Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, Japan, 2011

Date: 2011

From: Winter, Mark, 1958- : Digital cartoons published in the Southland Times and other papers

Reference: DCDL-0017469

Description: Text reads 'Japan dumps radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean'. Further text reads 'The fission industry' and in the sea below swim dozens of radioactive fish. Context - following the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March in Japan a nuclear energy plant in Fukushima (200 km from Tokyo) was damaged; efforts to cool the overheated fuel rods mean there is an enormous amount of water contaminated with radioactivity to store safely - some of the less contaminated water is being flushed into the ocean. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Hawkey, Allan Charles, 1941- :[Digital cartoons published in the Waikato Times].

Reference: DCDL-0017299

Description: In the first frame is a Japanese flag flying proudly and in the second the rising sun has become the graph of a large seismic event. Context - The Japanese earthquake of 11 March 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Evans, Malcolm Paul, 1945- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017359

Description: The cartoon shows a starry night sky and the words 'He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!' Translates as 'What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!' Context - may refer to a sense of heightened unease because of the Christchurch earthquake of 22 February 2011 and now the catastrophic Japanese earthquake of 11 March 2011 that is threatening nuclear disaster because of the meltdown of spent fuel rods in nuclear reactors in Fukushima. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Tremain, Garrick, 1941- :[Digital cartoons published in the Otago Daily Times]

Reference: DCDL-0017386

Description: The cartoon shows a chaotic scene of piles of smashed buildings, cars and boatstop of which lies a dead whale. Context - The Japanese earthquake of 11 March 2011 which was followed by a gigantic tsunami that has damaged a nuclear power plant about 200 km from Tokyo. The whale is a reminder that Japan is still hunting whales for food in the face of international condemnation. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Hubbard, James, 1949-: Digital caricatures and cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017302

Description: The cartoon is a spoof of Rodin's famous sculpture 'The thinker' and shows it with a globe for its head. It holds a newspaper that reads 'Massive 'quake in Japan - ChCh. 'quake, China 'quake, Aus. Floods fires etc. etc.' The thinker ponders 'What's with all these disasters?..' Context - The massive earthquake in Japan that led to a devastating tsunami and now threats from several damaged nuclear power stations, the earthquakes in Christchurch on 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011, the 5.8-magnitude earthquake in Yingjiang County, southwest China's Yunnan Province on March 15, 2011, and the January floods in Queensland, Australia, as well as bush fires on the outskirts of the Western Australia capital Perth. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Evans, Malcolm Paul, 1945- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017321

Description: In the top frame American President Obama gets a call for help (Japanese script) from Japan and says 'We're on our way!' and in the lower frame he gets a call for help (Arabic script) from Libya and pretends that he is finding it hard to hear; he says 'What was that? Say again! Could you speak up! It's a bad line! Huh? What?' Context - The first frame refers to the USA response to Japan after the 11 March earthquake and tsunami and the second refers to the cautious stance taken by the US over the desire by a number of nations to impose a no-fly zone over Libya in an attempt to stop the military attacks unleashed by Colonel Gaddafi against the rebels which have resulted in thousands of deaths. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Brockie, Robert Ellison, 1932- :Digital caricatures and cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017326

Description: The cartoon shows members of the 'Japan Seismic Institute studying an earthquake graph; one of them says 'Where was that Kiwi moonman when we wanted him?' Depicted also is thew 'moonman' Ken Ring as a wizard studying an astrological chart. Behind them all Japan is depicted as a devastated wasteland. Context - the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 4th March 2011 and the present threat of a nuclear catastrophe. Also the so-called Moon Man, astrologer Ken Ring, who predicted that Christchurch would be hit by a huge earthquake today (20 March 2011). His claims have terrified Cantabrians and led to people fleeing Christchurch. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Clark, Laurence, 1949- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017429

Description: The cartoon shows two fish talking together. One says 'They've put tsunami warning sirens along the coast' and the other says 'They'd better hurry up and stop the sewage spills too. A good-sized wave could dump it all back on them'. Context - the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on 11th March that caused several nuclear reactors to dangerously overheat and produce high radiation levels. Japan has invested heavily in technology to give advance warning for tsunamis and people are well drilled in procedures should a disaster strike. Water used to cool the overheated fuel rods in the damaged nuclear power plant becomes radioactive and although much of it is caught in storage tanks, some of it is flushed into the sea. So, as the cartoon suggests, another tsunami could flood the land with water contaminated with radioactivity. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Evans, Malcolm Paul, 1945- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017288

Description: The cartoon shows the joined hands of two people. Context - Those who have suffered from the earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 in Christchurch and those who have suffered from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe in Japan that struck on 11 March 2011. Colour and black and white versions of this cartoon are available Quantity: 2 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Bromhead, Peter, 1933- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017294

