This was posted as a counterbalance to The Sun's article: Ryu Murakami - Amid Shortages, a Surplus of Hope

Really posting a picture of a kid in a mask to prove the radiation levels are up. I could go to the train station, throw a brick and hit 20 people wearing facemasks any time of the year. Such ignorance in journalism today.

dizmox Wrote:http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/new...&ATTR=News

OMG... a queue at an airport! That's unheard of!!

Gingerninja Wrote:I could go to the train station, throw a brick and hit 20 people wearing facemasks any time of the year.

Didn't realize Japanese people had such bouncy skin :o

bodhisamaya Wrote:Didn't realize Japanese people had such bouncy skin :o

They have normal skin, but every Japanese citizen has had bones and internal organs made of pure rubber ever since a government experiment gone horribly wrong in 1987.

But I've said too much already.

I screenshotted this whole thread before the Japanese government comes and

Ah! They've already got zachandhobbes!

Ridiculous Sun Article Wrote:"Most confusing is the rolling blackouts. You never know when there is going to be power or not."

...unless you've checked the widely distributed blackout schedule.

rich_f Wrote:Wait... is that a real newspaper, or just another version of the Onion? o_O

unfortunately the most popular daily paper in the UK...

it's common knowledge you can't believe anything they write mind...

I saw this info on Google.org's blog, re donations. I was going to ask them about this but I was dumbfounded when I couldn't find their contact info.

http://blog.google.org/2011/03/more-reso...ed-by.html

"Donations
Visit our Crisis Response resource page to find opportunities to donate. When you donate to Japan relief efforts through Google Checkout, we absorb processing fees—so 100% of your money goes to the organizations. Google has also donated $250,000 to help the people of Japan recover."

Ultimate Loyalty: Japanese Dog Refuses to Leave Injured Friend Behind

More: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=...l&ie=UTF-8

Ugh, the fate of pets is just another heartbreaking aspect of this whole thing, as in any natural disaster. I'm happy to read that they were rescued. Maybe we should list reliable pet rescue groups to donate to.

In a battered Japan, dogs search for human survivors

If you scroll down to the last sections such as “People helping animals, too” there's some links to several organizations that have apparently formed a coalition: Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support (Plus: http://japanearthquakeanimalrelief.chipi...nd-support) - There are other links in that article, as well.

Also: How To Help Japan’s Pets (Find Animal Rescues)

“[NOTE: This page is active and being updated as additional substantiated resources become available to aid lost and injured animals in Japan. Find information to donate to animals in Japan at the bottom of this page.]”

An English article on the first topic: Japanese dog who refused to leave injured friend caught on video

Japan's ‘Cat Island’ survived quake

Seamoby Wrote:Ugh, the fate of pets is just another heartbreaking aspect of this whole thing, as in any natural disaster. I'm happy to read that they were rescued. Maybe we should list reliable pet rescue groups to donate to.

....or eat fewer animals.

Anyway, not sure if these were posted before:

GuideStar - Giving to Disaster Relief and Recovery in Japan

Charity Navigator - Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: How To Help

Thanks for the links, nest0r. I'll check them out and give what I can.

I heard of Cat Island, too.

Man, someone get BBC's Matt Frei out of there. Send him to Libya or something. He sucks.

My university has booked me provisional flights home...
I live in Osaka FFS we're fine down here.. cut the panic people.

Seamoby Wrote:I'll check them out and give what I can.

I heard of Cat Island, too.

The cats will have plenty to eat with what body parts wash up on shore. Please tell me you aren't seriously going to give money to these people.

Gingerninja Wrote:My university has booked me provisional flights home...
I live in Osaka FFS we're fine down here.. cut the panic people.

i think you can politely turn down the offer. Our FCO hasn't ordered any british citizens back at all, not even those closest to the plant. So there should be no obligation for you to leave!

78.895??? The US dollar is at a historic low against the Japanese yen today. What am I missing?

IceCream Wrote:

Gingerninja Wrote:My university has booked me provisional flights home...
I live in Osaka FFS we're fine down here.. cut the panic people.

i think you can politely turn down the offer. Our FCO hasn't ordered any british citizens back at all, not even those closest to the plant. So there should be no obligation for you to leave!

Yeah I know, my friends been told to try and get out of Saitama but otherwise it's mostly just stay clear if you can. The reservation will lapse automatically if we don't take it up by the 21st (its booked for 23rd)

bodhisamaya Wrote:78.895??? The US dollar is at a historic low against the Japanese yen today. What am I missing?

£'s down too. It's because everyone speculating about all the potential trade and jobs this will cause. Expecting a strong economic comeback.

Japan's financial industry is set to withdraw massive amounts of money from overseas and bring it back inland, to pay for the cost of the earthquakes.

This has sent the yen soaring upwards:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12768687

Reuters is reporting on an initiative by the website couchsurfing.org

You can create an account and offer your home as temporary accommodation for those affected by the Earthquake and Tsunami crisis.

Another random "on the ground" update from where I am in Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku.