Quake Book

2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake
#quakebook

This is the product description of 2:46: Aftershocks:Stories from the Japan Earthquake

"In just over a week, a group of unpaid professional and citizen journalists who met on Twitter created a book to raise money for Japanese Red Cross earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. In addition to essays, artwork and photographs submitted by people around the world, including people who endured the disaster and journalists who covered it, 2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake contains a piece by Yoko Ono, and work created specifically for the book by authors William Gibson, Barry Eisler and Jake Adelstein.

“The primary goal,” says the book's editor, a British resident of Japan, “is to record the moment, and in doing so raise money for the Japanese Red Cross Society to help the thousands of homeless, hungry and cold survivors of the earthquake and tsunami. The biggest frustration for many of us was being unable to help these victims. I don’t have any medical skills, and I’m not a helicopter pilot, but I can edit. A few tweets pulled together nearly everything – all the participants, all the expertise – and in just over a week we had created a book including stories from an 80-year-old grandfather in Sendai, a couple in Canada waiting to hear if their relatives were okay, and a Japanese family who left their home, telling their young son they might never be able to return."

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the price you pay goes to the Japanese Red Cross Society to aid the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. If you'd like to donate more, please visit the Japanese Red Cross Society website, where you can donate either via Paypal or bank transfer (watch out for the fees, though!) or the American Red Cross Society, which accepts donations directed to its Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund (but only accepts donations made with U.S.-issued credit cards).

And of course, if you like the book, please tell your friends, and tell them to give generously as well! Thank you! Japan really does appreciate your help!"

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I actually follow OurManInAbiko on Twitter. We've even talk a little. But I'm not very good at reading back Tweets and had completely missed his call for short essays/art/photos having to do with the March 11th Tohoku Pacific Earthquake. As a matter of fact, it wasn't until he mentioned the deadline had passed that I visited his blog, read his Tweets, and figured out what was going on. I timidly asked if I could send something and he said since they were still editing to go on and get something in.

It was funny I woke up before 5am to start writing my piece and when I checked Twitter and told him I was up and raring to go he said he hadn't even been to sleep yet. Now THAT'S passion. I'm sure there were a lot of sleepless nights (and not just from all the aftershocks) for him and the entire crew at #Quakebook. They did an amazing job.

And now it's out. I just bought my copy and I think what I love most about this is that 100% of the proceeds go to the victims of the earthquake. I see my essay (Signs) made it in along with quite a few friends who live a whole lot closer to the epicenter than I do. I can't wait to read what they've written or see what they've contributed. If you'd like you can order your copy here. You can also learn more about the project here.