Anyone with a The Economist magazine subscription can read about the impact the Japan earthquake and tsunami could have on the world.
"Even measured against Japan's painful history, its plight today is miserable," claims the publication.
The scale of the catastrophic events is rather incomprehensible and "the horror is still sinking in", reports The Economist magazine.
"In the face of calamity, a decent people has proved extremely resilient: no looting; very little complaining among the tsunami survivors."
However, the way in which the country handled its Kobe disaster "did much to undermine Japan's confidence", according to The Economist magazine, which could affect the rescue and recovery efforts.
"The immediate tragedy may be Japan's; but it also throws up longer-term questions that will eventually affect people all the way round the globe."
This is because of the major impact the country has upon the global economy - it is the third-biggest economy on the planet at the moment.
After the earthquake and tsunami, Japan faced a new problem - that of a nuclear leak at its Fukushima power plant.
While power has now been restored, the next trying test will be checking the coolant pumps at the facility.
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Posted by Donnie Bachan