Getting Up-to-Date

There has been so much happening in Japan since March 11, that it is difficult to know where or how to begin this entry.

So let's do our best to provide a brief summary of some of the efforts made so far by Tao Sangha members around the world.  Please also note that more detailed information is available in Japanese and English through the links posted on the righthand side.

• On March 14, only 3 days after the earthquake, an Etegami Workshop in Montreal turned into a workshop to bring hope and best wishes to the people of Japan.  Etegami is a hand painted picture on a Japanese post card, with a message written from the heart.
  Lead by Sachiko Hata Pereklita, with the theme of "Letters for Japan", Sachiko has continued to give workshops with this theme since then, with the cards eventually finding their way to people in the affected areas of Japan.  Click here for some etegami pictures from the first workshop,
  https://picasaweb.google.com/montrealtaosangha/EtegamiWishToJapan#
• Tao Sangha members around the world have been working hard volunteering their time and energy to give Tao Shiatsu treatments in order to raise money to send to Japan.   The fundraising events continue - please check the Tao Sangha Website for the next opportunity to receive a treatment and support Japan! 
• In Japan, Tao Sangha members have been visiting the affected areas and communities, providing Tao Shiatsu to many people, especially the elderly.  
• From the town of Hutaba-chou, Fukushima, about 1,500 people were moved (due to the risks of radiation) to shelters located i Kazo-city, Saitama. The people are under so much stress, facing an uncertain future, far from their own homes.   Tao Sangha GUC Japan's request from local government for a dedicated space to provideTao Shiatsu Therapy was granted, and now, Tao Shiatsu volunteers, with the support of Tao Sangha GUC, provide continued shiatsu to those in need.
• April 1, 2 Report of Tao Sangha members visiting Sendai, the largest city directly affected by the earthquake (to be posted April 27)
• April 9th Relief Trip, A report from Clive France who lives in Japan, a member of Tao Sangha G.U.C.  (You can see his original full write up by clicking here)
  http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://tohokuaid.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/april-9-relief-trip-a-few-bumps-but-all-good/
  A Few Bumps but All Good ..............Steve Dodds, James Barratt and myself left Tokyo on April 9 at 5:30 am,
  considerably later than planned due to Steve’s having an alarm clock
  malfunction (his actual words are unprintable).
• The rain was coming down hard when we reached the Tohoku Expressway.
  Surprisingly, given the bad weather, the road was busy. It was also bumpy,
  as new cracks from Thursday’s strong aftershock had been hurriedly filled in
  with tarmac......There is something appealingly subversive
  about driving through traffic lights that don’t work. Convenience stores
  were open but dark and cavernous inside. Lines of empty shelves greeted the
  few shoppers..... The devastation is immense. Huge swathes of land covered in the same debris we’ve seen all along the coastline. Household items, drinks machines, boats,
  concrete slabs, timber, railway tracks, crushed vehicles—always so many
  vehicles. .........
• On April 12, Tao Sangha GUC (Global Uni Community) decided to purchase 10 Washing Machines and donated them to the shelters in the Karakuwa area, Kesennuma City.  Since then, the machines have been delivered and about 700 people living in 12 shelters (small shelters have 20 people and some big shelters about 200 people) no longer have to wash their clothes by hand in the cold water.  The money was raised, about ¥338,000(US$4,044/ CAN$3,894/ EU€2,793) from overseas Tao Sangha Centres.   Message from the Tao Sangha members in Japan: "Please let people know how their money has been used with gratitude."
• in June, Tao Sangha member and documentary filmaker / television producer from Toronto,Yuki Nakamura will travel to Japan to work on a documentary about the disaster.

There will be more posts soon.
There is much more work to do.
And we look forward to everyones support.

Alex Pereklita
Tao Sangha Toronto