12 April 2 - 15, 2011 Japan from Page 1
“Some people I still cannot reach,” she says. “I don’t know if they’re dead or if they can’t phone. Everyone’s looking for loved ones.”
Her tone grows urgent as she attempts to describe the severity of the suffering in the country that she, her husband, Chris, and their three children visited only last summer. Because earthquakes are so common on Japan’s main island, residents keep backpacks on hand with food and necessary medicine, says Heinzmann.
“Most of the people are prepared, but not like this.” She shakes her head. “No light, no heat – it’s super cold, below 30. There’s snow. People are staying in big gyms and the fl oors are so cold. Now they’re worried about disease and fl u.”
Heinzmann’s contacts inside Japan and her understanding of the country have given her an insider’s view of the disaster. She speaks of the destruction of the region’s important rice crop, and the hardships faced by new mothers, who due to the stress of their ordeal are unable to nurse their infants and have no access to formula. Other shortages include food, gasoline, medicine, doctors, clean water and diapers. Although residents in Tokyo and other parts of Japan are sending what they can to affected areas, the region’s ruined infrastructure is preventing delivery to those who need it most.
“Things are really, really serious, more than we think and more than we expected,” Heinzmann says. “So many things on the computer right now, they just make me cry.”
Along with property and lives, the earthquake and tsunami have taken an emotional toll. Rumors abound all across the mainland, says Heinzmann, especially regarding the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
Community
power plant, “even though it is far away.” Twitter messages warning of radiation poisoning have spread like wildfi re, and Japan’s population, having suffered through dozens of aftershocks, must also contend with the dread of more earthquakes.
“People are really sensitive to movement,” Heinzmann says, explaining that the sensation is similar to what one feels after stepping off a moving elevator or boat. “Always they are thinking, ‘Earthquakes are coming, earthquakes are coming.’ “Children scream when they hear something loud,” she adds. “They get so nervous right now.” The Arizona Gakuen at Mesa Community College, where Heinzmann teaches, held its long-planned graduation the day after the earthquake. Parents and teachers “didn’t make a big deal” of the events in Japan, allowing the students to enjoy their special day, but since then, Heinzmann and her own children have visited Japanese restaurants and retirement homes in the East Valley, gathering Red Cross donations for the earthquake’s victims.
“From where we are, we can only pray for them and help by raising money,” she explains. “I don’t want people to forget right away because it’s so far, far away.”
Still, Heinzmann is convinced that Japan and its people will rebound, “because somehow the Japanese soul is, ‘We’re going to do it,’” she says. “That’s what we believe. ‘We’re going to do it. We’ll try again.’ So it’s going to be really quick. We’re going to build it and go again.”
Submitted photo
K. M. Lang lives and writes in Sun Groves. To contact her, email
KMLang@SanTanSun.com.
www.SanTanSun.com
SanTan Sun residents care
Several local and national groups are working to raise money for the victims of Japan’s earthquake and tsunami. According to Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne, those wishing to help should choose “reputable, established charitable organizations.” Local and national groups collecting donations for Japan relief include: • Chandler Christian Church –
www.chandlercc.org
• UUA Japan Relief Fund -
www.uua.org/giving/funds
• American Red Cross -
www.redcross.org • Salvation Army –
www.salvationarmyusa.org
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