By Douglas Anele

Ever since homo sapiens emerged on this planet after more than three and a half billion years of zigzag evolutionary progression of life from what some scientists call the primitive soup, members of the species have been making concerted effort to control nature. In an important sense, civilisation is the synthesis of both the intended and unintended consequences of human activities meant to domesticate nature for the benefit of human beings.

The invention of assorted tools, religion, magic and all the bewildering paraphernalia of culture are manifestations of the ingrained need in our species to humanise nature. The control over natural forces has reached its zenith for now in contemporary developed countries through science and technology. Never before in human history has man’s penetration of both the macro and micro dimensions of reality been so profound and far-reaching that there is growing unease about the future of human civilisation.

In other words, we are witnessing heightened awareness worldwide that if care is not taken in the way human beings brazenly interfere with natural processes, it won’t be too long before nature exacts a heavy toll from all of us. Before we probe philosophically the interstices of human life in general and environmental sustainability implicit in the natural disasters that have crippled Japan, let us highlight some facts which have emerged since penultimate Friday, March 11, when the whole thing began.

That fateful day, parts of the country experienced an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale. Afterwards, as people were coming to terms with the catastrophic quake, coastal areas around the Pacific Ocean were battered further by a powerful tsunami which killed thousands and destroyed property worth billions of dollars.

Television pictures and media accounts of the disaster bring tears to one’s eyes, because of the anguish and suffering many Japanese are going through at present. The sad events demonstrate clearly and unambiguously how cosmically insignificant and fragile the earth and everything on its surface are. Specifically, they remind us that human life, and therewith human civilisation, perches precariously on a cliffhanger.

The manner in which houses, cars, bridges, tsunami protection dikes, sea-faring vessels and other human artifacts were tossed around like toys shows the tremendous amount of power unleashed by nature against locations in northern Japan. Current estimates put the death toll at 5,429, whereas the number declared missing or unaccounted for is 9,500. These numbers will certainly rise as search and rescue teams from all over the world penetrate and comb places that have not been reached yet. The economic loss to Japan, according to experts, is likely to reach $200 billion.

Considering that the country is a key player in global trade as the third largest economy in the world, one should not be surprised if the cumulative losses worldwide move up to $300bn. Aside from chronic lack of basic items and facilities such as food, shelter, clothing, electricity and medical facilities in the worst affected areas, the weather there has been worsening since the disaster struck, thereby aggravating an already dire situation. Temperatures have plummeted to sub-zero degrees in some areas as a result of relentless snowfalls and gusty winds. Indeed, life in several prefectures is extremely tough at the moment. Now, the main problem confronting Japanese people, their government and the global community is the potential health hazards and environmental pollution caused by destruction of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Four reactors in the plant have all been damaged, but the worst hit is reactor number four, parts of which had caught fire and exploded.

Although the fire has been extinguished, there are well-founded fears that the concrete containment core which prevents leakage of harmful radiation might have been compromised. The probability of total meltdown of the fuel rods increases as cooling systems in the plant remain disabled. People living around the site have been advised by Japanese authorities to move a distance of, at least, 30 kilometres(some experts in the United States suggest 80 km) away from the Fukushima Daiichi facility to avoid contact with hazardous radiation.

As a matter of fact, radiation levels above the recommended normal threshold have been detected: inhabitants in surrounding areas who may be unwilling or unable to vacate their homes have been told to remain inside with doors and windows closed, not to use airconditioners or ventilators, and should spread their laundry indoors – the people should be in some kind of “soft” prison! From all indications, in spite of their usual petit size, the Japanese have exhibited tremendous resilience and calm disposition in the face of natural disaster that would have broken the spirit of poorly organised people. In the search for missing or dead relatives and friends, in queues waiting for rationed supplies, in airports waiting for delayed flights – in short in their responses to the adversity nature threw at them – Japanese have demonstrated why their Japan is among the most developed countries of the world, although the country itself is not well-endowed with natural resources comparable to what Nigeria has.

Superficially, the resilience and calm disposition of the Japanese we noted a moment ago might be explained as the product of many years of experience in natural disaster management. There is some truth in that explanation, because Japan has been wracked by earthquakes and tsunamis in the past, and the people and government have garnered experience in dealing with them.  But what happened on March 11 was unprecedented in the history of Japan, which implies that one has to go deep into Japanese culture to unearth the root of the indomitable spirit that characterises the average Japanese. Shintoism is the major religion of Japan, and although the number of adults that practise it has dwindled considerably since the country’s defeat in World War II, Shinto is still influential in the lives of people there.