British Red Cross launches Japan appeal6

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 14 Mar 2011

The British Red Cross has launched an appeal in aid of the devastating Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

The Disasters Emergency Committee will “definitely not” be launching an appeal for the disaster, a DEC spokesman told Civil Society. Apart from the British Red Cross, DEC members do not have much presence in Japan and the DEC members are specifically geared towards responding to disasters in poorer countries with weaker infrastructure, a statement from the organisation body read.

The Red Cross, which is also running appeals for the New Zealand earthquake and Libyan uprising, will be funnelling donations to the Japanese Red Cross, which is working with the Japanese government in the relief efforts. The New Zealand appeal had raised £1m as of last week.

The DEC spokesman said that other members may soon launch action in support of the Japanese victims.

Directory: British Red Cross | Disasters Emergency Committee

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JOHN HARTLEY
Past President
The Rotary Club of Coventry
20 Mar 2011

I have been supporting the British Red Cross Appeal by helping students and Rotarians collect money over the past week. So far I estimate that some £20,000 has been raised to help to relieve the suffering people in and around the city of Sendai. However, while I am aware that the BRC in cooperation with its Japanese partner have over 100 rescue teams on the ground, there appears to be some confusing statements observed in the weekend press.

Under the heading "Feel pity, but no need to give" the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) it would appear that financial help could make the situation in Japan worse than it is. It states that "the Japanese Government is well resourced, experienced and capable of dealing with the crisis".

It is reported that British Red Cross has raised over £2 million for the Japanese Red Cross which has been quoted as saying "External assistance is not required".

We note that Nat West and RBS banks are acepting donations for the JRC. If money is not needed where is all the money raised so far going to be used?

As a Rotarian I see good reason to provide money to rebuild schools and other forms of assistance for community use.

Please give us your advice urgently since fund raising is continuing.

[Reply]

Well Annoyed
15 Mar 2011

Its the last time I will put any cash DEC's way and I shall make sure my local pub won't be welcoming DEC collection tins. They've gone well down in my estimation.

Everyone has been gawping at the disaster porn. The Japanese are sometimes too polite for their own good and too proud to admit help. When you go to a cinema to see a disaster movie you pay the ticket. So when you switch on the 24 hour news and watch excited schadenfreude western journalists speculating more disasters, do humanity a favour, pay the ticket - so put some coins in the British Red Cross.

[Reply]

Steve Burrows
15 Mar 2011

I am absolutely disgusted. The DEC's stance beggars belief. God forbid that a disaster similar to Japan's should ever affect the U.K., but were it to, let's hope the world's wealthy nations don't wash their hands of our need on the basis that the U.K. is relatively wealthy. The D.E.C. members should hang their heads in shame.

[Reply]

Steve Clark
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14 Mar 2011

DEC should think again.

They may be geared towards helping poorer countries, but they are possibly the best placed organisation to get the levels of fundraising this disaster requires.

Japan owes more than double its GDP at the moment - that's not a good financial position in anyone's book.

We should look at the level of suffering, not at the level of national wealth.

[Reply]

PS Siu
Fundraiser
RNS
14 Mar 2011

"Definitely not" hey? Charming. So sorry, I thought a massive disaster was a massive disaster where-ever it happened in the world.

Although a "wealthy" nation in comparison to others, the tragedy that we're witnessing surely cuts through these labels - Those people left standing in a wasteland of rubble with nothing but the clothes they're standing in, looking for lost family members...They don't look wealthy, they don't look like they're immediately benefitting from well-developed infrastructure. They look like they need our aid.

[Reply]

Rita Freudenthal
14 Mar 2011

Good afternoon,

Is there any way that I can go to Japan to take care of people who had suffer from the tsunami?

Is there any organization where I can offer my services?

Thank you very much

Rita Freudenthal

[Reply]

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