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8/4/2019 Booklet "I am always stammering! September 2011" pdf
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I am always stammering! 0
I am always stammering!
September 2011
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I am always stammering! 1
Booklet I am always stammering!
CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Reports from Japan
FUKUSHIMA VOICE from PRAY+LIFE
- Fuku-Fuku Farm
- The ceiling and the puppy love
- Report from Indonesia -
Challenges in Rebuilding Post-Disaster (Hafiz Amirrol)
- Report from overseas
Voice from Canada (Chie Kinjo)
Many thanks to our sponsors:
Aki Warasawa, Ayumi Hashimoto, Emika Takahashi, Hiroshi Nishi & Keiko Nishi, Kojiro
Koshikawa, Mai Harada, Mariko Mugitani, Masako Inoue, Mayumi Oyama & Hanson
Endra Kusuma, Miho Yoshizaki, Ryo Araki, Norio Matsuba & Hiroko Matsuba, Saori
Seki, Yumiko Arima, Rumah Kita Bunko and friends. (Honorities omitted.)
Japan Indonesia Network (JIN).
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What is Booklet I am always stammering!?
I am always stammering! was initially the title of a discussion. I planned
the event where people can discuss freely about any topic. Then, on 11
March 2011, Japan was hit by the unprecedented disasters caused by
Earthquake and Tsunami. The nuclear accident also occurred in
Fukushima. So the first I am always stammering discussion held two
weeks after the disaster was combined with charity event. The donations
made by a lot of warmhearted friends in Indonesia have been sent to the
relief project by Shigeru Ban Architects.
As time passed, the support activities have declined; however, the people
in affected area are still living in fear. Nevertheless it is not easy for
Japanese residents overseas to go there. What can we do? Support
activity can be provided overseas as well as on site. At least we can send
out information and share them with Indonesian (and also foreign
countries') friends.
Indonesia had also experiences with Earthquakes and Tsunami. Disaster
can happen at any time anywhere. Thats why we want to share
information, experiences and knowledge. We believe that Not to forget is
one of preparedness for disaster.
Then we decided to issue bimonthly Booklet I am always stammering! in
English. We hope our small voices can reach you.
Thank you.
Kumiko Homma (editor)
Copyright of photograph: PRAY+L
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About PRAY+LIFE
On March 11, Fuskushima was hit by a devastating Earthquake, Tsunamis and
Nuclear accident. The daily lives of people changed in an instant. The fact confronted
us with something day after day.
I could not accept the shock of the disaster because it was too big. In such a situation,
I got the idea to leave the experiences and feelings lost with time. If we find their faces
as a human, something will be changed even a little. So I started to interview the
people who lived in Fukushima and recorded one story per person.
After the interviews, I knew that each of them lived with different thoughts,
circumstances, surroundings, information sources, families and friends. Life is
constructed with a lot of complicated things. So it is impossible to judge which theory
is correct, which is not. There are just the living itself.
I know what I can hear from the interviews and what I can tell you are only a part of
them. They are very little. Someone could be hurt. Someone wants to forget. It still
makes me hesitate. However, I decided to put their voices out because people I
interviewed were very appealing even in such difficulties. I felt their very existences
have the power to produce the future.
There are many problems remaining. I think it could happen not only in Fukushima but
also anywhere anytime.
I sincerely appreciate those who told me and hope the voices to be a pray for the
future.
(Translated by Kumiko Homma)
Copyright of PRAY+LIFE
Each person has his own face.
Each person lives his own life within their jobs, circumstances, families and friends.
Even if each voice is small, any voice can be a segment for our future.
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Fuku-Fuku Farm May 2011, from Tabito-machi, Iwaki
We would like to put our cattle out into the pasture, to let them graze and grow up
comfortably. We want to make cheese from their fresh milk and food that our family
likes to eat. We want the local people to enjoy the food we make. We want to see theirsmile, we want to communicate with them. We want to live among the local people
while keeping good relationship with them and making a living from locally produced
products.
Having a dream like that, Mr. and Mrs. Fukumoto looked for land and finally found it in
Kaidomari, Tabito-machi. It was three years ago. The pastureland had been
abandoned for more than 15 years, now covered with bushes. It was the new world of
hope for them. They named the place Fuku-Fuku Farm, and stepped on the soil of
Kaidomari with full of hope.
