UPDATE: It appears there may not currently be a tsunami/earthquake fundraising diary currently on the Rec List. Please feel free to use this one for that purpose. Links to donate below the fold.
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As many of you may know, this space is normally reserved for the weekly Inoculation Project series, wherein we combat the anti-science bias in red America by targeting a single science/math project in a red state classroom for funding.
In light of today's events in Japan, I am not posting a project for funding this week. Instead, I would like to ask our regular readers (and anyone else) to redirect your donations to organizations helping with the earthquake/tsunami recovery in Japan.
If you need any additional motivation, just imagine this: This all happened in the middle of the afternoon when school was in session. That means that there are hundreds (possibly thousands) of students in Japan who are still looking for their parents, even as you read this.
You can always give the the Red Cross here.
And, of course, giving to Shelterbox is highly encouraged.
News from Shelterbox:
A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is mobilising after a massive earthquake struck Japan earlier today. The earthquake, measuring 8.9 in magnitude, triggered a tsunami that’s caused extensive damage.
The latest reports coming out of Japan have shown cars, ships and buildings being swept away with waves of up to 10 meters high slamming into the coast. Areas across the Pacific Basin have been put on tsunami alert including Russia, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Hawaii.
SRT members Lasse Petersen (AU), Mark Pearson (UK) and John Diksa (FR) are ready to head to Japan and begin ShelterBox’s international response.
‘The scenes we’re seeing are catastrophic,’ said Lasse. ‘Whole homes are being washed away and our thoughts go out to all the families who are facing this disaster. The epicentre was in Japan so our first team are mobilising to head there but we continue to watch very closely the path of the tsunami. We’re very aware the worst may not be over.’
According to U.S. Geological Survey the earthquake was magnitude 8.9 at a depth of 20 miles with the epicentre 250 miles away from Japan’s capital Tokyo.
And more news from Shelterbox:
Three of ShelterBox’s most experienced SRT members, Lasse Petersen (AU), Mark Pearson (UK) and John Diksa(FR), are spear-heading the response and will be drawing on all of their skills and experience in delivering emergency disaster relief as they fight to overcome the challenges ahead.
Mark Pearson led ShelterBox’s response to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and the Haiti earthquake and Pakistan floods in 2010. He was in Port au Prince, Haiti’s capital, less than 36 hours after the January earthquake last year and says the lessons learnt from there will be essential.
‘When you arrive in a country in the immediate aftermath of a disaster you have to be prepared to operate quickly, effectively and make the right decisions under pressure,’ he said.
‘We’re there to help, not to add to the burden, so we make sure we’re completely self-sufficient. Operationally, the Haiti earthquake was one of the toughest tests we’ve faced and it’s vital we apply the lessons we learnt there to our response in Japan.
‘One of the biggest challenges facing us in Japan will be the logistics of reaching the affected are. The north-east of the country is a very remote area and with the infrastructure being either damaged or wiped-out it’s going to be a real battle to find out where the greatest need lies.
‘We’ll be working closely with regional and national authorities as well as other aid agencies operating in the field to ensure there is a coordinated effort to reach the people in most need.’
Please, please give!