As we listen to, watch, and read the cautiously optimistic developments at the nuclear power plant in Japan and consider the ever-growing estimates of the number of people lost during the last week and a half, we send our condolences and support and reflect on our fragility and survival. In ancient times populations fell victim to natural disasters as we do today. While we are better prepared in many ways, that preparation is tempered now as we watch our outstanding technological advances turn into our nightmare, compounding the severity of damage rendered by the natural world. As leaders in Japan talk about using this crisis to learn, we reflect on nuclear facilities, deep water oil rigs, and technologically lethal implications of our own creation.
(Please see 5 ways to help at the end of this posting)
Tokyo at Night (photo © Don John)
Street Artist Don John lives in Copenhagen but happened to be on vacation in Tokyo when the calamitous earthquake and ensuing tsunami struck the coast of Japan. Nearing the end of holiday there with his girlfriend, some of his recent wheat pasted portraits had just appeared on streets in the Shibuya area of Tokyo.
Don John (photo © Don John)
The imagery for these pieces, developed far before the earthquake, in some ways mirror the shocked and saddened visages of the citizenry. Nonetheless, Don John reports that most people in Tokyo took the unfolding events in stride and reached out to one another and strangers to assist in a time of uncertainty and need. See some of his observations further down the page.
Don John (photo © Don John)
Don John (photo © Don John)
Don John (photo © Don John)
“We were amazed about how friendly and helpful Japanese people are, even in a situation like this. All trains stopped in Tokyo after the earthquake and we had 5 kilometers to walk back to our hotel. This super friendly guy offered to walk with us all the way to make sure that we found it. Having been around the people that are affected by this disaster makes it even more terrible to follow the developments in the news.” ~ Don John
Don John (photo © Don John)
Don John (photo © Don John)
From Sarah Milner Barry at New York University News, here are 5 ways you can help our brothers and sisters in Japan:
Text REDCROSS to 90999 or JAPAN to 80888
Each text to REDCROSS will provide $10 for the Red Cross, and each JAPAN text will send $10 to the Salvation Army. If texting JAPAN, make sure you respond YES when you receive a “thank you” message. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
Visit the Google crisis response site
The site provides an aggregate of different websites accepting online donations, including the International Medical Corps, UNICEF and the Japanese Red Cross Society. The website is also continuously updated to provide the latest information about the crisis.
Donate via iTunes
Apple has created a simple donation page on the iTunes homepage where you can send money to the Red Cross in just a few clicks.
Spread awareness on Twitter
Here are some key hashtags to remember:
#Jishin: focuses on general earthquake information
#Anpi: confirms the safety of individuals or places
#Hinan: lists evacuation information
#311care: provides medical information for the victims
#PrayforJapan: shows general support and best wishes for victims of the crisis
Attend NYU’s vigil for Japan on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at Gould Plaza, on 4th Street between Greene Street and Washington Square East.
Other Articles You May Like from BSA:
Experience the synergy of history and contemporary urban art practice during this summer's Nice Surprise street art festival with BSA in this Norwegian city. Join us as we celebrate Stavanger's 9...
Back in June, BSA published the first article on disCONNECT, a project created in London during the lockdown due to Covid-19. A collaboration between Schoeni Projects and HK Walls, disCONNECT involve...
Montreal has shown up again on our radar this summer because of the second annual MURAL festival, a large gathering of art fans, performances and live painting. The quality of the work is high and a...
Happy Valentines Day to you from your friends at BSA. Single? together? under the weather? - we don't mind, cause you're just fine and we love you. Steve ESPO Powers. From Love Letter To Phi...
As New York is waving and weaving through two or three consecutive nights of Halloween costumery and roleplay, dipping into fantasy, fears, and frolicsome forays befitting otherworldly matters, we tur...