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International recovery efforts continue in Japan. Five weeks after the 9.0-magnitude
earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan on March 11, the National Police Agency has
confirmed more than 13,700 deaths, with over 14,000 missing and an unknown number yet to
be accounted for. With local officials in the disaster zones requesting 72,000 temporary
homes to be built and current construction plans only able to cover 10,800, the Japanese
government is allowing foreign companies to assist, with enterprises from China, Italy,
South Korea, and the United States having already inquired about helping. On Saturday,
April 16, a Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture
was observed to be briefly emitting smoke from a control panel. Although no injuries
were reported, the cause was yet to be determined.
Meanwhile, workers' efforts have continued to bring the crisis under control at the damaged
Fukushima Daiichi power plant. A new video released by TEPCO, taken by a plant worker
who had been evacuated to higher ground at the time of the tsunami, showed the massive
15-meter tsunami wave as it damaged the nuclear plant. On Sunday, TEPCO announced a long-term
plan for concluding the nuclear emergency at the troubled facility. A new cooling system
will first be installed to filter the contaminated water and remove its radioactivity before
re-circulating to cool the reactors. After the reactors reach a consistent temperature
level, all will be brought to a cold shutdown stage within six to nine months, which would
stabilize the plant and reduce its current rating from a Level 7, the same as the worst
nuclear accident thus far in history at Chernobyl. TEPCO is also using robots to evaluate the
conditions inside reactor No. 3 to see if it is safe enough for workers to enter the
building and determine what measures are needed to bring the reactor under control. The US
government has also offered a remote-controlled cargo transport helicopter to set up cranes
for the removal of spent fuel rods from storage pools.
Offering a formal apology for the nuclear crisis, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan
said, “I take very seriously, and deeply regret, the nuclear accidents we have had
at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.” On Sunday, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano
went to Fukushima Prefecture for the first time since the disaster, visiting Minamisoma
and Iitate, which are scheduled to be evacuated in the next few weeks due to concerns of long-term
effects of radiation. Speaking with Fukushima’s Governor Yuhei Sato, the top government spokesman
said the government is prioritizing both the livelihoods and security of the displaced
residents, and will strive to prevent farmers from suffering financially. Meeting with Japanese
Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto during a visit on Sunday, US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton pledged support for Japan, also conveying her country’s admiration for the strength
of the Japanese people in facing their national crisis. Later, she also met with Emperor Akihito
and Empress Michiko as well as Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
We thank the Japanese and other worldwide governments, officials, and personnel, for
your kindhearted endeavors during Japan’s time of need. Our prayers for the protection
and resiliency of the Japanese people as humanity unites to ensure the safety of the ecosphere
through our gentler, Earth-elevating lifestyles