Stories about Disaster from May, 2011
Japan: Photoreport of volunteering in Ishinomaki
Photographer Irwin Wong spent days in Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture to take part in relief support. Read his photo report: (Part One and Two).
Japan: Tokyo after the earthquake
Photographer Francis Harrison published a photo essay [en] that portrays Tokyo in the first few weeks after the earthquake.
Colombia: The Reasons Behind the Floods
Lorenzo Morales blogs for Americas Quarterly about ‘the reasons behind’ massive floods during Colombia's rainy season: “Unpredictable forces of nature are in play in Colombia’s current disaster. No one can be blamed for that. But as national and local authorities wash their hands of responsibility, they persist in sponsoring policies...
China: Three Gorges Dam, A Time To Reflect
Through 17 years of construction until its completion in October 2008, China lauded the Three Gorges Dam as one of the engineering marvels of the world. At a State Council steering committee meeting on May 18, 2011, a statement was issued acknowledging serious flaws in the project.
Japan: Aiding the Aid Workers
After more than two months from the earthquake around 110,000 people are still living in evacuation centers. Along with victims of the disaster, some of the volunteers, doctors and aid workers helping them are beginning to suffer from emotional stress and fatigue.
Malaysia: Tweets on the Orphanage Landslide
While the world was busy discussing the ‘end of the world,’ Malaysians mourned the death of innocent children who were buried in a landslide in an orphanage motivational camp near Kuala Lumpur
North Korea: Has Idolization of Kim Jong-Un Failed?
Whilst North Korean regime tries hard to apotheosize Kim Jong-un, report came out today claiming that most ordinary North Korean has no interest to the heir. The Free Radio for North Korea which founded and runs by defectors revealed [ko] that most low-level soldiers are unaware of the new dictator,...
South Korea: Cartoons Commemorating the Gwangju Massacre on May 18
May 18 is the day a mass democratization movement took place in Gwangju city, South Korea. The military regime ruthlessly clamped down the movement and over a hundred innocent civilians were killed. The nation's famous cartoonist, Kang Pull drew cartoons commemorating this tragic history in order to enlighten youth with...
Ukraine, U.S.: Chornobyl Songs Project
Maria Sonevytsky writes about the Chornobyl Songs Project: “To mark the 25th Anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, raise awareness of the continuing environmental damage created by the nuclear disaster and stimulate efforts to prevent such catastrophes from occurring in the future, a group of singers based in New York City...
Ecuador: Three Years After the Factory Tragedy
April 19 marked three years since the fire at the Factory discotheque in Quito while a gothic rock concert was in progress. As a result, 19 were killed and 24 wounded. This anniversary, a homage was paid and a move to sensitise the people about this issue was made by the family and friends of the victims.
Japan: Daniel Kahl “Stop the Hysteria”
TV personality and activist Daniel Kahl has taken to YouTube to appeal that the international media Stop the Hysteria, saying “They purposefully select to broadcast ONLY negative items coming out of Japan, even though the situation is improving in many ways”.
“Namazu-e” from Japan: Earthquake catfish prints
Pink Tentacle posted numerous images of namazu-e (“catfish pictures”), a type of color woodblock print that became popular after the Great Ansei Earthquake, which struck current day Tokyo in 1855. The mythology namazu and earthquakes is still prevalent in contemporary Japanese culture; one such example being the icon for the...
Japan: Design Related Reconstruction Assistance Projects
A group of creatives have set up Design311 [ja], a site that introduces post-earthquake reconstruction assistance projects inspired by art and design.
Haiti: Taking Responsibility for Cholera
Stanley Lucas thinks that “this [UN] mission needs to be held accountable for its actions, including the cholera, and should be more responsibly managed – or it needs to be closed.”
South Korea: Tweeters Helping Residents Suffering from Water Cut-off
As more than a half million residents in Gumi area in North Gyungsang Province have suffered from a water cut-off for over four days now, South Korean Tweeters went to help the distressed residents by supplying bottled water and wiring money gathered via Twitter. One of influential Twitters, @mediamongu posted...
Italy: How technology can help manage emergencies
In a crisis, how can Web 2.0 be of use to social movements and what practical help can it offer to facilitate collective action? In reality, there is no shortage of platforms which, established on a voluntary basis, using free software, harness the internet and mobile phones to gather and share information, sourced...
Spain: Earthquake Shakes Murcia
Lorca, in the region of Murcia, Spain, was shaken by two earthquakes that have caused nine casualties to date and approximately 300 injured. Information, opinions, and support has spread through blogs and digital networks.
Spain: Videos of the Earthquake in Lorca
Citizen videos show the aftermath of the 5.1 and 4.5 earthquake which struck the city of Lorca in the region of Murcia, Spain on May 11th. According to the City Council, between 20 000 and 30 000 people slept on the streets, while brigades check buildings for safety.
China: Rebuilding Beichuan
Chengdu Living posts an article written by Elias Witman, who spent an extended period aiding reconstruction efforts in a village devastated by the 2008 earthquake.
Africa: A Possible Al-Qaeda Redeployment in Africa?
On his blog, Dierry Diallo takes up an article [fr] on Slate.fr where one can read: “For the GSPC , the stakes are enormous: it's about controlling a formidable strip of land stretching from the Atlantic and Mauritania all the way to Sinai and the Red Sea. Hence Bin Laden's...
Japan: Holiday in Fukushima
The author of Spike Japan decided to spend last week's national holidays in the Fukushima prefecture. In his latest post he chronicles his journey [en] to the tsunami hit area and its surroundings.
