Christine Traxler, MD

Modern Tokyo Times

Anorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder that involves obsession about one’s weight and obsession over the amount of food the individual eats and how much exercise they do.  The patient with anorexia is often extremely thin and continues to starve themselves or excessively exercise.

Anorexia nervosa is a nervous disorder and an unhealthy way of coping with severe personal issues and being unable to control emotions.  Sufferers feel a sense of poor self-worth and continue to try and get thinner in the hope of looking better.  They do not see that they are, in fact, too thin and shouldn’t lose any more weight.  It is a difficult mental disorder to overcome but is completely treatable under the right circumstances.

In anorexia, weight loss is primarily achieved by severely restricting the amount of calories taken in and by excessive exercise.  Some have bulimic tendencies and will binge and purge as well.  Misuse of laxatives, enemas or diuretics is also possible.

The major symptoms of anorexia nervosa include extremely thin weight, fatigue, insomnia, fainting or dizzy spells, abnormal blood cell counts, brittle nails, thinning or breaking hair, soft downy hair covering the body, constipation, cold intolerance, dry skin, loss of menstruation, low blood pressure, osteoporosis, dehydration, arm or leg swelling, loss of appetite, excessive exercise, preoccupation with food, depression and social withdrawal.

Families of patients with anorexia nervosa need to watch out for the patient skipping meals, exercising excessively, eating a severely restricted diet, lying about eating, weighing themselves obsessively, complaining about being fat and not wanting to eat in public.  Food rituals are common.

The cause of anorexia nervosa is unknown.  It is believed to have genetic factors, socio-cultural factors and psychological factors.  If a woman has a mother or sister who had anorexia, they are at higher risk, suggesting a genetic component.  Twin studies support this concept.  There is an area on the first chromosome that appears to play a role in getting anorexia nervosa.  Doctors believe that low serotonin levels play a role in the disease.  There may be psychological reasons for getting anorexia nervosa.  Patients often have a low self-esteem and have traits consistent with obsessive compulsive disorder.  The modern Western culture that values thinness is believed also to play a role in those who get the disorder.  Models, dancers and actors have a high risk of getting the disease of anorexia nervosa.

Risk factors for getting anorexia nervosa include being female, being in the teens or early twenties, having fluctuations in weight and having a genetic tendency toward getting the disease.  Life transitions can trigger anorexia nervosa as can being involved in activities like sports, dance, acting, modeling or other activity where thinness is valued.  The media and society in general has created legions of those suffering from anorexia nervosa because of a perceived need to be thin.

Anorexia has significant complications from being underweight and malnourished.  These include the risk of death, heart arrhythmia, anemia, lack of a menstrual period, bone loss and fractures of the bone later in life, decreased testosterone in males, nausea, vomiting or constipation, electrolyte abnormalities and kidney disease.  All the body’s organs can be affected if there is severe malnutrition in the disease.

Mental complications include chronic anxiety or panic disorder, personality disorders, depression or obsessive compulsive disorder.  Drug abuse can be a complication of anorexia nervosa.

Treatment of anorexia nervosa is imperative because it is a disease you can die from if left unchecked.  The main treatment is medical care of the electrolyte disturbances, malnutrition and organ damage.  Some of the organ damage is irreversible.  A feeding tube may need to be placed so that the weight can be brought up to a normal level.  The patient needs to learn about proper nutrition and how to eat healthy.

Individual therapy, family therapy and group therapy may be necessary to control the obsessive compulsive aspects of the disease.  Individual therapy focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy.  Family therapy can help the family make good decisions around the patient’s eating problems.  Group therapy allows the patient to get in touch with other people involved in the same disorder.

Antidepressants have been shown to have a modest effect on the treatment of anorexia.  Medications that control anxiety play a role as well.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001401/

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/anorexia-nervosa/anorexia-nervosa-topic-overview

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Tomoko Hara and James Jomo

Modern Tokyo Times

It is noticeable that the current Japanese government under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is focused on reinvigorating the economy of this nation and working closely with the Bank of Japan. Therefore, it is hoped that the terrible events of March 11, 2011, will also equally receive serious attention. This notably applies to providing greater support towards the elderly of this country which reside in areas that are prone to natural disasters. After all, the figures released by the Japanese police provide disturbing findings. These findings clarify that the elderly suffered greatly during the following hours and days after the potent earthquake triggered a brutal tsunami.

Of course, it is abundantly clear that no national government in the world knows when and where a brutal natural disaster will strike. In saying this, it is clear that you do have major fault-lines whereby certain areas are prone to devastating events caused by the power of nature. This fact means that greater precautions can be taken in certain areas in order to reduce the number of deaths after a potent earthquake, tsunami, typhoon or other major natural event occurs.

The findings by the Japanese police pinpoint to the reality that elderly citizens need greater support mechanisms during times of danger after a natural disaster strikes. This relates to areas which are prone to be hit by the ravages of nature. If various local governments and the national government don’t issue new powerful guidelines then sadly history will repeat itself. Costs must not become a major issue because the same Japanese government irrespective of the prime minister will pump vast sums into the economy and support the banking sector when needed. Other appropriate agencies also must look into ways of improving support to the most vulnerable in society.

It is known according to the police of Japan that over 90 per cent of people died because of drowning after the tsunami followed in the wake of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake. This statistic was clearly expected because many videos show the speed of the brutal tsunami which killed so many people. However, one major source of information which relates to this article is that approximately 65% of all people killed were over the age of 60. Therefore, when the brutal tsunami began to destroy many things that were in its path it is abundantly clear that many elderly people were unable to reach areas of safety based on a variety of factors.

The issue related to drowning was clearly expected to be the main cause of death. Similarly, most individuals believed that the elderly death ratio would be high. However, the final statistic stating 65% of all deaths related to people being over 60 years of age was not expected by most people. After all, this figure is extremely high and clearly the central government of Japan and various local governments must focus on this staggering statistic.

Modern Tokyo Times comments in another article about this topic that “In the future, certain measures should be taken from these findings and this applies to greater attention being given to the most vulnerable.  This could apply to early back-up systems being enhanced; emergency transport located in special areas of high density places where the elderly reside; zones of housing to be further away from the coastline for elderly residents and people who are disabled.”

One other interesting issue is what happened to the hamlet of Aneyoshi because people in this place escaped the ravages of the brutal tsunami which was triggered by the potent earthquake. It is known that local people took note of very old stone tablets which warned about the destruction caused by past tsunamis. Therefore, with this knowledge the people of this hamlet planned the infrastructure based on past history. The final outcome of this was that people escaped the clutches of death while other hamlets and villages close by were swept away.

One stone tablet in Aneyoshi states that “High dwellings are the peace and harmony of our descendants” and another stone tablet says “Remember the calamity of the great tsunamis.”

Ancestors knew full well the power of tsunamis and how you need to understand the destructiveness of nature. Therefore, another stone tablet states that “If an earthquake comes, beware of tsunamis.” However, this ancient advice by caring ancestors was ignored by many and the old stone tablets, some which date back 600 years, should have been heeded.

