Earthquake relief, one year later: "Shinsai: Theaters for Japan" | SF Arts

Earthquake relief, one year later: "Shinsai: Theaters for Japan" | SF Arts: One year later, with an estimated 300,000 people still homeless from the combined natural and unnatural disasters that shook the Fukushima prefecture, it appears that the crisis is far from being over. Inspired by an impromptu fundraising effort spearheaded by New York-based, Japanese-born actor James Yaegashi, a unique memorial will take place Sun/11 in theaters across the United States.

Entitled “Shinsai,” which means “great earthquake,” the structure of the performances is up to the individual participating theatres — a tactic utilized by the roving world premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks’ 365 Plays —

Japan Society Allocates Over Half of Earthquake Relief Fund with 4th Round of Grants: Press: About: Japan Society

Japan Society Allocates Over Half of Earthquake Relief Fund with 4th Round of Grants: Press: About: Japan Society: Japan Society Allocates Over Half of Earthquake Relief Fund with 4th Round of Grants
March 9, 2012

New York, NY – Japan Society announced today an additional eight grants totaling $1.6 million from its Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (JERF). This latest announcement brings total allocations from the $12.5 million 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.

“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, we are pleased with the swift allocations and immediate use of the funds for people in need,” said Motoatsu Sakurai, President of Japan Society. “Over half of the money we’ve received has now been allocated. Moving forward, we will continue to look for opportunities to fund effective projects, including those that serve rebuilding and economic recovery in the region.”

Red Cross Launches Social Media Disaster Response Center

Red Cross Launches Social Media Disaster Response Center: The Red Cross and Dell have jointly launched a Digital Operations Center, the first social media-monitoring platform dedicated to humanitarian relief. The Digital Operations Center will equip the Red Cross to better share safety and preparedness tips during natural disasters.

Facebook helps tornado victims co-ordinate disaster relief � Internet � MyBroadband Tech and IT News

Facebook helps tornado victims co-ordinate disaster relief � Internet � MyBroadband Tech and IT News: Residents of the storm-ravaged communities in the Midwest are reaching out to each other, neighbor to neighbor, through social media sites to coordinate disaster relief and share information.

A chain of fast-moving tornadoes spawned by massive thunderstorms cut a swath of destruction from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, killing at least 39 people and leaving many residents homeless and seeking food, clothing, and shelter.

With phone connections spotty as emergency workers tried to repair downed power lines and clear debris, Facebook pages — accessible by cell phone, mobile device, or computer — have proven a go-to source for communities to assist one another.

Princeton system tracks drought to aid disaster relief

Princeton system tracks drought to aid disaster relief: he problem is that there is often no easy way to get data about water supplies in these areas — water monitoring stations don't exist, or they don't work, or they are simply too dangerous to operate. Groups such as AGRHYMET, an intergovernmental hydrology, agricultural and food security agency based in Niger, often have to rely on far-flung observers, often volunteers, to obtain the information manually.

Disaster relief must be more local and national, Oxfam says | Global development | guardian.co.uk

Disaster relief must be more local and national, Oxfam says | Global development | guardian.co.uk: Western donors and relief groups must build up the capacity of local and national organisations to respond to disasters, or the international humanitarian response system will fail to cope with an expected rise in emergencies, Oxfam warned.

In its report, Crises in a New World Order, Oxfam said international NGOs and the UN provide only part of the answer to crises from Haiti to the Horn of Africa, and future humanitarian action will increasingly rely on new donors and NGOs from around the world and on the governments and civil society of crisis-hit countries.

Customer Analytics: A New Lifeline for the Red Cross and Other Nonprofits? - Knowledge@Wharton

Customer Analytics: A New Lifeline for the Red Cross and Other Nonprofits? - Knowledge@Wharton: When an epic disaster occurs somewhere in the world, images of devastation are conveyed instantly around the world through newspapers, television and the Internet. The result is an outpouring of aid, often in the form of donations to nonprofits like the American Red Cross. But once the dramatic images and headlines begin to fade, donors often disappear as well.

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami | One year: Coming to terms with tragedy

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami | One year: Coming to terms with tragedy: Tomokazu Sato paces over the concrete foundations that are all that remain of the house where he grew up until the age of 18. “It still doesn’t seem real, I can hardly believe this has happened.”

“My grandmother was in the house by herself, because my mother had just gone up the hill to renew her driving license,” says the stocky bearded 35-year-old Japanese Red Cross staff member.

Sex Toys, Winter Coats, And Spanish Flags: The Uselessness Of Post-Disaster Donations | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

Sex Toys, Winter Coats, And Spanish Flags: The Uselessness Of Post-Disaster Donations | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation: Years of studying disaster relief has led Jose Holguin-Veras to a few simple truths about donations. While tiger costumes and sex toys aren’t going to do much good, it makes people feel better to think they’re helping. But they’re not--they could be doing a lot of damage.

