Arts Help Support Japan Relief Efforts

Even as California waited anxiously after a tsumani hit Japan for our own repercussions from the 8.9 quake, there was little hesitation in people's reaction to get the ball rolling on this healing process for Japan, particularly among the creative community.

Locally, artists, designers and entertainers have been holding fundraising events to help out Japan. On Thursday, the Alex Bittar store on Abbot Kinney is donating 100 percent of its sales to the relief effort, and last week, the people behind organized a fundraiser/art show.

Causecast, an activist's site that works with nonprofit organizations, is dedicated to using art, music and prominent people to fuel its momentum in getting information to people about ways to help out. The California-based organization is reaching out to its nonprofit organizations to learn how they are doing their part.

Causecast offers people a chance to help with Save the Children, a fund for Japanese children affected by the earthquake and ensuing tragedies. Contributors can simply text "JAPAN" to 20222 and donate $10 for the relief. Music For Relief, which teamed up with Causecast, allows people to download music by donating to the Save the Children fund (text "MFR" to 85944). In addition, Mike Shinoda, of Linkin Park, has designed two shirts available for purchase with all donations helping Save the Children.

We Heart Japan is an earthquake relief charity event created to raise money for the Japan Center for International Exchange. They put on a fundraiser on March 17 at Meltdown Comics in West Hollywood, where guests had the pleasure of meeting voice actors from their favorite anime and the opportunity to purchase art to benefit the relief fund.

Another nonprofit website working with Causecast, Do Something, is following the old Japanese proverb that anyone who creates 1,000 oragami cranes will be granted a wish. The support group is joining people together around the world for their campaign "Make Paper Cranes for Japan" to send as many paper cranes as possible.

Many social networks have reached out in the past few days to get awareness out about ways people can help, if even just a few dollars or a helpful hand. Apple, Facebook and Google, among others, are working with the Red Cross to spread disaster relief digitally so people can donate through text messaging or a simple click of the mouse.

By texting "REDCROSS" to 90999, anyone can take a moment to donate $10 to Japan's disaster relief fund. People can have the opportunity to purchase prints made by W+K Studio of the Japanese flag with the Red Cross logo on it for only $25, all of which will go to the Red Cross.

Artist James (Signalnoise) White, in addition to many others, including Steve Schiavello and Rob Dobi, have created design prints of disaster relief logos whose entire profits will benefit the Red Cross' efforts. Creative agencies Ars Thanea, TypCut and Leukocyt have all done their part to stir up awareness and donations through their artwork.

The destructive earthquake that rocked Haiti only a year ago has shown that it takes inestimable hours, volunteers and donations. According to CNN, the Red Cross raised more than $20 million in their text message campaign while continually providing clean water and shelter to a large percentage of the country of Haiti, a country already in poor condition before its earthquake.

Although a couple weeks have gone by since the tsunami, Japan will continue to need help for some time. Professionals and volunteers will help to rehabilitate the suffering and homeless, clean the endless debris and only then, begin to slowly rebuild. Since Japan is a stronger built country than Haiti was, there is a glimmer of hope that recovery is a more definite possibility, but still time consuming.

The country still has a lot to deal with before it can begin to heal. In order to help, people are encouraged to donate what little they can. By clicking on any of the links here, donations can safely be on their way to help relieve Japan more quickly.