Archive for March, 2011
>We published a post a few days ago about items required at the Saitama Super Arena. As you probably already know, the evacuees have been moved to a school in Kazo, Saitama. If we get more information about what relief items they need and how to send it to them, we will make an update. Please don’t send any items to the Super Arena.
>On March 21st, we wrote that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government was accepting personal donations of material aid. It seems that they stopped accepting donations at 4 pm on March 27th. They have received more donations than they can store or deliver at the moment. They are hoping to start accepting material donations again in the future.
>Hope International, www.hope.or.jp is an NGO founded in 1975. Like many organizations, it is making a difference in the quake and tsunami struck areas of North-East Japan.
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Lino Harada, a member of Foreign Volunteers Japan, was at the Saitama Super Arena today doing some translation work. She snapped these pictures of posters requesting items. The items needed are:
Instant soup, backpacks, bags, face lotion, paper cups, boxes of tissues, Tiger Balm/medicated compresses (“shippu”), instant congee, intant noodles, coffee, duct tape, canned drinks, belts for men, UNUSED sweat pants, jeans for men, thermoses, heat packs, snacks, soap, toothbrushes, batteries, NEW underwear, tupperware, adult shoes, markers, eco bags, fabreeze, cleaning supplies, sewing kits
As mentioned in the post below, before you rush out and send these items to a donation center, please make sure they are accepting them. For example, not all donation centers are accepting clothing at the moment. Of course, if you live in Saitama and can deliver some of these items directly to the Super Arena, the folks there would be sure to get them.
>Some places in Tokyo accepting material donations:
Second Harvest Japan
Second Harvest Japan Disaster Relief Food Drive
Mizuta bldg 1F Asakusabashi 4-5-1, Taito-ku, Tokyo
111-0053
〒111-0053
東京都台東区浅草橋4－5－1水田ビル１Ｆ
セカンドハーベストジャパン事務所
Phone: 03-3838-3827
Site: http://www.2hj.org/index.php/news/send_us_food_and_supplies/ (English)
http://www.2hj.org/index.php/news_j/disasterrelieffooddonations/ (Japanese)
Tokyo International School
TIS Disaster Relief Supplies 3-4-22 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0073
〒108-0073
東京都港区三田3-4-22
TIS緊急物資供給センター宛
Phone: 090 6569-7038
Site: http://www.support.tokyois.com/a-way-you-can-act-now/ (English)
http://www.support.tokyois.com/今、みんなでできる事/ (Japanese)
Peace Boat
Peace Boat Center Tokyo
B1, 3-13-1 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku, Tokyo 169-0075, Japan
〒169-0075
東京都新宿区高田馬場3-13-1-B1
Phone: 03－3362－6307
Site: http://www.peaceboat.org/english/index.php?page=view&nr=19&type=22&menu=62 (English)
http://www.peaceboat.org/info/news/2011/110321.html (Japanese)
**Important
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While Foreign Volunteers Japan has been working hard to get supplies up to the tsunami-affected areas, there are many other groups, both small and large, and some courageous individuals as well who spearheaded relief efforts with their own DIY solution.
Part 1:
Soon after realizing the extent of the tsunami damage, Beau Retallick decided to get a couple of vans, load them up with nonperishable food, water, medicine and whatever they could collect, and drive up north to distribute amongst some of the harder-hit smaller towns.
Because they were one of the first groups to head up, shortly after the first Fukushima Reactor explosion, they decided to bring some potassium iodine pills and a Geiger counter along for the ride.
This interview describes some surprising details about what their team encountered on their way, the challenges that they faced, and outlines some of the most important supplies and foods needed for both the distribution centers and for the isolated communities in difficult to reach areas along the coastline.
Part 2:
>Thank you so much to all those that gave their time to attend our concert meeting and those that wanted to come but couldn’t make it. – Absolutely great feedback from the meeting – We now have – Security, PR, comms, Artist liaisons, big name sponsors, press, digital media, Graphic design, video & motion graphics, merchandizing, artists and a whole lot more pledged for free! – a couple of possible venues as well! Please follow up on your commitments and pledges and enjoy the ride! its going to be hard work, great fun and most importantly give back to the people of this great country that we choose to call home.
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Okay! We made it up safely, and we distributed 7000 bottles of water, dozens of boxes of diapers, healthy snack foods, and an assortment of donations to a distribution venue hosted by PeaceBoat up in Ishinomaki. This time, the water will be distributed to the earthquake and tsunami survivors trapped in mountain towns who cannot get out due to destroyed infrastructure and possibly even emotional trauma.
Today we heard that it is difficult to get supplies to those people, because in Japan the law apparently forbids air drops of supplies by helicopters!!（；゜０゜）
However, Peace Boat and Red Cross Japan have been brainstorming several methods to get the water out to these people. They’ve already helped out countless thousands of people, and will continue doing so far a while.
One of our goals from here is to build a closer relationship with communities on the ground, and we’ve made a few contacts in Ishinomaki city in Miyagi. It was terribly, terribly hit by the disaster. I will post more on that tomorrow. Today the crew drove 1100 kilometers on 3.5 hours sleep each the night before, so our reports and photo editing will be done tomorrow.
Thanks again for all of your support and assistance! It’s very much appreciated, and is beginning to help those in the most devastated areas in Japan. Thank you!!!
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1. Baby Care Goods
cooling gel patches, paper diapers (any size), baby wipes, baby lotion, baby powder, baby oil, baby food, baby formula, feeding bottles
2. Elderly Care Goods
paper diapers, care wipes, food thickeners
3. Health Care Goods
contact lens solution, contact lens cases, disposable heat packs, sanitary napkins, paper cups, paper plates, WARIBASHI, cling wraps
4. Drinking Water
bottled water, bottled tea (soda is not accepted)
This is great for smaller packages and parcels – if everyone can send there personal donations to the government office this will free us up to concentrate on bulk supplies and the next stages of our plan – This will include setting up a soup kitchen to provide hot food to an affected community and to plan the concert – we are welcoming ideas of where to send the concert proceeds and will discuss that at our meeting on Wednesday. A few ideas floating around would be to adopt a community hospital, school or community centre and help to rebuild with the money we raise.
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Hi All,
The first shipment of canned beans, pineapple juice, diapers, sanitary items, and many other daily essentials was a success.
The team managed to prepare enough gasoline for a round trip (thanks for jerry cans!), secure the essential permits and documents for entering the restricted area, communicate smoothly with local governments in the area of need, and take several photos of the process!
As you might imagine, the whole team was really exhausted after making it back into Tokyo. I’m uploading this initial photo without knowing all of the details of their trip, but assure you that the team members (Thank you Steven, Dan, Trevor and crew!) will be updating you on their efforts, and their impressions sometime tomorrow!
I want to send a big thank you out to Ikon-Europubs for their tremendous support and generous donation! They not only provide the storage space and pick-up area for our drop-off center, they also provided our first two vehicles and gas for the first trip!! We couldn’t have done it without you!
foreignvolunteersjapan 
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