trojan sunset

Trojan sunset, which sounds like some exotic and potent cocktail, or Delta Dawn (what’s that flower you have on, could it be a faded rose from days gone-by?) or whatever it is being called is some inscrutable name for an operation—that has been renamed the military forces of the various players (the French Opération Harmattan, the English Operation Ellamy) and called a crusade by the antagonists, and I doubt there’s even appreciable irony in it, much less some symbolic or allegorical meaning behind it. Many argue that the debates at the United Nation, on whether to violate the sovereignty of one of its members by imposing a no-fly-zone, was glacial and infuriating. Inaction, times before, allowed the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and the genocide in Rwanda. It is decision that is not without sympathy and an unenvious debate, since whatever coalition, backed with whatever support, has to proceed with extreme caution.  Hopefully, the motivation is framed by a genuine desire to want to protect fledgling reform movements in the region and protect citizens potentially in harm’s way, and not bemoaning lack of engagement or invitation to participate in those emboldening rebellions. Or just another excuse to make war and raise armies, which has dangerous and scary parallels—nearly word for word, with the aggression in Iraq, which has not yet ended well, and began with enforcement, albeit more autocratically but with the eventual endorsement of the global community, to unseat a madman from power, who was also a danger to his own citizens and the broader region. It is not an easy task to surgically dissect the way dissent is playing out here, and disaffectedness is either not so well studied and established or seemingly not as universal as in the other uprisings. After leadership was tolerated or made the confidant of Western powers for so many years, distrust and aversion are not so lightly earned without suspicion. Because or despite of this intervention, however it may escalate, one hopes that peace and prosperity can return and that the conduits for dialogue and diplomacy are not shut off.

iod

Boing Boing science maven, Maggie Koerth-Baker, has a very praiseworthy article, really outstanding reporting, on the panic over radiation, which is no doubt spreading much faster than the trade-winds could carry it and is not growing more diffuse, answering questions about what precautions could be taken and what's counterproductive. In the face of all this alarm, run on salt, and nonsensical pledges to stop all emanations at the border, this quality of journalism and reflection is very refreshing and informed.

auto-archive or bait-and-switch

here is quite a bit of twitterpation about a a certain outreach initiative among the US armed-forces and the trans-national military-industrial complex called Operation Metal Gear, that is really a novel and new form of owning up to skull-duggery.
 This program is designed, ostensibly, to render formerly anonymous posts and social network activity into a form of self-incriminating libel by filling in the connections and transitions of bloggers and social-butterflies. Personnally, I became very suspicious of bookface once the US army embraced it and removed nearly all restrictions on networks for friends, though admittedly it makes it easier for many people to pretend that they are working. The operation's second, though perhaps primary, goal is to raise an army of sockpuppet (bot or spam) accounts in order to manipulate public opinion.

 Tools of propaganda and disinformation could certainly influence the shape of revolts to come and such moles, monitored and imbued with uncanny realism, could tell people what to think, and we have certainly made it a simple matter to pass the Chinese Room test. Of course the Pyramid Scheme, chain-letter, and cult indoctrination are modes that have become too labour-intensive. Whenever coming across something antiquated and therefore inaccessible--unlike most American public institution, the military is not lousy with obsolete technology, except what it was managed to horde through inaction, I wonder if ne'er-do-wells would even take the time. Perhaps such out-dated formats have become the best hiding place.

duck and cover

The Cold War with bleak spectors of destruction and mutual mistrust was a very frightening backdrop for anyone, especially for those growing up and inheriting a standoff little understood or explained. Brave and dignified, no riots, looting or panic--though it would be OK to say one was afraid--the Japanese do not need to contend the added pressures of outside speculation. Help and prayers are there and are not to be begrudged with coaching and criticism.
There have been accidents and close calls all along, possibly from which nothing was learnt, but it was never broadcast in such a way that they are open to everyone's speculation and interpretation. I was reminded of the dreary, anachronistic film with Gregory Peck and Frank Sinatra "On the Beach," that is by far the most poignant and depressing apocalyptic movie made. Another contender for its futility is Nicholas Cage in "Knowing." On the Beach is set in a world whose atmosphere is poisoned by the nuclear fallout of World War III and the only habitatable zone is left is in Austrailia. The line, "Let this not all be in vain," is absolutely crushing and haunting. The reality for countless people is horrid enough without imagined and stagey eschatolgy, and it can be worked through, together, with a better outlook on the future.

ee-i-ee-i-o

 It is difficult to gauge what response is in line with the deteriorating nuclear situation, and how that sentiment ought to be translated to atomic energy globally. No one can say how bad it is and what, hypothetically, could happen. 

