A couple of days ago, Daniella Orihuela-Gruber of All About Manga spearheaded a movement among manga and anime bloggers to make a concerted effort to raise money for those affected by the recent earthquakes and resulting disasters in Japan. The initial goal was to raise $2,000. Many bloggers and their readers have already shown their support for the campaign, which now even has its own website (Anime and Manga Bloggers for Japan) and Twitter account (@bloggers4japan).
I am still fairly overwhelmed by the whole situation in Japan, and so my comments here will be brief. I have been doing the best that I can to try and stay updated and informed about the continuing developments. It is important to remember that Japan will feel the effects of this tragedy for a very long time. While they need immediate help now, they will continue to need support and assistance for many years to come. Daniella’s initial post is worth reading not only because it explains the Anime and Manga Bloggers for Japan campaign, but because she coherently captures many of my own feelings on the matter (probably better than I would be able to manage). Even more information and updates on the campaign and the relief efforts and situation in Japan can be found at Anime and Manga Bloggers for Japan.
Two organizations have been specifically chosen for this campaign, both of which are currently on the ground and working in Japan:
Shelter Box USA—Japan Disaster Relief
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders
If you haven’t donated to the relief in Japan, I encourage you to consider doing so. And if you already have donated, thank you! Every little bit, even a few dollars (or whichever currency you prefer), helps. I would be thrilled if you would be willing to participate in Anime and Manga Bloggers for Japan. But, there are many, many other worthy programs and campaigns out there as well, and I’m not saying you have to choose ours (just watch out for scams). Any support that you can show Japan, monetarily or otherwise, through any organization of your choosing or through your own efforts, is greatly appreciated. Find something that is meaningful to you and do it.
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