A birthday party

My neighbor M. is really my best friend in Japan. She's one of those people who are so nice you want to slap them. She does everything for me. Tuesday is her 58th birthday--the last I'll get to spend with her--so I got her friends together today to celebrate. We had a wonderful time.

ONE GOOD DEED: Organize a birthday party for my neighbor, and bring the cake.

A letter to Secretary Clinton

With the ICC warrant issued for his arrest, Sudan's president Bashir has retaliated by kicking out a number of humanitarian aid organizations. This leaves millions of displaced persons without food or sometimes even water. The U.S. has to take diplomatic action to rectify the situation. Save Darfur has a form to sign an online letter to Secretary Clinton, asking her to make Darfur a top priority. Please take thirty seconds of your time to make you opinion known.

ONE GOOD DEED: Send a letter to Secretary Clinton asking her to make Darfur a top priority.

Spreading the word about Darfur

Very few Japanese seem to know about the crisis in Darfur. I asked the local culture center about screening The Devil Came On Horseback to raise awareness and funds, but to no avail. The town is just too small to attract enough people to justify the cost. The only other local place I could think of was a soup curry restaurant in Rumoi. The owner-operators are a couple of hip young Japanese rasta-types. They do African drumming and sometimes organize dance parties. Last night I gave them some information on Darfur and offered my help if they wanted to host a Darfur event.

ONE GOOD DEED: Plant seeds for local events raising awareness about Darfur.

Preparing for Genocide Prevention Month

April has been declared Genocide Prevention Month. Today I started the ball rolling for a faith-based initiative to raise awareness of genocides and atrocities past and current. I hope that I can get several religious groups working together on this project.

ONE GOOD DEED: Start working on a faith-based initiative for Genocide Prevention Month.

A veterans transitional house

A friend of mine works at a transitional house in desperate need of funds. Due to the unfortunate actions of a disgruntled employee (now fired), its funds have been re-allocated. Now this organization dedicated to helping homeless veterans may have to turn some of them back out onto the street. All of them have reportedly been clean and sober for at least a year, and are working, attending counseling, and being active in the community. Please consider giving to the Veterans Executive Corporation to Organize Rehabilitative Services.

ONE GOOD DEED: Donate to save a veterans transitional house.

Taking care of solitaries

I belong to a religious organization called ADF, and about half the members are what's called "solitaries." That is, they practice their religion alone rather than with a group, for whatever reason. Somebody needs to attend to the needs of all those solitaries, and I've been that person for the last year or so. It's all volunteer work. Today I helped a person looking for resources to create a liturgy to celebrate the coming spring equinox.

ONE GOOD DEED: Help a person in need of resources for their spiritual path.

And again, shoveling

We got dumped on overnight. I was stunned how deep the snow was when I left the apartment. After work, I shoveled everyone out again.

ONE GOOD DEED: Shovel out the cars in the apartment parking lot.