We're watching the news and reading the online newspapers following the worrying developments in the Sendai region in general and the explosion at the nuclear plant Fukushima I in particular. The grainy images of earthquake rubble, the flood moving vehicles and buildings, and the smoking reactor hall paint a picture of terrible events. Aftershocks of various kinds are indeed happening and the continued loss of lives makes us very sad. Our thoughts go to the victims, their families and friends.