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tsunami Archives - juesatta (CJ Photography)

Third transaction for Japan quake relief to IFRC

By Involvement
juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

Swallowed By The Sea (illustrated by Tomer Hanuka)

Swallowed By The Sea (illustrated by Tomer Hanuka)

Dear friends, thank you for your kindness and support. We’ve just made a third transaction of USD150.00 to International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for Japan quake relief.

Through the generous contribution by all friends and family, we have collected a total amount of more than RM1,300.00 to date for the relief effort in Japan. Thank you for your generosity and kindness by helping those are suffering from the devastating effects of the recent 8.9 earthquake and tsunami.

Together we hope and pray for all in Japan as well as all other countries to be affected by this event and that the recovery will be swift and complete.

In addition, another 7.4 powerful quake just struck Japan yesterday. Fortunately destructive tsunami is not expected according to The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

May all beings be happy.

Hope floats: tsunami dog found after drifting in ocean for 3 weeks

By Compassion
A fishy tale: It seems almost too good to be true, but this little dog seems to have survived against all odds and was discovered by coastguards floating on a raft at sea

A fishy tale: It seems almost too good to be true, but this little dog seems to have survived against all odds and was discovered by coastguards floating on a raft at sea

It appears almost too good to be true, but this little dog has been found alive and well adrift at sea, an astonishing three weeks after the tsunami that devastated Japan.

Members of the Japan Coast Guard came across the dog on Friday as they were conducting an aerial search of the area.

Local television showed pictures of the dog scampering around the roof of the house before it disappeared inside through a hole in the roof.

Rescuers had hoped to find more tsunami survivors living inside the house but after tearing the roof open, it was found to be empty apart from the dog.

Despite its three weeks at sea, the medium-sized brown dog seemed to be in reasonably good condition considering its ordeal.

The discovery of the dog is a rare glimmer of hope in Japan where thousands of people are believed to have perished in the disaster.

The nation is now gripped by the ongoing nuclear threat posed by the unstable Fukushima plant as workers continue to battle to restore vital cooling systems damaged by the quake.

Against all odds: The dog appears to have survived by clinging to a house that had been swept away by the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11

Against all odds: The dog appears to have survived by clinging to a house that had been swept away by the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck on March 11

Safe and hound: A member of the Japan Coast Guard comforts the dog that seems to have survived an amazing three weeks at sea following the devastating tsunami

Safe and hound: A member of the Japan Coast Guard comforts the dog that seems to have survived an amazing three weeks at sea following the devastating tsunami

[source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1372506/Safe-hound-Dog-alive-Japan-THREE-WEEKS-tsunami.html#ixzz1IJLTojDe]

地震之后

By Compassion
Japan earthquake victims (photo: www.news.com.au)

Japan earthquake victims (photo: www.news.com.au)

我像一个等着看好戏的观众,看着海啸前进的片段。

长长的地震摇晃后,我按捺着颤抖的手,抓起电视遥控器。老公每次地震后都那么做。我们母子三人躲到桌子下,余震强烈,电视屏幕闪着海啸警报。东京湾的船只匆匆往岸边驶,海岸线升高,向陆地蔓延,几十分钟后,海水慢慢侵袭陆地,掩盖道路,缓缓往房子去。我像旁观者,情绪高亢,却没有多少恐慌,这一切对我来说很新鲜。或许是角度问题,从天空鸟瞰,海浪看起来那么温柔优雅,又或许,我比较愿意袖手旁观,因为这里不是我的国家。

当然那时谁都没想到情况会这么恶劣。

两天后,我发现自己身在挤满顾客的超市里。地震、海啸、停电和核漏,人们开始惊慌,大量采购。我也跟着紧张,女儿的牛奶最重要。于是惶惶跑向冷藏区,差点撞上一个老人,我闪了一下,继续往前小跑,然后把购物车装得满满,安心结帐去。我排入队伍,开始环视周围,却发现没有人推挤,没有人急得跑着抢货,人人虽然神色匆忙,却还有秩序有自律。

Japan earthquake victims (web photo)

Japan earthquake victims (web photo)