One brutal fact that came out of several findings is that many Japanese nationals went back to their homes after the earthquake hit Japan on March 11, 2011. It is known that tsunamis often follow such potent earthquakes along coastal areas. Also, people are informed in Japan that you have a certain time gap between the earthquake and the triggered tsunami. Yet it appears that many people believed that the worse was over but in actual fact the nightmare was only just beginning. Sadly, many people perished after returning home despite knowing the possibility of a tsunami being triggered given the power of the brutal 9.0-magnitude earthquake.

Yotaru Hatamura is a scholar with great knowledge about the old stone tablets and he also believes that history was ignored.  Yotaru Hatamura comments that “People had this crucial knowledge, but they were busy with their lives and jobs, and many forgot.”

Modern Tokyo Times in another article about the death rate of the elderly also pinpoints other factors. In a past article it is stated that “Turning back to the high rate of elderly people dying because of the tsunami then it is clear that other factors are involved.  This applies to the younger generation being at work and many will have been out of town because of this reason.  Also, a higher number of younger people will have had their own transport and obviously the mobility factor is a clear advantage and many elderly people will have been alone.”

It also must be stated that in northeastern Japan where the tsunami hit it is abundantly clear that many villages have a high proportion of citizens which are elderly. This is not only unique to this part of Japan but also applies to many areas in the countryside throughout this nation. Therefore, many of the younger generation relocate to major cities throughout Japan and this notably applies to Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Within northeastern Japan then cities like Sendai also have enormous pulling power.

In the video highlighted below this article then people can witness the speed of events and how unpredictable and dangerous tsunamis are once they are triggered. In the last few minutes of the video the speed of the tsunami is unbelievable. Images also show that elderly citizens were vulnerable. Also, right at the end of the video it is extremely harrowing because a disabled person is threatened by the onrushing tsunami.

Therefore, it is essential that the findings of the Japanese police are scrutinized to the full and that new polices are enacted in order to protect elderly people during times of crisis. Videos of the brutal tsunami also must be studied closely in order to understand other areas of human weakness. Likewise, the reality of what happened to Aneyoshi must also be taken into deep consideration because stones dating back 600 years managed to protect this hamlet. It is therefore imperative that various local governments, the central government and agencies related to natural disasters all work together in order to protect the most vulnerable in society.

Lee Jay Walker gave guidance to both main writers

http://mashable.com/2011/04/17/japan-tsunami-video/　

(This video is harrowing in the last few minutes – but it does show how the elderly and disabled were victims of the tsunami)

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com　

Olivia Gregory 

Modern Tokyo Times

Our minds truly have an amazing capacity—from learning new things to figuring out problems to navigating complex feelings and emotions, the human brain can accomplish so much in the course of a lifetime. Understanding how your mind works can be helpful whether you are focused on self-improvement or on helping others achieve their full potential. Psychology is defined as “the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context.” There are many psychology resources available today for the layperson, and the books listed here represent some great ways to learn more about psychology and its principles!

1. 50 Psychology Classics: Who We Are, How We Think, What We Do – Insight and Inspiration from 50 Key Books (by Tom Butler Bowdon) ~ This is a terrific book if you are interested in an in-depth study of psychology, especially regarding the history of the science. Spanning many years of study, 50 Psychology Classics provides readers with a comprehensive overview of psychology throughout the years.

2. 50 Great Myths of Popular Psychology: Shattering Widespread Misconceptions about Human Behavior (by Scott O. Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn, John Ruscio, and Barry L. Beyerstein) ~ There are many theories detailing how our brains work, and this books debunks some of the more popular “myths” surrounding the study of human behavior. The book covers topics under headings such as “Myths about the Brain and Perception,” “Myths about Development and Aging,” and “Myths about Intelligence and Learning.”

3. What Every BODY is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Speed-Reading People (by Joe Navarro and Marvin Karlins) ~ If you want to learn more about how to read the people around you, take a look at this fascinating book. It discusses body language from the head down to the feet with chapters such as “The Mind’s Canvas: Nonverbals of the Face” and “Getting a Leg Up on Body Language: Nonverbals of the Feet and Legs.”

4. The Psychology Book (by Nigel Benson, Joannah Ginsburg, Voula Grand, Merrin Lazyan, Marcus Weeks, and Catherine Collin) ~ This book provides extensive insight into the foundations, practice, and different aspects of psychology. The Psychology Book presents each topic in a way that is easy to understand by the layperson through its use of regular terms and language to explain complex ideas.

5. Emotions Revealed: Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life, second edition (by Paul Ekman) ~ Written by psychologist Paul Ekman, Emotions Revealed presents valuable help for improving your communication with both friends and acquaintances. Exploring a wide range of emotions, the book offers both insightful information and practical tips for communication growth.

6. Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior (by Leonard Mlodinow) ~ Author Leonard Mlodinow explores the decisions that we make in life—along with the reasoning behind those decisions. Learn more about the conscious and unconscious mind in this collection of insights into human behavior and hopefully gain meaningful tools for improving your own life and relationships.

7. Thinking, Fast and Slow (by Daniel Kahneman) ~ Written by a winner of the Nobel Prize for Economics and a well-known psychologist, this book presents theories on how the brain works and functions—knowledge that will help us understand why we do what we do on a daily basis, even in making decisions that seem to be random at first glance.

8. The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You Are (by Kevin Leman) ~ In this book, psychologist Kevin Leman showcases some fundamental underlying reasons for behavior and personality that stem from a person’s birth order and that affect everyday life. Chapters discuss whether or not birth order really makes a difference while exploring other possible variables that also impact behavior.

9. The Everything Psychology Book: Explore the Human Psyche and Understand Why We Do the Things We Do (by Lynda L. Warwick and Lesley Bolton) ~ Written in a way that is easily accessible even for those not having any previous exposure to the study of psychology, this is a terrific resource for anyone wanting to learn more about psychology—from its history to its different applications for our lives.

10. Dictionary of Psychology (by J.P. Chaplin) ~ Whether you are new to the study of psychology or just want to expand your knowledge on the topic, this dictionary of terms and definitions is a valuable and insightful resource. Use it as a quick reference guide to learn more about the specific terminology utilized and the topics covered in the field of psychology.

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Laura Leiva and Horace C. White

Modern Tokyo Times

Parents struggle with getting their kids to eat a balanced diet – but Zoe the Chef isn’t your average kid! This eight-year-old American has developed a passion for cooking and lately her interests have spread to the flavorful world of Japanese cuisine. Known as ‘Zoe the Chef’ to friends and family, Zoe might have a heightened sense of cuisine and ingredients over other peers her age, but there is one thing she loves – finding recipes that appeal to kids, taste great, are simple to make and incorporate colorful, healthy ingredients.

Zoe found her passion for food and cooking from watching cooking shows, such as Nerdy Nummies, and YouTube cooking channels, such as the Simple Cooking Channel. As she became more interested in cooking, her television viewing expanded to well-known food shows as Man vs. Food and Bizarre Foods – not the typical shows one would find an eight-year-old watching! Her family encouraged her new found interest in cooking and for special events or holidays, they presented Zoe with various cookbooks. After spending hours browsing the new cookbooks, she copied her favorite Japanese recipes into her journal.