First, they needed a house to live. They converted an office cabin into a house by their
hands. They removed some parts of the wall to make windows and boarded the
concrete floor. They put heat insulation on the outer wall and then warmed themselves
up with a wood-burning stove. They got some big stones from a construction site and
smashed them into pieces by hammers to make gravel to cover the rough path. A
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neighbor brought them an old bathtub, so that they could take a bath with hot water
heated by kerosene. Next, they started preparing grazing land to keep cattle. Clearing
thickets, cutting off branches of trees, they made grazing land and a plot forvegetables. To make their living, Norio Fukumoto got some jobs in the mountain,
worked as a construction laborer and delivered newspapers while his wife, Natsu, who
had teaching experience found a post as a substitute for a teacher who was on
maternity or childcare leave, and then became a part-time teacher at a primary school.
While they did those jobs, they kept clearing the land.
A year past in a flash. In August next year their long-awaited cattle came to the farm.
The opening of Fuku-Fuku Farm. Cattle walked around the pasture, their dung
returned to the soil, and the soil grew grass for the cattle to eat. Sometimes children
came and played on the farm, other times Norio and Natsu enjoyed the peacefulness
outside. They grew vegetables and grass for winter, and when autumn came, they
mowed the grass with a mowing machine and made hay in a vinyl greenhouse.
Next year they started producing cheese on a full scale. In autumn 2010, the third year
since they moved in Kaidomari, they started selling their handmade cheese. Their
dreams came true. The next dream of Natsu was to open a caf in Fuku-Fuku Farm.
Their handmade cheese came to be known more and more, visitors to the farm
increased little by little.
It was the day of the primary school graduation. When Natsu got home after the
ceremony at school, she found Norio taking a break after being interviewed for a TVprogram. Then the ground shook. They turned on TV and watched a visual record of
tsunami striking the northern area. It looked just like a spectacle from a movie. The
earthquake didnt do much damage to their farm, so they didnt realize what actually
happened on that day. They worried about the nuclear power plant, but TV news said,
There would be no problem.
After the next day, they got to realize how serious the situation was. When they visited
a friend in the neighborhood, they found him preparing for evacuation. When they
called a shop where they were going to deliver cheese, they were told that it was
impossible to open shops in town. TV news was still repeating, There would be noproblem. But Norios brother called from Tokyo and told him, Youd better leave as
soon as possible. Norio started thinking about evacuation and asked a local
government office how to evacuate the area. We havent considered any plan of
evacuation at this stage. Were afraid that it may be impossible. That was the answer.
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How come the government doesnt care much about protecting the lives of the
citizens of the town, of the prefecture, of the nation? Norio was astonished. If
something happens, we have to protect ourselves, he decided. Cattle can survive at
least half a year in the pasture. I have to think about my familys safety first. In the
morning of March 16, they left the farm and went to a hotel in Tokyo.
Maybe we cannot come back. A thought arose in their minds even though they
couldnt express it.
While In Tokyo they couldnt think about anything but the people in Kaidomari. They
wanted to help those who stayed. Both of them were too restless to sleep. They got
some information about Iwaki from Twitter and sent it to the people in Kaidomari. They
made phone calls and were told, We cant get neither petrol nor kerosene. That
piece of information made them decide to go back. Lets go back and see the
situation. Three days after they moved to their friends house, they bought petrol and
kerosene as much as they could carry in the car and went back to Kaidomari.
When they returned, they unexpectedly found that things had been almost back to
normal in Kaidomari. They felt so relieved and started their ordinary days in the farm
again.
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In spring, came the planting season. The farmers in Kaidomari started planting as
soon as they got approval from JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives). According to
news, the radiation dose in this area was higher than other areas in Iwaki City. But thefarmers said, Compared to the place where the dose is the highest, its much lower
here.
Not every vegetable was tested. There was not enough information what kinds of
vegetables were not allowed to ship. They didnt know how to test their products at
home. It would cost too much anyway. Elderly farmers smiled and said, Thats OK
with us, or We dont know if we can sell our rice or not, but we need rice for
ourselves to eat anyway. And they kept working in the fields. In the season of edible
wild plants, they had a festival of hunting edible wild plants. While Norio and Natsu felt
a doubt creeping into their minds little by little, they helped organize the festival and
talked with other people how to liven up the spirits of the people in Kaidomari.
