Few events can unite the whole world such as natural catastrophes and the recent events in Japan have left no one indifferent. In the last days our thoughts are with those in Japan going through the hardship of a 9.0 earthquake and the devastating tsunami that followed.

We all feel powerless when such events are so overwhelming. But that is precisely why it's important that we do do what we can to help recovering from this disaster. Below are some links we collected where you can make a donation to help recover from this desperate events.

By credit card through Google's 2011 Japan Crisis website

In this page you are able to donate the Japanese Red Cross and to other institutions such as UNICEF, 'International Medical Corps' and 'Save the children'.

Through bank transfer to Japanese Red Cross

Note that their website also recommends that you contact your local Red Cross for ways to donate. From their website:

"If you want to donate money to the affected population of earthquake and tsunami, please contact your national Red Cross/Crescent society, which may have already launched fundraising campaign within your country."

Using Paypal Japan earthquake and tsunami relief website

You may donate to several different organizations through Paypal and they are covering all processing costs so 100% of your donation reaches the non-profit organization you choose.

Every donation, no matter how small, will surely help.

Also a way that you can help is sending your support towards Japanese members using postcards. You may be wondering if your postcards will reach their destination in Japan. The Japan Post has published on their website that some areas are expected to have delays on the delivery. However, they are doing the best they can to deliver all the mail, even to those who might have lost their home, to whom they are making an effort to hand-deliver in person to those in shelters and evacuation centers - when such is possible.

We also received a report of a Japanese Postcrosser in the Fukushima area (one of the most affected ones) who was very moved by receiving a Postcrossing postcard hand-delivered to him by the mailman in the shelter he is at the moment.

So, please be extra patient with postcards traveling to Japan - even those traveling to areas that were less affected. Delays are expected. But remember that words of support and letting them know that our thoughts are with them is a way to help them go through these difficult times.

Edit: Google has a website with the addresses of the temporary shelters. Although this information is in Japanese only, you can find some details on how to interprete it at this forum thread

As some of you might have noticed, Postcrossing closed the Paypal "donation box" for the Sichuan Earthquake relief fund a few days ago.
We took some time to mail all the postcard packs to the generous donors and today, exactly a month after the earthquake, we headed to the bank and made the deposit: 12289.2 RMB (or 1149.2 Euros or 1776.4 U.S. dollars) .

Thank you very much to everybody that contributed! Your kindness and generosity will surely have a meaningful impact on the lives of the millions of people affected by this disaster!

Like they say around here, 谢 谢 你！

PS - If you would still like to make a donation, please do so directly to the Red Cross, through the numbers on this page.

(Image from wang qian on flickr)

To help the victims of the Sichuan earthquake, Postcrossing is raising donations which will be sent to the Red Cross society of China. As a bonus, we will send a set postcards to the first 100 people who donate over 15 US dolars or 10 euros.

For more details, please visit the Sichuan Earthquake relief page we have set up.
All help is appreciated. Thank you!