Sunday, January 30, 2005
HEARTBEAT PARTY was a great success!!!
Kobe, Japan
January 30, 2005
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for the wonderful support to all those who came to the HEARTBEAT PARTY on Saturday night, January 29th, in Kobe!!!
This Tsunami Charity Event was a great success, especially because of the wonderful efforts of so many great musicians, our DJ, and others.
Special thanks to Harvey Thompson, Anna and Andrew Gholston with Geoffrey Gems and Cosmo, Katsuki/Kanda/Akimoto/Ootsuka, Mike Stanton-Rich, Ryu Ohtani, Adam Tucker, and our great DJ and MC Alan Gibson. To friends who helped get the word out, Kazuko Awamura, the Kansai Toastmasters, Oli Tooher-Hancock, Tsuneko Sano, and others. And to the Kobe Bay Sheraton, especially Mark Robinson and the Staff at the Sports pub 'Arena' for helping us arrange this event.
We would also like to thank the many co-sponsors, particularly CODE, which generously donated their goods, "makenai-zou," as well as the Foreign Buyers Club, and Price Club for their donations to the auction. Many people came because of the support of P&G, Canadian Academy, Kansai Time Out, CHIC, FBC,Oz Travel, Price Club, ALANN, Kansai Canadian Association, Royal Society of St. George in the Kansai, George Washington Society, KICC, Ryan’s Pub, Kobe Junior Chamber, Japan-America Society of Kobe, Roly Poly International Pre-School, CODE, and Friends of LAFTI.
The Pub was packed! We estimated the attendance at 250+ ! (Sorry to those of you who had to wait in line to get in, by the way. This was the first time for the Pub to handle such an event and they did not expect such a turnout).
Because of your kind support we were able to raise a total of Yen 333,978 so far for tsunami survivors and relief efforts. The money will be divided equally, Yen 66,795 each going to the following charities.
1) Sarvodaya (Sri Lankan Gandhian relief and recovery organization:http://www.sarvodaya.org/)
2) UNICEF Japan (Work in all affected countries: http://www.unicef.or.jp/)
3) Habitat for Humanity (Building houses in affected countries:
http://www.hfhap.org/news/tsunami12jan.html and
http://www.hfhap.org/index.htm)
4) LAFTI (South Indian Gandhian NGO in the worst-hit area of India:
http://www.lafti.net/index.html)
5) CHCVT (NGO set up for child survivors of the tsunami by Overseas School
in Colombo (OSC), Sri Lanka, also supported by Canadian Academy)
We picked these charities because of their good track records in the countries concerned, especially organizations which have low overheads and get help to the poorest and weakest in the fastest ways. Oxfam and Medecines sans Frontieres, both orginally planned as target charities, have stopped accepting donations for tsunami relief efforts, saying they have enough funds now.
Finally, WE ARE STILL RECEIVING DONATIONS!
Especially for those of you who could not come!
For donations, bank transfer to:
Tsunami Relief Fund
Futsu Account 339 3324562
Mitsui Sumitomo Bank
Rokko Island Branch, Kobe, Japan
Or give the money directly to one of us, or to Mark Robinson at the Bay Sheraton Hotel. These later donations will go to LAFTI's efforts on the coast of South India, a remarkable group David will be staying with in late February. The leaders of LAFTI are direct disciples of Mahatma Gandhi,Jagannathan (90) and Krishnammal (78) are still very active in movements to help the poor in South India. Please see:
http://www.skylarksings.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=48
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR GREAT SUPPORT.
Much Love and Peace,
David and Kaoru
David Willis and Kaoru Kobashi
For Friends of LAFTI
Kobe, Japan
January 30, 2005
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for the wonderful support to all those who came to the HEARTBEAT PARTY on Saturday night, January 29th, in Kobe!!!
This Tsunami Charity Event was a great success, especially because of the wonderful efforts of so many great musicians, our DJ, and others.
Special thanks to Harvey Thompson, Anna and Andrew Gholston with Geoffrey Gems and Cosmo, Katsuki/Kanda/Akimoto/Ootsuka, Mike Stanton-Rich, Ryu Ohtani, Adam Tucker, and our great DJ and MC Alan Gibson. To friends who helped get the word out, Kazuko Awamura, the Kansai Toastmasters, Oli Tooher-Hancock, Tsuneko Sano, and others. And to the Kobe Bay Sheraton, especially Mark Robinson and the Staff at the Sports pub 'Arena' for helping us arrange this event.