While most cooking enthusiasts would love to get in the kitchen with one of their favorite chefs or cooking show personalities, eight-year-old Zoe has done that, too. Her first cooking lesson included instruction by Chef Mookie Hicks, best known as the winner of Food Network’s 24-Hour Food Restaurant Battle. Aside from appearing on Food Network, Chef Mookie has been featured in Jet and Ebony magazines, and strives to take soul food to a global level.

Japanese cooking incorporates plenty of fresh vegetables and other flavorful ingredients – and Zoe looks for recipes that offer nutrition, while being kid-friendly. The appeal of organic food is growing around the world, so purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the farm is one way in which chefs and food enthusiasts find the finest tasting products. Hisamatsu Farm offers seasonal, fresh ingredients — perfect for adding to your favorite Japanese recipe.

Cooking has many benefits – creating your own delicious dishes offers satisfaction, saves money from dining out and provides plenty of outlets for your creative ideas in the kitchen. Not everyone can be like Zoe the Chef, but that’s where cooking school comes in! The ABC Cooking Studio in Japan is a casual, fun environment in which to learn anything you need to know about Japanese cooking and cuisine. Instruction and hands-on learning is done in groups with an instructor, so visitors of all cooking levels are welcome. ABC Cooking Studio offers instruction in Japanese and Chinese cooking, as well as Western and International flavors.

As Zoe the Chef continues to learn and perfect the art of Japanese flavors, recipes, and cooking, it will be exciting to see the styles of Japanese dishes she prepares in her everyday routine.

Web Links:

about.me/ChefMookieHicks  　

2. www.hisamatsufarm.com

3. www.abc-cooking.co.jp/srv/english.php

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Boutros Hussein and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The stark reality of the New Year is that Islamists will continue to kill in the name of Allah in many nations just like usual. In Syria radical Islamists are killing minorities and mainstream Sunni Muslims, who don’t follow their creed of hatred. Meanwhile in Pakistan it is open season against killing charity workers, health workers and burning people alive who allegedly blaspheme against the prophet of Islam.

Pakistan and other nations including America, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia supported Islamists against communist Afghanistan in the 1980s and early 1990s. The consequences of this are still reverberating today. However, the so-called elites in the above named nations have literally “gotten away with mass murder and chaos.”

More alarming, the same destabilization processes which were used against Afghanistan by supporting international jihadist networks in the 1980s and early 1990s is now being used against Syria. This means that mainstream Sunni Muslim clerics are being killed in Syria by international jihadists and indoctrinated Islamists at home. Therefore, the same forces which enabled September 11 to take place are once more involved in supporting radical Sunni Islamism in the Levant.

Of course nations like America, France and the United Kingdom are trying to cover their collective tracks. Yet their collective cover is blown because these nations are not putting pressure on Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to stop funneling resources, military hardware and creating many terrorist rat-lines in order to enter Syria. On the contrary, the usual players are delegating many intricate webs in order to destabilize Syria and clearly they all know that Islamists are filling the vacuum.

However, the massacre of charity workers by Islamists in Pakistan is a stark reminder that once the “Islamist genie is out,” then it is difficult to put it back in its bottle. Of the seven charity workers that were killed in Pakistan it is known that 6 were women. If Syria is anything to go by then the same Islamists will have probably been chanting “God is great” before killing women in cold blood – and the same applies to the death of the male charity worker. After all, in the world of “year zero Islamists” then killing in the name of Allah is all that matters irrespective if they are killing Muslims or non-Muslims. All that matters to these Islamists is death and destruction.

Prior to nations supporting international Islamists in Afghanistan in the 1980s and early 1990s, then the indoctrination of Salafi Islam and other radical conservative versions which hate diversity were on the back-foot. However, once the leaders of America, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and other Gulf states supported Islamic jihadist movements then a barbaric reality entered the vacuum. The consequences of this are still reverberating today and this applies to endless massacres against Shia Muslims in Pakistan, persecution of non-Muslims, enormous discrimination against Ahmadiyya Muslims, attacking teachers who want to educate women and a host of other barbaric realities.

In Syria you have daily terrorist attacks and the secular nature of this nation is under threat. If things reach the same climax then this nation is going to be damaged for decades to come and sectarianism and Islamist indoctrination will turn the clock back. Yet many of the same nations which have created countless vacuums in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and created blow-back in Pakistan and of course enabled September 11 to take place; appear to care little because they are now involved in supporting sectarianism, terrorism and sedition against secular Syria. Also, for other nations like Mali and India then they have been victims of the terrorist networks which have been unleashed in the past by the axis of America, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and other nations already mentioned.

The murder of the latest charity workers in Pakistan alongside the image of a Syrian soldier being beheaded while Islamists encouraged a child to hack at his head – highlights the pure brutality and hatred of these religious fanatics. Yet for too long many nations have worked collectively with the same Islamist networks when the time suited. This is the case once more in Syria therefore the deaths of these charity workers in Pakistan can be traced back to the same nations which supported international jihadists in the 1980s and 1990s. Likewise, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and several Gulf states have enabled Islamist indoctrination to spread far and wide. Meanwhile so-called democratic nations in the West are allowing the petro-dollars of Saudi Arabia and several Gulf states to indoctrinate in Western nations.

Several weeks ago health workers were killed by Islamists in Pakistan. It was stated in an article by Modern Tokyo Times that “Given this reality, then the criminal act in killing health workers on the grounds of jihad, sums up the warped logic of a religious movement which is intent on crushing all alternative thought patterns. In a world based on logic, then these health workers would be praised for dedicating their lives for the good of humanity. Yet logic within the mindset of Islamic jihadists is not only thin on the ground but it is equally neo-primitive to an extreme.”

“However, if we turn the clock back to the early 1980s then nations like America, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom supported radical Sunni Islamists against communist Afghanistan. This meant that special operatives from within the CIA representing America and the ISI from Pakistan, and other operatives from nations like the United Kingdom, enabled international Islamists to get a foothold in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The upshot of all this is that a nightmare was created and today the world is witnessing this ongoing nightmare.”

Today another innocent seven people were killed by Islamists on the grounds that they were going to teach women and to help people who badly need support. These individuals in normal societies would be praised but in parts of Pakistan they are hated by Islamists. Yet when democratic nations condemn this attack, then the nations supporting the destabilization of Syria should take a good look in the mirror. After all, in Syria the same Islamist forces are encroaching on the “Muslim light of the Levant.” If Islamists win then indigenous Islam, Christianity and the Druze faith will all face a very bleak future in Syria. After all, Islamists care little about civilization and different thought patterns – instead they want a “year zero Islamist Islam” based on supremacy and hatred. Therefore, why are major Western nations in cohorts with nations like Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states – and why don’t they ever learn?

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Murad Makhmudov and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

In any nation where you have radical Sunni Islamists intent on killing, then barbarity is only around the corner. This applies to killing minority Muslim groups, persecuting non-Muslims, attacking women and a host of unsavory factors which bind Islamic jihadists together. Therefore, the murder of five female polio workers and one male worker in Pakistan isn’t a surprise. After all, this is the typical Islamist mindset which only knows how to butcher and to turn the clock back to “year zero.”

Given this reality, then the criminal act in killing health workers on the grounds of jihad, sums up the warped logic of a religious movement which is intent on crushing all alternative thought patterns. In a world based on logic, then these health workers would be praised for dedicating their lives for the good of humanity. Yet logic within the mindset of Islamic jihadists is not only thin on the ground but it is equally neo-primitive to an extreme.

