Volunteers needed in Wakayama following Typhoon #12
Peace Boat has started to recruit volunteers to assist with cleaning efforts in the aftermath of the Typhoon #12, which caused severe damage to the Kii Peninsula in Western Japan.
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Sep 2011
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14
Sep 2011
Follow-up Report: Visitors to “Kizuna no yu” and “Fudou no yu” exceed 3500!
Over the past two weeks the number of visitors to the public baths, “Kizuna no yu” and “Fudou no yu” that were opened to the public on August 22 exceeded 3500 people!
In conjunction with the conclusion of the bathing facilities that had been provided by the Japanese Self Defense Forces, and upon consultation with local city hall officials, public baths were constructed by the Ishinomaki Disaster Recovery Assistance Council Inc, with Peace Boat in charge of the operation of the baths including changing the water, cleaning and reception duties. Many people use the baths everyday, most of whom are living in evacuation centers or in the surrounding areas where infrastructure has not yet been restored.
12
Sep 2011
Gathering Ogatsu Stones
Slate stones are a traditional industry of Ogatsu town, near Ishinomaki. Volunteers have been working to collect these resilient stones, many of which were washed away in the tsunami, to enable them to be reused for various things such as roof tiles, accessories and ink stones.
11
Sep 2011
Ishinomaki Before and After (April 10 – August 30)
The main activity of volunteers in Ishinomaki, the city severely damaged by the tsunami, was clearing mud and cleaning the area.
To date, Peace Boat has completed the cleaning of over 1,200 locations in Ishinomaki, including homes, shops, schools and other public institutions, drains, cemeteries and so on.
This post features photographs showing the differences in scenes of April 10 (one month after the tsunami) and August 30, thanks to the cleanup work of volunteers participating in efforts including the Machinaka Smile project.
11
Sep 2011
Half a year on
A moment of silence – marking six months since the disaster struck.
At 2:46pm on September 11, six months since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, all volunteers and staff together held a moment of silence to pray for the souls of those who lost their lives.
The members’ dedication to both remembrance and recovery became even stronger as they gazed upon the now calm ocean.
We will continue to work together with the people of Ishinomaki one step at a time.
09
Sep 2011
Fisherman in Funakoshi
Peace Boat first got to know Mr Nakazato on July 2 at the Ogatsu Recovery Market. He is a fisherman in Funakoshi, a small village with a population of 320 before the disaster. In the tsunami most homes and storehouses were washed away, but miraculously Mr Nakazato’s property survived. That’s why he puts himself last and is working tirelessly to help his fellow fishermen.
08
Sep 2011
Typhoon #12: Investigation of damage in Wakayama
On September 7, Peace Boat sent three staff and volunteers to Wakayama Prefecture, which was severely affected by the heavy rains following Typhoon #12 recently.
07
Sep 2011
Volunteers cleaning graves in preparation for the equinox
Recently volunteers have become busy with cleaning graves, as local residents have requested help to have the graves cleaned by the time of the equinox. Mainly short-term volunteers have been involved with this and everyday many volunteers are spending time cleaning graves and the surrounding area. Today’s report is about such grave cleaning activities at Saikou Temple in Kadonowaki-cho.
06
Sep 2011
Meal preparation
A barbecue is on the menu for today, as a new style of meal preparation. Up until now, ready-made meals were handed out to residents. This new style is where volunteers take the ingredients and equipment necessary to cook on the spot, together with residents. As the needs in the area are changing, the idea emerged that residents could regain some independence by creating an environment where they can cook what they want to eat themselves.
02
Sep 2011
Onwards Dani-busters! The evacuation center cleaning team
The “Dani-buster” team been working since June, and is in charge of cleaning of bedding, drying and delivery of futons, pest control in evacuation centres and particularly removing bed bugs in the more than 60 evacuation centers in Ishinomaki area according to the needs of each particular centre.