We would also like to thank the many co-sponsors, particularly CODE, which generously donated their goods, "makenai-zou," as well as the Foreign Buyers Club, and Price Club for their donations to the auction. Many people came because of the support of P&G, Canadian Academy, Kansai Time Out, CHIC, FBC,Oz Travel, Price Club, ALANN, Kansai Canadian Association, Royal Society of St. George in the Kansai, George Washington Society, KICC, Ryan’s Pub, Kobe Junior Chamber, Japan-America Society of Kobe, Roly Poly International Pre-School, CODE, and Friends of LAFTI.
The Pub was packed! We estimated the attendance at 250+ ! (Sorry to those of you who had to wait in line to get in, by the way. This was the first time for the Pub to handle such an event and they did not expect such a turnout).
Because of your kind support we were able to raise a total of Yen 333,978 so far for tsunami survivors and relief efforts. The money will be divided equally, Yen 66,795 each going to the following charities.
1) Sarvodaya (Sri Lankan Gandhian relief and recovery organization:http://www.sarvodaya.org/)
2) UNICEF Japan (Work in all affected countries: http://www.unicef.or.jp/)
3) Habitat for Humanity (Building houses in affected countries:
http://www.hfhap.org/news/tsunami12jan.html and
http://www.hfhap.org/index.htm)
4) LAFTI (South Indian Gandhian NGO in the worst-hit area of India:
http://www.lafti.net/index.html)
5) CHCVT (NGO set up for child survivors of the tsunami by Overseas School
in Colombo (OSC), Sri Lanka, also supported by Canadian Academy)
We picked these charities because of their good track records in the countries concerned, especially organizations which have low overheads and get help to the poorest and weakest in the fastest ways. Oxfam and Medecines sans Frontieres, both orginally planned as target charities, have stopped accepting donations for tsunami relief efforts, saying they have enough funds now.
Finally, WE ARE STILL RECEIVING DONATIONS!
Especially for those of you who could not come!
For donations, bank transfer to:
Tsunami Relief Fund
Futsu Account 339 3324562
Mitsui Sumitomo Bank
Rokko Island Branch, Kobe, Japan
Or give the money directly to one of us, or to Mark Robinson at the Bay Sheraton Hotel. These later donations will go to LAFTI's efforts on the coast of South India, a remarkable group David will be staying with in late February. The leaders of LAFTI are direct disciples of Mahatma Gandhi,Jagannathan (90) and Krishnammal (78) are still very active in movements to help the poor in South India. Please see:
http://www.skylarksings.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=48
THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR GREAT SUPPORT.
Much Love and Peace,
David and Kaoru
David Willis and Kaoru Kobashi
For Friends of LAFTI
Friday, January 14, 2005
In the last blog I wrote: I am going to do whatever I can to help people suffering from the great disaster. Right after I wrote so, I got an email from my friend who proofread my English poems of "Flowers and Bombs," Dr. David B. Willis.
Dr. Willis used to be a teacher in South India and has a connection to an NGO, LAFTI, which has been working for people in need there. Since the tsunamis hit the regions around the Indian Ocean, he has been doing everything he can think of in order to help survivors of the tsunami disaster. And I have found that helping him would become a great help for the people suffering there, so now I am doing my best to help him.
Dr. Willis is now planning to visit India next month, and work with LAFTI to help people there.
Now he is raising money for LAFTI, and we are planning to hold a charity party in Kobe. If you live in Kansai in Japan, please drop by.
Here is the party information, and please forward it to your friends!
HEARTBEAT PARTY!!!
Kobe/ Rokko Island/ Kansai
Tsunami Community Charity Event
January 29, 2005
Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel 1F, Sports Pub ‘Arena’, 18:00-23:00
Kobe, Rokko Island (Next to Rokkoliner Island Center Station)
An evening of music, fun, and friendship in support of the survivors
of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster and their reconstruction efforts
Admission: Free
(Please Make Whatever Donation You Can to the Tsunami Relief Effort)
Even ￥３０ (a kilo of rice in affected areas) or ￥５ (the cost of one brick) helps!
PLEASE BRING FRIENDS!!!
Music: We are asking many musician friends to donate their talent!
Please join us!
Food and Drink:
Available By Order in the Sports Pub ‘Arena’
Co-Sponsors: We welcome and are seeking co-sponsors for this event!