However, if we turn the clock back to the early 1980s then nations like America, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom supported radical Sunni Islamists against communist Afghanistan. This meant that special operatives from within the CIA representing America and the ISI from Pakistan, and other operatives from nations like the United Kingdom, enabled international Islamists to get a foothold in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The upshot of all this was that a nightmare was created and today the world is witnessing this ongoing nightmare.

It is abundantly clear that the roots of September 11 are connected with the political naivety and crassness of nations like America and the United Kingdom. After all, it is clear that Saudi Arabia and the elites within Pakistan in the 1980s were intent on spreading Islamism based on religious and political factors. Yet for America and the United Kingdom it was about “turning the Islamist clock on and off” to when it suited.

Of course, the events of September 11 woke America up briefly but under the Obama administration it is clear that the “Islamist clock is being turned on” once more. The same now applies to nations like France, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. After all, these nations are now behind many atrocities in Syria. This applies to killing religious minorities, killing pro-Sunni supporters of the government, beheading people, daily car bombings, torturing Syrian soldiers and a plethora of crimes against humanity.

Indeed, in the last few weeks many images coming out of Syria highlight the fact that children are now being indoctrinated just like in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Yet, just like the crisis in Afghanistan in the 1980s it is major Western nations, along with powerful Middle Eastern countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which are funding this hatred in Syria. The upshot of all this, is that now small children are being taught by various Islamist terrorist groups and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to behead and torture pro-government individuals and Syrian soldiers. Alongside this, children in Syria under the control of the FSA and various Islamist factions are being taught to hate mainstream Sunni Muslims, Alawites, the Shia, Christians and members of the Druze community.

Turning back to the recent brutal murder of five female polio workers and one male member, then this hatred was ignited by the deeds of outside nations and the political elites in Pakistan in the 1980s and 1990s. This was supported by Islamist indoctrination which spread sectarianism, terrorism and the persecution of women. However, this was tolerated and supported by America, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and other nations, because of various factors in the past. Yet, you can’t “switch off radical Islamism” to suit the agenda of the day and September 11 was further evidence of this.

Despite this, political elites in Ankara, Doha, London, Paris, Riyadh and Washington are now working together alongside international jihadists and Islamist indoctrination in Syria. This means that the secular government of Syria is fighting for its survival and the same applies to mainstream Sunni Islam and all minority faiths, which are deemed to be infidels in the eyes of Salafi Islamists. If individuals want to see the consequences of supporting such a brutal policy, then one only needs to look at Afghanistan and Pakistan in order to see the future.

Therefore, while the five Pakistan polio health workers were killed in late 2012 in and around Karachi, it is abundantly clear that the evil forces unleashed in the 1980s by outside nations and elites within Pakistan, are equally to blame for unleashing radical Islamism. In this sense, the brutal murder of these health workers ties in with the unfolding events of the last 40 years in this part of Asia. Similarly, the brutal video of a child hacking at the head of a captured Syrian soldier would have been unimaginable until recent times in this country. Yet, once more, outside nations like America, France, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Qatar are all “switching on the Islamist clock” in order to crush secular Syria. This reality means that the madness of Afghanistan and Pakistan is now being replicated in Syria by the usual players.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Horace C. White

Modern Tokyo Times

When in Japan during the holiday season try these 5 Japanese-style dishes to make your time in the Land of the Rising Sun an enjoyable and cultural one in which your taste buds will love!

1. Tempura

Tempura or Japanese-style deep-fried seafood or vegetables is a typical modern Japanese dish in which shellfish, fish, squid, and/or vegetables are dipped into a wheat flour batter and deep-fried in hot sesame, tea seed, or canola oil. The tempura pieces are then dipped in a special broth and/or eaten with salt, making for a tasty, mouth-watering, scrumptious dish that can be eaten with family members, friends, and/or significant others at a restaurant or at home.

2. Shabu-Shabu

Shabu-Shabu or “swish-swish” is a form of pot-cooking in which thinly sliced tender beef and various vegetables are cooked in a brass pot on the table by customers. From sliced beef , tofu (soybean curd), mushrooms, green vegetables, cabbage, and edible seaweed served on a large platter, customers mix the ingredients together “swishing” slightly the victuals, one by one, in a boiling soup stock in the pot located on the table. After simmering the food for a few seconds, the food can can be eaten with soy sauce, sesame seed sauce, Miso sauce, or lemon sauce.

3. Sukiyaki

From  strips of kon-nyaku (Japanese jelly-like health food) , sliced beef, chrysanthemum leaves, green onions,  and negi (a type of scallion), these savory fixings are cooked together in a cast-iron pan, over a gas ring, placed on the table, and seasoned with dry rice wine, sweet rice wine, and/or soy sauce.  Within moments, the pieces are picked out of the piping hot pan and gracefully inserted into a small bowl containing gohan(cooked rice) and/or raw egg.

4. Osechi-ryori

During the New Year’s holiday, Japanese people eat special dishes called “Osechi-ryori.” The dishes are prepared and arranged artistically in a set of lacquer-ware boxes, including kelp rolls, radishes, carrots, bamboo shoots, fried egg cakes, steamed fish-paste cakes, black beans, herring roe, sweetened dried small fish, dried sardines cooked in soy sauce, sweet rolled omelettes, prawns, and variety of other foods that have symbolic meanings. Osechi-ryori are generally prepared in each household, but nowadays can be purchased in a variety of department stores, convenient stores, or ordered online from a price range of 10,000yen ($128USD) and upwards.

5. Zoni

Zoni is a special soup served during New Year holidays, often made of redbean porridge that is sweet, or based on Miso soup. Traditionally, Zoni is a clear soup with fish-paste cake slices, carrot flakes, vegetables, trefoil leaves, and citron peel for flavor. It is often eaten together with “Osechi-dishes” during the New Year’s holiday, and means a soup of a “variety of ingredients.”

Whether you are celebrating the holiday season in downtown Tokyo or Kyoto, or in the outskirts of Osaka or Nagoya, or another part of Japan, you will be sure to find a memorable, Japanese-style feasting experience in one of the 5 Japanese-style dishes above.

Itadakimasu (Let’s eat!)

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Christine Traxler, MD

Modern Tokyo Times

Obesity is becoming one of the top health problems in the world today, particularly in developed countries such as the US.  This is because food is plentiful and foods are ready-prepared in ways that pack on the calories, sugar and fat.  Fortunately, there are ways to overcome obesity and maintain a healthy weight.

What exactly is a healthy weight?  You can determine your current status by checking your Body Mass Index or BMI.  This is calculated by taking your weight in pounds, multiplying it by 703 and dividing it by your height in inches squared.  Ideally, your BMI should be between 18 and 25.  Anything over 25 is considered overweight and anything over 30 is considered obese.  As you lose weight, your BMI will approach normal and your health will improve.

What are some of the risks of being overweight?  Some cancers, like colon cancer and breast cancer are higher if you are overweight. Diabetes is a disease that is more common in those who are overweight.  Heart disease goes along with obesity and arthritis can be made worse by being overweight.  The good news is that it can be reversed with proper eating and exercise.

