Japan tsunami – in memoriam

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since the cataclysmic earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11th 2011 claiming the lives of 18,500 people.

Here are some incredible before and after shots capturing the devastation and the rebuilding that’s gone on in the past decade.

At the time, all I could do was write a poem as I, like billions around the globe, bore witness to the calamitous event unfolding before us.

I felt impotent. I tried to sell prints of my poem for $1 online to raise funds, to no avail.

I wished I was something useful like a doctor or a nurse, or a rescue worker that could do something practical to help.

Then I thought of all the creative people I had encountered during my long career as an art director in the advertising industry and I asked them for help. The response was phenomenal. I got donations of works of art from all over the world to be put into an auction to raise money for the Red Cross who were working on the ground over there.

Less than a month later, we held the Japan Art Auction at Jonathan Oakes photography studio in Manchester, hosted by The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce. It was an incredible success and, thanks to a great many people, we raised quite a few grand.

A lot has changed in 10 years. As you can see by the photos in The Guardian link above.

Things have changed for me too. I am now a Nursing Assistant at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport.

And, whilst my poem did not raise a single dollar, it did inspire Austrian composer Albors Pascal Askari to write this hauntingly beautiful piece of music. All the proceeds from which also went to the Japan relief effort.

And, unbeknownst to me, my poem was on the English curriculum at several schools in London for a couple of years.

Who says poetry can’t make a difference?

Japan Art Auction to be held at StudioManchester

I told you news of the Japan Art Auction venue would be very soon!

I am absolutely overjoyed to announce that top Manchester photographer, Jonathan Oakes, has most generously offered Studio Manchester as the Venue for the Japan Art Auction.

(Which we be held in the next few weeks, so cancel everything else in your diaries! – particularly on Thursdays.)

The Japan Art Auction (JAA) is being held to raise money for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. All proceeds raised from the auction will go to the Japanese Red Cross, via the British red Cross.

Update: Tsunami – A poem for Japan

£5,000 ($8,000) raised to date!

*Please note that the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) will not be having an appeal for Japan. Therefore, I have deleted their web link from this post. Apologies to anyone who has already donated.

The British Red Cross appeal is sending donations directly to the Japanese Red Cross and MSF already have people on the ground over there.

I have penned a few lines for our brothers and sisters over in Japan. If you like what I have written, perhaps you might donate a pound, a euro, or a dollar to one of the charities listed below to help them in their hour of need. Even if you don’t like it, perhaps you might donate a pound or two.

There is a message of hope at the end. So hopefully, with the rest of the world’s help (and money), they’ll get through it.

I’ve designed two versions, one contemporary and one traditional using Hokusai’s iconic painting. Please feel free to download a PDF.

Red Cross

Medecins Sans Frontieres

TSUNAMI-A POEM FOR JAPAN

TSUNAMI-POEM-HOKUSAI

Tsunami – A poem for Japan

Tsunami – A poem for Japan (Hokusai)

Tsunami –
A poem for Japan
by David Milligan-Croft

The world cracked
And up you rose
From the Ring of Fire
On a day when the gods were too busy.

You rode ashore,
Like 40,000 apocalyptic horsemen,
Not pausing for houses, for cars,
For people, for breath.

Dragging their kicks and screams
Through concrete and timber and twisted steel,
Splintering bones
Like cherry blossom twigs.

Until they were silent.
And the world was silent.

Then you slithered away
On the belly of the night,
Lapping the shore while
Licking your greedy fingers.

And after you are satiated,
And we have un-buried our dead,
We will climb up out of the mud,
And the sun will rise again.