I tend to be a worrywart, but in these circumstances I think that being a worrywart is the right approach to take. The situation is both agonizing and unstable, and the idea of anyone coming in to Japan to face risk at this moment seems impractical. Added to that the power blackouts, and it's not optimum conditions for the skaters to train and practice.
Doris, thanks so much for the detailed information about the nuclear facilities. Everyone else, thanks for any updates you've been able to find from the skaters and the organizations.
I know that nothing we say will have any bearing on the outcome, but it does help me to talk about it and to hear everyone else's ideas. This catastrophe is so hard to process.
thank you, olympia, for so often saying what i would like to, and so eloquently.
i really like what serious business said about how not holding the event at the scheduled time would be akin to 'donating power to the country', about not taking up precious electricity at this time. but how much electricity the competition would require vs. the possible uplift to the spirit, the message of still living the day to day life, even in the face of such daunting disaster, i don't know.
on the other hand, if i'm one of the displaced japanese citizens, coping with enormous hardships, might i not feel it's disrespectful of the goverment, of the ISU to carry on such an event at a time when the needs of the displaced aren't sufficiently served. of course it's not a one to one exchange, as if not holding the event will mean 45 more displaced people don't suffer hypothermia or hunger for 4 days. and as somebody else has pointed out, a brave and stoic people wouldn't likely voice such sentiments...
i, for one, won't second guess any decision made. and like olympia i check in here to hear other people talk, it's almost like having a support group to help me cope with the enormity of it all. in times like these even agnostics like me pray.