Yesterday the first U.S. government-chartered flight left Japan for Taipei, carrying about 100 family members of American diplomats. The State Department has urged American citizens to leave Japan due to the worsening situation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Pentagon spokesperson Colonel Dave Lapan said, “these measures are temporary and dependents will return when the situation is resolved.” Among those heeding the State Department’s warnings are 200 American students studying at Temple University Japan in Tokyo. Temple will be providing them with a charter flight out of the country in the coming days. These students are a minority of Temple Japan’s 3,300 students, and they are leaving voluntarily. Many of the school’s students and staff are staying in Tokyo, including Temple University Japan’s dean, Bruce Stronach.
At The World, we believe strongly that human-centered journalism is at the heart of an informed public and a strong democracy. We see democracy and journalism as two sides of the same coin. If you care about one, it is imperative to care about the other.
Every day, our nonprofit newsroom seeks to inform and empower listeners and hold the powerful accountable. Neither would be possible without the support of listeners like you. If you believe in our work, will you give today? We need your help now more than ever!