Photo by Dominic Alvez/Flickr (Creative Commons)
A donation bucked in Brighton, England, March 25, 2011
More than a month after a magnitude 9 earthquake and the resulting tsunami devastated northeastern Japan, international relief efforts continue to build, and for good reason. At least 150,000 remain homeless, many of the estimated 28,000 people who perished are still unaccounted for, millions are without water or power, and an ailing nuclear plant continues to be a threat.
Over the past month, Japanese American groups, businesses large and small, commercial media outlets and a broad smattering of celebrities have joined efforts to raise money for quake recovery. This weekend, 89.3 KPCC is joining the cause.
The station has partnered with the California Community Foundation and the U.S.-Japan Council for a weekend-long fund raising drive. Donations will go to the Red Cross, the International Medical Corps, Save the Children and to Japanese NGOs. More details are posted on the station’s website.
It’s a first for KPCC, as non-commercial broadcasters are typically not allowed to raise money for other non-profits without special permission from the FCC. This is one of those rare instances. Other public radio and television stations have been able to do the same in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Hurricane Katrina and other disasters.
KPCC has also re-posted a haunting piece from staff videographer Grant Slater, “Far from Home:”
Far From Home from 89.3 KPCC on Vimeo.