Then happened a big aftershock. The ground shook more violently than the quake in
March. An earthquake directly below the area. In Kaidomari, spring water was gone,
mountain streams dried up. Landslides killed some people. Boom! Boom! Since 11
March, there was the sound of explosions day and night as if somebody was
launching fireworks between the mountains. Now they knew that it was an advance
warning of an earthquake. After the aftershock, Norio and Natsu began to think again
of what to do.
Dont just compare to other places. We have to know exactly about radiation, aboutthe state of contamination of this land. We must look at the reality.
Farmers have to touch the soil and inhale dust every day. They also have to work in
the rain. The reference value of radiation dose is set without considering such case of
radiation exposure dose. The government announces the measured value of radiation
dose of water-washed vegetables. The radiation dose of grass in pasture is much
higher than other vegetables. And cattle eat it without washing. Naturally the radiation
dose of milk becomes high. Contamination is more and more concentrated in the
pasture and radioactive substances remain ever since. A recycling-oriented farming
causes a vicious circle like that.
In the environment like this, we cannot produce anything we can sell with confidence.
I dont want anybody who lives in the area full of danger of external exposure to eat
food which may cause internal exposure as well. Some of our customers tried to
encourage us and asked us when we are going to start our business again. But we
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dont want sell. We are now in the unusual environment. In the unusual environmen t,
we cannot do usual business. If it is possible to change the soil or perfectly remove
radioactive substances, we want to stay. But we have learned how and it is difficult todecontaminate pasture. Also we cannot expect any help for the decontamination. We
have to do it by ourselves for decades, for all our life. That means we have to give up
producing cheese. We also cannot invite children to our farm. Every day we wear
masks, and run into a house when it rains. We have to live like that all the time. If we
stay here, the life like that would be a burden on our next generation. If we choose to
stay here, some people might think this land is OK. But actually it is not OK. It would
be better to move somewhere else and produce cheese again. During summer
holidays, we invite the children in this area to our farm. We grow vegetables safe to
eat and send them to the children here. Its much more like a positive way of living,
weve come to think that way.
For the people who have no choice other than to stay here, their way of thinking might
not be quite welcome. A lot of agricultural producers in Fukushima are afraid of raising
their voices. Even though they think in that way, they dont dare to speak openly.
Everybody thinks We have to keep going. But how many of them can actually keep
going forward? Even each specialist in radiation effect might have a different opinion
about such a matter. But if the people who live here dont speak up about the danger
of internal exposure, they might dig their own graves in the end. It is the reality.
Whichever they choose, it would be a bitter choice. It is painful to choose. No one
knows which choice is the right one until the end. Still, they have to choose.
After grappling to find an answer, they decided to leave Kaidomari.
Until now I thought if we have hope and make our effort, we will be rewarded in some
way. But now Ive learned even though while we are having a happy life, we can drown
into trouble like this and lose everything at any moment. To protect ourselves, we have
to take part in the society even though its bothersome. We have to speak up, we have
to state what we think. Its very important. It may be a small matter, but everything will
start from it, I think. I want to keep cattle. Weve already started producing cheese. To
be honest, I want to keep going in this place. But, for me, it is the most important thatmy family can have a healthy life.
Going into the mountain and taking some berries to make jam. Enjoying the beauty of
the nature and the changes of the seasons. Seeing calves were born, milking cows,
staying outside without doing anything, watching the stars. In winter, being warmed up
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beside a wood-burning stove. After getting up in the morning, going to see the nest of
the hens. Hey, weve got eggs again!
Such joys of ordinary days.
The days in Kaidomari.
(Translated by Ribeka Ota)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The ceiling and the puppy love
Nana went straight home after her school as usual and sat at her desk to do her
homework. Nana lives in a municipal apartment on the 3rd floor with her parents and
her 6 siblings. On March 11th, two of her younger sisters, her 2nd oldest brother and
her mother were staying at home. There was a sound coming from TV and it seemed
to be just another usual afternoon.
Suddenly, the earth quake struck them. The shelves fell over, their things were thrown
all over across the floor, the wall made loud squeaky noises, and a crack formed on
the ceilings across the rooms.
