The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday launched simultaneous fundraising efforts in 21 cities and counties nationwide for Japan, in the wake of a powerful earthquake and tsunami on March 11 that killed thousands.
Former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and acting DPP chairperson Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘), who took over following former chairperson Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) announcement that she intends to run in next year’s presidential election, took to the streets near the Peace Clock on Zhongxiao East Road, holding donation boxes and asking passersby to give whatever they could to help Japan.
“Hopefully, more people will be willing to donate and help Japan get back on its feet,” Su said.
Photo: CNA
Ker said that since it launched its fundraiser on Wednesday, the DPP had collected NT$30 million (US$1 million) toward relief efforts in northeastern Japan.
“The campaign on the streets of 21 cities and counties nationwide is an effort to pool resources,” Ker said.
Su said that as members of the “global village,” everyone should be willing to help out our neighbors, especially in times of instability, adding that when Taiwan was hit by the Sept. 21, 1999, earthquake, Japan was the first to give aid.
The magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck in Jiji Township (集集), Nantou County, in the early morning, devastating central Taiwan and killing more than 2,400.
Su said the Taipak Kianseng Rotary Association in Taiwan was a sister association of Japan’s Sendai Rotary Association, which gave support during the aftermath of the quake, Su said.
“The Kianseng Association donated close to NT$3 million to Japan through the Sendai Rotary Association,” Su said.
A star-studded telethon over the weekend, in which President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), first lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青), Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), Greater Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) and others, participated, raised about NT$800 million for relief aid to Japan.
Meanwhile, a fundraising event was launched at the Taipei International Flora Exposition on Saturday to help Japanese tsunami victims.
The event was jointly organized by the Council of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Agency and the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China.
Starting yesterday, donation boxes were placed at flora expo venues to help raise funds for victims of Japan’s disasters, council officials said.
The officials said 10,000 cabbages and 6,000 stems of flowers, including oncidium orchids, anthuriums and gladioluses, would be given to people who donate to the cause.
Also yesterday, two Buddhist charity organizations, Dharma Drum Mountain and the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation, held a prayer ceremony for Japan.
The Dharma Drum Mountain ceremony, which was held at Linkou Stadium in Taipei, was expected to draw a crowd of 20,000 followers.
Meanwhile, Tzu Chi’s Da Ai Television broadcast a special program last night calling on Buddhists worldwide to pray for Japan.
Additional reporting by Staff Writer and CNA
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