We should think about applying "tendenko" method of surviving disasters

Hi everybody

Yesterday earthquake might remain a nightmare for everybody, especially those in the areas affected. The huge tsunami that possibly generated by the enormous quake with 8.7 in Richter scale luckily did not strike. But the buzz about devastating 2004 tsunami might happen again terrified the people in Aceh province of Indonesia, and perhaps people in other places too. It made them panic. Well, it is normal to be panic in such situation but the most important thing to do is, run for your life. Save yourself first to survive.

Some Japanese ran to save their lives as Tsunami hit the country in March a year ago (pic from google)

Saving ourselves first when a disaster is happening is really important. It is not that we do not care of anybody or anything but we just want to make sure that we are safe, so that we can think ways to help others later. I find this brilliant method of surviving by Japanese people. It is called tendenko, or self-preservation. It teaches us how to rescue ourselves first when a disaster hit our living land. How is it? Simple, just run for your life--without worrying anybody and anything.

This simple yet tremendously helpful way of surviving disaster was coined by Professor Toshitaka Takada from Gunma University. It was taught to the people of Japan as a project of tsunami prevention. Even the school pupils know this method. Reportedly, the tendenko was behind the high rates of survival in Hama district of Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture. Although the district was right before the sea and hit by more than 30 meters high wave, none of school children were victimized in both quake and tsunami. They had been told to run uphill to save their lives when quake struck. Thus, the tsunami wave could not touch their skin, even an inch. Amazing, right?

It is crucial to teach children with such knowledge as children, in one hand, do not have worries as much as adults do. Hence, they can easily apply it during disasters. Moreover, they are young generations that have huge potential to build brighter future for the country. Thus they have to be rescued first. The adults, on the other hand, due to their life experiences and attached communal values, they have tendency to save the others. The possibility to use tendenko method may not be as  much as the children. However, if they care of themselves, and the others as well, they have to be safe at the first place. If they are safe, they have opportunities to help the other survivors. At the end, it will help to push forward the recovery efforts.

In my view, this tendenko method is terrific and could be used as a better solution to Japan and other tsunami-prone regions. Here in south east Asia, especially in Indonesia, as we live in the Pacific ring of fire, that our lives are potentially threatened by massive quakes and tsunami, we should start thinking of using this method. If everybody in disaster-affected areas could think of saving themselves first without worrying anyone and anything, everybody will survive and casualties could be minimized.