JAPN410: quakes and nukes: (un)natural japanese environments
Course Description:
Japan is richly diverse, from the tundra-like north to the subtropical south. Its islands are shaped by earthquakes, volcanoes, and man-made ecologies. We study the Japanese archipelago from multiple scientific and humanistic perspectives, including material from scientific journals, films, history, anthropology, and Japanese comics. We cover the basics of Japanese geology, Pacific seismology (the ¿Ring of Fire¿), the causes and effects of nuclear radiation, and the changes to the land.
Japan is richly diverse, from the tundra-like north to the subtropical south. Its islands are shaped by earthquakes, volcanoes, and man-made ecologies. We study the Japanese archipelago from multiple scientific and humanistic perspectives, including material from scientific journals, films, history, anthropology, and Japanese comics. We cover the basics of Japanese geology, Pacific seismology (the ¿Ring of Fire¿), the causes and effects of nuclear radiation, and the changes to the land.
Reflective narrative
This JAPN410 class was an interesting introduction to the geography of Japan and the natural (and unnatural) disasters which have occurred. I learned a lot about how these disasters and environmental issues affect the country and the people who still live in these affected areas. The course utilized lectures, videos, discussion boards, and weekly quizzes in order for students to retain information in an online environment.
The course taught everything about Japan in relation to science. Although science is not my strong suit, I found myself becoming more involved in wanting to discuss and learn about tectonic plates, geological formations, and nuclear energy. I had never stopped to think about how revered landmarks such as Mount Fuji and the many rock formations in Yosemite even got there in the first place, and it was fascinating to dive into this developing query of mine and start recognizing the world around me. I was inspired by this course to take an even closer look at my environment and step into the unfamiliar. Monterey and many nearby areas in California have multiple rock formations, fault lines, and places where I can see erosion and tectonic plate action in person. I would love to explore not only the areas in California, but use the knowledge I have to venture outside of California and someday Japan to analyze the beautiful nature.
What I also found interesting in this course was nuclear energy and radiation. As a class, we looked at nuclear power plants inside the United States as well as outside of our America-centric viewpoint, we understood how nuclear energy can be utilized for good or for bad, and we learned the struggles citizens of radiation and nuclear disaster impacted areas. I was touched by many of the videos and films we watched relating to nuclear energy and how it affected innocent people. For example, I was drawn into the video “This Concrete Dome Holds A Leaking Toxic Timebomb | Foreign Correspondent,” as it documented the dome that covers up nuclear waste on Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. I have never learned about the Marshall Islands in any other classes in my life, I have only ever heard of the name in discussions for World War II. I think that is really what stood out to me, and was so unique about this class. I felt for the people who live on Enewetak Atoll and experience hardship with their island slowly being submerged and their language and culture becoming lost as well as the American people who were unknowingly exposed to nuclear radiation when they thought they were doing good for their country.
This brought up a discussion board debate on nuclear weapons to argue for or against the following statement: The United States should take complete responsibility for the continued effects of nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific. With this, America should ensure that test sites are adequately decontaminated and that victimized communities receive sustained compensation and support. My argument can be found here. I took my desire to help humans who struggle with the aftermath and the realities of these disasters even further in the course's final exam, within which I had to write an essay about how natural disasters and environmental issues have affected humans. That essay can be found here.
I plan to continue observing the areas around me and open my eyes to natural occurrences and news related to environmental issues, especially in Japan. I also make it my mission to continue spreading peace in areas that have been affected by natural disasters and nuclear radiation, even if that simply means sharing information online, donating to a support fund, or to take an even further action.
The course taught everything about Japan in relation to science. Although science is not my strong suit, I found myself becoming more involved in wanting to discuss and learn about tectonic plates, geological formations, and nuclear energy. I had never stopped to think about how revered landmarks such as Mount Fuji and the many rock formations in Yosemite even got there in the first place, and it was fascinating to dive into this developing query of mine and start recognizing the world around me. I was inspired by this course to take an even closer look at my environment and step into the unfamiliar. Monterey and many nearby areas in California have multiple rock formations, fault lines, and places where I can see erosion and tectonic plate action in person. I would love to explore not only the areas in California, but use the knowledge I have to venture outside of California and someday Japan to analyze the beautiful nature.
What I also found interesting in this course was nuclear energy and radiation. As a class, we looked at nuclear power plants inside the United States as well as outside of our America-centric viewpoint, we understood how nuclear energy can be utilized for good or for bad, and we learned the struggles citizens of radiation and nuclear disaster impacted areas. I was touched by many of the videos and films we watched relating to nuclear energy and how it affected innocent people. For example, I was drawn into the video “This Concrete Dome Holds A Leaking Toxic Timebomb | Foreign Correspondent,” as it documented the dome that covers up nuclear waste on Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. I have never learned about the Marshall Islands in any other classes in my life, I have only ever heard of the name in discussions for World War II. I think that is really what stood out to me, and was so unique about this class. I felt for the people who live on Enewetak Atoll and experience hardship with their island slowly being submerged and their language and culture becoming lost as well as the American people who were unknowingly exposed to nuclear radiation when they thought they were doing good for their country.
This brought up a discussion board debate on nuclear weapons to argue for or against the following statement: The United States should take complete responsibility for the continued effects of nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific. With this, America should ensure that test sites are adequately decontaminated and that victimized communities receive sustained compensation and support. My argument can be found here. I took my desire to help humans who struggle with the aftermath and the realities of these disasters even further in the course's final exam, within which I had to write an essay about how natural disasters and environmental issues have affected humans. That essay can be found here.
I plan to continue observing the areas around me and open my eyes to natural occurrences and news related to environmental issues, especially in Japan. I also make it my mission to continue spreading peace in areas that have been affected by natural disasters and nuclear radiation, even if that simply means sharing information online, donating to a support fund, or to take an even further action.