Charities:
UNICEF, Sarvodaya, Oxfam, LAFTI, Habitat
- All Money Collected Will Be Distributed Evenly Among These Charities -
For more information: DWillis108@yahoo.com or kaorukobashi@hotmail.com
for Friends of LAFTI
Dr. Willis used to be a teacher in South India and has a connection to an NGO, LAFTI, which has been working for people in need there. Since the tsunamis hit the regions around the Indian Ocean, he has been doing everything he can think of in order to help survivors of the tsunami disaster. And I have found that helping him would become a great help for the people suffering there, so now I am doing my best to help him.
Dr. Willis is now planning to visit India next month, and work with LAFTI to help people there.
Now he is raising money for LAFTI, and we are planning to hold a charity party in Kobe. If you live in Kansai in Japan, please drop by.
Here is the party information, and please forward it to your friends!
HEARTBEAT PARTY!!!
Kobe/ Rokko Island/ Kansai
Tsunami Community Charity Event
January 29, 2005
Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel 1F, Sports Pub ‘Arena’, 18:00-23:00
Kobe, Rokko Island (Next to Rokkoliner Island Center Station)
An evening of music, fun, and friendship in support of the survivors
of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster and their reconstruction efforts
Admission: Free
(Please Make Whatever Donation You Can to the Tsunami Relief Effort)
Even ￥３０ (a kilo of rice in affected areas) or ￥５ (the cost of one brick) helps!
PLEASE BRING FRIENDS!!!
Music: We are asking many musician friends to donate their talent!
Please join us!
Food and Drink:
Available By Order in the Sports Pub ‘Arena’
Co-Sponsors: We welcome and are seeking co-sponsors for this event!
Charities:
UNICEF, Sarvodaya, Oxfam, LAFTI, Habitat
- All Money Collected Will Be Distributed Evenly Among These Charities -
For more information: DWillis108@yahoo.com or kaorukobashi@hotmail.com
for Friends of LAFTI
Sunday, January 02, 2005
The tsunamis which struck the Indian Ocean have caused devastating damages to the regions around there. With such a total disaster, we all feel helpless and at a loss what to do. I can not do much alone, but I believe small helps can do something when they get together, so I am going to do whatever I can to help people suffering from the great disaster.
A small help from me to children in Afghanistan has brought me back a great gift. An English teacher in Afghanistan read my book "Flowers and Bombs" and used it in his English class! One of my dreams when I decided to publish this book was to get my book read by children in Afghanistan, so it's a dream come true! The English teacher got my book through an NGO which is organized by Nishigaki-san in Takarazuka, Japan, and he told her that he would like to use the book in his Enlglish class. I was so delighted and gave him thirty copies as textbooks for his students. Nishigaki-san visited his school with the books a few weeks ago and sent me a letter with some photos in which Afghan high-schoolers read the books in an English class. Her letter wrote:
some of the students read the poems aloud. I believe your message has surely reached the students and will remain in the mind of them.
If my message remains in their mind in the form of poetry, and if we can share a hope of rebuilding Afghanistan, it is a great and precious gift to me. We can not do anything much alone, but if we can share a hope and get together, I believe we can do something. The photos have made me realize the faith again.
I am going to close this with a tanka poem from "Flowers and Bombs":
Red, white, pink, yellow
Millions of tulips have
Covered fields in spring
As landmines've become bulbs and
Burst into beautiful bloom
A Happy New Year!
A small help from me to children in Afghanistan has brought me back a great gift. An English teacher in Afghanistan read my book "Flowers and Bombs" and used it in his English class! One of my dreams when I decided to publish this book was to get my book read by children in Afghanistan, so it's a dream come true! The English teacher got my book through an NGO which is organized by Nishigaki-san in Takarazuka, Japan, and he told her that he would like to use the book in his Enlglish class. I was so delighted and gave him thirty copies as textbooks for his students. Nishigaki-san visited his school with the books a few weeks ago and sent me a letter with some photos in which Afghan high-schoolers read the books in an English class. Her letter wrote:
some of the students read the poems aloud. I believe your message has surely reached the students and will remain in the mind of them.
If my message remains in their mind in the form of poetry, and if we can share a hope of rebuilding Afghanistan, it is a great and precious gift to me. We can not do anything much alone, but if we can share a hope and get together, I believe we can do something. The photos have made me realize the faith again.
I am going to close this with a tanka poem from "Flowers and Bombs":
Red, white, pink, yellow
Millions of tulips have
Covered fields in spring
As landmines've become bulbs and
Burst into beautiful bloom
A Happy New Year!
