Tsunami Debris Presentation at Sakura Gakuen

Tsunami Debris Presentation at Sakura Gakuen

It’s been nearly two years after the earthquake and tsunami devastated much of Japan, debris continues to wash ashore in the United States; Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. KAERU (a group formed by Japanese mothers and their families), has been thinking what we can do to help as Japanese who reside in the U.S. And finally reached a conclusion; that is a long-term “Tsunami Debris Cleanups”. Prior to the initial debris cleanup, we decided to invite Laura Kasa, Executive Director from Save Our Shores, NPO to Sakura Gakuen on Sunday, March 24th. This organization is partnered to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and Ms. Kasa has been actively making presentations about Japan tsunami debris.

On the 24th, she will make power point presentation about tsunami debris (approx.20 mins) and Q&A to follow for 7th graders and above. And one of SOS staffs will do fun marine educational activities with younger students. Although only a few tsunami debris has arrived at our beaches and we may not find any items from Japan at the time of cleanup, we believe that being informed about this problem now will help us be well prepared when massive debris comes to our area in the future. We will go out on the beach to begin cleaning under the guidance from SOS starting April!

Last year, Japanese government sent $5million to NOAA for the expense to clean up tsunami debris. It seems to be a large sum of money; however, estimated cleanup debris in Alaska itself could exceed this amount.

Do you know what to do if you find debris from Japan? Where to report it? How to return the items to the original owners in Japan? Our action also means returning a favor to the U.S., a country that sent “TOMODACHI”(“Operation Friends”) to Japan at the time of 3.11.11. Why don’t we begin, “Kaeru no Ongaeshi” (The Kaeru’s Repayment) together now?