Tohoku Reconstruction 2
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- Created on Thursday, 06 October 2011 16:57
- Written by Andrew Coad
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This article is in response to Cesar Harada's TED Talk debate question: "Japan, Tohoku : after an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, how can the people overcome political inertia and implement new ideas?" The debate in full can be found here: http://www.ted.com/conversations/6128/japan_tohoku_after_an_earth.html
Coincidentally, I had a long conversation today with a gentleman who is an advisor to the township of Minamisoma and also sits on the reconstruction committee so I guess this information is pretty current.... he confirms that no funds have been recieved from central government as yet but the township has drafted a Yen1tn ($10bn) plan over 10 years (this figure is enormous and is a minimum value since the township expects it to increase over the years - it is approximately 10% of the entire reconstruction budget). He confirms that no reconstruction has started yet due to lack of availability of funds but they are ready to start as soon as funds are released. As to the nature of the reconstruction, the plan is to get a balanced mix of small businesses and huge conglomerates involved; they recognise the need to engage the local population in the reconstruction process not hand it off to mega-corporations with their headquarters in Tokyo (for example). He was very positive about the final result - he feels that a lot of experimental technology will be given a chance to succeed. Specifically he mentioned wind farms, sea generators, latest advances in networks, fibre and wireless. He painted a picture of a very technologically advanced township emerging from the wreckage. As to other townships, he thinks that they will take a similar approach. Physically, some will rebuild where the towns used to be, others will move the towns inland to higher ground but this will all be done based on the wishes of the local population. Sounds so good I might want to move there in a few years....