Oh yes, I can understand it. Doesn't stop us worrying though.

It must be worrying but they probably feel the need to see the situation as it is on the ground and feel like they are doing something. I know i would do the same and want to get there to see for myself and try to find out any news first hand. Like was said above^^ what the media say and what is "actual" can be very different.

Just found this on FB: LIVE GEIGER COUNTER READING FROM TOKYO

The top graph is the live reading and the bottom one is from this time last year, for comparison. As far as I can see at the moment, it's not that different.

No! 
But ! the Japanese are very wise folk 

I hope you have some good news on your friends/family soon Peter. Will be watching all the news from there all day later. Goodnight to all on here.

I do think that people have been told to go home, though PC.

Well they've been advised to move out of the area. Admittedly, for the majority of foreign nationals, this would mean leaving the country.

I think if I were there I'd be lining up to be on one of the first planes out TBH.

I just really feel for those people who's homes have been destroyed and there is nowhere for them to go and ................... when all is said and done and they are relaying that radiation levels are not a threat to public health - I'd be bloody terrified (and sceptical).

I'm getting to the point where I have periods of not knowing what I think. I'm just so raw from it all, to be honest, and feeling quite desperate to do something to help.

Peter at this point in time I suspect there really isn't much you can do except be there for your partner in his hour of need - soon will come a time when all is plain to see & then other things will be appreciated 
I know you will do your utmost to help wherever needed....

515: It is the ''breakdown of essential services'', not worries over radiation, that is prompting Australia to advise its citizens to leave Tokyo and its vicinity, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says. ''There are problems in terms of electricity, power supply, as well as a whole range of other things as well," he says. "Schools being closed... trains not functioning properly."

From BBC News live updates.

Official Foreign Office advice is here :
 http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/trave...y/asia-oceania/japan

Given that it wasn't 'just' an 8.9 earthquake they had to deal with but the also the tsunami, the nuclear threat, the volcano eruption....etc., I wouldn't be passing critique if the situation appeared to be under less than complete control ffs

Instead of all the negatives, how about praising the people in Japan for the way they've reacted to all this?

Whether this is what the French government actually said or it was a journalist with a hard-on for bullshit, either way someone should be bloody ashamed.

From the BBC site:

Andrew Dickinson, in Hiroshima, writes: "Today a shopkeeper who overcharged me for some fruit cycled to the bus station on the off chance of finding me to pay me back. Japanese spirit and kindness remains strong."

This is the sort of thing which makes me want to rush back over there. It really is that sort of country.

Stories like that restore my faith in human nature, PC.

We have a friend who lives in Hiroshima. He mailed us today to say that he can no longer just sit by and watch people suffering on TV. He has decided to go to Sendai to help with the relief and rebuilding effort. This is no small journey. It's like someone going from Bristol to Edinburgh to help.

Peter C - Heartwarming to hear these kind of stories demonstrating the goodness of human nature.

My boyfriend's parents have arrived back in Tokyo after a longer-than-usual journey due to their flight being diverted to Osaka.

Food shops are stocked as normal, though rice and bread is rationed. Streets are darker due to people saving electricity, so the main thing people are saying is that they're worried about their personal safety since they're used to walking down brightly-lit streets. However, since Japan has the lowest crime rate of any westernised country, this shouldn't be a big problem.

PC, that is such good news, plus it looks as if they have managed to get some power to one of the stations. Onwards and upwards.

Nice to hear that news Peter C

Thanks folks

PC Have you heard anymore from your friends from Hiroshima - are they okay ?

You mean the one who's gone to Sendai to help out? Not yet, we think he might still be trying to get there what with all the transport problems in that area. Plus it's quite possible that he won't have mobile phone reception once he gets there. At the moment we're just keeping our fingers crossed, but thanks for remembering.

We've just heard from him. He's working with others moving dead bodies. Not a nice job, but it has to be done. He says the area is like a vision of hell.

Crikey ! 
What a horrid task
But what a person he is - glad to hear he is okay

hOW WONDERFUL THAT AN EIGHTY YEAR OLD WOMAN ANd her grandson have been rescued 9 days after the tsunami. 

So many, many lives have been lost but ...........seeing that on the news tonight was just lovely.

It's good to have positive news amongst the bad, Soozy.

Good that you have good news Peter

On YouTube -just under the video where it says "show more"  it is reported that
the dogs were picked up after that filming and are in the care of a local shelter.


 Translation of conversation in video:
We are in Arahama area.
"Looks like there is a dog."
"There is a dog. He looks tired and dirty. He must have been caught in the tsunami. He looks very dirty."
"He has a collar. He must be someone's pet. He has a silver collar. He is shaking. He seems very afraid."
"Oh, there is another dog. I wonder if he is dead. "
"Where?"
"Right there. There is another dog right next to the one sitting down. He is not moving. I wonder. I wonder if he is alright."
"The dog is protecting him."
"Yes. He is protecting the dog. That is why he did not want us to approach them. He was trying to keep us at bay."
"I can't watch this. This is a very difficult to watch."
"Oh. Look. He is moving. He is alive. I am so happy to see that he is alive."
"Yes! Yes! He is alive."
"He looks to be weakened. We need to them to be rescued soon. We really want them rescued soon."
"Oh good. He's getting up."
"It is amazing how they survived the tremendous earthquake and tsunami. It's just amazing that they survived through this all."
Want to donate? Start here: http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/201...t-responder-team-f...

OMG! That is just so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. How wonderful that those little dogs have been saved.

I do have to say though (sorry if it's offensive) if I have any spare cash it'll go to the human casualties. I know there are lots of animal lovers on here and that's really good but ...................humans who are suffering come first every time for me,

I posted it just to show another aspect of the tragedy
Of course you are not being  offensive Soozy.  Don't worry.
Everyone is perfectly entitled to place their money wherever they want.

We know how passionate and caring you are.  

Absolutely!

And thanks for posting that, brisket.

It must be so hard for you

Just saw on the news that the current death toll for the quake and tsunami has now passed 21,000.

Friggin eck

It really beggars belief doesn't it? TBH - they have been very restrained and not posted the number of deaths in panic mode.

No doubt it will rise but ............bloody hell - that's a lot of people isn't it. Every single one of them with a family and a story of their life.

I don't know if it's been shared yet but it just shows the devastation. Just slide your mose along to see before & after

http://www.abc.net.au/news/eve...2011/beforeafter.htm

On the news overnight:

El...that not only made me cry, but has made my day...Thanks...

Thanks El   - a lovely story.