Stylish Ways to Support the Rising Sun!

Making charitable donations has never been so easy... or chic!

Japanese culture has long been unmatched in its adventurous trends of fashion and creative style. Now, in the wake of disaster, a few fashion designers and artists in America have taken their cues from the impeccable style of the Rising Sun. Consider supporting the Red Cross Disaster Relief efforts in Japan... all the while, treating yourself to a snazzy item.

The following are a few amazing items, offering proceeds to Red Cross Disaster Relief In Japan.

Opening Ceremony Red Cross Japan Tee -- $30

Hey JoJo Studios (Portland) Hope For Japan Poster -- $25


Kate Spade Hearts Japan Tote Bag -- $18

Wieden + Kennedy (Portland) Help Japan Poster -- $25

Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work…

JAPAN: The Red Cross is scaling up relief efforts to meet the huge needs. To date, the Japanese Red Cross has handed out more than 125,000 blankets and 20,700 emergency kits – including portable radios, flashlights and other supplies – to help evacuees cope with the cold weather and lack of electricity. Other badly needed items, such as diapers, baby food, undershirts and face masks, are being procured from within the country as well. In parallel with the distribution of relief goods, Red Cross planners are also consulting with the local authorities to map out other ways of making survivors’ lives more comfortable during their stay in evacuation centers.

BANGLADESH: Since the current crisis erupted in Libya, the ICRC has been helping thousands of Bangladeshi workers who have fled the country.

SOMALIA: With ICRC support, the Somali Red Crescent Society has opened two new health clinics in conflict and drought-affected regions to serve more than 100,000 people.

WORLDWIDE: The ICRC is helping Latin American prisons eradicate tuberculosis. Meanwhile other members of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network are addressing TB around the world in places like China, India, and Siberia.

GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Do you know your [Red Cross] ABC's?

March is Red Cross Month. 2011 is Red Cross of WNC's Centennial Year. There's no better time to become a Hero for the American Red Cross. And it all starts with something as simple as the ABC's:

The ABC's of Red Cross in WNC!

Since its founding in 1911, the American Red Cross of WNC has been the region's premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.

Today, the American Red Cross of WNC offers service in four primary areas. Learn our ABCD's of Service:

A - Armed Forces. The Red Cross provides timely emergency communications services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during times of deployment. Last year the Red Cross of WNC provided services to 439 military members and/or families in the region.

B - Blood Services. In the Carolinas, the Red Cross collects and distributes lifesaving blood products to 100+ hospitals, saving thousands of lives each year. Accident victims, individuals undergoing surgeries and those fighting disease in WNC alone require 1600+ pints of blood every day. Blood donors throughout WNC have access to hundreds of blood drives held throughout a 16 country area to give the gift of life.

C - Classes. Health and Safety services are the hallmarks of the Red Cross. CPR, First Aid, Aquatics, Babysitting, Wilderness First Aid and Pet First Aid are some of the many courses taught by staff and volunteer instructors. In fact, last year, nearly 40,000 individuals throughout WNC received some type of Red Cross instruction. On CPR Saturday, held annually, over 600 individuals were trained in CPR free of charge.

D - Disaster Response. The winters of 2009 - 2010 proved to be two of the most challenging on record in WNC. In response to the numerous snowstorms, power outages and a major landslide, the Red Cross of WNC opened 34 emergency shelters, housed over 2,000 individuals and fed more than 4,000 meals to residents and travelers. Our volunteer Disaster Response Teams also responded to 269 home fires affecting 310 families. Families were provided shelter, food, clothing and emergency funds.

Ready to be a Hero for the American Red Cross? Click here.

What's your Red Cross story?

James Franco wants YOU to take Wilderness and Remote First Aid*

With the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway mere minutes away, it's no wonder why our resident population is rife with outdoor adventure seekers. But in order to have peace of mind while enjoying the great unknown of the wilderness, it’s necessary to feel empowered to know what to do in an emergency situation.

