Japanese Relief Organizations you can eventually donate to: Save the Children, Mercy Corps and others
Here is what you can do to help Japan: Donate to an international organization you trust: see the growing list here
If you are interested in volunteering in Japan, think about the following: Ask yourself these questions
Can I afford to pay my way there?
Do I need an organization to help sponsor me? Can I do fundraising to contribute to my ticket and airfare costs? or better yet, can I sponsor/support a professional emergency responder to volunteer in Japan?
Do I have a U.S. passport?
Am I current on my vaccinations?
How about lodging once in Japan? Am I going to be a liability to the relief efforts?
Would it be better that I support a reputable organization or sponsor somebody who is better qualified than me to go on such a trip?
March 13, 2011 Updates:
We would like to applaud this young man's desire to help and contribute to the relief efforts that are underway for the Japanese people. He figures it out right.
"Trained Professionals and Specialized groups of volunteers are most crucial at the moment." Due to the mitigating risks involved, civilian volunteer groups will have a chance to help later on. Let us continue to organize ourselves for when the day comes.
"Hello,
My name is Dan Oprisch and I am 18 years old and willing to go overseas to provide my services in the Japan Tsunami relief efforts in whatever way possible. I do not have a lot of money to give, but I can provide my physical abilities and whatever else necessary to help the relief effort. I know civilian groups are not being formed at this point in time, as trained professionals and specialized groups of volunteers are most crucial at the moment. However, when the time comes and the call needs to be answered, I all inclusively offer myself. If there is a list that is being formed for when this time comes, please send me information and include me on it. I hope I can be of service.
Sincerely,
Dan Oprisch"
Furthermore, at this time even the RedCross is not sending in volunteers! Only the professional ones are going to the fields.
March 15, 2011 Updates
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"Volunteers who could go to Japan to help with the relief effors, rescue and clean up are thinking twice about safety and security issues on the occasion of a third explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi atomic plant releasing dangerous levels of radiation into the atmosphere. Prime Minister Naoto Kan took to national TV to say that radiation has spread from four damaged nuclear reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi atomic power plant.
Officials are wearing protective suit while trying to get people to the scanner.
""Please do not go outside. Please stay indoors. Please close windows and make your homes airtight. Don't turn on ventilators. Please hang your laundry indoors."
March 17, 2011 Updates:
We still have not heard anything from our contact at the Japanese consulate. And the fear and increasingly high levels of nuclear reactors radiation in Japan cause many people to think twice about going there to help. Passengers arriving in South Korea from Japan, specifically from areas where the atomic power plant is located have some levels of radiation on their body. The U.S. has just announced to evacuate, fly the family members of U.S. personnel in Japan away to safety.
Based on the crisis caused by the radiation, it is not recommended to send volunteers to places such as the Fukushima prefecture and others. It is unfortunate that volunteers can not get to Japan to help the survivors of the quake and tsunami at this time. Japan continues to use dump helicopters and water canons to cool down the reactors at the power plant. We wish them good luck at this time!
Despite the fact that we do not encourage volunteers to help out in the affected areas, right where you are, you can be involved in the relief efforts by contributing and donating money to Japan. Find the links on this site.
March 18, 2011 Updates:
Read President Obama's Address to the Nation on March 17,2011 on the Japanese Quake, Tsunami, and nuclear radiation fears
"
Second, I know that many Americans are also worried about the potential risks to the United States. So I want to be very clear: We do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the United States, whether it’s the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or U.S. territories in the Pacific. Let me repeat that: We do not expect harmful levels of radiation to reach the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska, or U.S. territories in the Pacific. That is the judgment of our Nuclear Regulatory Commission and many other experts.
Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health experts do not recommend that people in the United States take precautionary measures beyond staying informed. And going forward, we will continue to keep the American people fully updated -- because I believe that you must know what I know as President.
Here at home, nuclear power is also an important part of our own energy future, along with renewable sources like wind, solar, natural gas and clean coal. Our nuclear power plants have undergone exhaustive study, and have been declared safe for any number of extreme contingencies. But when we see a crisis like the one in Japan, we have a responsibility to learn from this event, and to draw from those lessons to ensure the safety and security of our people......"
Click on the above or below link to finish reading the President's full text released by the White House :
Read President Obama's Address to the Nation on March 17,2011 on the Japanese Quake, Tsunami, and nuclear radiation fears
Click on the above or below link to finish reading the President's full text released by the White House :
Read President Obama's Address to the Nation on March 17,2011 on the Japanese Quake, Tsunami, and nuclear radiation fears
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Help Japan, Quake! Connecting Volunteers with People who need help! |
