Mar 17

Japan’s Prime Minister Launches English-Language Twitter Account for Quake Updates

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http://mashable.com/2011/03/16/japan-prime-minister-english-twitter/

Mar 17

JapaneseLondon.com Round-up 03.17.11

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Thanks to JETAA UK’s Vanessa Villalobos for sharing this:

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN JAPANESE LONDON?

It feels like the world is a different place, post March 11^th.  The massive tremor has actually shifted earth on its axis.  Now, all we can do is come together as friends of Japan to send our love and donations towards the recovery effort.

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief in London

There is a book of condolence for the victims of the Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake, now open at the Embassy of Japan.  You can call in between 9.30am and 5.30pm until the 23^rd March (including Saturday and Sunday) to sign the book.  Don’t forget to take a form of photo ID (driving licence or passport) for the security on the door.

The popular violinist Taro Hakase has been holding charity concerts in venues around London since Monday, and will continue with an appearance at Fortnum and Mason, 5pm, Thursday 17^th March, and a concert at Cadogan Hall this Friday 18^th March.

The Japan Society has now set up its Tohoku Earthquake Relief fund, and will be channelling donations specifically to grassroots organisations in the Sendai area.

Also, visit the Play for Japan website to get the latest about fundraising events, or to let them know about yours – it’s ‘an interactive portal set up to give the maximum publicity to your efforts’. Read More

Mar 17

Volunteers needed for “Multilingual Medical Terms Translation List” created by Okinawa JET

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Multilingual Medical Terms Translation List

This is a project that Stephanie Toriumi (CIR Okinawa-ken, Ishigaki-shi) is just getting off the ground.  She is  looking for volunteers to help check, add terms & other languages so that the list will keep growing.

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/ccc?pli=1&key=tOXlkY2K3JSEhLa5TCJEC0w#gid=0

Mar 17

JET Steve Mendoza (Minamisanriku) interviewed by NHK World

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I just woke up and pulled up NHK World on my computer to see JET Steven Mendoza of Minami Sanriku being interviewed on NHK World.  He was explaining how everyone went right to work helping out and taking care of each other, how the students were terrific and were put to work right away.  He was asked about future ALTs in the town to which he responded that the town is gone so the students will have to go to other schools in the area.  At the end of the interview, the announcer pointed out that Steve was scheduled to finish his contract this summer but that now he plans on stay on to continue to help.

I think this is likely typical of other JETs in affected areas.  JETs are part of the communities in which they’re working, feel a strong connection and are playing significant roles in their communities.

Keep up the good work.  You continue to instill great pride in all of us who serve or served on the JET Program.

Mar 17

Earthquake: Japan – A Land of Fragile Beauty, or Take a Break from the News Feed

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Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
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The following facebook group, Japan: A Land of Fragile Beauty, or Take a Break from the News Feed, was set up by a JET based in Ishikawa Prefecture in the days after the earthquake. The group description says

This is an attempt to create some sort of haven away from the constant images of death and destruction that we’re being bombarded with on TV and the internet. Post whatever you want…thoughts, music, haikus, pictures of Japan that don’t make you want to cry.

Mar 17

Earthquake: Write for Tohoku – Call for Submissions

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Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
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There is an open call for submissions to an ebook anthology to raise funds for Tohoku.

Please go to the following website for more details: http://writefortohoku.wordpress.com/

Mar 16

Japan volunteers: Resource site for people who want to support earthquake/tsunami relief efforts in Japan

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Japan volunteers: Resource site for people who want to support earthquake/tsunami relief efforts in Japan

http://japanvolunteers.wordpress.com/action/

Mar 16

Facebook Group: Japan Quake, Eye-Witnesses from the Ground

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Just came across this Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_117876598289260

Mar 16

Dispatch from Minamisanriku and other towns nearby

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Mar 16

Japan and Beyond: Advice for donating after disasters

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Thanks to JET alum Jim Gannon (Ehime), Director of the New York office of the Japan Center for International Exchange, for sharing this very helpful and informed Huffington Post article:

Japan and Beyond:  Advice for donating after disasters

Saundra Schimmelpfennig, Founding Director, The Charity Rater, LLC

he following is a series of dos and don’ts to help you make the best donation decisions after a disaster, like the current crisis in Japan.

