just mindblowing these tsunami images - still the folks in the north of Japan are needing any bit of help they can get




Really successful Sunday of fund raising here on the island last weekend. A free market, in the space of 4 hours, raised about $4500. Good going.

Many people are doing many things to try to help:

A friend who lives in mainland Japan has set up a Facebook and donation drive aimed at teachers in Japan. As there are many places where you can donate, it is more of a motivation & idea drive pushing the suggestion to donate at least 'One Day's Pay' for the earthquake victims.

If you`d like to check it out click here to see the Facebook Community Page.
Teaching for the Victims - 2011 Japan Earthquake

BONIN ISLAND MOVIE - full length uncut




Recorded and finished editing this movie about four years ago now.
 
Watching it again now
still evokes to me
feelings which were so influential
in bringing me back here.

It features folks who continue living and breathing here to this day.

as to complement the fish we will catch from the ocean



We cut into the mountain side, making plateaus on which we can grow foods high in carbohydrates.

Reminding me of those vast expansive vistas we wandered through last year in the North of Vietnam.

Worked hard digging, moving earth, flattening the slope and creating a ridge to prevent water run off. Into this small pond-like space we'll create a route to the flowing stream nearby. The good earth we gather as we dig is then laid on top.
Into this we'll plant taro, which is also popular in the islands of Hawaii.

surf

Surfed yesterday.
The first time in quite a few weeks.
There was no one else there.
The magnificent island colours were subdued due to lack of sunshine.
The mountains jutted towards the sky,
and rideable waves refreshed like only ocean energy can.

some kind of peace

 

beyond the earth oven
to surfboard doodle
art in progress

past nutrient absorbing 
earth
and seedlings 
soaking up the sun

the Tahitian noni
the baby lemon tree
the avocado tree too

the wooden decking 
and our humble wooden shack

chicken pen in the background
and laundry drying in warm air


and up
past the banana 
leaves sprawling

to the blue blue 
sky above

VIOLENT WINDS DO NOT BLOW ALL MORNING
SUDDEN RAIN CANNOT POUR ALL DAY
WHAT CAUSES THESE THINGS?
HEAVEN AND EARTH.

IF HEAVEN AND EARTH DO NOT BLOW AND POUR FOR LONG,
HOW MUCH LESS SHOULD HUMANS?

THEREFORE IN FOLLOWING TAO:
  THOSE ON THE WAY BECOME THE WAY,
  THOSE WHO GAIN BECOME THE GAIN,
  THOSE WHO LOSE BECOME THE LOSS.

ALL WITHIN TAO:
  THE WAYFARER, WELCOME UPON THE WAY,
  THOSE WHO GAIN, WELCOME WITHIN GAIN,
  THOSE WHO LOSE, WELCOME WITHIN LOSS,

WITHOUT TRUST IN THIS,
THERE IS NO TRUST AT ALL.


'TAO TE CHING'

earthquake update

The boat left as scheduled.

Mood varies
with the day and the hour.

Unusual time.

Direct wind from the north yesterday

So unusually cold it was.

Our hearts go out to those cold and weak
in the worst hit zone.

Today was warmer.

And recent news
offers some positive optimism

Here
last night
with a live music event
we
raised money

to send to those most in need.



The world is responding.  Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States and many others have sent search and rescue teams. France, Canada, Malaysia, Norway, and Italy are some of the countries that have offered support, and even the war-torn province of Kandahar has donated $50,000. Here are some ways you can help.



Ways to help include:













Saturday, 16 April 2011 at 22:00
The Lab, Broad Street, Bristol

or 


Location: The Bussey Building, 133 Copeland Rd Camberwell, Peckham, Greater London SE15 3 - http://www.thebusseybuilding.com/
Time: Saturday, 23 April 2011 22:00
 
 or
 

The Salvation Army is also providing assistance, and has been in Japan since 1985, and has allocated $75,000 to the relief effort.
You can text to donate to the Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999. Each text provides $10 towards the Red Cross’s humanitarian efforts. They’ve also started a Facebook campaign to raise $25,000. It can be found here.

