil, in response to the Fukushima nuclear disaster that followed March’s massive quake and tsunami. (Yoshikazu Tsuno)

douglashaddow:

“Shunichi Hatakeyama, 48, wearing the clothes and shoes of his missing son Fumiya, 15, held up his picture.”

Gutting.

newsflick:

Accident triggers nuclear power debate in Germany

People form a human chain in front of the nuclear power plant in Neckarswestheim, Germany, Mar.12. More than 40,000 opponents of nuclear energy formed a 45-kilometer human chain across southern Germany to demand an immediate end to the use of nuclear energy. Organizers said that turnout was probably boosted by the day’s news of a possible accident and meltdown at a Japanese nuclear power plant stemming from damage sustained in a massive earthquake on Mar. 11. The protest focused on the Neckarwestheim nuclear power plant near the southern German city of Stuttgart. (Marijan Murat / EPA)

Based on what I saw while in Germany this summer, I would hesitate to say that recent events in Japan “triggered” an anti-atomic power protest in Germany. It could more appropriately be marked as another event to add fuel to the flame. Even the description of the photo provided by MSNBC suggests that the protest was already going to happen.