Do determine if the country is accepting international assistance
With all the photos and videos of destruction on the evening news, it may seem impossible that governments would not want outside assistance. However, just because there has been a disaster does not mean that the local government and local aid organizations are not capable of reaching and helping those in need. Before sending your donation find out what, if any, assistance the government is allowing. Check to see if the aid organization you’re considering donating to is offering that same type of assistance.

Do look at a variety of nonprofits before giving
There are hundreds of organizations that respond to most disasters, take the time to evaluate a few before giving. Also, just because they have name recognition does not mean they’re best able to respond to the disaster. Look for organizations that were operating in the country before the disaster, they will be able to respond more quickly and know the local culture, politics and needs better. Giving to local organizations is great, unfortunately they can be difficult to find and may not have a website or if they do, it may not be in English.

Places to find lists of organizations involved in the recovery efforts include:

InterAction for many U.S. organizations
Reliefweb.int for organizations from many different countries
Dochas for Irish aid organizations

Do look for organizations with prior experience and expertise
There is a great deal of money after well-publicized disasters. The ease of raising money makes it tempting to respond even if the organization does not have prior experience in that area. After the 2004 tsunami,

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE ON HUFFINGTON POST

Mar 16

Translators Needed For Earthquake Relief

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Volunteer translators are needed to go to Japan to help with the aftermath of Japan’s earthquakes & tsunami, as international rescue teams have communication difficulties.

Here is a message from the Tokyo Translation Academy:
If you’d like to translate this piece yourself click here and drop the text in:

東日本大震災救援、「通訳ボランティア」募集！！！
（この募集は、ご友人・知人にも、なるべく多くご転送下さ い。） Read More

Mar 16

Event: Japan and the World After the Quake @ Japan Society, New York – Mar 23

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Ambassador Hiroki and other experts look at the immediate and long term impacts on Japan’s economy, society, and international relations after the March 11 earthquake, the strongest earthquake ever to hit Japan.

Date:  March 23, 12 pm – 2pm

More information here: http://www.japansociety.org/event_detail?eid=4f23936d

Mar 16

Earthquake: Hope Letters for Children in Japan

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Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
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About Hope Letters:

David Chan of Ottawa, Canada has started a voluntary initiative to share letters of hope written for students in Japan by people around the globe. Letters will be collected, translated into Japanese, posted on the following site: http://hopeletters.wordpress.com, and distributed via Japanese media and local schools/organizations. Currently there are 6 volunteer translators across Canada. Read More

Mar 16

Earthquake Updates by Prefecture 03.16.11

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JET Taylor Anderson (Ishinomaki) - still unaccounted for

This post is now out of date.  See more recent posts please.

10:42 am NY time, Wed Mar 18

Unaccounted for JETs

*10:08 pm – Nothing new to report unfortunately.  I’ve been checking the “Foreigners from Miyagi” and “Sendai Earthquak Family & Friends Link” and checking with other sources.  But no new info on unaccounted for JETs.

*Ngaroma Riley – possibly a JET.  Was contacted by a journalist from New Zealand trying to get in touch with her.  Said she’s a colleague of Iain Campbell who is a JET in Sendai (and who has been doing great work in trying to gather info on unaccounted for JETs).

Still some unaccounted for JETs to my knowledge including  Taylor Anderson (despite earlier reports that she was located) and Monty Dickson.  Email jetwit [at] jetwit.com with additional info/updates as well as any photos or things you would like to share about them. Read More

Mar 16

Earthquake: Interview with Spokane JET in Fukushima

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Via PNWJETAA. Posted by Dipika Soni (Ishikawa-ken, 2003-06). Dipika currently works as an in-house translator for PFU (a Fujitsu company) in Kahoku-shi, Ishikawa-ken. She is also the vocalist for the Japanese hardcore punk band DEGRADE.
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The following is an Interview with Matthew Giles from Spokane who is a JET in Fukushima. This article was published by the Spokane Review.

“The earthquakes just keep coming.”

For recent Gonzaga University graduate Matthew Gilles, his dream job of teaching English to schoolchildren in Iwaki, on the northeast coast of Japan, has become something else.

“I hate it,” he said Friday. “Even when we’re not having an earthquake, my body is shaking.”

Gilles, 23, who has been in Japan since August, said small temblors are fairly common in Iwaki, so he didn’t respond at first when the big one hit Friday, shortly after he’d gotten off work earlier than usual.

For the rest of the article, click “Read More”.
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