The crisis at the Yokushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is still ongoing, and Japan continues to struggle with the devastation of last week's 9.0 earthquake and tsunami. Fortunately, artists and organizations are coming together to offer their support.
Fundraisers and Relief Efforts
* Japan Cinema and CinemaFanatic are hosting a week-long blogathon to help raise money for Japan disaster relief. Would you like to participate? Visit their websites for more details. 100% of all proceeds will go to support various charities of your choosing.
There are already a lot of Studio Ghibli film essays, so I had better come up with something really good. I'll be sure to participate this weekend and add my voice to the chorus. I ask you to do the same.
* Anime and Manga Bloggers For Japan is seeking donations to two special charities, Doctors Without Borders and Shelterbox. They are also asking all bloggers to join by adding banners to their website and asking readers to participate. You can also add a "fundraiser progress" widget to your blog.
* Anime News Network has a listing of Japan earthquake relief efforts from the anime and videogame communities.
* Comics Alliance and visual artists are coming together by creating art to raise funds for relief efforts. There are some really amazing paintings and designs in this collection.
* As always, you can contribute $10 to the Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
Videos
* Thursday's Rachel Maddow Show, which addresses the current crisis at the Yokoshima plant. Officials are now struggling to restore power to the plant, which would revive the cooling systems and pull us back from the brink. But it's still unknown just how much damage the reactors have suffered, and radiation remains dangerously high on-site. Rachel has been fantastic (as always) in explaining the crisis every step of the way.
* Breathtaking footage of a narrow escape from a taxi to a building just as the tsunami strikes land. Several people are stranded on houses and trees, and are dramatically rescued. Broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK.
* Finally, I just had to include this cartoon from Japanese TV that explains the Yokoshima crisis with....radioactive poop. Yes, it smacks of propaganda and CYA, but it's funny as hell and deserves to become an internet meme. Thanks to the always-essential Cartoon Brew for discovering this little gem.
2 comments:
A friend of mine (and an excellent writer/blogger) is participating in the japanese cinema blogathon and is writing all about ghibli films. You can see her blog here: http://garbolaughs.wordpress.com/
Yes, I did see Garbo Laughs when I was reading about the Japan Cinema Blogathon. I'll definitely be reading her essays. We should get her to participate in April's Conan blogathon.
As for me, I think I'll be writing about the pre-Ghibli period, so I don't step on anyone's toes. Should be fun.
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