A Wall Against the Water

When you're hit by a tsunami, you're going to try to protect yourself. That's what the Japanese are doing. The Israelites, too, had issues with water: at the Red Sea, and now at the Jordan.

Humans have been standing at the edge of the water for thousands of years.

And wondering what to do.

Three years ago, a massive tsunami crashed into northeastern Japan, causing enormous damage and destruction. Today, the government is building the biggest anti-tsunami barrier in history.

This network of enormous seawalls is being mocked by some as "the Great Wall of Japan." Construction has begun, and the barrier will eventually stretch for 230 miles and cost almost $8 billion.

According to NPR, the wall is designed to protect places like Kesennuma, a small port city with lovely hills, white fishing boats and a seafood market -- kind of a Japanese Seattle. Since the 2011 tsunami, chefs at one sushi restaurant have had to work in a prefab metal building. The original restaurant washed away, along with the rest of the port city's waterfront. Given this level of destruction, you would think that residents and business owners would welcome a seawall along the inner harbor.

But not everyone...