In order to eat healthy, you need the proper nutrients, including the right minerals and vitamins.  These come from various food products so you need a variety of food.  If you don’t think you are getting a variety of foods, you need to consider taking a multivitamin.

Foods that are as whole and untouched as possible by processing are the best foods to eat in order to lose weight and stay healthy.  This includes raw or slightly cooked vegetables, whole fruits and whole grain breads and bread products.  High fiber foods are good because they fill you up and aren’t easily digested.

Meats should be as lean as possible and should have all visible fat removed.  Chicken and fish are healthier than beef because they are lower in fat as long as you prepare them by broiling or poaching them rather than frying the meats.  Grilling lets the fat dribble into the flame and is another good way of cooking meats.  Make use of spices when you cook because it makes food taste fun and appetizing.  Spices don’t generally have any significant caloric content.

The expected caloric content you should taken in to maintain your healthy weight is about 2000 to 2500 calories per day.  It is higher if you weigh more and less if you don’t weigh much.  Cutting back to 1500 calories per day can mean you lose at least one pound per week.

Avoid highly processed foods like cakes, white bread, pre-cooked meals and foods with sauces in them.  Sauces tend to have a lot of grease or oil in them and are unnecessary when it comes to flavoring food.

Most people need to have some form of exercise in order to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.  Exercise can be as simple as a brisk one half hour walk around the neighborhood or can be as complex as taking an aerobics class or yoga class.  There are two kinds of exercise you need to consider.  The first is aerobic exercise.  Aerobic exercises include biking, running, walking, swimming and any other exercise that brings up your heart rate.  It helps your heart and burns calories at the same time.

The second form of exercise you should consider includes anaerobic exercise.  This is weight lifting and doesn’t increase your heart rate.  Anaerobic exercise builds muscle mass and muscle has a higher metabolic rate than does fat and other tissue.  You burn fat at a higher rate the more muscle you have.  Both forms of exercise are good to consider and will help you maintain a healthy weight.

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Médecins du Monde – Special Contribution

Kanako Itamae and Lee Jay Walker 

Modern Tokyo Times

Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) became directly involved in Japan after the devastating earthquake which hit Kobe in 1995. Since this period Doctors of the World continues to develop within Japan and internationally. This NPO organization can trace itself back to 1980 when it began to help Vietnamese boat people who were in dire straits.

Immediately Doctors of the World made a strong impact and by 1981 the international humanitarian support network was supporting individuals in Afghanistan, Chad, El Salvador, Mali and other nations. At the same time Doctors of the World understood the need to help neglected areas within major developed nations because of the many health loopholes. Therefore, important health care work and other provisions were taken in nations which include France, Spain and the United Kingdom.

In Japan the economic malaise for the majority of the last two decades created many new social problems whereby vast numbers were falling through the net. This notably applies to homeless people, individuals suffering from psychological problems and other areas related to social deprivation. The value of the work done by Doctors of the World in Japan can be seen by this organization being allowed to offer tax deductions to people who support this NPO (Certified NPO Organization was granted in Japan).

Currently the international network and structure of Doctors of the World consists of 14 branches. A partial list of these branches includes: Argentina, Belgium, Canada, France, Japan, Portugal and Switzerland. The importance of this organization can be seen by the fact that in 1996 Doctors of the World was given a consultative role with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Turning back to issues related to Tokyo then Doctors of the World (Médecins du Monde Japon) launched a fresh initiative in 2010 related to homeless people. Tokyo Project specifically wanted to address many neglected areas related to homeless people who were suffering from psychological disorders. For individuals outside of Japan who don’t fully understand aspects of Japanese culture then clearly Médecins du Monde Japon faced many cultural constraints. Without trying to over generalize it is clear that “not reaching out,” “perseverance,” “dignity” and other powerful areas are very difficult to break down. After all, in Japan over 30,000 people commit suicide each year and this magnifies the situation within the homeless community at large and especially for homeless people who suffer from psychological problems.

Médecins du Monde Japon sent research teams to one vibrant district in Tokyo called Ikebukuro which is also the gateway for many people from Saitama prefecture. This area is notable for being a powerful commercial district within Tokyo. Likewise the fashion angle to Ikebukuro is extremely potent. However, within the environment of Ikebukuro you have areas of social deprivation which is visible in certain areas and also hidden.

The findings concluded that 60% of homeless individuals had psychological problems which fluctuated from minor to severe problems. More alarming, the findings in Ikebukuro state that 30% have severe problems related to psychological issues which also impact greatly on their health in many different ways. Another alarming feature of the research is that it was agreed that most “homeless never received the necessary care” and that “mental institutions are reluctant to accept the homeless.” Therefore, a vicious circle is the current reality for the most vulnerable people in society which are being let down by existing institutions.

Currently Médecins du Monde Japon is supporting approximately 70 individuals who need crucial support. At the same time the local community and authorities are being notified about their plight and how new support mechanisms are needed to care for the most vulnerable in society.

The Tokyo Project provides several important components, for example food distribution, psychological consultations, obtaining trust and other powerful areas. This is being done near a park which is close to Ikebukuro train station which is one of the busiest in the world. Médecins du Monde Japon is also helping homeless people through a partner organization which provides housing for a set period for individuals who wish to return to a normal life. During this critical period much needed psychological support is provided in order to help people readjust back into the community.

The rehabilitation program is multiple but essentially it is about bringing about inner-strength, bonding, becoming valued again and other powerful areas. Therefore, various initiatives are implemented and this partially applies to creative workshops, sporting activities, discussion sessions and valuable work surrounding the pastry shop which enables “a sense of identity” and “togetherness.”

At the end of the three year Tokyo Project it is hoped that the authorities will see the value of this project. This applies to restoring self-esteem within individuals, giving support to people with major psychological problems, alleviating poverty, breaking the chains and other notable areas.

In another article about Médecins du Monde Japon at a later date more information will be given about other projects within Japan and international developments. If individuals would like to support Médecins du Monde Japon then please log on to their website below.

http://mdm.or.jp/english/index.html Médecins du Monde Japan

http://www.medecinsdumonde.org/ Médecins du Monde 

Or contact : meyssignac@mdm.or.jp

ALL IMAGES BELONG TO Médecins du Monde Japan

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Kanako Itamae and Sarah Deschamps

Modern Tokyo Times

Vogue is now issuing new guidelines aimed at preventing models younger than 16 years of age being used and also to stamp out over thin models. These guidelines were announced this year on May 3 in order to provide a fresh image to this internationally famous company. Therefore, Vogue Japan from July 2012 will have to abide by this fresh approach.

Currently Vogue is published in 19 different countries all over the world and this highlights the power of this American fashion and lifestyle magazine which is published monthly. Vogue Japan is firmly established because the rich heritage of Vogue goes back to 1892 when Arthur Turnure founded this publication. Conde Montrose Nast followed on after the death of Arthur Turnure in 1909 and since this period it gradually expanded.

This means that Vogue is not only firmly established all over the world but it is also amongst the crème de la crème of fashion and lifestyle magazines. Indeed, the name conjures up the image of style, panache, innovation, and adorable fashion. However, just like throughout its entire history Vogue is also ready to move on into a new mode of thinking.

