Satellite Photos - Japan, before and after

This is a pretty innovative way to visualize the extent of the damage they endured over there.

To be honest even seeing that, it still hasn't quite hit me yet... takes a while for such a tragedy to sink in i guess.

When i think of it i can still sleep at night, despite all the horror scenario's going on. Not only Japan, there is terrible things happening all over the place. Am i helping? Not really. I am wasting energy as we speak. Energy i do not really need. Seems like i dont care that much. Like i said, no problem sleeping.

Things like nuclear energy and drilling in Mexican gulf could be fairly safe to do, in theory at least, but unfortunately there will always be tension between profit and safety. Even when the organisation truly tries to makes sure it has a solid safety system, the question remains how well it will work when the shit hits the fan. (which is actually a clear sign the safety system has already failed). Every big system has some risk that cost way too much money to really be controlled properly. For instance in Japan they were aware that an earthquake would spell disaster, yet there was no action taken. You do the math. Same goes for the oil leak btw. And so on and on. There will always be safety vs profit, and as industries are there to make money (energy), the balance will tip in favor of profit.

So shit like this will continue to happen. and there will be more of it, since there will be more people wanting more luxury. We as a species need to get our priorities straightened, but this is obviously not going to happen unless the ones making (taking) money loose their children to radiation or a tsunami lol. Cant wait for the day that happens.

Then again, it wouldnt be fair to blame it all on the obvious capitalists. Like i said before, i am wasting energy as we speak. Some of those Japanese people sitting in the cold without power might think i am one of those capitalists, and in a way, they would be right about that.

Is it still moral to use energy one does not really need?
Is it moral to use anything one doesnt really need?

Or should i just redefine morality for myself so i can continue to sleep?

Watching the devastation and destruction in Japan hit me hard. In fact it was the first time i have ever just burst into tears due to watching a natural disaster unfold. I spent a while in Japan on exchange, going to school their, living with a beautiful family in a small town. So i guess that the images of a small coastal town/city like Sendai, much like the one i stayed at, getting washed away by a ten meter tsunami on live tv really slapped me in the face. Also the days i spent trying to get in contact with friends and my host parents stressed me out even more. (they are ok)
I don't know though, my experience with this is personal so obviously it had an affect on me, so i can understand that many people wouldn't think twice of it because they wouldn't know anyone that has had their lives destroyed due to this. But as long as people can respect the families that have been destroyed and the mourning the country is going through, then thats all you can really do.
For me, at this moment, all i feel is hopelessness and pathos. But i will be going over there again after this year has finished to do what i Can.
~Tizzy