Forward to where?

Throughout history, both science and technology have always driven societies forward. Despite its positive connotation, forward should not necessarily be associated with beneficial progress. Forward can mean movement in the “wrong” direction. Forward with respect to...

The Problems that Nuclear Waste Management Reveal

One of the topics that we covered during our interim class is energy production and the dangers of nuclear power. More specifically, we discussed the ways in which the Fukushima accident affected the lives of many Japanese people and how radioactivity will certainly...

Why are we in Japan?

Waterase Basin Solar sharing      A question that I have been asking myself and that has been proposed to the class multiple times is, “Why are we in Japan?” Upon learning about this trip I decided that I wanted to come because of the adventure, it was one of the top...

reconstruction after Fukushima disaster

From our reading materials, we’ve learnt a lot about the disastorous tsunami that happened 8 years ago in Fukushima. According to the data online, more than 15 000 people were killed, over 6000 were injured, and at the time of this report around 2500 people are...

Destroyed by Technology: Watarase Basin

Environmental activist and politician Tanaka Shozo was quoted as saying that “the remnants of human life will be destroyed by technological civilization”. This statement reflects a well-justified pessimism of the effects of Japan’s imperial government and rapid...