I met with my former co-student and colleague this Saturday; we sat in a cafe which is a part of a chain of Italian and Japanese eateries in Moscow. We sat just below the big plasma TV, and the Russian news channel ceaselessly reported on the Fukushima explosion that led to 1700 deaths and many more casualties, causing people in the area to flee their homes. I wrote to my other co-student, a Japanese guy, with whom I studied at the University of Manchester, and I hope to hear from him or his wife, also Japanese. We’ve not been in contact recently, so I keep my fingers crossed they haven’t changed emails.
I also know that this blog has some Japanese readers, so I hope, my friends, that you and your families are OK, and that, in spite of all destruction caused, the world community will see your country climbing out of the disaster pretty fast.
Given how much we love Japan for its culture, architecture, ikebanas, and Lost in Translation, I think we should help Japan in every way we can. Until recently I used to think that, unless you can chip in, say, 20GBP or more, it wasn’t worth donating, lest the recipient thought you were a damn tight guy. I think differently now, i.e. every penny counts. Whether we send 100GBP or take some old clothes to Oxfam, it really doesn’t matter. I guess this is especially true for those countries that are located on the islands or have mountaneous relief of the ground. Let’s face it, it can be any other country some day.
When you follow the link, you’ll end up on Causes website where there is a list of (mostly) American charities that accept donations and other kinds of help to Japan earthquake and tsunami relief. Alternatively, there is a longer list on WonderHowTo website. Given that I’m in Russia, I am likely to contact the Red Cross and UNICEF. My “choice”, if such is appropriate, is that at this stage we need to protect people’s health, and especially children’s.
