Temperatures are below freezing. In some places, there is even snow. Less than a week after the major disaster, it is still as if that day has not ended for the Japanese. Without electricity and heat, the Japanese are suffering extreme consequences. For one example, a two-year-old child’s life is threatened by the loss of power. Maleek Cavanagh has tracheostomy and uses a pump at home to help breathe. Though it runs on AC power, it needs electricity to charge after one hour. For Maleek, electricity is a necessity, not a luxury.
Due to the lack of electrical energy, Japanese companies are trying to preserve power. However, this does not affect Japan alone. Because electronic and automobile companies are suspending production, Chinese exports will be affected as well. Such companies include Toyota, Nikon, and Sony. Japanese plants also provide 60% of silicon in the world used in LCD panels. 35% of flash memory used in high-tech products are manufactured in Japan as well, slowing down the production of devices such as the new iPad 2. If enough energy cannot be generated to make these key components, other companies will be negatively affected since they will have to suspend some products until the electrical problem in Japan is fixed. In Japan’s busiest city, Tokyo, power supplies have been cut by a quarter, resulting in blackouts lasting several hours. Though these blackouts are temporary, they the city will be in this state for an estimated six months. According to Citigroup, “Japan may face ‘irreversible’ damage to power-supply capacity from the March 11 earthquake, limiting business activity.”
No comments:
Post a Comment