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Nana ran to the living room where her mother was. Her mother was holding the little
sisters under her arms and shouted, Not safe here, put your shoes on and well go
outside! Nana staggered in the shaking room. She tried to stay close to her mother
and brother and walked toward the front door. She put on her shoes and went outside.
They went to a safe area and looked for her two other brothers who were on the way
coming home from school. They found the two brothers, both were safe.
If there is another big shake, our home might collapse. they thought. They decided to
go to an evacuation area instead of going home. The people there were saying
Tsunami would come. Mother tried to reach Nanas father and called him many times.
Nanas father works at a nuclear power plant company by the sea. Please stay safe!
they all prayed.
When the earthquake occurred, her father was still at work. He was told to evacuate
immediately. He got into a car leaving most of his belongings behind. All the phone
calls he made to home did not go through. Nanas father was already nearby when the
call finally went through. Nanas family was relieved to find out everyone was safe.
But the situation at the shelter was not as good as they hoped. The shelter can only
spare either one rice ball or one bread, the children were hungry, there is also possible
danger of the house collapsing, water or other supplies cannot come and news of the
nuclear accident terrifies them. Radioactivity cant reach over here so we are fine,
said people at the shelter, trying to console Nanas mother. She was having headache
and nausea from the shocks and those words didnt help her to calm down. The
aftershocks keep happening. I am worried about the radioactivity. There is not enough
food... how am I supposed to protect my kids? Nanas mother thought. Her family
then decided to stay with their relatives in Yokohama.
As soon as they arrived in Yokohama, they heard news about the Unit 3 explosions.
This may be bad. If it gets worse, we might not be able to go back home for 10 or 20
years, said the father, who has experience working inside the nuclear power plant.
We cant go back to Fukushima anymore?. The family was stunned by the thought of
it. The fathers colleague contacted him. He said, I was taking care of th e explosion. I
had to leave because it exceeded the allowable limit (of radioactivity). Nanas familywas afraid that the father might have to go to the nuclear power plant as well if his
company asks him. Not long after, the company contacted him. It was an order to go
to a thermal power plant.
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Father and mother went back to Iwaki (in Fukushima) first without the children. The
house was left as it is after the earthquake. Mother didnt want this mess in the house
to remind children about the earthquake. So she threw away all the broken objects,cleaned up the rooms and put everything back to the way it was as if nothing ever
happened. When she felt the house was ready, she went to Yokohama to bring her
children back home.
However, only a few days after Nana and her family returned to Iwaki, another major
earthquake occurred again. It was raining and there was lightning on that day. Nana
immediately ran outside barefoot in the rain. I dont want to go home! Im scared!
The family decided to go to a shelter with Nana who was still frightened by the
earthquake. They went around several shelters, asking if they could stay although
their house wasnt collapsed. They managed to find a shelter that would take them in.
Every time there was a rumor among children that said, There will be an earthquake
on this day, Nana was filled with anxiety. Lightning or raining also made her anxious
and made her cry. I dont want to go home, said Nana. The family comforted her and
took her home, but Nana would wake up alone in the middle of the night and couldnt
go back to sleep. When Nanas little sister or brother jumped around the house and
shook it even a little, Nana would get frightened and cried. Because of this situationthe family had to go back and forth the shelter.
Whenever a doctor came to the shelter, the mother consulted about Nanas situation.
Some doctor would say, Its the parents fault. You should just go back and stay home
and other doctors would say, Forcing and taking her back home would make it w orse
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so give her some time to adjust. The only thing the mother could do was to wait and
see.
There was also another concern. Its the impact of the radioactivity on children. The
fact that radiation is not visible made their fear it more.
Even though the parents told the children, Dont touch dirt or water. No more playing
with water, the children often forgot and played with them the next day. It was very
hard to say No more dirt, water or flower, since it is young childrens normal behavior
to play with them. However, Nanas parents had to make sure that their children would
have a future. They later learned about what happened to the people of Chernobyl.
They were not worried about themselves, but they dont want the same fate to happen
to their children.
Nana said, Since people tell me not to go outside, I play cards, games or make our
own card games and play with them inside. But Im not scared because the number of
radioactivity is low in Iwaki. Only small children wear masks in my school. There are
some children who were wearing masks because of hay fever but not for the
radioactivity. I cant do anything if I worry too much.
