Assistance for the researchers affected by the Tohoku Earthquake Support from Germany No.1

(2011.04.02)

Assistance for the researchers affected by the Tohoku Earthquake
Support from Germany No.1

We received the following offer from the Max-Planck Society.

From: Hans Schoeler [mailto:h.schoeler@mpi-muenster.mpg.de]
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 6:20 PM

Dear Shin-Ichi,

I am now writing to you because of your exposed position as a scientist with an outstanding reputation and I assume that you can forward this request.

I feel relieved that you live in the safe south of Japan and from what I can tell all my friends in Japan are safe. But I do not know anyone at Tohoku University and do not know how bad actually the situation is there. And it still does not seem clear if the nuclear plant matters improve or become even worse and will affect Tokyo and other regions of Japan. But what I can tell you is that friends that I had talked to here in my home city Munster would like to offer help on a personnel basis if it is needed. I know that Japanese will do all they can to help each other, just as Germans would do. But just in case it is needed at some stage, please let me know and I will try to contribute to get support moving here in Munster and hopefully also in our State North-Rhine Westfalia. Maybe you can just pass this email to someone who has an oversight into what has to be done in case the situation requires it.

For example, for me as a father I would not care so much about me, but about my children and my wife. If I knew that they were safe, I would be more focused on rebuilding on what has been destroyed. The situation is different to mere destruction, because there is the current danger of radioactivity. How horrible this much be for Japan after Hiroshima and Nagasaki I cannot even imagine.

I have also talked to Dietmar and Ralf at our institute and it there are Japanese students who need to finish their PhD and want to come to Munster this might be another option. I am sure that the University of Munster will do the same when I ask and probably some people there are already initiating something. I am confident that I can get things moving at our side. I just need to know and I will do everything I can. If matters improve the least is that you know that there are friends outside Japan who would like to help. And I am sure that the Japanese people know how much respect the Germans have for Japan. You have been long enough in Germany to know. And now it is not only respect but deepest empathy.

All the best

Hans

From: Hans Schoeler [mailto:h.schoeler@mpi-muenster.mpg.de]
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 8:29 PM

Dear Shin-Ichi,

In addition to what I had sent you before, here is some additional information: I have been in touch with our MPS Vice-President Herbert Jackle and in addition to what will be done anyway from Max-Planck side via the

website www.nipponsciencesupport.net

we would like to know if the members of the Max Planck Society can do something along the lines that you wrote: The most emergent issue for Japanese academic society is to organize a storage of valuable frozen stocks from the affected institutes. Next activity is to list equipments and materials that we can spare from our institutes and send them. However, this would be the issue only after restoration of all infrastructures.

It would be great if you would allow us to join forces. Please let us know what is needed as soon as this information is available and this will be passed on to the members of the Max Planck Society. The more people that are asked the higher the chances.

Best Hans

etc163e
Update 2011.04.02