From ALJAZEERA:
Deaths from heatstroke in Japan quadrupled in the early part of summer as temperatures rose and air conditioners were switched off in line with government appeals to curb electricity usage to avoid power blackouts.
From June 1 to July 10, the latest period available, 26 people died from heatstroke compared with six in the same period last year, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The number of people taken by ambulance to hospitals for heatstroke more than tripled to 12,973, with 48 percent in the most-at-risk group aged 65 years or older.
“There’s a risk the number of patients will continue to rise if people stop using air conditioners at home,” said Yasufumi Miyake, associate professor at Showa University Hospital, who led a nationwide study of heatstroke. “Elderly people are the most vulnerable as they try to tough it out.”
EDITOR: Sorry, but the article disappeared before we could capture the link. For these oldsters and much of the rest of the Japanese population, the concept of “We” rather than “Me” still prevails. Douglas MacArthur taught them well! But that sense of identity which prevailed here in the USA in the 1940’s and for a couple of decades later has been lost by a large portion of our popoulation which is at the heart of our nation’s troubles and decline.