The mother continued, Even though it says the radioactivity number is lower in Iwaki,
it is not a usual number. I think there is quite amount of radioactivity and I am cautious
about it. I would like to move to safer place for my children. But when I think of how
Fukushima people are discriminated outside, it discourages me to move out fromFukushima. Im afraid to go to Tokyo because I heard the news about the bullying in
Tokyo towards kids from Fukushima. No one is to be blamed but I am very reluctant to
move now. I want outside people to know what we are going through in Fukushima. If
all the people in Fukushima were told to evacuate, I would be happy to do so.
However, I am afraid how people would treat us if my family moves to other place on
our own. There were tears in her eyes as she was talking.
The mother added, I want the children to know that they have done nothing wrong to
deserve this.
The shelter became a place that people get together, unite, and comfort each other for
both adults and children while they are still facing anxiety. It seems like children are at
ease while they are playing together. The children also started to volunteer taking care
of others and assisting cooking. They learned about caring for others and the
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importance of working together through this experience. It is clear that something
changed inside of them.
After living in the shelter for quite some time, Nana met a boy of the same age. He
became her boyfriend, a puppy love. The positive experience in the shelter has slowly
transformed her fear into strength, Nana is now ready to get her life back.
Nana said We can go home! The person who check houses came and said its ok. So
it is ok now!
During the holidays in May, the family finally returned to their own home.
(Translated by Chie Kinjo)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Challenges in Rebuilding Post-Disaster
Hafiz Amirrol
The main problem with rebuilding and reconstruction projects after a disaster lay first
in the scale of the destruction of buildings and infrastructures and, to a lesser extent,in the poverty of those who suffered the tragedy (i). In the three worst hit countries of
the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka, the majority of
people who suffered lived on the margins, on the edge both of the sea and of society.
Houses were often fragile and so the violence of the waves rendered extraordinary
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numbers of people homeless. Along the coasts of Southern India and Sri Lanka,
virtually all homes were destroyed in a belt stretching up to half kilometres inland, for
hundreds of miles. In Aceh, no houses at all were left standing over many acres ofland, and large amounts of land were permanently lost. Almost 700,000 people were
made homeless. In addition to these shelter problems, clean water, sanitation and
hygiene issues were at the poorest level, contributing to the spread of diseases. With
serious defects of medical facilities, these problems had worsened the living standards
of the disaster victims. After a disaster of such magnitude, defining and classifying
needs, quantifying reconstruction activities, financing modalities and resourcing
approaches were not easy tasks. The need for a systematic developmental framework
is crucial in each of the relief work and intervention. Post-disaster development cannot
simply be viewed from the perspective of a single building project. It is not simply a
problem to be solved. Rather, these rebuilding programs are complex socialredevelopment institutions that interact in many ways with a range of societal issues
and surviving daily life in a broader perspective. Consequently, these rebuilding
programs can only be addressed responsibly within a broader developmental
framework, which addresses the realities of the context. In all disaster-hit areas in
poor countries, the most dominant of these realities are poverty, health and education
problems, unemployment and scarce resources. A defining condition of poverty and
hardships is that it is necessary to pool resources and to work more collectively (ii).
Four central dimensions lie at the core of such a developmental framework:
1. The need to stimulate the emergence of qualitatively decent totalliving/working/learning environments.
2. Identifying the need to use reconstruction and rebuilding initiatives to generate
employment.
3. The need to stimulate social cohesion through a reflexive design and planning
program.
