A Xoogler in Tohoku - Two Months of Volunteering in the Disaster Zone

[katakanadian]

I volunteered in Oofunato at the end of July. I think All Hands eventually had a really good relationship with the community but even so there were reminders every few days that we should consider how we were perceived by the neighbours and to be more respectful about noise and activity on the street.

[katakanadian]

All Hands has just started up in Mindanao and I hope to join them in July.

[elena31415926]

Thank you! Very informative about the fascinating practical details! and Thank you Ryo, just for being an amazing, intelligent and such a humble guy. Work like yours is what makes the world better in a real way :) You're a legend.

[mujkocka]

this is my life dream of doing something similar. i would have done very well for your work. haha with 5 feet of height. :-)

i want to know what you do with the garbage? recycle?

[aloisgault]

Cool! Developed some skills for 2012?

[hiro7373]

All Hands Volunteers hands.org

[greedyfoot]

All Hands sounds like what most volunteer organizations should be.

[timlandscheidt]

What I don't quite understand is why those small volunteer organizations keep popping up and then try to cope with the problems they face in foreign countries. The Red Cross has local connections worldwide, and if you are into religions, nearly every faith has its own network as well. I doubt that they would ask highly skilled people to clear debris, but it's surely more efficient for the people in need.

[ryochiji]

@timlandscheidt I hardly saw any Red Cross members during the 2 months I was there, and the few I saw weren't actually doing the kind of work we were doing.

[mujkocka]

@timlandscheidt you might be right about bigger group with connections. but big groups are less efficient a lot of times. besides there are lots of good people who are not with any religion like myself. anyway, i have not heard anyone else who has done as much as these guys in terms of dirty work. hands up to them. they give results!

[bin1127]

Never say "yahoo" in front of google crowd. You made it out alive this time, but luck will not always be with you.

[ryochiji]

@bin1127 There are many ex-Yahoos working at Google. There was even one guy wearing a Yahoo t-shirt in the audience.

[xsadam1]

don't do japenese understand that you people were there to help them rehab...

[Mjnkhr]

Never start a presentation by apologizing. ^^

[pimpnprofits]

@Mjnkhr Also, never start off comments with criticism