Giving Help/Aid to Japan

Today, Koko and I walked over to the evacuation site designated for our area so we know where to go in case we need to evacuate the building.  We and his colleague and his colleague's girlfriend tried to donate blood, but the Japanese Red Cross said we couldn't because all their forms were in Japanese and they didn't have a translator. We will find another way to help.

We are continuing to get aftershocks quite frequently, like every 10 minutes or so. It's a little unnerving, but we are slowly getting used to it.

The death toll is now up to 1,200 people, with over 700 missing. There are also 4 trains that got washed out with the tsunami, and officials can't find the trains and don't know how many people were on them. It's very sad.

There are nuclear reactors about 150 miles north of Tokyo, in Fukushima, which had a small explosion, and another reactor looks like it will have a minor explosion too. Tens of thousands of people in the area have been evacuated and tested for radiation. We are also thinking about what to do in case the nuclear situation gets worse--how to prepare.

We will have scheduled power outages stating tomorrow to allow the northern regions to have power. I'm not sure if Skype or phones will be functioning properly (since I haven't actually been able to receive anything via Skype since the earthquake on Friday). Email seems to be ok for now, though. 

I wish I had prepared my emergency kit earlier, because one of my friends says he's having difficulty buying batteries for his flashlight. I'm charging my old cell phone now, because it has a pretty bright flashlight. I'm also going to get a solar charger as soon as I can.

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The best news I've heard in the past few days (besides that the nuclear reactor, unit one, in Fukushima was cooling down) was this, from my Buddhist organization's website:


"Mr. Akihiko Morishima, regional leader of Soka Gakkai in Miyagi prefecture [in which the death toll for that prefecture alone is likely to exceed 10,000], commented, 'We are so grateful for the encouragement and support we are receiving from throughout Japan and around the world. Now we are working hard to rescue the survivors. Here we pride ourselves on our 'indomitable spirit,' so no matter what the circumstances, we will not be defeated. We are putting all our energy into transforming this terrible situation.'" 

One of the young women I know from the SGI lives in Tohoku in northern Japan and had been evacuated. She has been staying at an evacuation shelter. Since communication lines are limited, she has been talking to one friend and having him relay her messages to everyone else. 

"The guests get like one banana and a few crackers a day. It looks sad, but Junko was her usual appreciative self. She told me how she appreciated the fact that her friend has a solar powered charger and she told me how the pitch black night has shown the beauty of all the stars. Let's keep supporting all our friends in Japan."

I'm very proud of my fellow SGI members and their strong spirit in a time like this.

AMERICAN RED CROSS: Emergency Operation Centers are opened in the affected areas and staffed by the chapters. This disaster is on a scale larger than the Japanese Red Cross can typically manage. Donations to the American Red Cross can be allocated for the International Disaster Relief Fund, which then deploys to the region to help. Donate here.

Doctors Without Borders/Les Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

MSF is another great organization. They’ve already started work in Japan.

• Worldwide website

GLOBALGIVING: Established a fund to disburse donations to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Donate here.

SAVE THE CHILDREN: Mobilizing to provide immediate humanitarian relief in the shape of emergency health care and provision of non-food items and shelter. Donate here.

SALVATION ARMY: The Salvation Army has been in Japan since 1895 and is currently providing emergency assistance to those in need. Donate here.

AMERICARES: Emergency team is on full alert, mobilizing resources and dispatching an emergency response manager to the region. Donate here.

CONVOY OF HOPE: Disaster Response team established connection with in-country partners who have been impacted by the damage and are identifying the needs and areas where Convoy of Hope may be of the greatest assistance. Donate here.

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS: Putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities. Donate here.

SHELTER BOX: The first team is mobilizing to head to Japan and begin the response effort. Donate here.