Japan’s Shake-Up Unearths Lessons

The massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan shows how disasters can destroy lives, wipe out cities and entire industries in a moment. But the experience also proves the value of governance, writes analyst David Rothkopf. Though hard to believe early in the crisis, preparation and technological investment allowed some warning, however brief, which did reduce the human toll. “No nation is better prepared for earthquakes or tsunamis, none has more exacting building codes, none spends more time drilling its citizens on how to respond to such crises, and none has a culture of cooperation and respect for the community that makes working together in the wake of such events more certain or effective,” contends Rothkopf. Disasters in high-density populated areas carry high costs; rising seas and other consequences of climate change add complications. Governments must not abandon their role to prepare and regulate, Rothkopf concludes, and instead must learn from each disaster to monitor standards, fund infrastructure upgrades and coordinate international responses. – YaleGlobal