London’s One Room Hotel: “A Room for London” Art Project @ Southbank Centre

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Southbank Centre（サウスバンク・センター）の上に乗っかった船。これは、London 2012 Festivalの一環のアートプロジェクト「A Room for London」、テムズ川を見下ろす一部屋だけのホテル。London 2012 Festivalは、北京オリンピック終了後の2008年9月より4年間に渡って行われている文化芸術プログラム「Cultural Olympiad（カルチュラル・オリンピアード）」のハイライトとして、6月21日から9月9日まで、ロンドン・オリンピックの開催中、無料コンサートやアート展など、約1000ものパフォーマンスやイベントが催される他、フェスティバル前にも様々なカウントダウンイベントが行われる予定。

この「A Room for London」は、ジョゼフ・コンラッドの1899年出版の小説「Heart of Darkness（闇の奥）」に出てくる、テムズ川を出発しアフリカのコンゴに至る旅に使われたriverboat（川船）にインスピレーションを得て、David Kohn ArchitectsとアーティストのFiona Bannerが制作した。一晩限り、二人まで宿泊可能で宿泊料は£120〜、公的プロジェクトだからか、メディアも注目する期間限定の特別ホテルなのに、値段はかなり控えめ。あいにく昨年9月9日に始まった1〜6月の予約は開始12分で満室になったけれど、7〜12月の予約は来週19日正午に始まる。メディアでも取り上げられているので応募多数と予測されるけれど、想い出作りに、運試しに申し込んでみるのもいいかも。

→予約詳細はこちら

A classic boat appeared on the top of Southbank Centre, overlooking the river Thames – this is an arts project “A Room for London” and it is a part of the London 2012 Festival. The London 2012 Festival is a huge cultural celebration, coinciding with the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, and a culmination of the a four-year programme of cultural events “Cultural Olympiad“, started in 2008 just after Beijing Olympic. From June 21 to September 9, 2012, there will be 1,000 performances and events such as free concerts and art exhibitions, as well as countdown events before the Festival opens.

Inspired by the riverboat captained by Joseph Conrad while in the Congo in 1890, later recreated in his novel Heart of Darkness, David Kohn Architects and artist Fiona Banner created this unique art project. General public can rent out this space for £120〜 for up to two people for one night only. The price is quite reasonable with the premium to stay at the special art project with  limited period and public attention – probably because it is a public event for everybody. Unfortunately the riverboat is sold out during January–June, just 12 minutes after going live on September 8th last year, but bookings for the period of July to December will go on sale online at 12pm on January 19 next week. The competition is expected to be high, but you can try your luck!

→booking details are here

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Responses from British Red Cross for the “Small Print”

昨日書いた「但し書き」の続きです。掲示板からの抜粋ですが、何人かの方が送った疑問について、イギリス赤十字からの返答を転載させて頂きました。

I would like to explain that we have to put this ‘Disaster Fund Caveat’ on every emergency appeal we run. As the statement explains it is only in the event that we raise far more money than we can responsibly spend in that area that we would put any extra money to our disaster fund.

This had never happened before as the need always tends to be greater than what we raise. All donations for this appeal are being sent directly to the Japanese Red Cross to use in the affected area.

寄付金が多く集まり過ぎた場合は他の事案に回すかもしれないが、過去に例はなかった。全ての寄付金は日本赤十字社に直接送られ、被災地のために使われるとのこと。

もう一人の方への返事はこういうもの。

Yes, the information you read does stand, but has only (in my experience), had to happen at the end of a very long appeal. And in most cases the disaster that is being provided for had initially received a lump sum from the Red Cross reserve as it was needed in a hurry obviously, while we collected specifically for the appeal. Therefore if there is any surplus it will only be replacing the initial sum of money so that there is a reserve that can be instantly accessed when we respond to the next disaster. The Red Cross works this way because the nature of our Disaster Response work dictates that in each case funds will be needed instantly.

但し書きに書いてあることは本当だが、経験上、長期間に渡るアピールの終わりにのみ起こりうる。そして、もし超過が出たとしても、災害直後に赤十字の貯蓄分から緊急支出された額を補填する目的のみに使われる。との説明。

過去にそういう例があったか無かったかは、二つのレスは矛盾しているけれど、この説明が本当なら、納得できる。British Red Crossも募金サイトやQ&Aでちゃんと明記していれば、私達も疑いもたずにすみ、質問状など送る必要は無かったのに。ちなみに私も質問メールを送っていますが、2日経った今、まだ返事は頂いていません。

A new information to my yesterday’s entry about “small print” of charities. Here are responses from British Red Cross to some people inquired about the issue, excerpted from the internet communication board.

Here is one.

I would like to explain that we have to put this ‘Disaster Fund Caveat’ on every emergency appeal we run. As the statement explains it is only in the event that we raise far more money than we can responsibly spend in that area that we would put any extra money to our disaster fund.

This had never happened before as the need always tends to be greater than what we raise. All donations for this appeal are being sent directly to the Japanese Red Cross to use in the affected area.

Another response to a different person.

Yes, the information you read does stand, but has only (in my experience), had to happen at the end of a very long appeal. And in most cases the disaster that is being provided for had initially received a lump sum from the Red Cross reserve as it was needed in a hurry obviously, while we collected specifically for the appeal. Therefore if there is any surplus it will only be replacing the initial sum of money so that there is a reserve that can be instantly accessed when we respond to the next disaster. The Red Cross works this way because the nature of our Disaster Response work dictates that in each case funds will be needed instantly.

