Second Harvest volunteering
(I'm on the left hefting a container of miso.)
I went down to Second Harvest Toukyou today to help with boxing up relief supplies. Spent over an hour taping together cardboard boxes then I helped with filling them. Each had 10kg rice, I bowl instant udon noodles, 1L bottled water, 1kg miso, 1L mirin, 1L rice vinegar, 1L soy sauce, a letter of support from a school student, and misc other small items.
Beside me was an American from Ohio who did a lot of relief work including several years in New Orleans. She complained for about an hour about how all the major NGOs were wasting money and churches should be doing all the relief. I tried to steer things in a more positive direction by asking if she had done any sightseeing but no, that wasn't what she was here for. Seriously, she needs a little balance in her life. Sounds like she's burnt out but determined to keep suffering nobly. It was hard not wince at her ignorance of Japan and what effective efforts are being made.
If you haven't already I'd like to ask that everyone set up a monthly donation to a reputable charity for international disaster relief. Not necessarily for Japan but for disaster anywhere. Japan needs help. 2004 tsunami survivors still need help. Hurricane season is coming up. We're still waiting for the Big One in the Pacific Northwest. Think of it as insurance premiums for all of humanity.