Idea for group/term project

In the last years, nuclear energy has gained prominence as a viable, although short term solution to our dire environmental problems. Although we know that nuclear energy is not sustainable in the long run, the need to address these environmental problems with a quick and already well developed solution have seemed greater than the risks posed by nuclear energy.

In the aftermath of the march 11th disaster however, how has this changed, and what specifically do the people in and from the affected areas think of the their own and the rest of the worlds future in solving our energy crisis?

My thoughts on the general trends seen in most of the blogs on the site

As I would suspect, many of the blog posts that have been uploaded so far dealing with the March 11th disaster, have focused the sudden shock, the feeling of helplessness and also the notion that you were taking part in a piece of history that will be remembered for a long time.

Especially the chaotic first hours can be a fascinating, but also scary, thing to read about - as the once so orderly human civilization stops to a halt, and descends into an uncertain stasis. The role of social media in this disaster is also unparalleled, and never before has people found so many different - and in a way anarchic - ways of communicating, across borders, timezones and other barriers. Definitely a positive result and a curious side effect to the debated globalisation issue.

If I was to sum up the general feeling of the blog posts in one sentence, it would have had to be; Being struck down to earth, once again in touch with ones mortality, and the sudden rush as the world in a fraction of a second turns just infinitely more big, wild and uncontrollable.

My personal experience with the March 11 disaster

Welcome to my new blog, relating to the Sophia University course Nature, Culture & Technology.

When the earthquake of march 11th hit Japan, I was at home in my bed in Oslo, Norway sleeping. I remember I woke up early in the morning when my father called me, asking if I had heard the news from Japan. My friends and family knew of course about my plans for going on a study exchange to Tokyo, and I was just going about my regular day to day business, waiting to finally take my leave. Then this happened. Not believing the sensationalist media back home, my first reaction was skepticism and calm - I simply did not think it was such a big deal. I was proven wrong however, and in the two weeks that followed my biggest concern was whether or not I was going to be allowed to leave for Japan or not. Being as far away and safe as I was, I could not simply grasp the severity of the situation, nor the horrible realities facing the people of Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunamies.

Things calmed down over the span of the next three weeks however, and when I finally got my good-to-go traveling confirmation I was relieved, but also filled with a kind of uncertain suspense that I had never felt before. I am not afraid of earthquakes, but the effects of nuclear spills on human beings is a fear deeply rooted in people today I think. Not knowing the realities of the actual situation, seeing as every different newspaper reported different things, also attributed to this uncertainty that I was feeling. Not uncertainty of coming here, but uncertainty of what was going to meet me.

What actually met me here surprised me a great deal, but in an unconditionally positive way. The people I met here were open, including and, it seemed, almost grateful to still have foreigners among their ranks. I do not know how the people of Japan were before the disaster, but what I discovered when I arrived was a warm sense of community and spirit.

These are just some of my thoughts on the events spanning the last month, and though I still can't begin to understand the scope of the disaster, or the tragedy of the Japanese people, I am truly honored to be a part of this very special time in Japanese history.