If what they say is true, I have no problem, though two responses conflict with each other whether any case of surplus happened in the past or not. However, the problem is that British Red Cross doesn’t explain the issue on their web page, either in the appeal or Q&A. If they do, we don’t have to be suspicious or waste some time to write to them and their time to write back. I also sent an inquiry to the Red Cross but I haven’t heard from them so far for two days. I guess they are busy at this time – another reason for them to clarify it on their website!

↓ 今日見つけた支援情報

• 在英国大使館による義援金受付
• セカンドハーベストジャパン（被災地で支援を行っているNGO）
• AMDA（被災地で支援を行っているNGO。海外からの送金方法の記載あり）
• アニマルレフュージ関西（被災動物の支援。私も寄付しました）
• facebook: Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support（被災動物の支援）
• Gambaré Japan ~ We are with you ＠ Jamboree（チャリティイベント。3月19日）
• ヨーク親子の会：東北地方太平洋沖地震の復興支援イベント（3月19日）

↓ Additional information for help for Today

• Donation through Embassy of Japan in the UK
• AMDA international
• Animal Refuge Kansai
• facebook: Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support
• Gambaré Japan ~ We are with you fundrasing music event＠ Jamboree (March 19)
• York Japanese Families’ Association: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Appeal (March 19)

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悲しいニュースが多い中で、心温まる話。涙を誘います。早く助けが来るといいな。

Heartwarming footage of the dog that refuses to abandon the wounded companion. Hope they will be saved soon…

How to Help Japan Earthquake Victims from UK

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ロンドンオリンピックまであと500日。トラファルガー広場に設置された大時計のカウントダウンが始まり（BBCニュース1）、チケットの販売が今日朝より開始された（BBCニュース2）。でも東北地震・津波の被害を思うと、日本人としてはお祭り気分にはほど遠い。原子力発電所問題がまだ未解決なので、こちらでもまだまだニュースで取り上げられているが、各国が表明した公的支援以外、メディアは一般人が貢献できる寄付や支援については、ほとんど取り上げていない。ハイチ大地震や東南アジアを襲った津波の際は、もっとニュースで支援を呼びかけたり、テレビCMや新聞広告を見たような気がしたのだが。その点、アメリカは日本の同盟国だということもあるのか、ネットで調べていても情報も多いし、セレブリティを含む人々の関心も高いと感じる。

その中で、何とか支援の輪を広げようと、慈善団体への寄付はもちろん、チャリティ・イベントやコンサートの企画、募金活動の組織、フェイスブックやミクシィでの情報交換など、頑張っている多くの在英日本人たちがいる。上のビデオは、日本人留学生が折り鶴を折って、LSE（ロンドン・スクール・オブ・エコノミクス）の前で募金活動をしている様子。日本人だけじゃなくて、イギリス人や他の国の人たちも、自分たちでも企画をしてくれると、もっと嬉しいんだけれど。

↓　以下は今日集めた支援情報です。その他の支援については昨日のブログもご参照ください。

• チャリティ・イベント＠Life basement bar（3月15〜16日午前2時）
• 葉加瀬太郎氏のチャリティ・コンサート（3月18日）: Don’t Give Up! A Charity Concert for Japan @ Cadogan Hall
• Cakes for Japan @ Maiden, Shoreditch High Street（3月18日）
• チャリティ・イベント協力者募集（3月19日）
• Japan Earthquake Tsunami Donation Appeal＠ピカデリー・サーカス（3月21日）
• Your online guide to helping Japan by The Globe and Mail（カナダのニュースですが、ネットでできる協力方法がリストアップされています）
• Linkin Park（リンキン・パーク）: Disaster Relief T-Shirts（メンバーのマイク・シノダが日系人だそうです）

Today a giant clock placed in Trafalgar Square started counting down 500 days until the start of the London Olympics (BBC news 1), and 6.6 million Olympic tickets became available this morning (BBC news 2). But when I think about the victims of Japan Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami, I am not in a mood at all to celebrate all these Olympic stuffs. The media coverage is still big here in UK, as problems at nuclear power stations haven’t been solved yet. However, strangely the media rarely talks about help that ordinary people can do, rather than official aid from each country. I think I saw more TV commercials and newspaper ads, as well as information for charity on news programs for Haiti earthquake and Boxing Day Tsunami. On the other hand, I feel like Americans, including celebs, are more supportive and helpful, and more information for aids in the US – probably because USA and Japan are important allies.

There are many Japanese living in UK, trying to help the victims, not only donating to charities, but also organizing charity events and concerts, fundraising on a street, exchanging support information on local web community boards and SNS such as facebook and Mixi (Japan’s largest SNS community). The video above was taken from BBC London news, covering Japanese students making Origami cranes and fundraising in front of LSE. I wish the circle of support will spread, not only within Japanese community in UK, but also to British public and people from other countries – yes, Japan is the third largest economy in the world and you may think help is unnecessary, but the damage is enormous with astronomical cost or recovery, and the government has huge debt and the country is still in long-lasting recession. Of course Japanese government and people must help with each other too, but I am afraid it is not enough. Many people in the affected areas are elderly as young generation left for bigger cities and can’t afford to pay 30-year morgage, and fishermen and farmers on the coast are not millionaires as well…

↓ Here is additional information for help. Please also check yesterday’s entry for more information.

• Charity Event＠Life basement bar, Clerkenwell (March 15 til 2am on March 16)
• Well-known Japanese violinist and composer, Taro Hakase‘s Don’t Give Up! A Charity Concert for Japan @ Cadogan Hall (March 18)
• Cakes for Japan @ Maiden, Shoreditch High Street (March 18)
• Japan Earthquake Tsunami Donation Appeal＠Piccadilly Circus (March 21)
• Your online guide to helping Japan by The Globe and Mail (from Canada – you can learn how to help from your computer)
• Linkin Park: Disaster Relief T-Shirts