These new derivatives will have different consequences and in Japan the issue of over thin models may have little meaning. This isn’t meant in a negative sense, but on the whole the vast majority of young Japanese ladies are thinner compared with the average young lady from America. Therefore, the female model issue in Japan isn’t usually blighted by models which look on the verge of sickness.

Of course anorexia is a very serious issue and the same applies to all eating disorders and clearly this issue relates to all nations. Yet different lifestyles, body types, what is deemed beautiful, and so forth, is clearly cultural therefore it isn’t so easy to have sweeping derivatives unless it is based on health related issues. At the same time individuals will have their own respective view on beauty and fashion.

On the whole the fashion industry in general normally uses models’ which fit the “perceived image of beauty.” This notably applies to being tall, thin, stylish, and extremely attractive. Vogue is no different because the same applies to internationally famous boutiques which desire to highlight their new designs on the above type of fashion models. Of course, from time to time you do get periods which break the chain and the same applies to individual fashion magazines and boutiques which go against the grain. Yet the crème de la crème of fashion and lifestyle magazines focus on a “perceived image of beauty.”

Another major cultural difference in Japan is that young girls are especially highlighted with being beautiful, cute, the ideal image, and so forth. However, in saying that, the image and focus of Vogue doesn’t enter this “questionable arena.” After all, Vogue highlights the latest exquisite fashion designs, quality boutiques, latest lifestyle trends, and a host of other areas related to fashion and lifestyle.

Conde Nast Publications which publishes Vogue commented that “Vogue editors around the world want the magazines to reflect their commitment to the health of the models who appear on the pages and the well-being of their readers.”

The editor of Vogue Japan, Mitsuko Watanabe, stated that “We, as creator of image, should not edit our publication in a way that would reinforce the ideal image of beauty built on lopsided ideas…We will make suggestions also for diet and health.”

Some dissenting voices believe that Vogue isn’t going far enough. For example, Susan Linn who represents Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood made it clear that Vogue should have introduced more strong mechanisms to protect models. Susan Linn comments that “If Vogue was really concerned about the well being of girls in terms of their health, then they would have done what Spain and Italy did and use only girls who have what has been deemed a healthy Body Mass Index.”

Audrey Brashich who was a teen model when younger appears to share similar thinking to Susan Linn. Audrey Brashich states that “The cynic in me feels like they are simply grandstanding while really just throwing a bone to an audience that is getting ever more savvy and tired of the tricks of the trade.”

Of course, you also have individuals who think the other way because some people fear that the new derivatives will infringe on freedom and stifle creativity. In this sense, Vogue can’t please everyone who adores the fashion and lifestyle sector. However, for the majority of individuals these new changes are welcomed.

It will be interesting to see if individuals note any differences in the upcoming months in Japan when reading Vogue Japan. Vogue itself garners much attention because of the rich history of this company and its power within the fashion and lifestyle industry.

Images in the article not from Vogue and were selected for the article.

http://www.vogue.co.jp/

http://www.vogue.com

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Alina Constantin – Lightman Consulting

Modern Tokyo Times

From multi-national organizations to small business, the great majority of workplaces have to deal with a particular kind of employee who is slowly sabotaging the activity of the company in a hidden, latent way. This employee is very well known for their forgetfulness, for missing deadlines, for being late at work and for doing less when they are asked to do more. This is the passive-aggressive employee. It is critical for the organization to recognize the passive aggressive behavior before it has a negative impact on the team’s activity.

How to recognize the passive-aggressive behavior?

The passive-aggressive behavior is rooted in the inability to express anger in a healthy way. A person might repress this feeling for so long that they don’t even realize they are angry. Because of their own lack of self-awareness of their feelings, the passive aggressive feel like the others misunderstand them, that they are not appreciated enough and are not treated the way they should be. In many workplace settings the passive aggressive employee is able to sabotage everything from individual deadlines to company achievements.

In order to protect your department or company from passive-aggressive behavior you need to look for employees who have average or below average achievements, who always play the role of the victim in a confrontation and who use excessively the expression “Nobody told me.”

Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean – Maya Angelou

Common passive-aggressive behaviors in the workplace

Passive-aggressive employees usually feel unappreciated for their performance and knowing they can’t face a direct confrontation with the management, they start taking an unconscious but deliberately acted revenge that can take many forms.

If you plan to take revenge with a person, dig two graves – Chinese proverb

Spreading a rumor about the person they are angry with, calling sick when they are needed – their goal is just to prove to others and to “the self” that their contribution to the company’s activity is important. As well they can “misplace” some important documents, “forget” an important meeting or when being asked to perform a task, these individuals purposefully fall just short of compliance in a hidden, latent way. It is very common for passive aggressive people to do as little as possible while their boss is around but the second their boss becomes unavailable they take the first chance to go to the next manager in the hierarchy or even to the director of the company in order to discuss a personal initiative. This way they appear as being a proactive employee thereby their boss is losing credibility in front of his/her superiors.

Being angry is like slowly drinking poison and waiting for the other to die

How to manage employees with passive-aggressive behavior?

The first action that needs to be taken is to identify the passive-aggressive behavior and the way in which it manifests itself. Passive-aggressive people never break the rules in an obvious way. For example if they have the habit of being late at work, they will only be late by a couple of minutes. They will always be able to explain their behavior using logical arguments. After the behavior is identified proactive action should be taken in order to counter the undesired behavior.  Many practical approaches may be used. For example if you are dealing with an employee with low performance but you know he/she has the right skills to perform at a higher level, you can start by giving the person a very simple task. If you deal with someone who seems to forget different details about the jobs they need to perform, you can create a direct written communication system between you and the employee, give the individual specific instructions and describe all the details of the tasks he/she needs to perform in order to support the person with their work process and at the same time counter the unproductive behavior. It is crucial to have an open discussion about the impact of the individual person on the behavior on your company. Once their behavior has been noticed, most passive aggressive people will stop acting this way.

Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers, for each rage leaves him less than he had been before – it takes something from him – Louis L’Amour

An emotional catalyst usually triggers the passive-aggressive behavior. Without identifying what triggers the behavior, all the practical strategies will only last temporarily. People who show this behavior had to deal with an authority figure earlier in their lives, a figure that made them feel less valuable. They haven’t been given the chance to stand up for themselves and they haven’t learned to manifest and control their anger. Unfortunately, anger keeps accumulating and the only way they know it’s safe to release it, is through passive aggressive behavior.

One thing is for sure: the passive aggressive behavior needs to be eliminated from the workplace because it can affect the entire dynamics of the team. It is important to deal with this issue in a diplomatic way, by approaching people with curiosity and never with blame. Blaming people for their behavior will only trigger greater levels of latent anger and will create a downward spiral.

Alina Constantin

alina@lightman-consulting.com　

www.lightman-consulting.com　

Vojin Joksimovich, PhD

Modern Tokyo Times

In a series of my earlier writings published by Modern Tokyo Times, such as Chancellor Merkel and arrogance: is she really committed to save the Euro, I have expressed skepticism about the leadership qualities of Chancellor Merkel, built up in the German media as an “Iron Chancellor”—like Bismarck. Some 30 years ago Henry Kissinger complained that he could not believe in Europe until he had a single phone number to call. The German’s Stern magazine suggested that he would be happy now as he would have call only “Madame Europa,” alias Angela Merkel, who says that “If the Euro fails, Europe fails” and ultimately the “European ideal for peace.” The newly elected French President Francois Hollande rushed straight from his inauguration to visit Merkel in Berlin, which illustrates that she is indeed “Madame Europa.” Merkel is the unquestioned EU leader, but does she know how to be a leader? My answer is absolutely not.

