4 The Hampton Roads Messenger Editorial


Voters Should Accept Responsibility for the Newtown Shootings


and a reported child support income of over $250,000 per year, respectively; yet there are antisocial people who have not become mass murderers.


I heard that there is no way BY ANGELA JONES Since no one else seems to be


stepping up to do the right thing for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, I will do so. I will accept responsibility because I live in the United States, which is supposed to be a democracy. I accept responsibility because, as a voting member of this democracy, I did not ensure that legislators, who previously refused to enact laws that would prevent the mass shooting of innocent children, were not re-elected. After Columbine, after Virginia Tech, and after the movie theater shootings in Aurora, Colorado, when legislators refused to act by creating laws that would protect innocent victims from being hunted and slaughtered, I admit my culpability by not reacting to the inaction of would-be lawmakers.


There is enough blame to go


around. I believe school administrators have been doing everything within their limited power to make schools safe. Their efforts are just no match for the lethal combination of a lack of sufficient parenting, a society overwrought with violence and easy access to high-powered weapons.


The alleged perpetrator of


this heinous crime cannot accept responsibility because he is dead; furthermore, he is being hailed as a victim, himself. With a supposed mental illness that made him antisocial. There are a lot of antisocial people that do not have the resources of his father and mother; a million dollar salary


of predicting that someone who is antisocial will be a mass murderer. There is however a way to predict that he will not be; provide him with the medical attention he needs; do not allow him to spend hours playing violent video games; do not allow him to watch violent movies or television programs; do not teach him how to use guns and above all else, make sure he is doing something constructive with his time. If we did not believe it before, we should now be convinced that an idle mind is the devil's workshop. Playing video games and watching television is definitely idleness.


As parents, we have a


responsibility to make sure we raise children, who can contribute positively to society. This is no one's responsibility other than our own. If we cannot live up to that responsibility, instead of leaving our children to their own devices and allowing television and video games to shape them, we must admit our inadequacies and give up control to someone or some institution that is equipped to meet the challenge. We fail our children and society when we do not protect them from themselves. If we know someone who seems to be a ticking time bomb, it is better to be safe than sorry. Leave it up to the experts to determine if these people are a danger to society or not. One can only alert the authorities to their concerns and their job is done.


If you know someone who


behaves irrationally and may be a possible threat to themselves or others, it is your civic duty to report it to the proper authorities. Imagine if one teacher, if one psychologist, if one parent, if one relative or if one friend had let someone know that the alleged shooter in Newtown may have been a danger to himself or others, 26 lives could have been saved including the life of the shooter, and I would not have to accept responsibility. Let’s put the responsibility back where it belongs, on legislators, and vote accordingly in the next election.


Volume 7 Number 5


January 2013


Japan Gifts NOAA $5 Million to Address Tsunami Marine Debris


BY RAFU SHIMPO The government of Japan


announced Nov. 30 a gift of $5 million to the U.S., through NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Marine Debris Program, to support efforts in response to marine debris washing ashore in the U.S. from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.


The purpose of the donation is to


demonstrate goodwill toward the U.S., which gave tremendous support in the wake of Great East Japan Earthquake, including Operation Tomodachi, in which U.S. forces assisted in rescue and recovery operations.


Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda


announced this gift to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a courtesy call from Clinton during his visit to Vladivostok to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in September.


The funds will be used to support


marine debris response efforts, such as removal of debris, disposal fees, cleanup supplies, detection and monitoring. NOAA anticipates distributing funds to affected regions as the funds are received from Japan and will work to determine immediate needs and plan for future applications.


Since the disaster, NOAA has


been leading efforts with federal, state and local partners to coordinate a response, collect data, assess the debris, and reduce possible impacts to natural resources and coastal communities.


“We are extremely grateful to


Established 2006 Angela Jones, Publisher Chris Parks, Editor


Rae Willis, Graphic Designer Ida Davis, Contributing Writer


PO Box 10414 ● Norfolk, VA 23513


Sales and Information 757-575-1863 info@hamptonroadsmessenger.com Copyright pertaining to contents of this edition. All rights reserved.


Japan for its generous support to the American people. The tragedy set in motion by the earthquake and tsunami continues to be tangible, but it brought our nations together. This gift is a powerful reminder of the goodwill, friendship and spirit of mutual support between our people,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and administrator of NOAA. “We appreciate this partnership and collaboration with Japan as we work to keep our ocean and coasts healthy.”


Debris from the disaster has


drifted across the Pacific and reached shorelines in the U.S. and Canada. In July, NOAA provided $50,000 each to Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon and California to support response efforts.


Items from the tsunami that


have drifted to U.S. shores include sports balls, a floating dock, buoys and vessels. Mariners and the public can help report debris by emailing DisasterDebris@noaa.gov


with


information on significant sightings. For the latest information on tsunami debris, visit marinedebris.noaa.gov/ tsunamidebris.


NOAA’s mission is to understand


and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine resources. Visit www.noaa.gov and find NOAA on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels.


Additional Statements “We’re pleased that Japanese


government is providing funds to help agencies in California and the other states affected by tsunami debris offset some of our response and cleanup costs, particularly at a time when state and local budgets are tight,” said Mark Ghilarducci of the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA), which coordinates overall state-agency emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts in California. “The funds provided by the Japanese government, combined with the $50,000 previously allocated by NOAA, will help relieve some of the financial burden that response and cleanup has placed on California agencies and taxpayers. We look forward to working with our local, state and federal partners to restore life along the coast to normal as quickly as possible and to meet the challenges ahead.”


“The people of the CNMI (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) have been concerned with the debris discovered in some of the coastal states’ shorelines. While there are currently no reported discoveries in the CNMI yet, we remain vigilant because of our very close proximity to Japan,” said CNMI Gov. Benigno R. Fitial. “We thank Japan for its generosity and we take comfort in knowing that NOAA’s Marine Debris Program will have this funding source for those affected or will be affected.”


“Oregonians appreciate this


gesture of goodwill from the people of Japan. The Misawa dock landing on our shore was a reminder of the tsunami’s devastation, but also of the ocean our two nations share,” said Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber.


“In the wake of the devastating


tsunami, this commitment by the government of Japan is an ongoing demonstration of the nation’s continued contributions to the international community,” said Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire. “It’s also a true indication of their friendship and generosity. Their assistance will help our coastal communities respond to possible increases in debris and protect our coastal environment. We continue to offer our condolences for the tragedy that claimed so many lives and the need for so much rebuilding in Japan, and continue to admire the strength, commitment and resilience of the Japanese people.”


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