Japan and the creativity of the human spirit

In the last post, I voiced my concern over the United States’s double standard in determining which people need our attention and aid and which do not.

However, the disaster in Japan has also manifested the creative spirit of humanity. It has been incredibly heartening to see how technology such as cell phones, Facebook and Twitter have been able to adapt effectively to reach millions and raise millions in a very short period of time.

While I find the worship of celebrities as annoying as the next person, I cannot deny that their influence in a crisis like this is very welcome. It is sad that Americans have to be told by their favorite pop singers to contribute to relief efforts after a natural disaster, but when it becomes trendy to donate, the good that results is indisputably worth it.

According to Teen Vogue as of April 1, Lady Gaga’s bracelets created to raise money and awareness for Japan have contributed over $1.5 million to the earthquake and tsunami relief. Within just 48 hours of selling the bracelets, she had raised a quarter of a million.

Other musicians and celebrities are also using their influence to encourage action. Bands Blink-182 and Linkin Park have designed t-shirts in which 100% of the proceeds will go to Japan. EMI Music, Sony Music, Universal, and Warner Music lent some of their artists’ hit songs to a “Songs for Japan” relief album. According to Reuters.com, the album has “rocketed to the top iTunes charts in 18 nations” and is slated to arrive in stores on April 4.

For a more comprehensive list of all products being sold to benefit Japan, click here.

Charlie Seen pledged to donate $1 from every ticket sold for his upcoming stand-up tour to the Red Cross. Other celebrities such as Conan O’Brien, Katy Perry, Diddy and Chris Brown have used their Twitter influence to promote their fans to donate.

Phone companies such as Verizon and Sprint have allowed their users to send free texts and make free calls to Japan until April 10. Google’s Person Finder allows users to view aerial and satellite images to locate loved ones displaced by the disaster.

Sites such as LivingSocial, which sells discounts to local areas of interest, offered their customers the chance to have their $5 donations to the Red Crossed matched.

Smaller efforts are being undertaken by those in Japan, such as this man Jason Kelly, who is encouraging people to send new socks along with a note of support in plastic bags. “People need lots of them in disastrous times away from home,” his blog says.

These are just a few examples of the beautiful and transcendent ways humans can come together for the betterment of others. While we cannot reply on any one of these methods alone to restore Japan, we can be assured that they are helping. Trendiness can be substantial and meaningful, too.

If you have not yet, choose one of these opportunities and donate. I hear everyone’s doing it.