If there is one thing I’ve learned about the online community, it is that they are not only interested in world issues, but they take action – very quickly. Aside from thousands of posts on Twitter and Facebook, many of you are taking the time to blog about the ways you are taking action to help the people of Japan.
In the first two weeks after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, we counted more than 1,000 blogs written about Japan that mention the Canadian Red Cross.
Our team at the Canadian Red Cross, including myself, Jen Mayville and Megan Hope have been trying to read as many of these blogs as possible. So far, we've left comments on more than 100 of them.
In short, the blogs are inspiring. There are so many incredibly talented, creative, generous people in Canada. The blogs have covered everything from art, jewellery, quilting, events and origami cranes. It would be impossible for me to mention every one of them, but I want to share a few of the posts with you to show you what I mean.
Take a look at this blog, Cranes to Uplift Japan, about a corporate team led by a woman, whose family lives in Japan. They are folding origami cranes to give to people to thank them for making a donation.
I also loved this one from CL Connections in Montreal about their cookie drive. They actually sold 3,200 cookies, and raised more than $9,000. That is a lot of cookies!
Speaking of home-made treats, check out this cupcake from the Cupcake Place, specially made for Japan with a red disc on top of the icing.
There are many crafty people -- selling everything from fine art, posters, jewellery, glass works and quilts -- who have committed proceeds to help Japan. Here are a few: Mad About Patchwork, Tsunami Glass Works, Ridiculously Ever After and Cass Mart.
This is another one that caught my eye – the writer of A Funny Face Beauty has challenged her followers to “Dare to Wear” and show off their best Japanese make-up looks. Take a peek and see what people have come up with.
There are many do-gooders hosting special events to raise funds. There’s a Twitter fundraiser event in Toronto called #JapanQuakeTO , an auction in Ottawa, a Polish lunch in Victoria and this get together in Squamish.
This blog has a great listing of events in Montreal with the local Japanese Cultural Centre .
Miss604 in Vancouver has a full list of events happening there.
A big thank you to all of the bloggers! You’ve given us a run for the money to read all of your posts – but it has been worth it.
Do you have a blog we haven’t mentioned here that you’d like to share? Please do! Post a link to your blog in our comments box.