我站着,双颊发烫,实在羞愧。

然后我开始发觉自己已被卷入这场灾害,不再是一个旁观者。

灾害没有停止,汽油短缺,辐射物质泄漏,人心惶惶。我继续每天往超市钻,扛回罐头、水、干粮、厕纸、蜡烛等,几天下来,家里堆满了备用品。

直到我读到这样一则短讯:

“不要大量采购。这些东西可能是要送上东北区。我们还有三餐美味,灾区的灾民一天只有一个饭团。”

消息可能不确实,我却确确实实看到了自己的私欲与邪恶。

如果还有什么能让我更羞耻,那便是打开电视。灾区的女人在破残且空无一物的便利店里为孩子买到几个没被水冲走的零食,她对着镜头说:“能买到这些太感谢了,深僻的地方还有许多被困着的人们,请你们救救他们。”她转身拭擦眼角的泪水。

许多灾民在镜头前说他们的感受,“有这些食物,已经很感恩了”,“这种情形也是没有法子的”,“这样更要加油”。

怎么都没有抱怨?

我明白了,这大概就是彻底的团体精神。一个国家,一个人民,一个思想。

我不得不重新计量住了8年的地方,我重新认识自己以为很了解的大和民族。

原本一个骇人的灾难,却让我看到了一个勇敢美丽的民族,一个强稳的社会结构,还有一个丑陋自私的我。

晚上,我拿起一个红豆馒头,想扔进垃圾桶,却犹豫了一下。我最不喜欢这东西,平常家婆送来,我随手就丢了。但是今晚,我重新放回冰箱。为了灾区的人民,我会珍惜食物。

[文:虎子(寄自日本),刊登于星洲日报副刊]

Second donation for Japan quake relief to Tzu-Chi

By Involvement
juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

Thank you friends for your kindness. We’ve made a second donation of RM400.00 to Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Foundation Malaysia.

After the 8.9 quake and subsequent tsunami, the people of Japan are short of many things, such as petrol and food. The members of Tzu-Chi will overcome all kinds of hurdles and deliver hot food into the hands of those in difficulty. The money donated will be used entirely for emergency relief and for long-term construction as Japan clears the rubble and prepares to rebuild.

Thank you and may we keep Japan in our prayers. We will make third trasnfer soon and friends who are wishing to donate, kindly contact us.

May all beings be happy.

Members of the international non-profit organisation, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, bow their heads as they collect donations in Sydney (photo: AFP)

Members of the international non-profit organisation, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, bow their heads as they collect donations in Sydney (photo: AFP)

Young and old, volunteers prepares the relief goods to ship to Japan. (Photo by Chien Shi-si; date: 03/13/2011; location: Jing Si Abode, Hualien, Taiwan)

Young and old, volunteers prepares the relief goods to ship to Japan. (Photo by Chien Shi-si; date: 03/13/2011; location: Jing Si Abode, Hualien, Taiwan)

The residents and volunteers pray together. (Photo by Chen Wei-chun; date: 03/16/2011; location: Oarai, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan)

The residents and volunteers pray together. (Photo by Chen Wei-chun; date: 03/16/2011; location: Oarai, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan)

Tzu Chi volunteers provide hot meals for the second day. (Photo by Hsiao Chi-jen; date: 03/17/2011; location: Oarai, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan)

Tzu Chi volunteers provide hot meals for the second day. (Photo by Hsiao Chi-jen; date: 03/17/2011; location: Oarai, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan)

First transfer of donation for Japan quake relief to IFRC

By Involvement
juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

Thank you friends for your support, we have made our first transfer of USD 150.00 donation to International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for Japan quake relief.

Our donation will support the rescue works in Japan. And, we must give a deep bow of immense gratitude to all the volunteers’ efforts to respond to the emergency relief. There are many rescue workers or emergency workers risk their lives and some even sacrificed themselves! Many stories of heroism are reported such as one as reported by Japanese journalist Chie Matsumoto:

“People received the warning through the city speakers that are set up outside. They heard, ‘A big tsunami is coming. You need to evacuate.’ Shortly after, they heard, ‘Run!’

“The announcement was cut off and the people never heard from the speakers, or the people who announced it, again. The few people assigned to announce it were at the disaster prevention center, and they went missing.

“They sacrificed their lives to send everyone else to a safer place. They gave priority to others’ safety. The disaster prevention center is now under the mud brought on by the tsunami.”

