LETTER FROM HAPPY ENGLISH SCHOOL October 22nd, 2018

October 22nd, 2018

LETTER FROM HAPPY ENGLISH SCHOOL

Hello. A disaster comes one after another. We have raised awareness of getting prepared for emergencies, where power is cut off, tap water is not supplied, and public transportation is suspended. I have checked our emergency bags to see if there is enough emergency food still edible that could survive us a couple of days as well as among other things needed when we are forced to stay at home or required to evacuate.

We are living in a disaster-prone country. We have had Okayama torrential rain, Northern Osaka earthquake, a couple of destructive typhoons and Hokkaido earthquake to name a few so far this year alone. We should learn from all these experiences and cope with coming disasters better. We tend to forget about a disaster if it does not directly affect us. However, a disaster happens anytime and anywhere. We should always keep that in mind.

Nature has formidable power. We are destined to live at the mercy of nature. We are weak and fragile before nature, but we can think about ways to keep in harmony with it and try to protect us from its rage. After all “Man is a thinking reed.”

今年は災害続き。災害に対する意識も高まったと思うものの、しばらくするとその意識も遠のいて行ってしまいます。災害はいつでもどこでも起こるものという思いで、備えることが大切。そして環境を守り、自然と調和する生活を送ることも常に心掛けなければなりません。今しきりに言われていることは、大量のプラスチックごみが海に漂い、色々な海の生物に影響を及していることです。プラスチックを食べた魚を人が食べ、結局プラスチックによる海洋汚染が、人に害を及ぼす自業自得の構図になっています。