Getting on with it: Bangkok bounces back

Getting on with it: Bangkok bounces back: More than five million people have been affected by Thailand's floods, which the World Bank says has cost the Kingdom some $20.77 billion in damage and $23.31 billion in lost opportunities.Those figures include the devastating damage to architectural treasures in the old Siamese capital of Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok. Ayutthaya is a World Heritage Site and one of the kingdom's prime tourist attractions.

American Red Cross Extends Funding of Critical Medical Care in Haiti

American Red Cross Extends Funding of Critical Medical Care in Haiti: WASHINGTON, Friday, January 06, 2012 — The American Red Cross has committed an additional $3.6 million to underwrite operating expenses at Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare Critical Care Trauma and Rehabilitation Program in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This increases the total funding of the hospital to $8.6 million since the earthquake struck. The funding will support services until December 2012.

New forms of disaster relief a better alternative to straightforward giving - The Mainichi Daily News

New forms of disaster relief a better alternative to straightforward giving - The Mainichi Daily News: But here, in this desolate town, some locals are undertaking new efforts. In November, Masaki Takahashi, 36, the head of the planning department at long-established fish-processing company Takamasa & Co., proposed a "local buying for local consumption" scheme for relief supplies. With the cooperation of the local association of commerce and industry, he created a system by which those wanting to offer assistance can do so by purchasing goods from companies in the disaster-hit areas. Whoever wants to send aid can contact the local commerce and industry association, which supplies the names and contact information of local companies carrying the goods the callers are hoping to donate.

UN Seeks Relief Aid for Philippine Flood Victims � VOA Breaking News

UN Seeks Relief Aid for Philippine Flood Victims � VOA Breaking News: United Nations official is appealing for more than $28 million in relief aid for the Philippines, saying the area devastated by massive flash floods looks like it was hit by a tsunami.

U.N. humanitarian coordinator Soe Nyunt-U is calling on the international community to supply funding for basic needs, such as clean drinking water, food and emergency shelters, to the hundreds of thousands of victims of the natural disaster in the southern Philippines.

Foreign aid floods Sendong victims - GMA News Online - The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere

Foreign aid floods Sendong victims - GMA News Online - The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere: The governments of Malaysia and Germany have joined the relief efforts for survivors of Tropical Storm Sendong in northern Mindanao by donating money amounting to around P34 million — the latest in the long list of foreign aid being received by the Philippines in the wake of the destructive cyclone.

Clinton Bush Haiti Fund gives $1.5 million in grants to hotel, education, tech sectors - The Washington Post

Clinton Bush Haiti Fund gives $1.5 million in grants to hotel, education, tech sectors - The Washington Post: PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund says it hopes $1.5 million in grants will help Haiti build its hotel, education and technology sectors.

The nonprofit created by former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush said Tuesday it’s given a $264,000 grant to the Oasis Foundation that seeks to train potential hotel workers in hospitality services.

KL youth help clean up Thai homes after floods - General - New Straits Times

KL youth help clean up Thai homes after floods - General - New Straits Times: SAMUT SAKHON (Thailand): About 100 Malaysian youths on Sunday provided assistance to more than 800 households in Zin Somboon housing estate in Thailand's central province here.

American Red Cross Had 137 Big U.S. Relief Operations in 46 States in Disaster-Filled 2011 - MarketWatch

American Red Cross Had 137 Big U.S. Relief Operations in 46 States in Disaster-Filled 2011 - MarketWatch: Throughout the year, the American Red Cross supported the people of Japan and Haiti, while launching 137 domestic disaster relief operations in 46 states and territories to help people affected by fires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes across the United States. In addition, major international disasters included the Japan earthquake and tsunami response and the continuing work following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Rotary Youth Exchange Students march for flood relief - Pattaya Mail - Pattaya News, Communities, Opinions and much more...

Rotary Youth Exchange Students march for flood relief - Pattaya Mail - Pattaya News, Communities, Opinions and much more...: Nearly 200 youngsters came together for Thailand’s flood victims as the Rotary District 3340 Youth Exchange committee organized a parade through central Pattaya.

Tropical Storm Washi hits the Philippines: Food and medication on their way to disaster zone - AlertNet

Tropical Storm Washi hits the Philippines: Food and medication on their way to disaster zone - AlertNet: Cologne. Malteser International, the Order of Malta’s worldwide relief service, is supporting the emergency relief efforts in the Philippines with an initial 10,000 euros after this weekend’s flash flood left more than 650 people dead and 800 more missing. A sudden rush of water caused by tropical storm Washi caught hundreds of families in the Cagayan de Oro and Iligan provinces on Mindanao Island unaware in the middle of the night on Friday. Today, the Philippine association of the Order of Malta airlifted 1,000 kilograms of food and medication to the disaster zone. The association intends to send another load containing 1,000 kilograms of aid goods tomorrow.

Philippine Flood Relief Shifts to Aid Survivors - NYTimes.com

Philippine Flood Relief Shifts to Aid Survivors - NYTimes.com: Ms. Cabilogan, 33, moved her family to her brother’s house on the other side of town, which was less affected. But tens of thousands of people affected by the floods that devastated the southern Philippines had no such option, and by Monday, officials had turned their focus toward the welfare of the living.