It is really horrible what's happened in Japan a few days ago. My heart goes out to the families of those who died in the earthquake.
As a camera lover as we all are here, I am wondering whether development of new cameras, lenses will be set back because of the recent natural disaster in Japan?
I think this is a fair question many others are wondering about, but perhaps in their desire to show support for Japan aren't asking out loud for fear their real intentions won't be well understood.
There are many questions of this type many around the globe are asking. Car dealers are asking because they're financially tied to their supply channels and need to make sound business decisions, airlines in the region I'm sure are going nuts rerouting and all the related airline service industries need to know where to put their resources to best serve the region and Japan, sea freight companies probably have hundreds of ships either being rerouted or holding offshore with critical and routine supplies, and thousand's of other industries involved with the Japanese economy are asking the same sort of questions not only because of their own self interests, but because the rebuilding of Japan depends heavily on how fast their economy rebounds.
Right now humanitarian efforts are paramount, closely followed by technical solutions with the nuclear power stations. But once these areas are attended to, and let's all hope as soon as possible.. then Japan's long term recovery will depend on their economy.
It sounds strange, but in 6-12 months perhaps the best thing we will be able to do for Japan as individuals is "Buy Japan", purchasing their exports provides the means for industry to put their citizens back to work and help normalize their lives.
Every emergency, every disaster, every significant impact on a nation, results in scores of people doing immediate, short, and long term planning.. and this involves tons of research and analysis.. asking questions.
I think making thoughtless jokes, insensitive comments, or pushing personal political agendas are way out of line. But asking questions and thinking about Japan's future can only help the Japanese in the long term. Much better to ask questions and keep them in the spotlight.. than forgotten about like some other nations which have suffered natural disasters in the past few years..
Here in Thailand a tsunami did considerable damage not long ago. I've personally walked the areas immediately after, and many times since, and many thoughts both negative and positive ran through my mind. At first I had negative thoughts about the 'thoughtless tourists' who traveled to these areas just months after it happened, and partied away in the hurriedly rebuilt areas the local businessmen provided.. but it didn't take long to realize that while they weren't aid workers donating their efforts to the cause, they were helping put the locals back to work and injecting much needed funds into the economy.
It's terrible to watch a nation suffer.. and it's probably going to get much worse for them. It's going to take all kinds to help put them back together again.