LETTER FROM JAPAN
The following was published in the Munhwa Ilbo Newspaper on March 14th.
We send you warm greetings from Seoul!
Professor Moon is always grateful for all of your efforts around the world.
Last week, Professor Moon, Vice President Choi Yeon Ah, Secretary General Choi Young Sun, and Isa were in Tokyo being invited to attend the 19th Annual General Meeting of WFWP Japan, to be followed by a speech tour in three cities.
On March 11th, the day the earthquake hit, the Women's Federation Japan headquarters staff and building were all safe and intact. As there was no transportation, 18 of them spent the night at the office, but were able to return home the next day. Professor Moon decided to go to Japan March 15th to encourage members to go through with the tour.
On March 16th some 260 representatives attended the General Meeting, in spite of the difficult conditions. From the Touhoku (northeast) region, hit the hardest, only one representative came from among six local federations. So far, we heard that no lives of Women's Federation officers were lost, although homes were. Most of the other Women's Federation Touhoku representatives have evacuated from their homes and haven't been able to confirm the safety of each of the members in their region, as phone lines are disconnected in places.
During the three-day stay in Japan, there were aftershocks of about Magnitude 3 felt daily in Tokyo, but it was relatively calm in the Kantou (Tokyo and outlying) area. The speech tour has been postponed to a later date. WFWP Korea has donated $10,000 so far for the victims, via Japan Women's Federation.
We've been receiving inquiries about how to send aid to Japan. The Women's Federation would like to suggest that if you wish to send aid for Japan, these can be collected and sent, for example to your local Red Cross, or a UN organization or the Women's Federation of your region. Thank you so much for your love and concern, and we are praying for the quick recovery of all of Japan!
N. Isa Brazil
for International Dept.
WFWPI HQ
