January 2010 Archives
Oita Godo Newspaper (January 16, 2010, 08:45)
Large earthquake in Haiti, the Caribbean Island, has occurred at 4.53 pm. on Tuesday 12 January, 2010. The minister of Haiti said the number of victims will reach to 200,000.
The officials had said this earthquake that devastated Haiti was the worst to strike in two centuries. Its magnitude 7.0 brought down buildings great and small - from shacks to President Rene Preval's white National Palace. Now they found the death bodies around 50,000 people but the forecast of death people will be around 100,000-200,000 people.
The US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton,had meeting President Preval. Her plane is bringing in supplies and will carry evacuated Americans back home. In addition, The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, estimated that in the worst areas 50% of buildings were damaged or destroyed, leaving 3 million people without access to food, water, shelter and electricity. Ban said he will plan to visit Haiti soon.
Comment: I guess this is the most sadness news of this year. It's sad to see the number of people died and those got injured in Haiti. I hope they all will get recued soon.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (January 14, 2010, 20:57)
Tokyo Tower was lit up in two colors during Protecting Disaster& Volunteer week, 15th to 21st January, 2010 to remind the Great Hanshin Earthquake in south Hyogo prefecture.
It was colored in green and yellow lights. The meaning of green color is "to safe" while yellow means "to hope". The purpose of this project is to encourage people to raise their awareness of disaster protection since the Great Hanshin Earthquake has occurred in the Hanshin area on January 17, 1995. Many Industrial buildings, factories and houses were damaged at that time.
Mr. Nakai, the tower operator officials said that the top and the bottom part will light up in yellow and the middle of the tower will light up in green. Many people who are passing around also stop and look at the beautiful of the tower or take a picture of it.
Comment: I myself have been to Tokyo many times but never been to Tokyo Tower. So next time I must go there to see the beautiful of the tower and go up to the top deck to see the view of Tokyo!!
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (January 20, 2010 17:24)
KDDI (au), on September 20, announced the start of "Gan Gan Student Discount", a campaign to discount 390 yen of basic monthly fee for cell phone up to three years towards students from elementary school up to college students. And in the case of "Simple Plan E", the basic fee will be a half of 390 yen again.
Application period is from February 9 to May 9. In the spring selling season coincided with the increase of new subscriber enrollment, they aims to attract new users, whom mostly are young student first allowed to buy a mobile phone, by appealing a lower rate.
To obtain this discount, a user must join the specified plan with two-year contract. Those who are already using au mobile phones can also apply.
Even after you graduate from a school, this discount campaign will still be applied for three years counted from the application. New subscribers will receive family discounts on basic charge as well.
Comment: Oh my god! This is so attractive and it is a war between Japan's mobile companies, which then become the most beneficial for customers like us! However, I already made a contract with Softbank - -"
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Oita Godo Newspaper (December 15, 2009, 14:56)
Oita's accident-zero movement at the end of year and the New Year was begun on December 15. This will last until January 4 for the total of 21 days with "Prevention of Fatal Traffic Accident in the elderly" as the theme, calling for better compliance with traffic rules and manners, strengthening the crackdown on traffic vicious violations including drunken driving.
The provincial council, the police, the provincial administration for safe driving, and etc. held the departure ceremony for the enforcement and publicity activities at the space in front of the prefectural office. Approximately 150 people attended. As the representative of the administration, Yakushiji-san (23) of Nishi Tetsu Oita Techno Support declared that "I will drop the speed if I see elderly walking pass the street and yield a course when I see a maple mark."
As many as 14 buses and taxi, with the magnet plate written "Let's prevent accident in elderly people", were launched. The magnet plate will be stuck on approximately 2,500 more cars of participating enterprises.
Comment: Very good and careful consideration of elderly safety. But I wonder that does Japan have more elder than younger traffic accident victims during the New Year vacation? In Thailand, we do not have such specific safety campaign for elderly but general safety campaign for everyone.
PUNTHUCHAT Siripun
Thailand
APS4, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
(Oita Godo Newspaper, January 19th 2010, morning paper)
Japan Airlines had applied for company restructuring, and from January
19th the reconstruction of company under the government's management had
started. The employees of Japan Airlines expressed "Today, we have become one
and we will do our best!" Also, from the customers of Japan Airlines who have
been using the services, words of support and encouragements could be heard,
such as "we hope for the successful reconstruction" and "we want to use more of
JAL's services to help".
The employees of Japan Airlines had gathered from 8 o'clock in the
morning at the headquarter in Shinagawa area, Tokyo. A lot of journalists from domestic and overseas were
present, but the employees refused to give any comments and silently rushed to
the headquarter.
A female employee in her forties who works in the Business Operations Department expressed, "We are attached emotionally to the companies. I am worried about the restructuring process but today we can only do our best. I feel like crying..."
A male employee in his forties said, "We can only do our best to support
in a safe way. If there is any accident happening, we will lose the trust in
society, and eventually we will not able to help Japan Airlines. I am feeling a
sense of crisis".
Comment:
I feel symphathetic to Japan Airlines who has to undergo the restructuring. According to the news related to the executive compensation the I read last year, I came to know that the CEO of JAL actually cut his own salary and compensation in solidarity with the other employees and he even takes public bus and eat in the canteen together with other employees. I felt really touch by his actions. However, the financial condition worsens, as airline industry is indeed easily affected by financial crisis. Nonetheless, I hope for JAL's recovery.
NUGROHO Katarina Marsha Utama
Indonesia
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, APM3