Cloudmaker II, from my office window--not among the  reactors

built before 1980 in Germany and scheduled to be taken off-line

Can energy demands be met without nuclear power and without added pollution and cost? Auditing and taking a critical look at the industry as well as fears are necessary and constructive reactions, but crisis can sometimes lead to hyperbolic thought-experiments. Jane Fonda played the heroine in the film “The China Syndrome,” which debuted amazingly less than two weeks before the disaster at the Three Mile Island power plant in Pennsylvania. The China Syndrome refers to the extreme, catastrophic case, when the pool of melted radioactive fuel burns through the containment shield and into the Earth below.

Not very reassuringly, scientists say it is impossible for a melt-down to be so hot and sustained to bore through the Earth (a hole all the way to China) or reach the Earth’s core, but soil and ground water could be harshly contaminated. I suppose the detractors for CERN’s super-collider citing its potential for creating microscopic black-holes—also not very reassuringly deemed unlikely, would have garnered more support today. There is a lot of speculation and panic and it is very hard to know what sources to trust: industry lobbyists and iodine-peddlers should probably be suspect, as well as power companies. Even though there is not a great presence on site, groups like the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should be reliable and scientific sources. German shorthand for all these super-national bodies usually includes “organization” in the abbreviated name, hence United Nations Organization as UNO or IAEA-O.

elective-affinities or great caesar's ghost

Every moment is rich with buried news, especially at times like these when there are so other championed causes demanding attention: rebellions and reform in the Middle East and North Africa, unprecedented and frightening devastation in Japan, dirty political and corporate laundry. All this chaos is not in competition and lessons and opportunity to help abound, but resources are rarified in these on-going tumults. Events do not often have well-defined conclusions, neatly categorized and relegated to special studies and advocates, and never without ripples, ancient and disperse but still with potency. Triangulating among all the headlines and raw bursts of information can help one get bearings and better guess how these incidents interact and bear on one another on higher, resounding levels. It is maybe just as much those less nightmarish events that form a moment, non-doctrinaire. Many things are just nightmares and insurmountable traumas, and there is no discounting urgency for those things that cannot be undone, and channeling the incidental and supporting might prevent similar events, no matter how baroque with influences, from occurring again.

GAU und super-GAU

It is no doubt a critical and evolving situation in Japan and the situation can quickly slip into something far, far worse.

There is a large dose of sensationalism in the news, some merited and some bald panic, which is providing a strange pressure and counter-balance to the misery and worry. Germany, having lived with reality of the fallout from Chernobyl and dependent on nuclear power, should be prepared for dialogue and adjustments where necessary. If the disasters in Japan can inspire safer custody of the global array of atomic mills, and their by-products, or make nuclear power a true bridge-technology to more viable passive energy-sources, that is a measured and positive response. GAU, Größter Anzunehmender Unfall, is an abbreviation for the worst case scenario, and a Super-GAU is what's beyond the ability to contain. It is scary and Japan should know it is not facing this tragedy alone.

The terror being broadcast, however unintentional, has a certain tone, as if such behaviour is unbecoming of civilized nation. It is collective shock and disbelief that such catastrophes can befall the mighty and the ongoing dissonance with the relative calm and order and perseverance of the brave Japanese people. With help and the right approach, these enormous tribulations will be overcome and rebuilt with solider foundations. Economically, Japan will thrive as well--within the same global framework and on the forefront. Distaste, however, will probably develop for the more negative, unconstructive side of finance: focused on recovery, Japan will not want--or need, to buy and hold US debt, supporting America's profligate habits and policies. A productive market, backed by real industry, will be another positive legacy.