We would like to share a news taken from the following link
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/editorial/an-earthquake-in-japan-shakes-the-world-20110312-1bscb.html because we consider it gives an interesting opinion about how countries are or not prepared for this big natural disasters.
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<< MORE than any other country, Japan had taken steps to prepare itself for earthquakes and tsunamis. Japanese buildings are constructed with extra steel bracing and hydraulic shock absorbers, making them among the strongest in the world. Along Japan's coast, concrete sea walls - some as high as 10 metres - have been constructed as a defence against killer waves.
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Earthquake and tsunami drills are part of Japanese life.These strategies almost certainly helped save lives after the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake on Friday and the tsunami that engulfed the country's north-east coast. But the images that linger are of the extraordinary power of the waves sweeping all before them. At this stage, the death toll remains unknown, although it is expected to rise to more than 1000.
We extend our deepest sympathy to Japan, which is still experiencing aftershocks, blackouts and disruption to transport, power and communication systems. It is too early to accurately count the cost of the disaster, which has shocked and grieved the world.
Generally speaking, developed nations are better able to cope with natural disasters than poorer nations. But the sophistication of its infrastructure makes a country like Japan vulnerable in unique ways.
Residents living near two nuclear power plants have been ordered to evacuate. The cooling systems in the plants have broken down as a result of the earthquakes and authorities were warning that small radiation leaks were likely. Back-up generators, needed to power the cooling systems, have failed.
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The wisdom of constructing nuclear power plants in an earthquake-prone region will doubtless be debated in the weeks ahead. The earthquake and tsunami are not climate-change-related catastrophes, but nuclear power is increasingly being proffered as one solution to the climate-change problem. Such power delivers about a third of Japan's electricity. Although the plants are designed to withstand earthquakes, experts have long been concerned about the safety of the reactors in the event of a quake close by.
The frequency of recent disasters can lead to a feeling of being overwhelmed by events out of our control. Television images of the tsunami can add to this sense of helplessness. "Today, we are all Japanese," said Dr Krishnan on Twitter.
In times such as these, it is important to help each other. And we can help ourselves, too, if we recommit to a way of life that allows us to live responsibly on this planet. >>
