TIOL-DDT 1651 · Thursday, 14 July 2011 · story 6 of 6

10 things to learn from Japan - in a Crisis

AFTER the recent tragedy in Japan;

++ THE CALM: Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

++ THE DIGNITY: Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.

++ THE ABILITY: The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn't fall.

++ THE GRACE: People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.

++ THE ORDER: No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.

++ THE SACRIFICE: Fifty workers stayed back to pump seawater in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?

++ THE TENDERNESS: Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.

++ THE TRAINING: The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.

++ THE MEDIA : They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.

++ THE CONSCIENCE: When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly!