11 Mar 2011 1 Comment
Japan Disaster Relief
Each of us here at FirstGiving has been surprised and deeply saddened by the news of devastation in Japan. Our thoughts are with those affected during these very difficult times.
In response, we’re working together so that people who want to donate and help can find an easy and transparent way to do so. Many nonprofit organizations are working on the ground in Japan to provide medical care, food and shelter. We invite you to donate to one of these organizations, or to expand the world of giving by creating a fundraising page and asking your friends to donate.
Go to the Japan Disaster Relief page on FirstGiving.
We’ll be posting updates today – in the meantime you can help other people who want to make a difference by suggesting an organization or fundraising idea on our Facebook Page or Tweeting your page #FirstGiving.
You can also help connect victims and families with Google’s Person Finder or report information for relief teams with Ushahidi’s Crisis Mapping Tool.
Dominic MacCormac
Mar 30, 2011 @ 08:28:31
JAPAN – BEACON OF CORRECT SPIRIT
“Tsunami Survivor Adoption Program”
A tsunami slammed into Japan’s northeast coast on March 11, killing well over 10,000 people. The 1,000’s of survivors huddle in makeshift shelters. Food, clean water, medicine, toiletries, warmth, comfort, medical and trauma care and other essential supports for survival are in scant supply, in some places non-existent. They are in the darkest of dreams from which they cannot awake, haunted by the loss of loved ones, their familiar home which is in a pile of rubble scattered across a six-mile signature of ravaging horror…Whole generations of family have become tortured ghosts wandering the coastline of the Northwest, evaporating until the sun sets and rises again. At all times, survivors demonstrate impeccable conduct to the shocked world looking on – reminding them of their failings by contrast, inspiring them with new insight on the potential nobility of the human spirit…
It’s true: the government, the survivors, the ninkyō dantai who provide disaster relief services faster than the government, the indescribably self-sacrificing workers (Tsun Tzu is the only name appropriate) combating the nuclear plant shambles to protect Mother Japan, and faint smatterings of the outside world community lend a helping hand. After all, in any confrontation to the reminder that we will each face a “final moment”, we are all members of the same family, the frail, evil but simultaneously wondrous and inspiring specie, Homo sapiens.
The code of jingi (justice and duty – where loyalty and respect are a way of life) is the essence of the Japanese people. Worldwide, nothing resembles it.
The multiple, escalating, compound disasters Japan faces are incomparable to any in history. They will survive, rebuild, even fortify beyond their past dignity as a people.
New strategies are needed, which is why I pen this blog. I ask every able-bodied Japanese citizen to reach out their individual hand and home to a survivor. Bring them into your home. Within your means, care for one or more survivors. Work collectively to establish a network of such volunteer homes, a transportation network to bring those survivors to their new “adopting home”. Greet them with love and kindness and nurturing support as you can. Do this as immediately as possible. New and great risk will beset them unless you act with aggressive action to make this possible and tangible. I beg you as a previous Japanese life which memory is alive within me, Kotoamatsukami. Blessings and hope and love and respect for you…