Although we are not on the ground to help like them nor to be like them, we can still send out our prayers to give them (both rescuers and victims) hope and strength in the face of this terrible catastrophe.

Thank you again and we will soon to make a second transfer. Friends who wish to contribute, kindly contact us. Sharing some photos taken from Red Cross flickr:

Those who have suffered near drowning are wrapped in blankets and then plastic sheeting to keep them both warm ad dry before being transported to Ishinomaki Red Cross hospital for treatment. (Photograph: Toshirharu Kato, Japanese Red Cross)

Those who have suffered near drowning are wrapped in blankets and then plastic sheeting to keep them both warm ad dry before being transported to Ishinomaki Red Cross hospital for treatment. (Photograph: Toshirharu Kato, Japanese Red Cross)

For some of the youngest patients, who may be particularly vulnerable, special care must be provided, however warm skin and a kind voice, together with a watchful eye can go a long way to ensure a speedy recovery. (Photograph: Toshirharu Kato, Japanese Red Cross)

For some of the youngest patients, who may be particularly vulnerable, special care must be provided, however warm skin and a kind voice, together with a watchful eye can go a long way to ensure a speedy recovery. (Photograph: Toshirharu Kato, Japanese Red Cross)

One week after the earthquake struck and tsunami surged through, a Japanese Red Cross volunteer surveys the damage to Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture. (Photograph: Japanese Red Cross Society)

One week after the earthquake struck and tsunami surged through, a Japanese Red Cross volunteer surveys the damage to Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture. (Photograph: Japanese Red Cross Society)

Technicians scan Red Cross rescue workers for signs of radiation in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture in northern Japan, after an earthquake and tsunami struck the area, March 14, 2011. (Photograph: Reuters/Kyodo)

Technicians scan Red Cross rescue workers for signs of radiation in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture in northern Japan, after an earthquake and tsunami struck the area, March 14, 2011. (Photograph: Reuters/Kyodo)

juesatta awakening foundation: japan quake relief mission launched

By Involvement
juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

A huge 8.9 earthquake, subsequent tsunami, and nuclear meltdown struck Japan on March 11th at 2:46 pm, causing immeasurable human suffering and physical damage. Officials say at least 10,000 people were killed, many more are still missing or injured, and millions are without food, water, power in Japan.

Major disasters always require a huge amount of international support to provide relief and long term recovery efforts. Japan, being one of the world’s most generous nations, has always donated when other countries have experienced disasters. In these, their days of greatest need now, we stand ready and are eager to help the Japanese in this time of great trial.

I’ve received calls these two days from friends who  have expressed their sympathy and wish of helping those who are at risk in Japan now. We are getting the assessments by the reputable aid organisations such as Red Cross, Tzu Chi, World Vision, Salvation Army and those already have a presence in the impacted area and their response will likely be faster and more efficinet than other organizations that are not on the ground.

Right now, while waiting and see how the relief situation develops, we express our heartfelt sympathy for the tragic loss and are ready to assist the reputable aid organisations. Friends, you can make a donation to well-known charitable organisations or through us as we are collecting fund and will make the transfer next week to the organisations mentioned that are working on relief and recovery in the region.

A woman cries amid the destruction in Natori, Japan (Reuters photo)

A woman cries amid the destruction in Natori, Japan (Reuters photo)

Residents walk along a path overlooking shattered homes from the tsunami in Kesen Numa, Miyagi Prefecture. (Reuters photo)

Residents walk along a path overlooking shattered homes from the tsunami in Kesen Numa, Miyagi Prefecture. (Reuters photo)

A man surveys the damage in Minami Sanriku, a town in Miyago Prefecture, on Tuesday, March 15. (AFP/Getty photo)

A man surveys the damage in Minami Sanriku, a town in Miyago Prefecture, on Tuesday, March 15. (AFP/Getty photo)

A Self Defense Forces soldier holds a 4-month-old baby in Ishinomaki city in Miyagi prefecture Monday. The child survived the tsunami with her family. (AFP/Getty photo)

A Self Defense Forces soldier holds a 4-month-old baby in Ishinomaki city in Miyagi prefecture Monday. The child survived the tsunami with her family. (AFP/Getty photo)