SHOULD FOREIGNERS LEAVE JAPAN? NUCLEAR RADIATION DANGERS, AIRPORT & FLIGHT PROBLEMS: JAPANESE EARTHQUAKE & TSUNAMI.
Day two. The earthquake’s devastation is worse than expected. Aftershocks, rising death tolls, mixed messages from the media.
Foreigners in Japan are asking: should they stay or go? In our new video, I discuss the frantic situation with Sebastiano Serafini, who made it through the 9.0 earthquake.
Right now, Tokyo seems stable. But the possibilities are totally unclear. In the worst case scenario, there could be radiation fallout, another large quake, chemical rain… At best, residents have to deal with blackouts and water problems, and be ready to evacuate.
Many people are thinking it’s best to get away from the epicenter for a little while. Embassies are urging foreigners to go home, and some of our friends have already gone.
In the interview, Sebastiano says that by going now, he’s freeing up a seat for someone who needs to urgently leave later. Second, he says foreigners have family abroad who are worried sick, and would feel better if they left Japan for a bit.
In the previous video, Seba was smiling reassure his mom, who found out about the earthquake on her birthday. He says, “Like in the film Life is Beautiful, a smile and positive outlook helps anyone get through the worst of situations.”
Of course, not everyone in Japan has the luxury of leaving. Seba talks about airport closures and troubles getting tickets. We suggest that you contact a foreign travel agent if you’re looking to fly out of Japan.
Please watch the debate video above and on YouTube. Have any of your native or foreign friends left Japan? Do you think the situation is truly dangerous, or overblown?
PS: the earthquake aftermath has caused a LOT of upheavals in my plans. My priority is making sure my friends are safe, and helping the crisis to the best of my ability. More updates soon on my blog, Facebook and Twitter (I update constantly).
UPDATE: Situation in Japan is bad. My foreigner friends are trying to leave immediately. Please consider flying out… We’re all doing our best to help everyone gets safe, and will continue to do so.
SECOND UPDATE: Sebastiano is heading to LA and I’m meeting him. We’re putting ALL our effort into helping Japan once we’re there!
Listen, I don’t know how the situation will unfold in Japan. Could be totally fine, or nuclear issues and a second big quake (7.0 predicted). I think it’s best to be safe….
Keep cool, but please consider getting to somewhere outside potential danger zone.
SHARE & COMMENT
LA CARMINA
14 Comments
My friend in Tokyo said she wants to leave but she can’t >_> Everyone else is safe and I’m glad your friends are taking safety precautions to be safe too… I pray for everyone T_T
Well it’s hard. The foreigners has a place outside of Japan, the Japanese people has their home in Japan, there where it is probably to safe. I hear on the internet a lot of people want to go to Japan, so they can help the Japanese. What is smart?
They say that the best thing to do as far as volunteering goes is DON’T. Japanese twits have been saying much the same. “I’d rather have some professionals than some unskilled volunteers.” The best you can do is donate money to whatever group best strikes your fancy and let them take care of getting help where it needs to go. Doctors without Borders and Red Cross appear to be on the scene as we speak.
That all being said, I think that the worst of this has fallen behind. The situation here in the vast majority of Kanto is scared but stable. Yesterday, Tokyo was running almost like nothing happened. Right now yes we do have the trains cut down again, but this appears to be largely a precautionary measure.
I don’t blame anyone for wanting to get off the island here but I, for one, have no intention of doing so. Also, all I’ve been hearing from the US media is them wanting to PLAY UP the destruction. Make no mistake, people are suffering but the sun is far from setting on Japan.
I feel goosbumps everytime I read your updates…
Everytime I hear updates about tokyo’s situation, i always feel a little but anxious….
