RAISING MONEY FOR DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, JAPAN EARTHQUAKE & TSUNAMI MEDICAL RELIEF: TONIGHT AT MR BLACK IN LOS ANGELES.
TONIGHT (Tuesday, March 15): Sebastiano and I will be collecting donations for Japan at Mr. Black (Hollywood club) in Los Angeles, 10pm to 2am.
All the money collected will go to Doctors Without Borders. The international nonprofit organization is well-vetted and has experience and resources (please Google to verify). DWB has already sent emergency medical teams to Japan. The funds will help those who need urgent medical care, especially in Sendai.
We’ll have a booth at the party tonight, where you can donate (address for Bardot is here). If you aren’t in LA, please consider making a donation to Doctors Without Borders here.
We’re running around and trying to help our friends, so I’m not always able to give full updates and links here. You can see more updates on my Twitter (Japan Fashion Week has been cancelled. My Tokyo travel plans seem unlikely. A lot of our friends are trying to leave Japan and cannot. Cat Island may be ok, but the cats and people badly need help.)
We’re still going to do our best to help, and have a ton of fundraisers planned in LA over the next few days.
Listen… I’m sorry if some of you don’t agree with me and Sebastiano, but we’re in constant contact with people in Japan, and our position is unchanged. We think people should be more concerned about radiation and general instability in areas near Fukushima, including Tokyo. I don’t want to argue about what information is accurate: I think nobody can say for 100% certain. Better to take precautions and get somewhere safer. As a reader tweeted, “The potential well-being of other people comes first. If there’s a chance people will get hurt, we should help them get out.”
Please do your best to support Japan.
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SEBA & I ARE SAFE IN LA. ANIME MATSURI, TOKYO PLANS CHANGING. PRAY FOR JAPAN ART FUNDRAISER TO HELP SENDAI EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS, MAR 19.
Crisis mode. If you’ve been following my Twitter, you’ll have seen my tweets about the devastating post-earthquake situation in Japan.
My Tokyo friends are having trouble flying out. Trains to Narita airport have stopped running and many flights were cancelled. Thankfully, Sebastiano got on a flight from Haneda to Los Angeles, and is here (shaken but safe). We’re in LA for the next 1-2 weeks, and are doing everything possible to help Japan. (How can we even think of anything else?)
UPDATE: Sorry if people don’t agree with us, but our position is unchanged – we think people should be more concerned about radiation and general instability in areas near Fukushima. We’re still going to do our best to help people get away from nearby areas, and have a ton of fundraisers planned in next few days.
Unfortunately, the Sendai crisis has shifted many of my upcoming plans. Please read:
† I am so sorry, but I cannot make it to Anime Matsuri in Houston, Texas next weekend. I was looking forward to meeting so many of you… Happily, the h.NAOTO Sixh and Hangry & Angry fashion shows are still on, and I urge you to attend and support.
† My Japan plans are also up in the air. The NOH8 Campaign, Belgian TV, and German TV crews are waiting at least a few more days to gauge the situation. I hope I can be in Tokyo by late March, but right now, everything’s on standby.
Seba and I worry about our friends in Japan. Sure, Tokyo is nowhere as badly hit as the epicenter (the footage is devastating). But there are blackouts, train stoppages, constant aftershocks — it’s stressful. And sure, a lot of Western media is exaggerating information about a nuclear meltdown. But the fact is, there is a 70% probability of a 7.0+ quake in the next few days.
The situation’s still not easy to assess. There’s no need to panic, but we hope people will at least consider going elsewhere for a little while… All we’re saying is, keep options open and stay safe. (Not everyone will agree, but that’s our take on things.)
What can those outside Japan do? Donate and take action. La Carmina and Sebastiano will be sponsoring many charity events in LA , for the people of Japan — especially the hardest-hit regions. This weekend, we encourage you to participate in the #PrayForJapan Art Fundraiser Exhibition.
The event is organized by Sweet Streets in response to the earthquake in Japan. 100% of art sales will be donated to the Red Cross (you can also or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10). The artists who have donated works include Camilla d’Errico and Tokidoki. LA friends, we hope you’ll join us!
WHEN: Saturday, March 19, 7-10pm
WHERE: JapanLA, 7320 1/2 Melrose Ave at North Fuller, Los Angeles, CA
OPEN CALL: The event is accepting art submissions. Email the curator, Caro, at info@sweetstreetsla.com for details.
No matter where you are located, there are tons of ways to help. The Huffington Post has a great article about the many ways to aid earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.
Your favorite J-Goths and J-rockers are doing their part to help. Gackt (who I saw perform in 2009) has organized the Show Your Heart foundation to collect donations for the victims. Supporters include Shinya (from LUNA SEA), Fujiwara Norika, DAIGO (from BREAKERZ), and Haruna Ai. Yoshiki of X Japan also donated his crystal piano for auction.
† For the next week, music label HearJapan will donate 50% of all sales to the Japan relief effort. Pick up a digital album here.
† Starwave Records and Darkest Labyrinth will contribute part of the income from their online shop to Gackt’s Show Your Heart foundation between March 13 and April 30.
† The tsunami destroyed the hometown of Takuya Angel’s mother. The cyber designer is having a 20% off sale, and all proceeds will be donated.
Please share this post and consider the ways we can all help Japan. If you’re in Los Angeles, we hope to see you this Saturday night at the art fundraiser. As always, more updates to come here and on Twitter.
Japanese Word of the Day: Uranaishi = Fortune telling, or the earthquake warning beep that goes off on cell phones
Song of the Day: Odd Dimension – The Ecstasy of Hopes (Powerful track.)
LA CARMINA
