Tens of thousands feared dead in Haiti quake

And all morning the only thing NHK can talk about is JAL, JAL, JAL...

combinibento: they should send JAL cargo planes full of humanitarian goods to Haiti

A major tragedy. No word about it on the morning J-television though. Apparently it's not as important as the comedian who's sailing around the world with prostate cancer. Maybe when they find out there was a Japanese killed in the Haiti quake it will become a major story. Shame on Japanese TV.

they should send JAL cargo planes full of humanitarian goods to Haiti

seems like the U.S already has that angle covered.

President Barack Obama promised an all-out rescue and humanitarian effort, adding that the U.S. commitment to its hemispheric neighbor will be unwavering.

Other countries will undoubtably lend aid as well but it's always the U.S that arives the fastest and brings the most to the scene. God be with the poor souls in Haiti.

Super bad. The place will never be the same.

So where the Japanese government's response? Nada from Hatoyama. What are they waiting for?

Just looked at the BBC website in which there is a prominent photo of rescuers from Taiwan in Haiti. I guess Japan is opting to take the slow road to action.

Here's one answer from another site:

Japan's Disaster and Management Agency official Seiji Amano said the government was gathering information to prepare for an intervention. Tokyo sent scores of rescue workers to Indonesia's quake-hit Sumatra region last year.

Hamada [a professor] said Japan, which suffers about 20 percent of the world's most powerful earthquakes, is likely to send technical support teams two to three weeks after the disaster to assess and repair damaged infrastructure.

"The reason why Japan sends aid in this third stage is because we have so much experience in dealing with the aftermath of quakes," he said.

Hamada added that Japan would likely send a handful of engineers to assess public buildings such as schools and hospitals, checking them for damage such as hairline cracks invisible to the naked eye. (By Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura/ AFP)

--Getting ready to bring in the concrete.

"The reason why Japan sends aid in this third stage is because we have so much experience in dealing with the aftermath of quakes," he said.

Ha! That's classic inane logic. So maybe they should wait till the fourth stage since they are experts on slow responses.

checking them for damage such as hairline cracks invisible to the naked eye

??? These people need help NOW! They dont give a DAMN about "fixing hairline cracks in public buildings" when the whole country is shattered and need of the most basic humanitarian help! C'mon Japan!

"The reason why Japan sends aid in this third stage is because we have so much experience in dealing with the aftermath of quakes," he said.

Basically, they don't know what to do at the beginning and waits until someone else takes the lead. I also believe they truly don't care.

Yeah, that about sums it up: tens of thousands of people on the other side of the world dead, millions made homeless and nobody cares. How is this different from China's big quake? Remember that? It's a disgrace for Japan.

Hate to say it, but once again, us sumbitch Americans are gonna be expected to take the brunt of the rescue-recovery efforts, and a fat stinking bill to match.

herportnalder:

" Hate to say it, but once again, us sumbitch Americans are gonna be expected to take the brunt of the rescue-recovery efforts, and a fat stinking bill to match. "

Yep, and don´t expect a thank you.

It is surprising how quiet Japan has been.

I wonder if there are spheres of interest in the world? Cuba certainly has teams ready to move in, and the US is right next door, as is Venezuela.

It was story number 2 last night and number three (after search of Ozawa's finances and JAL) this morning on Asahi Newsbird.

"The reason why Japan sends aid in this third stage is because we have so much experience in dealing with the aftermath of quakes," he said."

That does seem rather illogical, at least in this English translation. There is something to be said, though, for committing to later stages. Sure the Paris Pompeliers (firefighters?) were getting their packs ready and American search dog teams were organizing their passports yesterday. The initial search and rescue is critical. It's also the more glorious. Sadly, as the weeks pass, the media attention turns to other things and critical work remains. It's not flash, but it's still essential.

I wonder how much the Russian, Chinese, Muslims world, and socialist governments really show up for humanity and charity to Haiti at this time? I am not talking about a photo-op, it is the charity from the heart.

Such a terrible calamity. USA is there to help you Haiti - stay strong!

So far, reports of rescue and aid coming from U.S., Britain, France, Mexico, Venezuela, Taiwan,Spain, and donation of $1 million from China.

Even if it's a photo op, Chinese rescue workers are there already on the scene. Rather telling, don't you think? Times have changed. China rising as a world citizen, Japan in decline.

hcrPortlander:

Hate to say it, but once again, us sumbitch Americans are gonna be expected to take the brunt of the rescue-recovery efforts, and a fat stinking bill to match.

Looks like you skip this part.

Cuba, which ALREADY had hundreds of doctors in Haiti, treated injured in field hospitals.

Maybe you think Cuba is not a country. But, while cubans are starving and surfering their socialist regime, they are doing more for the people of Haiti than others. Not waiting for a thank you. Till now Haiti is a island full of blackies, but they needed the recue efforts from a long time ago

Bgood:

" I wonder how much the Russian, Chinese, Muslims world, and socialist governments really show up for humanity and charity to Haiti at this time? I am not talking about a photo-op, it is the charity from the heart. "

Chinese, Russians, and socialist governments will be there, as far as their abilities allow. Don´t hold your breath for the Red Crescent to show up.

Even if it's a photo op, Chinese rescue workers are there already on the scene. Rather telling, don't you think? Times have changed. China rising as a world citizen, Japan in decline.

Uhhhh, you know Haiti is one of the countries which recognizes Taiwan as an independent country, don't you? That is, unless you know specifically that they are PRC, they're likely Taiwanese. Now, there is the possibility China is usurping these straights to further its cause. If so, they are a callous bunch.

Here's a pic of the "callous bunch" from the PRC:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122534426&ft=1&f=1001

Yes, I know that the Taiwanese rescue workers are there as well. Japan will be doing clean up in the third wave apparently.

m5c32: If they didn't show up, I'm sure you'd still callously label them a 'callous bunch." Here are slideshow pics of rescue teams from both Taiwan and PRC in their distinct uniforms so you won't mistake one for the other:

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Haiti-Relief-Efforts/ss/events/wl/011310haitireliefaid#photoViewer=/100113/photos_wl_afp/c4a83a33001e58390a87834c1ae54c34

Such a horrible tragedy... My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti. I hope the world can pull together on this one.

Don't underestimate the third stage; it's as important as the rescue effort. Reconstructing infrastructure, reestablishing water and electricity networks and making sure the buildings are safe for survivors to use is crucial, too. It's all about coordinated organization.

Before I was born, there was a devastating earthquake in Nicaragua in 1972. My father, who is a civil engineer, participated in relief efforts in a group of engineers sent to Nicaragua by my country and his group's specific task was to rebuild roads and bridges to allow aid to reach zones isolated by the earthquake. He told me about it when I was a kid. Latin American countries traditionally help out each other in this kind of situation, but you have to administrate resources at every stage of the reconstruction effort, and every professional and worker have important tasks to do. Japanese expertise on the third stage is as needed and the expertise of others for the first and second stages is needed.

Typo: My post's last line must read, "Japanese expertise on the third stage is as needed as the expertise of others for the first and second stages is needed."

I wonder how much the Russian, Chinese, Muslims world, and socialist governments really show up for humanity and charity to Haiti at this time? I am not talking about a photo-op, it is the charity from the heart.

what about zimbabwe or any country in africa? they should start giving out some aid for a change.