As a Japanese national or foreigner living in Tokyo it is hard to ignore the effects of the earthquake and corresponding tsunami that hit the Tohoku area of Japan on March 11th. As such, it is only natural that if you are here, you may want to take a trip up north to volunteer your time as an aid worker. At the same time however, if you are like many Tokyoites, you probably have a full work schedule, a family to take care of, or commitments that are otherwise difficult to step away from. As such, finding a way to get up there can be a difficult task. This is where Team HEAL Japan comes in. As a volunteer organization specifically made for the busy Tokyoite, THJ will provide transportation, organization, and direction to one of the affected areas, and still get you home the very same day.
When they go (and come back)?
For those interested in joining THJ on a day mission, they leave at 6:30am from Ueno on Saturday morning. Participants are asked to be in Ueno at 6:00am, and after a headcount, the bus is off, and it drives straight up to Iwaki where the work will be done. After the bus departs, participants are given a short orientation, (in both Japanese and English) and then encouraged to relax and rest up (particularly those who lost sleep in arriving at the rendezvous so early). After arrival a few hours later, the participants are given another on-site orientation at the volunteers` base camp in Iwaki, before proceeding to the actual site, and getting started around 9:30 or 10:00am. In terms of getting home, work on the site itself starts to wrap up around 3:00pm, thus allowing the bus to be back on the road by 5:00. Depending on traffic, arrival back in Ueno is around 8:30 or 9:00pm.
How much does it cost?
Although the registration for the mission is simple, (participants need only sign a few waivers and be at the rendezvous point to get started), there are a few costs involved. There is a 3,000 charge for the food, water, safety masks, gloves and hard hats that are provided. Also, if you don`t already own a pair, it is a good idea to pick up a pair of steel toe safety shoes or boots, and get some clothes that you don`t mind getting dirty. Given the nature of the work, participants are encouraged to be fully covered, so it is a good idea to make sure you have long sleeves and pants on hand.
How hard is the work?
In general the work itself consists of cleaning out houses and sites that have been destroyed by the Tsunami. After arriving on site, the team (which generally consists of about 30 people), concentrates on one building, and depending on the strength of the particular members can consist of things as simple as seperating materials into glass, wood, metals, etc or moving out furniture. Members are encouraged to go at their own pace, and choose what area of work they would like to concentrate on. Lunch happens around noon, and 15 minute breaks are also given regularly.
How dangerous is it?
In terms of the dangers of radiation, on-site measurements in Iwaki on the June 19th mission
showed the level of mrems to be at about .3 per hour. Although this is higher than the usual reading, it is only equatable to the amount of radiation that one receives while riding an airplane. Team members are also given a one-year-from-the-date insurance voucher so that any consequent health issues resulting from the work can be claimed.
As for the site itself, given the condition of the buildings that the team goes into, things like rusty nails, shards of glass, and loose chemicals can prove to be an issue, so again, hard hats, masks, gloves and safety shoes or boots are a necessity. As all work is done with a safety first mentality however, thus far, team member injury has been virtually non-existent.
For those with a busy schedule who are interested in volunteering in Tohoku, Team HEAL Japan offers a great way to get up there. Although effective, the work isn't backbreakingly difficult, and as you can return to Tokyo in the same day, if you have a full-time work commitment you can still have a full day to rest before having to return to work on Monday. Additionally, for those who are interested in coming up for a longer stretch, it also affords the chance to get up in the area, meet with different people from different organizations, and generally get a feel for the work and conditions before having to commit to something fully. While volunteering in Tohoku may seem like too much to ask for the average busy Tokyoite, Team HEAL Japan makes it possible to not just get up there, but to enjoy the process of helping out as well.
References:
Radiation Exposure Examples, http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/nucene/radexp.html#c3
(Accessed July 12th, 2012)
