A man walks along a road lined with debris at Onagawa town in Miyagi prefecture on March 14, 2011, following the tsunami and earthquake of March 11. (Photo: JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images)
Earthquake Relief Efforts Begin
Worldwide, people rush to Japan's aid
As Japan begins its recovery from a massive earthquake, people around the world are mobilizing to help.
This weekend, Valerie Stern and Hidehito Ikumo took to the streets of Little Tokyo, a Japanese community in Los Angeles, California, to raise funds for Japan's earthquake victims.
"It's kind of scary, because I live in Los Angeles, and we're prone to earthquakes as well," said Stern, a professional musician. "They're always saying there's going to be a huge earthquake coming, but you never know if an 8.9 earthquake is coming your way. There's still going to be massive destruction."
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake shook Japan on Friday for two seemingly endless minutes. The quake triggered a 13-foot tsunami that hit the city of Sendai the hardest. Sendai is on the east coast of Japan. This natural disaster was also followed by more than 275 aftershocks with a magnitude of 5 or greater.
"I saw the strong waves of the tsunami [on TV]," Yuki Suzuki, a student studying nursing in Los Angeles, told the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps. "I cried a lot. It was very sad."
Millions of Japanese are without power, water, or telephone service. And as the full scope of the destruction is revealed, officials in Japan expect the death toll to exceed 10,000.
People around the whole world are watching anxiously as Japan struggles to recover—and they are coming to the country's aid. The American Red Cross, World Vision, Save the Children, International Medical Corps, and other corporations have reached out to the devastated country.
"Our Japanese are encouraged by people like you who pay attention to the Japanese event," 33-year-old Shiho Kubota Duggan told this Kid reporter. Duggan attends English language school in Los Angeles. "That really helps victims."
People are using social media like facebook and twitter to learn if their loved ones in Japan are okay.
"My mind went completely blank," said Ryo Okamura, whose family lives in Shizuoka, about 300 miles away from where the earthquake struck. "My hometown is experienced with earthquakes. When they told me it was an 8.9 magnitude earthquake [later changed to 9.0], I knew how devastating it was."
It was a relief to him when he learned that his family and relatives are safe and sound.
Parts of the United States also felt the aftermath of the earthquake. Tsunami waves roared across the Pacific Ocean on Friday, flooding parts of Hawaii and damaging coastal areas along the West Coast.
Twelve-year old Ephrem Perez, who lives near the shore of Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, California received an evacuation order at 8:28 a.m., about seven hours after the earthquake struck. The Perez family was asked to evacuate to higher grounds for their safety, but the order was not mandatory. They decided to stay where they were. The National Weather Service canceled its tsunami warning Saturday morning.
"We were very shocked and sad for those people who died and those who are stranded," said Perez. "All we can do is pray and hope for the best."
You, too, can help with the relief efforts by checking out a webpage put up by InterAction, an alliance of US-based international NGOs. The site list reputable organizations now accepting donations for relief work.
EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck northeast Japan on Friday, March 11, causing a destructive tsunami that reached the west coast of the United States. Scholastic News Kid Reporters are collecting information about the quake and its aftermath and talking to people who have family and friends in Japan and looking into how kids can help with relief efforts. Find their stories in the Earthquake in Japan Special Report.
NEWS FOR KIDS, BY KIDS
Get the latest on national and international events, movies, television, music, sports, and more from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
NEWS FOR KIDS, BY KIDS
Get the latest on national and international events, movies, television, music, sports, and more from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
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The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary (revised and expanded Edition)
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The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary (revised and expanded Edition)
by Jeff Kinney and Jeff KinneyThe first Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie opened on March 19, 2010, and earned over $75 million worldwide, making it one of the most successful films of the year. With The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary, author Jeff Kinney shared his Hollywood experience on the set and explained to readers how a major motion picture gets made. That was just the beginning of the story. Now, in this revised and expanded edition, Jeff Kinney fills in the rest of the moviemaking process with more inside stories, new artwork, and exclusive images. Also included is a special sneak peek at Rodrick Rules, the new movie coming in March 2011. This revised and expanded edition of The Wimpy Kid Movie Diary is the perfect companion to the bestselling series.
About the Author:Jeff Kinney is an online game developer and designer, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. In 2009, Jeff was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World. He spent his childhood in the Washington, D.C., area and moved to New England in 1995. Jeff lives in southern Massachusetts with his wife and their two sons.
$11.96 You save: 20%
books;hardcover books;hardcovers | Ages 8-13
Ages 8-13 $11.96
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules
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Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules
by Jeff Kinney and Jeff KinneySecrets have a way of getting out, especially when a diary is involved.
Whatever you do, don't ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer vacation, because he definitely doesn't want to talk about it.
As Greg enters the new school year, he's eager to put the past three months behind him . . . . and one event in particular.
Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother, Rodrick, knows all about the incident Greg wants to keep under wraps. But secrets have a way of getting out . . . . especially when a diary is involved.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules chronicles Greg's attempts to navigate the hazards of middle school, impress the girls, steer clear of the school talent show, and most important, keep his secret safe.
About the Author:Jeff Kinney is an online game developer and designer, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. In 2009, Jeff was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World. He spent his childhood in the Washington, D.C., area and moved to New England in 1995. Jeff lives in southern Massachusetts with his wife and their two sons.
$9.76 You save: 30%
Staff Review:
Hilarious and extremely silly cartoons in two fun-packed albums by Jeff Kinney! As Greg always says, "Don't always expect me to be 'Dear Diary' this and 'Dear Diary' that." With so many new characters and silly stories, how can the fun ever end!
Milan C.
books;hardcover books;hardcovers | Ages 8-13
Ages 8-13 $9.76
