Sir James Mitchell, former prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has written to Keiko Atsumi, Executive Director of the InterAction Council, expressing concern about the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.{{more}}

Sir James, who is a member of the InterAction Council, said in an email to Atsumi, who is based in Tokyo: “I am deeply concerned about the tragedy of the earthquake and tsunami which have caused so much grief in Japan. I am of course particularly concerned about you and your hard-working team in our Tokyo office, and trust that all members of your family are fine. Please convey my concerns also to our colleague former Prime Minister Fukuda.”

In his response, Atsumi thanked Sir James for his concern and said what happened in his country was an unmitigated disaster.

“My heart has been bleeding for the victims, the toll of which we will not know for several weeks. Even here in Tokyo, we have had over 300 tremors since Friday!”

The Executive Director also commented on the nuclear disaster, saying that he doubted claims by the government that the radioactivity level was not a cause for concern.

“However, the Japanese nation is acting very impressively. Everyone moves with a distinct human decency, dignity and politeness, despite and under the unspeakable tragedy and everyone puts the well-being of others above his/her own. There has not been a single case of looting of shops, as happens in other countries in cases like this, but everyone offers to help one another.

“If this apocalyptical disaster was a punishment for our past misdeeds, arrogance and crimes, I am now convinced this admirable humane and moral quality will make the Japanese nation overcome this catastrophe and rise again as a new very decent and moral nation,” Atsumi said.

The InterAction Council is an independent international organization of over 30 former world leaders, designed to mobilize their energy, experience and international contacts, to develop and encourage change around the world, notably in the areas of peace and security, economics and universal ethical standards.