My skepticism has applied not only to her role as dooming rather than saving the eurozone but with regard to dooming the German electric utility industry as well. Salient events which took place since have not only enhanced my skepticism but have cemented my assertions. I seem to be on the same page with billionaire George Soros, who in an interview titled “Save EU from the straight-jacket” argued that Merkel was leading Europe in the wrong direction, that which caused the 1929 depression in the US.

Merkel’s Swabian Housewife Model

Merkel’s Swabian Housewife model means: “In the long-run you can’t live beyond your means.” It postulates that debt problems are the sole responsibility of the debtor and that severe austerity measures are the answer. The consequences of this strict austerity model are now abundantly obvious: higher taxes, draconian spending cuts, severe unemployment, impoverishment, political upheavals. They undermine the capacity to service debts and credibility in capital markets.

Many are wondering whether Greece is an extreme example or just the first. Greece has been in deep recession for five years with no recovery on the horizon. It has lost almost a quarter of its GDP in these five years. Unemployment soared from 7% in 2008 to 22% in 2012, while unemployment rate for youth under 25 jumped from 21% to 51%. Despite fiscal austerity and debt restructuring, the IMF estimates that gross public debt will be 160% of the GDP in 2013, 50 points higher than in 2008. Moreover, the current account deficit—the balance of trade on goods and services—will be more than 7% of GDP this year. According to www.ekathimerini.com “in Athens, the homeless are on the streets in growing numbers, soup kitchens feed twice as many people as a year ago, and the poor are diving into garbage bins in search of scrap they can sell.” Greece is close to a breaking point living the nightmare of unrest, hunger and even anarchy.

Rioters in Greek anti-austerity protests burn German flags. A Greek newspaper depicted Merkel in a Nazi uniform above the headline “Memorandum macht frei’—an allusion to the memorandum in which Greece’s creditors demand more austerity measures and hinting at the strong slogan during the war time period. A well-known 63-yr old Greek journalist Yiorgos Trangas resents being told that he is a typical Balkan southerner, who is lazy and a schemer. “I’ve worked night and day for a half century. So we are told we’re lazy and crooks? He asked on a morning TV. He was fined $33,000 for calling Merkel by using strong language. He also accused Berlin of making Greece “a German protectorate of the Fourth Reich in southern Europe.” These types of feelings draw on sufferings endured during the war time period under German occupation.

Keynes vs. Merkel

Professors Marcus Miller and Robert Skidelsky, writing in the Financial Times (May 16 issue), on how Keynes would solve the eurozone crisis pointed out that John Maynard Keynes, in contrast to Merkel, held that both creditors and debtors should share the task of getting economies out of holes they had jointly dug. “The absolutists of contract are the real parents of revolution,” Keynes wrote in 1923 when Germany was suffering under unsustainable sovereign debt burden. While Germany vividly remembers the 1920-23 hyperinflation of this period, it was deflation and the Great Depression that brought Adolf Hitler to power in 1933.

This writer asserts that once Germany permitted Greece, Portugal, Spain and Ireland to join the eurozone, they implicitly agreed to fiscal transfers to support economies of these countries. However, Germany and some other creditor countries refuse to issue the eurobonds. The EU would allocate funds to support the debtor nations, which would no longer seek funds individually from the capital markets. Their debts would be rescheduled with appropriate grace periods. Merkel should understand that in a democracy, you cannot relegate member countries to the Third World status.

Elections in France and Greece: Grexit

With the election returns from France and Greece the trends are obvious, ominous for the EU. Hollande campaigned on the “growth pact” to complement the fiscal pact pitting him against Merkel. Hollande has strongly backed the eurobonds in conjunction with Italy and Brussels. Two of the most influential international economic bodies, the IMF and the OECD, offered their support to Paris, Rome and Brussels. Nonetheless, Madame Europa remains defiant arguing that any co-mingling of eurozone debt would remove incentives for southern economies to adopt structural reforms. De facto she is defending the German banks.

Alexis Tsipras, the Syriza party leader that surged in popularity in Greece called for the ripping up of a “barbarous” austerity program underpinning its bailout imposed by the EU, ECB and the IMF. During his trip to Germany he appealed to German taxpayers to help his country. “Until when should German taxpayers pay into a bottomless pit? It apparently flows to the Greek economy, but in reality only the banks and bankers are being financed.” The Greek exit, or “Grexit,” from the eurozone, which was unthinkable, has become a distinct possibility. Many distinguished economists, such as Nouriel Roubini, have been suggesting for some time an amicable divorce settlement arguing that splitting up may be hard to do but it can be better than sticking to a bad marriage. Roubini argues that the whole eurozone idea has been flawed and thus is unsustainable. Five distressed peripherals—Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain—would exit, negotiating bridge financing. However, ~80% of Greeks are in favor of staying in the eurozone but then fail to vote for politicians prepared to implement “barbarous” austerity terms.

Bank of Greece Governor George Provopoulos warned that a return to drachma would be “real hell” with Greeks forced to resort to barter during the transition period between the two currencies, “trading a kilo of olive oil for three kilos of flour.” Greece imports 40% of food it consumes, all of its oil and gas and much of its medicine. Hence, there would be shortages of basic supplies. Greece wouldn’t be able to support its 11 million people. Without fuel, the army and the police wouldn’t be able to function. Social disruptions could lead to anarchy. How Greece would manage a transition from euro to drachma is totally unclear. A number of experts predict that the new drachma would fall by 50% or more against the euro. So the Greeks would pull their euros out of their bank accounts before they could be converted. Owners of Greek stocks would do the same. As markets and deposits flee, banks would collapse. The big question is what would stop the Portuguese and Spaniards from doing the same? Drachmageddon, on Radio Arvyla TV told how the drachma, kicked into outer space in 2001, crashed backed to earth as a meteor and destroyed everything.

In order to avoid this “real hell” scenario, this writer suggests that a due consideration be given to a transition from the euro to the US dollar rather than to new drachma. A bank run in several countries could force the eurozone collapse.

Merkel’s Nuclear Phase-out

Geologically stable Germany reacted as if the Fukushima nuclear accident happened in the heart of Germany rather than thousands of miles away. Obviously there is no potential for huge tsunamis in Germany. This writer, once he had an opportunity to analyze the worst accident in the 55-year history of commercial nuclear power, had characterized it as tsunami induced but man-made disaster. A number of now available Fukushima accident investigations like those by the Japanese Investigation Committee, Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) and the American Nuclear Society (ANS) support my initial assertion.  It is insulting to postulate that the German nuclear utilities, with their excellent safety record with no serious accident over the last 40 years, would respond as incompetently as the management of the Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) and the Japanese government agencies—not the plant operating staff which performed admirably in very difficult circumstances including no lights in the control room.

