News from Japan seems to be negatively escalating, as problems at nuclear reactors fight to be neutralized and search-and-rescue teams hunt for lost or buried civilians, but organizations and individuals stateside are striving to provide aid in as many ways possible. Many friends of my family who are part of the Fairfax Urban Search and Rescue Team were flown out to Ofunato, Japan shortly after the tsunami to provide their services, only to shipped back home last weekend after levels of radioactivity started to become too dangerous.
Thankfully, we can make the best of being bound to our country while tragedies continue to surface abroad. For example, Beatport has teamed up with the American Red Cross to donate proceeds from sales today (March 21) to benefit the Japanese Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief fund. Calculated from sales made from 12:00:00 p.m. MT to 11:59:59 p.m. MT, Beatport will donate 100 percent of their net proceeds, so if you missed out on nabbing that new Designer Drugs album or feel compelled to stock up on SebastiAn after seeing today's video, do it in that time frame and benefit your ears and the lives of those suffering in Japan.
Also, if you're in New Jersey, Yo La Tengo are holding a benefit show at Maxwell's on March 23, where all proceeds are going to Peace Winds Japan. Tickets are $50, doors open at 9 p.m. and Yo La Tengo are so far the only ones on the bill. Tickets went on sale at 10 a.m. EST at ticketfly, who has also pledged to donate all processing fees from purchases to Peace Winds Japan.
(via Clash & Village Voice)