* First, the Good News: Studio Ghibli has issued a statement on their website, reporting that their staff has suffered no injuries. I'm not entirely sure if this means the studio or just the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, which is temporarily closed. This is a relief, and it's welcome news. To many people around the world, the staff of Studio Ghibli is a part of their families.
* Now for the Bad News: The Fukushima Daiichi and Daini nuclear power plants were severely damaged by the quake and tsunami, knocking out power and cooling systems. Japan has declared a state of emergency, and is a possibility of meltdown at the Daiichi Unit1. Radiation levels inside Unit 1's control room are reported to be 1000 times the normal levels, and as many as five nuclear units are in serious risk.
NHK is reporting the detection of cesium at Daiichi Unit 1. This would indicate that some the nuclear fuel has begun to melt down (cesium is produced in a nuclear chain reaction). This news has been confirmed by the Japanese government.
Follow NHK's English-language page here. Follow Reuters' Live-Blog here.
Update: Reuters is reporting that Japan nuclear authorities have successfully released pressure at the Fukushima plant by opening its valves. This is very welcome news.
Update 12:20am Sunday: Some readers on the internet are suggesting that I was feeling relieved earlier today. I am not. For the record, I am deeply worried and fearful regarding Japan's nuclear crisis. Meltdown at one plant has been confirmed, with at least two more to follow. We are facing a catastrophe of Biblical proportions if these reactors aren't cooled.
My advice to everyone: prepare for the worst, and hope for the best.
6 comments:
Can see NHK Live.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-gtv
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-gtv2
I think most Ghibli staff were not able to return to their home yesterday because JR Chuo Line stopped. Furthermore, a lot of Ghibli staff's hometown are Tohoku region.
more importantly; what will this do to future ghibli projects?
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan. Please keep us advised about what we can do to help with relief efforts. If you look on Desiring God Ministries web site there is posted a wonderful prayer for the people of Japan. May the true God, and His son, Jesus Christ,
the maker of heaven and earth, the only true Father grant them comfort and strengthen the people of Japan as they rebuild their lives. Our hearts are with you.
Hadassah
Hadassah? What a lovely name ;) I seem to be confused a lot tonight....... Hadassah is a Jewish womens' organization, so it sounds funny to hear Hadassah and Jesus together like that. Please, do not take offense!
I agre though. May God, the Universe, or whomever we pray to give these people help and hope as the days pass and the nightmare continues.
I would imagine Studio Ghibli would be shut down for a spell as the vital necessities of lives gone haywire take center stage for each of them. I've heard the auto makers have shut down (now I'll never get that Nissan Leaf!). I hope I never see such destruction (and I live in South Florida, the hurricane fast lane!), and I've seen some. But thankfully not like this.
My best to you all.
Nicely said Karen!! God be with them all!
Thanks for the comments, everyone. In the interest of disclosure, Karen is my mother, who lives in Duluth, Minnesota, along with most of the family.
The name thing...is a bit complicated. This family is Protestant/Evangelical Christian by faith, raised Lutheran. My grandmother Ann Forsythe was discovered to be Jewish about 15 years ago. So this is the classic American "mixing pot."
And just to make things even more fun, my father remarried into a Catholic family (my parents divorced back in the late 70s), and I now have three Catholic sisters. With a Scottish family name. And two brothers who are quarter-Jewish. And I'm aiming to marry a girl who's Colombian.
Anyway...whew...I don't wish to hijack this website or pull it off-track. But since you were kind enough to ask, I thought I'd share it with you.
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