minato-after-tohoku-earthquake

Consuming Disaster

[caption id="attachment_4422" align="alignleft" width="400"]minato-after-tohoku-earthquake Aerial view of Minato after earthquake & tsunami. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Ethan Johnson.[/caption] Since the Sendai earthquake struck northeastern Japan on March 11, many of us have been riveted to our televisions or computer screens, watching in horror as the death toll mounts, the nuclear threat refuses to subside, and more and more images and video of the tsunami and its aftermath are broadcast around the world. It's horrible to see, but I find it impossible to look away. I first learned about the earthquake minutes after it occurred, from a friend on Facebook, and stayed up half the night watching the live coverage on TV. Since then I've spent an inordinate amount of time online, checking for anything new -- photos, video, updates about the power plant in Fukushima, stories about miraculous rescues (few) and heartbreak (many). I'm really having to force myself to pay attention to my "real" life. ...