I understand how difficult it must be, considering the fact that I’m Chilean, and last year we suffered an 8.8 earthquake and a tsunami that left the southern coast of the country mostly destroyed. As someone from a country which went through similar circumstances (well, not the nuclear power station situation, that’s the really bad part I think), I would suggest that people stay calm. Japan is an extremely organized country and so are its people. Yeah, water, food and electricity will be scant for a while in the affected areas, but that won’t last long, hopefully. So I think it is definitely not a good idea to try to travel to Japan and use resources who the people currently there need. The best we can do is to try to support them from afar; say, helping the foreigners communicate with their families if they still haven’t been able to do it; telling your friends who are there not to panic. I don’t know if telling everyone to leave is the best idea, moreover if they’re not in the affected area, collapsing airports and too much air traffic can also be a problem (or maybe it also has to do with this idea I have that it’s note very nice to turn your back on a country which may need you to volunteer with its subsequent reconstruction). There will probably be aftershocks for a long time (we still have them everyday, the biggest ones ranging from 5.0 to 7.0); but after a while you don’t even sense them anymore (a 7.0 quake may seem BAD, but trust me, after a 9.0, it won’t be).
Hello. I’m so glad you & your friends are all ok. :’) I’m posting on my page every news I can that I also get from you. Do you by any chance know of any Jrock bands that might have been harmed?
SO thankful Sebastian is safe. We are keeping you both, and all our brothers and sisters in Japan in our prayers. Our home is open to you Darling, if the reactor goes and people end up needing to leave the west coast too. Love and light
Poor Japan :( This makes me so sad! Thanks for all the updates La Carmina. We have a trip to Tokyo booked in for late May…..we are hoping it will be safe enough to visit
Peace for all ppl in Japan
I dearly and sincerely thank my friends and their parents who are letting me stay in Germany!
Germany also has gone out to help rescue survivors and those in need.
If anyone needs a place to stay please let me know. I mean its not much here in our home, but for those who are homeless we can at least fit 1 to 2 people. We have food, and safe shelter here in
our home. I am unsure of what else to do. I am donating money to “SHOW YOUR HEART” Link: http://Bit.ly/Er035T by GACKT, and others like “Rose Noire” new track “The Power to Revive” I think is available sometime soon on itunes. Their are also projects I heard that are in production to help give hope. I cried looking at
this article read and the image taken after the tsunami in Japan. It’s a good idea what the person
is doing. I can’t wait to see the film. Here is the link: heavenstears.tumblr.com
I want to help with that project too.
I am doing everything I can to help my country Japan.
in Japan, and those affected by the devastation. I urge anyone there to not stay because I believe it is not safe.
All I know is I am happy to know my family and friends are okay and safe and all others I have heard as well here.
Remember “We will rebuild, we have survived, and we are strong”
Overall, I agree with Makka. That said, if anybody needs a place to flee if something REALLY bad happens, please let me know as I have plenty of place in Italy (even if I’m not there now, my parents wouldn’t mind even if they don’t speak a word of English or Japanese). I can probably also host someone where I live now in the USA (East Coast, near Boston) but just for a few days. But anyway, I’m sure Japan will survive and be stronger than ever!
Sorry to Carmina for spamming but, since this blog has a large international readership I should post this here:
They say that the best thing to do as far as volunteering goes is DON’T. Japanese twits have been saying much the same. “I’d rather have some professionals than some unskilled volunteers.” The best you can do is donate money to whatever group best strikes your fancy and let them take care of getting help where it needs to go. Doctors without Borders and Red Cross appear to be on the scene as we speak.
That all being said, I think that the worst of this is falling behind. The situation here in the vast majority of Kanto is scared but stable. Yesterday, Tokyo was running almost like nothing happened. Right now yes we do have the trains cut down again, but this appears to be largely a precautionary measure.
I don’t blame anyone for wanting to get off the island here but I, for one, have no intention of doing so. Also, all I’ve been hearing from the US media is them wanting to PLAY UP the destruction. Make no mistake, people are suffering but the sun is far from setting on Japan.
Also an addendum: There are many countless people on this side of the pond who are moved by the compassion and love being shared by all those abroad. Especially those who are, sight unseen, offering their couches/beds. A sincere thank you to all those of you.
I don’t blame anyone for wanting to get off the island here but I, for one, have no intention of doing so. Also, all I’ve been hearing from the US media is them wanting to PLAY UP the destruction. Make no mistake, people are suffering but the sun is far from setting on Japan.