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Letter from Sendai

Anil Netto
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11

This email from a mailing list was forwarded to me and I thought I would share it with you. It provides a unique description of what life is like for quake and tsunami survivors in Japan on the ground now.

When tragedy strikes, it reminds us of what is really important in life and the little things we once felt we had lost, such as community solidarity and the sight of a carpetful of twinkling stars in the night sky.

Life Lessons from Japan

First email sent by Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist Master and founder of Plum Village, France, to friends in Japan. Thich Nhat Hanh is the author of the book “The Miracle of Mindfulness”, and promotes engaged Buddhism.

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Watch the trolls crawl out

Anil Netto
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38

Now that election season is upon us, we can expect more trolls to crawl out from under the bridge and create mischief in the comments sections of various blogs and websites.

What is an internet troll? According to Wikipedia:

In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

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Sarawak polls imminent

Anil Netto
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14

So this is it. The Sarawak state election is likely to be held in April. And an announcement about the date could be made soon.

One contact in Sarawak told me last week that he heard the election could be held on the 9-10 April weekend. We shall see if he is right. Whatever the dates, these polls will be closely contested.

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Kamanaka Hitomi, Philip White: Voices in the wilderness

Anil Netto
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6

Philip White - Photo credit: metropolis.co.jp
Former Adelaide resident Philip White works for the Tokyo-based Citizens Nuclear Information Centre. This anti-nuclear group had consistently warned of an emergency like the one we are now witnessing in Japan.

Kamanaka Hitomi - Photo credit: cnic.jp

Hitomi Kamanaka, an indie film-maker, has produced documentaries about local residents’ opposition to nuclear power plants. Only a few weeks ago, clashes erupted between residents and construction workers in Iwai Island as attempts were made to build yet another nuclear power plant.

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Bakun emergency response plan?

Anil Netto
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20

The mistakes, cover-ups and profit-maximisation/cost-cutting of the past in Japan have come back to haunt us.

A General Electric Co engineer said he resigned 35 years ago over concern about the safety of a nuclear reactor design used in the now crippled Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan. Dale Bridenbaugh said the “Mark 1” design had “not yet been designed to withstand the loads” that could be experienced in a large-scale accident. Read the full Reuters report here.

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‘Happening’ events this weekend

Anil Netto
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6

Four events to watch out for this weekend in KL and Penang.

A talk by Amir Muhammad:

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Japan activists had warned of risks

Anil Netto
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4

Activists in Japan had warned about the risks posed by the country’s nuclear power plants – and they are now calling for more information on the ground and a larger evacuation zone.

Aileen Mioko Smith of Green Action Japan - Photo credit: greenpeace.org

This interview from Democracy Now a couple of days ago:

SHARIF ABDEL KOUDDOUS: We go right now to Aileen Mioko Smith. She’s the director of Kyoto-based Green Action. She’s on the board of Greenpeace International. She’s joining us from San Francisco right now, one of Japan’s leading voices challenging nuclear power.

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People’s Solidarity Suspension Bridge

Anil Netto
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8

Here is an example of what’s possible when a community feels empowered. They can even build bridges – like this new suspension bridge for an Orang Asli community in Sungai Siput to replace the old rickety one.

The People's Solidarity Suspension Bridge in Sungai Siput - Photo courtesy of Ipoh Echo

There are several things we can learn from this suspension bridge project:

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Mounting household debt in Malaysia

Anil Netto
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40

The other day, I was at the ATM when I noticed a middle-aged couple in front of me in the queue. They tried a few times to withdraw funds. As I waited a few minutes, I overheard them saying they were trying to withdraw RM20, but the machine responded “insufficient funds”. They looked stressed and worried.

All is not well among Malaysians. The level of household debt has been rising over the years at the rate of 11.1 per cent annually.

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Chernobyl, Three Mile Island warning

Anil Netto
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39

If Fukushima is not enough of a warning, those in the Malaysian government adamant about bringing nuclear power plants here should take another look at what happened at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island.

Pakatan too needs to clearly state its stand on nuclear energy so voters know exactly what they are in for.

This year is the 25th anniversary of Chernobyl, which is still pouring out radioactive gases after its sarcophagus cracked last year. They are still clearing up tons of radioactive material there. The cost of resettlement, cleanup and medical expense? US$235bn. Meanwhile, Fukushima has already emitted more radiation than Three Mile Island.

And let’s not forget our own experience with radioactive material at Bukit Merah:

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