Saturday, April 27, 2013

New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan – charity status

When we all set about this project, you the contributors, all the people behind the scenes right from the very beginning, the team that brought the project to fruition, and you the readers of New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan, it was in order to help those affected by the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

We pledged all royalties from the book, paperback and kindle, toward the relief fund run by the Japanese Red Cross Society.

A little over two years on, we are pleased to report that we have sent two donations to the Japanese Red Cross Society. Amazon won´t let us divulge sales numbers and earnings, but to give you an idea, we hope to have made total donations of 500 Euros by the next deadline in 2014. 

In 2013, bank charges in Japan were waived, and members of the editorial team covered the outgoing bank charges as part of an extra donation. Unfortunately, sales in the UK were not high enough for us to access those royalties, but there is still time. Donations to the Japanese Red Cross Society relief fund can now still be sent with bank fees waived in Japan until 31 March 2014.

The original cut-off date was 31 March 2013, so the extension shows that there remains work to be done to help those affected and unfortunately probably already forgotten.

We also sent a copy of the anthology to the Japanese Red Cross Society for their offices and so they could see the work of the many contributors from all over the world.

Sales are slowing down now, but we have still registered sales this year, so when the money comes together before next year´s deadline, a further donation will be made. Members of the Editorial team will cover the outgoing bank charges so that we can honour the pledge we all made.

Since New Sun Rising: Stories for Japan will remain available beyond any bank fee waiver deadline, we will continue to send monies from the sale of the book to the Japanese Red Cross Society, since we are convinced that the effects of the disaster will make themselves felt for a long time. So we are on board for as long as it takes.

Thank you all, for your support!


Extracts from the letters from the Japanese Red Cross Society (18.04.2013):
"This is the Japanese Red Cross Society and would like to express our sincere gratitude for your donation to the disaster victims who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. ...
Thank you once again for your generous and continuous support and cooperation."

"We hereby acknowledge, with sincere gratitude, receipt of your contribution for those affected by the Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster. Based upon decisions made by the Cash Grant Allocation Committee, your donation will be distributed via the appropriate prefectural and municipal governments to support the recovery of those affected by this devastating disaster."

Extract of message (15.02.2013): 
" Today we have received your book and we thank you for introducing it to us.
We will surely enjoy reading it and feel your warm heart supporting the
affected people.

We deeply appreciate your kindness and passion for this incredible project.

Best wishes,
Organizational Development Department
Japanese Red Cross Society"