JAPAN
‘Sincere thanks’ from prime minister to us all
“Kizuna.” The bonds of friendship. One month has passed since an earthquake of unprecedented scale struck Japan, taking thousands of precious lives. Even today, evacuation shelters are still the only refuge for more than 150,000 people.
In the tsunami-devastated regions there was no food, no water, no electricity, and the survivors had no communications. At that desperate time people from around the world rallied to our side, bringing hope and inspiring courage.
Every blanket and every cup of hot soup brought warmth and strength to the cold and exhausted who had lost everything. Rescue teams heroically searched for survivors in the heaps of broken rubble, while medical teams worked tirelessly caring for the injured.
We are still receiving a tremendous outpouring of encouragement, prayers and support from people worldwide. We deeply appreciate the kizuna our friends around the world have shown, and I want to thank every nation, entity, and you personally, from the bottom of my heart.
As our feelings of deep gratitude to you grow into feelings of hope, we, the people of Japan, express our sincere thanks to you all.
Naoto Kan, Prime Minister of Japan
FINANCE
Big bank debit card swipe fees indefensible
In your “Pro & Con” on debit card swipe fees (“Should federal government delay cuts to ‘swipe’ fees?” Opinion, April 7), James Gattuso defends Wall Street banks’ purported need to charge unreasonable swipe fees to our local businesses. Notably, Congress has already acted to rein in banks’ extraction of these outrageous fees, given local small businesses and consumers are bearing the brunt of this burden.
Banks claim that banning excessive swipe fees will mean windfall profits for small businesses. In reality, these swipe fees are on a long list of taxes and fees we pay, which often result in higher prices for consumers.
Small businesses across the state that accept debit cards are already at the whim of these Wall Street banks. Now Georgia’s state treasurer (a former banker) says small-business owners should keep paying outrageous swipe fees so the state can continue receiving free debit cards for welfare recipients from these big banks.
I am grateful that Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss support fairness for Georgia small-business owners and consumers — not increasing the profits of big banks.
Paul Tomaszewski, Austell
HEALTH
Grateful for recipes that don’t require eggs
I am grateful for the AJC’s occasional vegan and eggless recipes, and was delighted to see Wendell Brock’s recent article on vegan desserts (“Hold the egg, dairy,” Food, April 7). Carefully tested recipes like these are so helpful to my family, as we adapt to our younger son’s recently diagnosed egg allergy. These dessert recipes (carrot cake, lemon bars and pistachio-rose water cookies) look so delicious I can’t wait to try them. I’m sure they’ll find a place in our holiday and birthday celebrations. Thank you!
Dana Buckelew, Tucker