4. Participative roles of community as an important process.
1. Stimulating the Emergence of Qualitatively Decent Total Environments
A feature of most rebuilding and reconstruction initiatives is their narrow definition into
fast and cost effective programs only. The resulting environments are almost poorly
designed and built, unfailingly monotonous, sterile and non-supportive, even when
money from external humanitarian aid is reasonably adequate (iii). The quality of
these rebuilding projects is not only determined primarily by the quality of a singular
building but also by the quality of the public spatial environments. Agencies which
work on these programs need to work collectively with proper coordination on a well
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planned redevelopment blueprint to stimulate a qualitatively decent total environment
for living, working, learning and even playing. There is a need for a paradigm shift
within the concern of rebuilding a massively destructed disaster-hit area, which thusfar has been dominated by two powerful ideologies: the political ideology of building
economics and design ideology of standardization. The main concern of this approach
is economics and efficiency (iv). The standardization design strategy had replaced
rationalist thought with functionalistic design approach. A humanistic, integrative and
pragmatic way of thinking which sought to create redevelopment order for urban or
rural, in a manner which allowed considerable flexibility of interpretation has become
somewhat lost. These vulnerable communities would be moving from the old to the
new after being affected at large - physically, emotionally and economically. As relief
works and rebuilding programs progress, these communities will also be in a motion of
uncertainties. Thus, the task of relief workers and architects is to provide a reflexivedesign and offer a democratization of planning approach. The rebuilding blueprint
strategies developed by various local and international agencies such as the United
Nations and countrys representatives became a key mechanism for the
implementation of the reconstruction and development programs for the affected areas.
Our task was to further strengthen this blueprint and worked in line with its principle
which emphasises the need to enhance the integration of society and economic
opportunities and to contribute to the correction of building practices which promotes
the idea of safe building for a community at risk.
2. Roles of Community as an Important Process
In the 1973 BBC documentary series, The Ascent of Man, Jacob Bronowski regards
cities as humanitys greatest act of community co-operation. The fact that disaster
happens and people start to work together co-operatively towards a better rebuilding
is an extraordinary feat. The British historian, Arnold J. Toynbee once quoted;
The 20th
century will be chiefly remembered by future generations not as an era of
political conflicts or technical inventions, but as [an] age in which human society dared
to think of the welfare of the whole human race as a practical objective (v).
Every layer of the society should understand support roles and responsibilities.
Decision makers and practitioners from NGOs including womens and children
organizations to professionals, academicians, students, local authorities,
parliamentarians, and community representatives should attain the understanding in
being prepared and being able to manage disaster related plans, problems, and
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solutions. Networking events and programs could provide an intimate venue for
practical interaction and exchange. The aims are to build knowledge, strengthen
partnerships, create new ones, and provide platforms for sharing novel ideas andpractices. Interventions in disaster areas must perform vital functions in structuring
and organizing knowledge, not only for the beneficiaries, but also for stakeholders and
designers in creating a safer and better place to live in, especially in the wild and
dangerous areas that are vulnerable to destruction and calamity. Humanitarian works
and rebuilding programs have become the interface and access point for the other
development activities, ranging from socio-cultural activities to economic revitalization
programs to capacity building to the local community at large. A total disaster risk
management methodology must be adapted in order to achieve a sustainable cycle of
activities, building performance and economy to help improve the life of the vulnerable
communities. This methodology demands a collaborative effort in order to createcontinuous support for the strategic response and must involve all stakeholders, most
importantly, the beneficiaries.
i. Kuntoro, M. (Dr.) (2005) BRR NAD-Nias: One Year After the Tsunami, BRR First Year Report,
Badan Rekonstruksi dan Rehabilitasi Aceh Nias, Jakarta.
ii. Santoso, I. (2005) Lolos Dari Maut Tsunami, Radio 68 H&Q Communication, Jakarta.
iii. Indonesian Human Development Report 2004 (2004), The Economics of Democracy:
Financing Human Development in Indonesia, BPS Statistics Indonesia, BAPPENAS and UNDP,
Jakarta.
iv. Hardy, S. (ed.) (2008) Environmental Tectonics: Forming Climatic Change, ArchitecturalAssociation Agendas No. 6, AA Publications, London.
v. Toynbee, A. (1957) A Study of History, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Copyright of Hafiz Amirrol
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Voice from Canada
Chie Kinjo
On March 10th, 2011 9:46 pm local Vancouver time, a big earthquake and tsunami
struck Japan. (March 11th 2011 at 14:46 in Japan time). The news reached Canada
right away, the images of the tsunami taking over towns were broadcasted all over the
television.
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There are about 20,000 Japanese living in Vancouver. Im sure all the Japanese
people who are living outside of Japan were worried about their families, relatives and
friends in Japan. I tried to contact my family in Saitama right away. However, thephone line was down so I couldnt find out what was happening to them. A few hours
later, my family responded through email from their cell phone. I was relieved to know
that they were fine.
