Japan.

Japan
 
Finally catching up on the crisis in japan. Nearly 11,000 dead, with upwards of 16.000 missing and 190,000 misplaced. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami wrecked havoc-- made worse by aftershocks (with magnitudes around 6.5!), frigid temperatures and highly contaminated irradiated water...that's making it's way towards the ocean. This environmental and nuclear crisis is pretty hard to wrap your head around. I'm sitting in a cafe, reading the past weeks worth of New York Times: global edition, as Meesh works on her computer. I've been sooooo out of the loop the past 2 months, it's somewhat of a culture shock to catch up on all that I've missed. The Japanese people have responded with jishuku, a way to express solidarity in a time of crisis. Basically defined, JISHUKU is VOLUNTARY SELF-RESTRAINT. Nearly all of the country is onboard...turning out lights, living without luxuries, and discontinuing any seasonal pleasures that the Japanese population frequently partake in. Try going one day without your favorite luxuries, and without electricity....