tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post8855895371551395218..comments2023-10-03T00:09:27.749+09:00Comments on The Adventures of a Foreign Salaryman in Tokyo: The Earthquake - The Day afterMr. Salarymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-16364597084317615422011-10-23T00:39:49.611+09:002011-10-23T00:39:49.611+09:00I wasn't there for the earthquake, but you mig...I wasn't there for the earthquake, but you might find my observations from two months later to be of interest. I just published Japan's Tipping Point: Crucial Choices in the Post-Fukushima World as a short ebook and hope you will take a look at it. A paperback will be available soon. For info, see www.markpendergrast.com. I could email you a review copy. Here's an overview:<br /><br />Japan's Tipping Point is a small book on a huge topic. In the post-Fukushima era, Japan is the "canary in the coal mine" for the rest of the world. Can Japan radically shift its energy policy, become greener, more self-sufficient, and avoid catastrophic impacts on the climate? Mark Pendergrast arrived in Japan exactly two months after the Fukushima meltdown. This book is his eye-opening account of his trip and his alarming conclusions.<br /><br />Japan is at a crucial tipping point. A developed country that must import all of its fossil fuel, it can no longer rely on nuclear power, following the massive earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster of March 11, 2011. Critically acclaimed nonfiction writer Mark Pendergrast went to Japan to investigate Japan's renewable energy, Eco-Model Cities, food policy, recycling, and energy conservation, expecting to find innovative, cutting edge programs.<br /><br />He discovered that he had been naive. The Japanese boast of their eco-services for eco-products in eco-cities. Yet they rely primarily on imported fossil fuel and nuclear power, live in energy-wasteful homes, and import 60% of their food. That may be changing in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Maybe. But as Pendergrast documents, Japan lags far behind Europe, the United States, and even (in some respects) China in terms of renewable energy efforts. And Japan is mired in bureaucracy, political in-fighting, indecision, puffery, public apathy, and cultural attitudes that make rapid change difficult.<br /><br />Yet Japan is also one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with friendly, resilient people who can, when motivated, pull together to accomplish incredible things.<br /><br />As an island nation, Japan offers a microcosmic look at the problems facing the rest of the globe. And as Japan tips, so may the world.<br /><br />Mark Pendergrast, the author of books such as For God, Country and Coca-Cola, Uncommon Grounds, and Inside the Outbreaks, entertains as he enlightens. As he wrote in Japan's Tipping Point: "The rest of this account might seem a strange combination of critical analysis, travelogue, absurdist non-fiction, and call to action. It might be called 'Mark’s Adventures in Japanland: Or, Apocalyptic Visions in a Noodle Shop.'"Mark Pendergrasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12788089288166548139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-73181753824437650392011-03-19T08:10:55.947+09:002011-03-19T08:10:55.947+09:00How does this person think?http://www.youtube.com/...How does this person think?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=136xruSwlmsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-13225265192732882992011-03-14T20:00:31.347+09:002011-03-14T20:00:31.347+09:00Saraf - Yeah, you're completely right. Has to ...Saraf - Yeah, you're completely right. Has to be some adorable mongrel that can be both really cute and scary when it wants to!<br /><br />Mr. S - Thanks for the tip, that sounds like something that might be safe to get<br /><br />Aimless - Yeah, I could always build an underground torture bunker to use for leisure during times of peace and as a shelter during quakes and nuclear winter!<br /><br />Mad Mel - Mel Gibson against "the Christ killing jews" maybe?<br /><br />Hanta - Shikoku, yeah, must be a bit abstract to you guys since you hardly felt it<br /><br />Chris - True, the amount of natural disasters recently have been a bit too much for one year, don't thank me for the link, I just saw that Jen B had posted it so drop a comment there and I'm sure she'll appreciate that someone found it useful :) Anyone who cares about animal is fundamentally a good person, that's what I believeMr. Salarymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02874380653396343115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-64258668424354956362011-03-14T18:58:12.002+09:002011-03-14T18:58:12.002+09:00"Have a serious discussion with Mrs. Sunshine..."Have a serious discussion with Mrs. Sunshine about the "escape bag""<br /><br />Jesus, with the Volcanoes and Earthquakes you'd think this were some kind of sci-fi CGI/FX mega Summer movie....keep safe and god bless for the SPCA link!!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14244086663441014048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-63415689889916857972011-03-14T14:38:51.408+09:002011-03-14T14:38:51.408+09:00I'm going to make a disaster kit myself this w...I'm going to make a disaster kit myself this week. Although I'll probably die in the Nankai earthquake/tsunami before I use it.<br /><br />Glad you and your family are safe. It's strange how normal everyone in my office is. We're in Shikoku but not one mention all day.Hantahttp://www.mestarhanta.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-31308721588689942622011-03-14T04:22:28.341+09:002011-03-14T04:22:28.341+09:00They say there is a Mad Max 4 in the making.They say there is a Mad Max 4 in the making.Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-8455896263705005482011-03-13T22:31:58.928+09:002011-03-13T22:31:58.928+09:00Who woulda thunk nuclear power plants on massive f...Who woulda thunk nuclear power plants on massive fault lines could be a problem?<br /><br />You need to build a proper underground bunker complex - oh hang on, perhaps not such a good idea. But stock up on water, canned food, weapons, fuel, etc. Take notes while watching Mad Max.aimlesswanderernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-21539547476665432422011-03-13T15:11:26.566+09:002011-03-13T15:11:26.566+09:00Make sure you locate some potassium-iodide! My lo...Make sure you locate some potassium-iodide! My longer explanation is here, and I'll include a picture soon: http://hanlonsrzr.blogspot.com/2011/03/if-theres-meltdown-and-on-shore-winds.htmlἈντισθένηςhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199983680204710885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-5055923810342599882011-03-13T11:36:53.272+09:002011-03-13T11:36:53.272+09:00One more consideration with the nuke-plants: emigr...One more consideration with the nuke-plants: emigrate? Certainly on my mind here in Tokyo with wife and child.Ἀντισθένηςhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199983680204710885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6531601964128518668.post-78334437224986416732011-03-13T10:17:36.826+09:002011-03-13T10:17:36.826+09:00It has to be the right dog, some kind of mongrel t...It has to be the right dog, some kind of mongrel that's big enough to scare away the zombies.Sarahfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17570295122864601160noreply@blogger.com