On picture: Olympus facility in Japan
I just got good news from Japan. All Olympus employees are safe, nobody was injured and all facilities are secure. There will be of course some problems with the current activities and production but that’s just a temporary and not so important issue in those days.
Meanwhile Panasonic made a 300 million yen monetary contribution and in-kind donations of 10,000 units each of radios and flashlights and 500,000 dry batteries to aid victims and support the recovery of areas affected by the strong earthquake that struck Tohoku area on March 11.
P.S.: Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
13 Responses
That’s great. In return I just purchased 50 shares of Panasonic stock. I’m also thinking about buying that 12-50mm once it’s released.
Can’t help loving the Japanese – listening to the radio today. A reporter was interviewing an 80+ year old from a hillside looking down at a ruined village.
The translation of the old man’s chatter was, simply, “We will rebuild”
Awe inspiring
They are awe inspiring. Even during the recent global recession, I was inspired by them. Seeing their CEO’s reducing their own pay or bonus’s (some even only working for a dollar) so that their company’s and (more importantly) employees could make it through the recession.
And now this, seeing how brave and calm they all are in the face of this, I know they will inspire all of us to overcome whatever difficulties we may face in life.
Dear admin,
I am very happy about your pleasant news about Olympus staff after the tsunami and nuclear catastrophe!
I hope that the Panasonic staff is healthy as well.
It is great that they support the Japanese people in these hard times with donations and relief items.
Our hats off to the Japanese who are so stoic in the face of this catastrophe. There is so much devotion to culture, country and employer, that we will be amazed at the re-building and renewal. In addition to being awed by the amazing imagery of the tsunami’s progress and destruction, was struck by how many people had video cameras at hand in their society.
If the world of people can learn from the Japanese to be less selfish and live together in harmony with peace by caring and helping each other, the world can be much better.
Oh please… Cut the dripping orientalist idealism (together, harmony, peace…). I love Japan but I don’t think it’s the human paradise on earth you’re describing…
I ain’t paradise, but their society has handled the disaster very well it seems like. For instance there seem to be virtually no looting after the disaster. Which is pretty impressive.
The world is not perfect, of course. Otherwise, there will be no war, but I am really impressed by how Japanese help the visitors during the disaster. I don’t think it will happen in the rest of the world!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-VoXxwGWYc
take a look of the video tnx
nice to hear pana and olympus is doing there best to help the country
A quote from dpreview:
“…while it’s clear that these events will have an impact on the photographic industry, we feel now is not the time to be speculating on such issues.”
I feel so too.
Agree with Elniorg that we should avoid patronising, rose tinted comments. However, disasters such as these snap things into focus faster than a GH2 and generally bring out the positives in humanity. It is only when we get bored and listless that we argue, fight and worry about ISO25600 pixel peeping…….
Good news. They’re probably happy they make all the bodies and the kit lenses in China, as that way they don’t have all their “production eggs” in one “basket.”
All that said, the Japanese supply and distribution chains will certainly have broken links that will disrupt business for a considerable time. No one company operates in a vacuum.
My continued best wishes to the people of Japan on this still unfolding horror.