Japan Tsunami One Year Later

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Today marked the one year anniversary since the disaster in Japan that held the world disbelief.  A year ago today a terrifying 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami crippled Japan, and unleashed a nuclear crisis with devastating potential.  The disaster killed over 19,000 people.

At 2:46 pm, the moment the earthquake struck a year ago, people across Japan paused for moments of silence, prayer, and reflection.  Dozens of coastal communities have yet to be rebuilt. The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant still needs to be shut down.  Completely decommissioning the plant could take 40 years.  All of this during an economic crunch that is accompanied by an enormous national debt, and a decades long stagnant economy.

Japan has met crisis before, and has risen from the turmoil.

The earthquake was the strongest in Japan's history, and the tsunami swelled to more than 65 feet in some locations along the northern coast.  Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed, and roughly 325,000 people are still in temporary housing.

Only two of Japan's 54 reactors remain in service.  The disaster has stirred the anti-nuclear movement.  Before the disaster Japan depended on nuclear energy for 30% of its energy.  Now, after the scare, the nation has become skittish about the otherwise safe energy source.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary