LOS ANGELES EVENTS TO HELP JAPAN EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS: Q-POP ART FUNDRAISER, GIANT ROBOT LA, SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS ON THE ROX.
The amount of damage from the Japan disaster is still not known. But the casualties are now in the thousands, and believed to be in the ten thousands.
Sebastiano and I want to return to Tokyo as soon as everything is less volatile. We feel that for now, foreigners especially can help the most by raising money for reputable charities in Japan. We think supporting the professionals – medical teams, rescue crews – is the best course of action for the time being.
Seba and La Carmina are planning many events this week in Los Angeles to raise money. We collaborated with a well-known band (to be revealed soon), and collected donations at Mr. Black for Medecins Sans Frontiers / Doctors Without Borders. (Seba crafted a “Donate To Japan” sign in less than 10 minutes – impressive!)
Thanks to everyone at Mr Black LA for generously donating. And to The Orlando Hotel for hosting and supporting us — we’re overjoyed to be back.
Some updates… My schedule for the next few weeks remains unclear. My Belgian TV show and the NOH8 campaign in Japan are certainly postponed.
Fortunately, Yukiro made it to Sweden after a harrowing Narita airport experience! Many of our friends in Tokyo have moved to areas such as Kansai and Kageshima, just as a precaution.
Tonight, we will be raising awareness and funds at On The Rox, the weekly LA party by Semi Precious Weapons (who toured with Lady Gaga). Hope to see you there.
La Carmina and Sebastiano Serafini are sponsoring the Q Pop art auction for Japan this Friday, in downtown LA. The Japanese clothing store is now accepting donations of artwork. All proceeds will go to select local hospitals, shelters, and relief groups in all affected areas in Japan.
Please join us at the silent auction on Friday, March 18th from 7-11pm. Q Pot Shop is located at 128 Astronaut E S Onizuka St, Los Angeles.
Participating artists include Junko Mizuno, and illustrators for Power Puff Girls, Samurai Jack and Pixar. (Works will also be sold online.) Tune in Tokyo is spinning tunes, and there will be live music from Dig Jelly, Stephanie Yanez and guitarist Po Lo.
We encourage you to support your local events to help Japan. Other events in Los Angeles:
MARCH 17, 8-11pm: We <3 Japan: One Day Art Auction and Celebrity Signing at Meltdown Comics. Info here.
MARCH 19, 6:30-10pm: Giant Robot Presents Water Works – Fundraiser for the Devastation in Japan. Info here.
Also on Saturday March 19th, please join Seba and La Carmina at the #PrayForJapan art fundraiser at JapanLA. Details are in this post.
Keep us posted about you and your friends. How are you doing? Have you been taking action to help Japan?
PS: I’ve gotten some emails, and I think people should be more concerned about Sendai and NOT about whether they can still take shopping vacations in Tokyo in a few weeks. Not the time to be a tourist…
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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.
LA CARMINA
