Saturday, March 12, 2011

Tragedy in Japan

My Dear Readers,

As an anime fan, as a caring human being and as someone who knows what it feels like to lose a loved one, I want to take a moment to ask that we all try to do something for Japan.

Over on Funimation's Blog, they've posted links to several reliable charities that are working to help the Japanese people in the wake of a devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake and a horrific tsunami. While I'm certain we will hear about millions and even billions in pledges and spending from governments, I implore all of you to make some small donation of your own. Please visit the American Red Cross or GlobalGiving's websites for details on where you can direct donations.

ANN has a longer list of choices here.

This tragedy in Japan is very serious. There are over 9,000 missing in Miyagi's Minamisanriku, that's more than half the population of an entire city. Please, think about the sheer weight of this disaster on Japan and the collective body of humanity.

There was an explosion at Fukushima nuclear power plant. Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan has declared a state of emergency there. An attempt to reduce the burden on the nation's power grid by anime fans has begun under the fitting moniker of Operation Yashima. (EVA shout-outs while trying to help in a disaster, anime fans are truly amamzing people.)

The death toll in Japan is rising, with at least 1,700 feared dead. Hundreds of bodies were transfered to Sendai in the Miyagi Prefecture and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said:

This is the largest earthquake since the Meiji Era, and it is believed that more than 1,000 people have lost their lives.


I know this blog is often quite silly and maybe a bit self-absorbed but this is serious business my readers. Please take a moment to do your own small part to aid the people of Japan, who have given us all such joy through anime, to begin the recovery from this tragedy. Donate to a reputable charity. Make a post somewhere about the tragedy and how to help. Even just buying some anime/manga/figures/whatever and informing the retailer that it's part of your effort to help the Japanese because of this disaster can make a small difference.

Every small difference combines to make a great difference and help the people of Japan to cope with this horrific event that has befallen them.

Please keep the Japanese in your hearts right now. As fans, I feel we owe them that much at the very least.

Thank you, God bless you and bye-ni!

5 comments:

  1. The damage and destruction from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan looks massive! I hope the United States and other countries make substantial contributions to the relief efforts there. If you're going to donate, remember to do it through a reputable organization and watch out for scams.

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  2. This is just... unbelievable... My thoughts and prays go out to those in Japan.

    I know how earth quakes are since I live in California. But wow this was crazy! 8.9?!?! Then tsunamis?!? I was way too little when the big one hit for me back in 1989. The Loma Prieta quake hit the bay area hard. All I can remember were the street posts/lights swaying. Probably the most memorable moments for everyone was that the World Series of the A's and Giants got interrupted and a portion of the top deck for the Bay Bridge collapsed. :(
    Here's some good vids on youtube
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW-TkpvKPl0
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvTCNgZwygg

    Btw earthquakes feel different than what they look like on videos. On tape it just looks like shaking but in person it feels more like a rumble/wave effect. It's like you roll to the left,right,up,down etc.

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  3. I can't believe that over 9000 people are missing from that one town alone.

    I hope the scouters will find them all safe and alive.

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  4. The numbers keep going up over there. They are now estimating well over 10,000 dead. The top estimate for the insured damage is more than 30 billion dollars. It is just horrible.

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  5. I just wish them all the best. Besides donations and prays that's about all I can do to help. I just hope the numbers is lower then what they are guessing.

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