Remembering today

As most of you already know, I spent two years living in Ishinomaki, Japan after I completed college. Ishinomaki is one of the worst-hit areas of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.  As such, I am putting away my own health issues today and remembering those who lost everything one year ago. There are just so many documentaries and pictures that I continue to read that break my heart and make me joyous at the same time. So many lost lives, so many broken families, and so much heartbreak. Yet, there's such quick rebuilding and such hope that continues to emanate from the the tsunami survivors. I encourage anyone who might still be reading this blog to take a moment and appreciate our lives and the stability and security we are experiencing each day. It was just one year ago that so many of my friend's lives changed forever.

For those with more time on their hands, please take the time to watch some documentaries and see that Japan is trying their hardest to rebuild the destructed part of their nation.

Children of the tsunami by BBC (featuring my former Japanese colleague, Naomi):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_AxnoNrr_8&feature=youtu.be 

Bringing it close to you: a map showing what a Fukushima nuclear destruction would have looked like in the USA:
http://gris-fukushima-could-have-looked-like/ t.org/list/map-shows-what-a-u-s

Japan's battered coast: then and now:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/world/japans-coast-then-and-now/

Thank you from Japan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=SS-sWdAQsYg&vq=medium

A great big thank you from me, as well because my friends are still living in emergency housing and still rebuilding their lives.

If you're looking for a worthwhile donation, I encourage you to donate to the Japan Society.  Below is a detailed message from them demonstrating that 100% of their donations go to organizations that need them in the destructed areas:


"We are pleased to announce eight additional grants totaling $1.6 million from the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. This brings total allocations from the Fund to $7.2 million, distributed to 19 organizations representing 25 projects that directly serve people affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011.

The latest round of allocations supports six new grantees and two previous grantees. Projects range from orphan care, evacuee services and healthcare for people still living in temporary housing, to education workshops throughout Tohoku, promoting creative arts from the region, building a community center, and summer camps for children in Fukushima, which continues to cope with its nuclear crisis. The organizations receiving grants are Ashinaga, Association for the Corporate Support for the Arts, Japan Civil Network for Disaster Relief in East Japan, NPO Jibunmirai Club, Studio for Cultural Exchange, Tumugiya, the Japan Primary Care Association and Supporting Union for the Practical Use of Educational Resources.

The Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, launched on March 12, 2011, has received over $12.5 million as of March 5, 2012 from over 22,000 individuals, companies and foundations. Contributions have been received from all 50 states, and nearly 60 countries around the world. One hundred percent of the fund goes directly to support people affected by the disasters.

For a complete summary of organizations and projects supported by the Relief Fund to date, visit: http://www.japansociety.org/earthquake"