If you run a website, you can help out with relief efforts by embedding a code that helps drive donations.  More instructions can be found here.

Apple has started an iTunes donation page where you can donate up to $200 dollars to the Red Cross.

The International Medical Corps are in contact with the Japanese and other countries affected by the tsunami.  They provide relief teams and supplies.

Save the Children is a provider of humanitarian relief.  They donate non-food items and shelter, as well as emergency health care.

Global Giving distributes donations to relief organizations and emergency services.

Doctors Without Borders has sent medical teams to support the disaster response in Japan. They are running clinics and conducting needs assessments to determine how the scope of their response.

World Vision has response teams on the ground in the hardest hit areas, providing water, blankets and other supplies to survivors.  Their efforts focus on the unique needs of children.

what if the boat never comes again?

Been on the telephone and internet chatting to friends in Tokyo and the surrounding area. Mixed feelings there. Some are staying put, reassuring themselves in various ways that the situation is not one which requires evacuation. Others have taken the decision to leave and head further west in Japan, to wait out the situation, or with intentions of heading out of the country. 
What would you do?


Here on this island (CHICHIJIMA), we lie 1000 kilometres south of Tokyo.




This island is so physically removed from Tokyo and the main island of Honshu that it would seem unaffected by unfolding events to the north.

However, the one boat (25 hour journey) which connects Tokyo is the only way in or out of here. There is no airport.
The boat which comes an average of once a week is a lifeline to the people living here. Every week when the boat brings in the fresh produce, it's mostly snapped up the same day.

Local agriculture, fruits included, are surprisingly limited. Even locally caught fish is not profuse by any means. (Reasons and solutions to this need definitely, not only discussed, but acted upon.)



So what does this mean in light of current unfolding events?

The boat arrived late last night, instead of Monday, meaning the food was out on the shelves two days later than was expected. Bearing in mind that people are timing their provisions and stocks according to the boat schedule, this would have already created problems.
This morning too, as the produce was unpacked in the island's 3 shops, it was as quickly placed in the shopping baskets of those lucky enough to be there to do so. What of the elderly, those working, child minding or with other responsibilities who couldn't make their way to the shops?

The boat is due to leave tomorrow and return again on Sunday.

In light of food shortages and panic buying in and around Tokyo, in light of the current nuclear dilemma, in light of there being much more needy people in the areas completely obliterated by the earthquake and tsunami, whether the boat will keep to it's schedule is something to wait and see.

Whether the boat should stick to it's predetermined route, or dock in a more westerly city such as Osaka or Nagoya, is also worth considering. Whether this is being considered or not is unknown.


As for now, this morning here we are busy readying the first of many spaces to grow fresh produce.




The owner of the land on which I'm living is also busy doing the same thing.

Two days ago we created an earth oven, which, with a little wood we can cook slowly and efficiently.





On Friday there will be a live music event in the village.
Donations will be collected and sent to those worst hit by last week's events.


To all those in or near the affected areas, much love and best wishes.

lighten the hearts

tsunamis still coming

Tsunami sirens have given way
to intermittent announcements
'Most definitely not,
due to extreme danger,
venture to the beaches'

Tsunamis are hitting at regular intervals.
People living in the village have
evacuated to the local high school


Up here
on the mountainside
The usual silence
seems even more silent.

Boats are still
moored in the bay
as a precaution
against damage
from surging water


tsunami from the shakes

Shrill tsunami sirens
News of mainland
beyond strong
quake
Headed to high mountain















On the way
Friends
Who'd evacuated from the village
Spoke of sea levels retreating
And coral reefs
Normally underwater
Exposed to open air







From the high peak
The distant white sand beach
Disappeared for a time
And then reappeared.

All the islands boats
Could be seen
Far out to sea
or huddled in the usually empty bay
















The folks living in the village
Urged by the Public Address
To evacuate to higher ground
Seemingly had done so
No movement could be seen there.