That’s why the Red Cross of WNC is pleased to offer this course tailored specifically to the needs and interests of our adventure seeking, outdoor loving community. For peace of mind in your leisure time!

Topics Include:

• Head (Brain), Neck and Spinal Injuries

• Wounds and Wound Infection

• Hypothermia

• Heat-Related Emergencies

• Allergies and Anaphylaxis

• Altitude-Related Illnesses

• Bone and Joint Injuries

• Burns, and more….

So don't let this happen to you:

Take Wilderness and Remote First Aid on March 26 & 27. To register, click here or call (828) 258-3888 ext. 207.

The course will be offered over 2 days from 9am – 5pm on March 26 and 27. Participants are encouraged to bring a day’s worth of hiking supplies.

*according to an anonymous spokesperson.... okay, okay... we made this up. it's pretty unlikely that James Franco cares what you do or don't do.

Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

JAPAN: Medical teams are operating out of hospitals and mobile clinics treating survivors, while other Japanese Red Cross teams focus on search and rescue and caring for the very large number of people in evacuation centers. As the number of people missing following the earthquake continues to grow, more languages have been added to the family links website to assist people anxious for news about loved ones in the disaster area. For more info, read our FAQs regarding the earthquake in Japan. For more in depth information on the crisis in Japan, click here.

IRAQ: The ICRC has announced plans to expand its micro-grant initiative to help disadvantaged Iraqis start their own businesses and begin earning much-needed income.

GAMBIA: The ICRC has assisted 677 returnees from Libya.

LIBYA: One month after armed violence broke out, the fighting continues and is now spreading to the country’s most populated areas. The ICRC has transferred its staff in Benghazi to the eastern city of Tobruk, where it will continue to assist victims of the conflict.

SYRIA: The ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent have begun to distribute clean drinking water to more than 21,000 vulnerable people in drought-stricken governorates.

GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Our Relief Efforts in Wake of Japanese Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami

We’ve received an incredible amount of support from the public following the devastating earthquake in Japan and ensuing Pacific tsunami last Friday. As always, we are grateful for your support and will channel your donations in a way that is both responsible and effective in meeting the survivors’ humanitarian needs.

We’ve also noticed that there is some confusion about how the American Red Cross works to provide aid in a situation like this. Below is an explanation that should help clarify. Officials from the Japanese Red Cross have indicated they would be grateful for donations from the American Red Cross to support their earthquake and tsunami response. The American Red Cross also aided the Japanese during the Kobe earthquake in 1995, and they, in turn, sent us help during 9-11 and Katrina.

We’ve established a designation for Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief. This designation targets relief not only in Japan, but in many other locations that were affected by the Pacific tsunami, including Hawaii and parts of the US West Coast.

As many of you may know, the American Red Cross is a member of the world’s largest humanitarian network, comprising the International Committee of the Red Cross and 186 national societies. In this case, the Japanese Red Cross is a strong national society; in fact, they dispatched 95 response teams within the first 48 hours after the quakes hit.

In order to respect the independence of each country’s national society, the American Red Cross only responds to a disaster overseas with the permission of the Red Cross or Red Crescent national society in the affected country. When a Red Cross in another country reaches out for international assistance following a disaster, we can respond by deploying skilled people, mobilizing relief supplies or providing financial assistance. The American Red Cross has a cadre of emergency response workers, who are specially trained in international emergency operations.

At the request of the Japanese Red Cross, we dispatched a disaster management expert from Washington, DC to Japan for a week-long mission yesterday. She will serve on a seven person international team focused on providing high level support and advice to the Japanese Red Cross. We may provide cash for the rapid purchase of the most needed supplies. If supplies are not available in the affected country, we can release stocks of disaster relief items from our warehouses stationed around the world.

Our support will continue as the full impact of the earthquake and resulting tsunami becomes more clear. We will continue to work with the Japanese Red Cross and provide assistance as determined through this partnership. Our assistance is made possible by the generous contributions from our donors.