Right after this disaster, there were many movements here in Vancouver. A cable
company called SHAW started a service that is free phone call to Japan and free
Japanese TV channel, NHK. It was very generous of them to provide this service, as
many people found it helpful to monitor the situation that is developing in Japan.
Japanese community started their movement as well. Many of Japanese organizations
quickly set up BC Japan Earthquake Relief Fund together, organizing fundraising
events, selling crafts and gathering street donations. Many Japanese restaurants,
shops, and individuals contributed for earthquake relief fund.
Photo.1
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I work at a child daycare in Vancouver, TOSS (Tennyson Out-of-School Care Society).
As the children at my daycare know that I am from Japan, they tried to comfort me and
gave me hugs and kind words for my family in Japan. A 5-year-old girl drew somepictures to cheer up my family which later I passed to my mother. They were pictures
of a teddy bear, a little girl and a Japanese flag (Photo.1). Another 5-year-old girl gave
me a teddy bear to comfort me. It was very moving that young children show their
concern and care about what was happening.
I wanted to do something for
Japan with the children. So I
decided to set up a donation
box. The children and I made it
together and they decorate it
with their handprints in
different colors. We called it
The Wishing Well so every
time they put money in, they
get to make a wish (Photo.2).
The families at my daycare
were very generous and some
donated more than once.
Some children even brought
their own money to put in it. Itmight have been a small
amount, but the meaning is so
much more than that. It meant
a great deal to me.
On Friday, April 8th, my supervisor and I held a bake sale. The children participated in
the bake sale by baking some of the treats, 5-year-old to 10-year-old were involved in
making cookies, brownies, tarts and rice crispy squares (Photo.3). My supervisor,
colleague and I also baked at home and we prepared 14 different kinds of sweets all
together. Each item was sold at 50 cents and $1 for 3 items. On bake sale day, the
children were very excited and all they could talk about was which treats they were
planning to get.
Photo.2
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The event was a big success, we also had many people coming from outside TOSS to
check out our event. During the bake sale, I also had Origami sale on the side. I made
animals, frogs, and popular Japanese anime character, Pikachu in origami (Photo.4).
Photo.3
Photo.4
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On another day, we had a DVD sale for families as part of the fund raising. We have
been having talent show every year, where the children dance, sing, tell story and play
instruments on our humble stage. So we decided to make a DVD from the talent showthis year and put it up for sale as a part of the fund raising activity.
From the Wishing Well donation box and the fund raising event, we collected $903 all
together. We were quite proud of this result. With only four of us and a handful of kids,
we made it happen. We donated the money to Japan through Red Cross Canada. I
am grateful to everyone who took part in this event, for they are the ones who made it
a success.
So many Canadians donated for Japan, which I am sure it helps tremendously in the
recovery of Japan from this crisis. It warms my heart to see how generous people in
Canada can be. As time goes by, we see the news about Japans crisis fading.
However in reality, the people in Japan are still suffering. The crisis is not over,
especially in Tohoku and Fukushima, many people have lost their houses and all of
their possessions. On top of that, Japan is still facing a nuclear crisis and still
struggling to combat the situation. Please do not forget about the situation in Japan.
The danger they face is still very real and I will continue to do my best to support any
way I can. I know one thing for certain, that a small act goes a long way.
(August 2011, Vancouver)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Even I am always stammering I have small voices to tell you
September 2011, Bandung Indonesia
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I am always stammering! September 2011 issued on 9 Sept. 2011
Editor: Kumiko Homma
Designer: Emika Takahashi
Collaborators (honorities omitted):
Ribeka Ota, Chie Kinjo, Hafiz Amirrol, Peony Maeda.
Special thanks to PRAY+LIFE
("Fuku-Fuku Farm" and "The ceiling and the puppy love"
are copyrighted by PRAY+LIFE.)
Copyright: I am always stammering! All rights reserved.
- You can download the Booklet or get a copy at the shops*. (If you need it by mail, please
let us know your name, address, phone number and the quantity you need via email.)
- If you would like to contribute in our activities, we welcome financial support with the
amount of Individual: Rp50.000, Corporation: Rp200.000 valid in multiples*.
*Please visit our page on Facebook for more details.
http://www.facebook.com/groups/iamalwaysstammering
Contact: Kumiko Homma
(Mobile: +62-81220369918, Email: [email protected])
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I l t i ! 22