Water Matters
July 2008
Banner photo: R.Maro/version-foto.de
Relief Activities for Myanmar and China
With singer Stefanie Sun, holding well-wishes for children in Sichuan
Soka Gakkai organizations in Asia came to the support of the people of Myanmar and China after the cyclone disaster in Myanmar of May 2 and the devastating earthquake in China's Sichuan Province on May 12 that left tens of thousands dead in each country and many more destitute.
On May 15, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada visited the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo to inform Ambassador Cui Tiankai of the donation of 30 million yen (US$287,000) to support relief and rescue efforts for victims of the earthquake. He also conveyed SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's message of condolence and concern.
Soka Gakkai General Director Masaaki Masaki visited the Tokyo office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on May 19 to make a donation of 3 million yen (US$28,800) in support of relief efforts in Myanmar. UNHCR pledged that the funds would be efficiently used to buy tents to provide urgently needed shelter.
Singapore Soka Association (SSA) responded by assisting relief efforts organized by Mercy Relief, a Singapore-based organization promoting humanitarian relief and development projects in Asia.
SSA's Soka Youth Center was used to coordinate relief goods purchased by Mercy Relief for Myanmar. About 30 SSA volunteers worked throughout May 9 to pack some 40 boxes of supplies including tents, water purification tablets and medical supplies, and to prepare them for shipment.
SSA members packing relief goods for Myanmar
[SSA]
SSA also collected monetary donations and on May 25 presented two cheques totaling S$195,346 (US$143,286) to Mercy Relief in support of relief efforts for Myanmar and Sichuan, China. This amount includes funds collected from Soka Kindergarten students and teachers who made and sold cards and handicrafts at an Open House on May 22.
On May 28, more than 500 children and parents from SSA and the Ba'alwi Mosque came to the SSA headquarters to write well-wishes on message tags for children affected by the earthquake in Sichuan. The messages were attached to play packs containing toys, games and art materials. Renowned Singapore singer Stefanie Sun contributed her own messages and later distributed the packs to children in Mianyang prefecture and Dujiangyan.
Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) branches also responded to the disasters with donations totaling 1,067,500 ringgit (US$326,050) made to fundraising campaigns including those organized by local newspapers and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society. Blankets and other relief goods were also collected. Members joined prayer services held at SGM centers for the repose of those who died.
On May 23, the Taiwan Soka Association donated NT$1,000,000 (US$32,765) to the Taiwanese Ministry of the Interior for relief activities in Sichuan.
In addition SGI-Macau and SGI-Hong Kong donated 200,000 pataca (US$24,900) and HK$300,000 (US$39,500) respectively, in support of earthquake relief efforts.