Description: Text top left reads 'A tale of two quakes' In the first frame a man runs from 'radiation leaks' yelling 'The end of the world!' and in the second frame a man runs from the notion 'No World Cup?' yelling 'The end of the world!' Context - the terrible earthquake and tsunami in Japan 11 March 2011 that have led to the overheating of several nuclear power plants that are leaking radiation and threaten a nuclear catastrophe and the Christchurch earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 that have led to the decision that because of the amount of damage to the venue plus infrastructures and accommodation for visitors the Rugby World Cup will not be played in Christchurch. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Webb, Murray, 1947- :Digital caricatures

Reference: DCDL-0017314

Description: Caricature of Naoto Kan, the current Prime Minister of Japan struggling for calm after the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 as Japan faces the worst crisis since World War II. On March 15 he pleaded for calm as the situation of the damaged nuclear reactors in the country's north grew more dire. (NY Times 23 March 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Winter, Mark, 1958- : Digital cartoons published in the Southland Times and other papers

Reference: DCDL-0017318

Description: The cartoon depicts Japan with a rising sun behind it - the rising sun represents the nuclear symbol, sometimes used as a danger signal. Above the symbol are the words 'Land of the rising sun'. Context - the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 4th March 2011 and the present threat of a nuclear catastrophe caused by damaged nuclear power plants. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Winter, Mark, 1958- : Digital cartoons published in the Southland Times and other papers

Reference: DCDL-0017316

Description: The cartoon depicts Japan above the words 'WAILING Nation'. Context - the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 4th March 2011 and the present threat of a nuclear catastrophe caused by damaged nuclear power plants. There is also a play on the words 'wailing' and 'whaling' in the light of Japan's continuing to hunt whales because they are a threatened species in spite of international condemnation. You could also see Japan as shaped like a whale. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Nisbet, Alastair, 1958- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017340

Description: A gigantic Japanese sumo wrestler who represents Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor accident, grins as he bounces up and down on an unfortunate man who represents the 'public'. A scientist in a white coat representing 'experts' advises the man to 'Stay calm, avoid breathing bad air And we'll contain him!' Context - The potentially catastrophic nuclear reactor problems after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Hubbard, James, 1949-: Digital caricatures and cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017343

Description: An enormous sumo wrestler with a nuclear danger symbol for a face and atom symbols for nipples stands threateningly over a tiny wrestler who represents Japan. Context - The earthquake and tsunami of 11 March in Japan that have caused extremely dangerous overheating of several nuclear power plants which have lead to radioactive leakage. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Clark, Laurence, 1949- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017329

Description: Two fisherman are fishing off rocks and when one of them hooks 'a big one' the other asks if he has brought 'the Geiger counter'. In the distance are the islands of Japan. Context - The earthquake and tsunami of 11 March in Japan that have caused extremely dangerous overheating of several nuclear power plants which have lead to radioactive leakage. Officials have said seawater samples taken 20 miles off the coast of Fukushima contained 1,850 times the normal level of radioactivity. Nisa (NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL SCALE ASSOCIATION) said the tainted seawater posed no risk: "Ocean currents will disperse radiation particles and so it will be very diluted by the time it is consumed by fish and seaweed, and even more by the time they are consumed by humans. There is no need to worry about health risks." (Guardian 27 March 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Smith, Ashley W, 1948- :[Digital cartoons published in the Shipping Gazette, MG Business, or Presto]

By: New Zealand shipping gazette (Periodical)

Reference: DCDL-0017559

Description: Text reads 'News - NZ authorities have been assessing the radiation risk of various Japanese imports'. A Japanese person wearing protective clothing comes into the restaurant from the kitchen holding with long pincers a dish of something that radiates energy and asks guests sitting at a table if they would like 'More wasabi?' The guests dive away from the table yelling 'I prefer its warming glow to its warning glow!!' Context - the continuing danger from radioactive fallout after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on 11 March 2011 damaged a nuclear reactor. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Fletcher, David, 1952- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017331

Description: 'The Politician' cartoon strip. The minister says there are 'lessons for us in this nuclear accident!' When a colleague objects on the grounds that 'we don't have nuclear power stations' the minister agrees but says 'our economy is heading for a meltdown!' Context - The earthquake and tsunami of 11 March in Japan that have caused extremely dangerous overheating of several nuclear power plants leading to radioactive leakage. Also the stagnation of the New Zealand economy, now exacerbated because of the Christchurch earthquakes of 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Bromhead, Peter, 1933- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017293

Description: A red notice saying 'Unsafe' is pinned to a piece of cracked earth that represents 'Japan'. Context - The terrible earthquake and tsunami of 11 March in Japan that has caused extremely dangerous overheating of several nuclear power plants. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).

Date: 2011

From: Nisbet, Alastair, 1958- :Digital cartoons

Reference: DCDL-0017337

Description: As buildings in Japan crumble and fall in an earthquake and fire breaks out, an enormous dragon with a nuclear danger symbol attached to its collar squeezes a building in its hand. A tiny person on the roof of a building shouts 'Heel boy! I said heeeel!' Context - The earthquake and tsunami of 11 March in Japan that have caused extremely dangerous overheating of several nuclear power plants which have lead to radioactive leakage. Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).