A Big, Bad Number PDF Print E-mail

Japan rebuilding to cost 25 Trillion Yen

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12828181

Imagine 25 trillion yen (25,000,000,000,000).  That's about $309 billion in US dollars.  That's a lot of manga.  Or anime.  Or videogames. You'd be able to take your friends - and their friends, and their friends, etc. etc. etc. - to go see your favorite Jpop star on a world tour.

That is, sadly, how much it's expected to cost to rebuild Japan from the nightmare that they are undergoing at the moment.  And that's just the immediate costs.  There's the long term costs (the damage done to the economy by the six to eight months of rolling blackouts expected throughout the country), the environmental costs (the land and sea are currently filled with 2500-plus times the normal amount of radiation and increasing) and the human cost (bodies are unable to be properly laid to rest and in some cases are unrecoverable because of radiaton).  There has been an estimated 26000 dead or missing and that doesn't count those left behind, traumatized by the disaster and the difficulties of rebuilding.

 

Now, imagine this number. One.  Just one.

What does that number signify?  You - you have the power to make a difference in this situation, to help to donate, to help to get others to donate.  Whether it's to American Red Cross, Global Giving or the various charities being set up to counter the disaster.  All it takes is just one.  One to get one.  Two to get four.  And so it goes.  Until one - again, just one - is enough to reach out across the world and make a difference in the life of someone in dire straits right now.

25 trillion against one.  You have the power to make that one greater than the trillions.
 
When 80% is Not Good PDF Print E-mail

A week in, and let's be honest: things are not looking good.

CNN Money: Japan donations down 80%
http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/18/pf/japan_earthquake_aid/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=Sbin

The important quote:  "Seven days after the 9.0 quake, donations to nonprofit organizations have reached about $87 million, according to a tally by the Chronicle of Philanthropy, a newspaper covering nonprofits. In comparison, one week after the earthquake in Haiti, donations totaled about $275 million. In the case of Hurricane Katrina, it was over $522 million."

In one week, shelters are reporting a critical need for food and water, which has not reached them.  Doctors are working on almost no sleep and no food because there is no help to relieve them.  Workers are exhausted but continuing on.  And now refugee cities in the west, south and Hokkaido are being overwhelmed as the governor of Miyagi prefecture recommends that those lands be temporarily abandoned for six months to begin the recovery process.  And let us not forget that those devastated lands included 13.7% of all of Japan's farmland.
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AUSA 2011 AnimeAid Memberships PDF Print E-mail

Anime USA has now started to offer AnimeAid memberships: these memberships hold the same abilities as the corresponding AUSA memberships, but allows you to give $5 dollars to AnimeAid's fundraising efforts.  

For those who have already purchased standard pre-registrations, please contact AUSA's This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you wish to sidegrade to an AnimeAid membership.
 
We are AnimeAid PDF Print E-mail

The tsunami and earthquake which has devastated Japan resulting in tremendous damage and heartbreaking losses felt around the world has compelled local conventions and fan based organizations to find ways to help those affected by this tragedy.  Recognizing that a united effort will achieve more good for all we have joined in a cooperative effort called AnimeAid that will help us to coordinate our energy and resources to ensure that the action born of our compassion can be transformed into effective results for the victims of this disaster.  AnimeAid is committed to the task of assisting fan based support initiatives throughout the area to maximize the impact  in assisting the people of Japan as they weather the continuing trials of this situation and move toward rebuilding their lives, their communities, and their nation.  Through AnimeAid organizations can share their plans with others, consolidate activities to allow for effective outreach, and mitigate the costs that are involved in getting support to those who need it most.
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