Here's some useful links if you are interested:
Current Road Situation (all in Japanese):
http://www.google.com/intl/ja/crisisres ... affic.html
The gray roads are impassible, the blue ones are OK. Changes daily. Gives you an idea of the extent of the damage and the rate of the cleanup.
MIT's Blog on the Situation
http://mitnse.com/
NHK World News (in English)
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-world-tv
University of Tokyo Hospital Radiation Guide (in English)
http://www.u-tokyo-rad.jp/data/toudaienglishvol3.pdf
WONDERFUL Radiation Exposure Guide
http://xkcd.com/radiation/
This one puts the mainstream media's hysteria in some perspective.
Japanese Governmental Documents (translated by University Students)
http://eq.wide.ad.jp/index_en.html
Hope this stuff helps people understand things a bit better.
best,
.............john
PS: I got the ball rolling on a relief fund targeted specifically at Japanese potters through the Potters Council of the American Ceramic Society. (I'm on the Board of Directors.) The tax deductable donation fund is located here if you are interested in donating and helping the artists recover:
http://www.pubservice.com/Submiscrcpt.a ... PK=S103DON