Blatant Political Opportunism

Nonetheless, only four days into the accident when it was unclear what exactly happened, Chancellor Merkel declared a three-month moratorium on nuclear power, in which eight nuclear power plants had to be shutdown immediately. An indiscriminate rationale was used: those that began operation in 1980 or earlier irrespective whether they were boiling water reactors (BWRs), like Fukushima reactors, or pressurized water reactors (PWRs). There was no evidence that age of reactors played part in the accident. Chernobyl Unit 4, which experienced the accident with highest release of radioactivity ever, was the youngest of the four units. 8336 MW of generating capacity was removed from the German grid overnight amounting to 41% of total nuclear generation and 4.6% of total German generating capacity. Merkel’s overreaction was politically motivated because Germany’s anti-nuclear Green party made strong headway at state elections, so she blamed the nuclear power for her defeat. After her recent disastrous election defeat in North Rhine-Westphalia (her party slumped from 35 to 26% in this most populous state) she sacked Norbert Rottgen, her environment minister and once seen as a rising star in her party. Instead she has appointed Peter Altmaier, a CDU heavyweight, as minister of energy, environment and nuclear safety.

In 2001 a Social Democrat/Green government red/green coalition limited nuclear power plant lives to an average of about 34 years. This phase-out policy was revised last year by the Merkel’s Christian Democrat/Free Democrat coalition with the effect of giving some reactors an extra eight years of operation and others extra 12. In return, the nuclear utilities were to pay a tax of 145 euro per gram of nuclear fuel which was utilized, a total of about 2.3bn per year. Merkel explained the U-turn with an absurd and irrational statement: “Japan, like Germany, is a developed nation with strict safety rules, but nevertheless there was a chain of events that wasn’t expected. While Germany isn’t prone to quakes and tsunamis, it could fall victim to events we didn’t previously view as likely or possible.” As a physicist, Merkel should have been able to understand that nuclear accidents, even as bad as Fukushima result in minimal public impact from radiation. This was demonstrated by the 1979 Three Mile Island (TMI) accident in the US. According to the UN Chernobyl Forum showed 50 victims of acute radiation but was confined to the plant workers. Chernobyl was designed as a dual purpose plant: plutonium producer for the Soviet nuclear weapons program and electricity generation. It was not built to satisfy the western nuclear safety standards and thus would not be licensable in the west like the TMI and Fukushima were.

Subsequently Merkel said that 2022 is a good time to completely phase out nuclear power in Germany based on so called “ethics” report. The government has since decided that none of those plants shutdown for three months may restart, while the remaining 15 will close progressively by 2022. Merkel said that the end date is fixed, and there will be no review clause in the legislation sent to the Federal Council of Germany’s 16 states, and that there was no need to go the parliament. The German Nuclear Society called the 2022 exit date a “sham” based on lack of clarity to replace nuclear power plants that provide 25% of nation’s electricity. The Nuclear Safety Commission had reviewed safety of German plants in light of the Fukushima accident and found them to be safe.

Fukushima Accident: No Health Effects

It is now known that the Fukushima accident resulted in no acute fatalities, no acute injuries, no extended hospitalizations due to radiation and unlikely cancer fatalities in 50 years, according to Professor Wade Allison testimony in the UK House of Commons. 210,000 Fukushima residents have undergone screening without any health effects. Prof. Allison based his testimony on the book he authored Radiation and Reason published in 2009 and thus available to Chancellor Merkel’s scientific advisers (probably not consulted).

Huge Financial Impact

Initially investments of more than $280bn were mentioned as needed to enter the age of renewables over the next decade to build wind turbines, coal and gas plants. Subsequently, the German Association of Energy and Water Industries estimated the cost of $79bn by 2020 to construct and modernize power plants mainly to compensate for the nuclear phase-out. 84 large power plants are planned: 23 offshore wind farms, 29 gas-fired plants, 17 coal-fired plants and 10 pumped- storage plants, amounting to 42 GW electric. It is not clear how Germany will cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 40% compared to 1990 levels when 19 fossil fuel plants remain under construction. 2011 carbon dioxide figures grew by 2-6% compared to the year before. Many U.S. utilities consider renewables as electrically and economically inefficient. The offshore wind farms require high voltage transmission and thus heavy expenditures. A study commissioned by the German Economic Ministry has estimated an E32bn household and industry price tag associated with the policy reversal.

Blackouts Were Close

Those on the frontline of the nuclear phase-out have been struggling to keep the lights on despite the government assertion that the conversion to renewables was on track. Tennet, the Dutch group that runs one of Germany’s four high-voltage regional networks, said: “We were lucky and are reaching the limits of what is doable.” They had to step in 1,024 times in 2011 to circumvent bottlenecks in cables, which stretch from the North Sea to the Alps. That was four times the number of interventions in the previous year. Blackouts were perilously close. Reserve power plants had to be used from Germany and Austria. Loss of a large coal plant would have necessitated load shedding or turning off the lights in certain areas across Europe. The high-voltage grid was not designed to accommodate supply surges from the south where most shutdown nuclear plant are located.

Electric Utility Losses

The principal electric utilities: RWE, E.ON, Vattenfall, and EnBW have announced major losses and write downs. Despite the enforced closure of nuclear plants, the utilities are still required to pay a tax on nuclear fuel. The German Constitutional Court and the European Court of Justice have not ruled yet on the fuel tax legality. The funds collected are intended to be used for a development of renewables.

Essen-based RWE operating profits were 30% down year-on-year, while the E.ON’s were down 39%. E.ON (the name comes from the Greek word aeon which means eternity), which operates in over 30 countries and serves over 26 million customers, reported 2010 profit of E5.9bn but a net loss of E2.2bn in 2011. EO.N’s cost-cutting measures would shed up to 11.000 out of 80,000 workers. RWE has also reported a drop in profit for the first quarter in 2012. Like E.ON, RWE is in the middle of divestment program to reduce debt in addition to cost-cutting drive. It is selling its stake in Berlin Water to the city as well as its stake in the Horizon nuclear power venture in the UK. E.ON sold Open Grid Europe, its gas transmission grid in Germany. It is E.ON’s third big disposal in its push to sell E15bn of assets by the end of 2013 to reduce debt. Both utilities are renegotiating their long-term gas supply contracts with Russia’s Gazprom and Norway’s Statoil.

Aluminum Producer Files for Bankruptcy

Voerde Aluminium announced its insolvency due to lowering pricing of the metal combined with high electricity prices no longer internationally competitive. German users of over 20 GWh/yr pay 11.95 pay eurocents/kWh vs. 6.9 cents in France, where about 75% is nuclear generated electricity. The industry suffers because electricity price raises result from the government support for renewables, and especially photovoltaics. Subsidies have encouraged power companies and property owners to add about 25 GW of solar capacity, which produced 2.4% of Germany’s power. The remaining 12 GW of nuclear capacity produced 15.3%. About 71% comes from fossil fuels. Gas and coal replaced the capacity lost by 2011 closure of eight nuclear power plants. Merkel’s government now plans to slash subsidies for new small solar plants by as much as a third.

Vojin Joksimovich is the author of three books and over 100 articles

http://moderntokyotimes.com

PS – The image of Fukushima nuclear plant applies to the early period of the crisis and does not resemble the situation today.