Greeting to all our friends in the world of occupational therapy!
We have survived a serious test from nature during the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster in the Tohoku area of Japan. In addition we continue to be exposed to the invisible menace of radiation and damaging rumors about the nuclear power plant incident.
I've been relieved at the stories of survival but saddened by those of loss from the news on the television and radio after March 11th, 2011, and I ask myself, “What kind of response can I promote?”
For each and every person that died in this terrible disaster, they left behind close family and friends, and their existence in daily life. For those that survived, they have lost loved family members, friends, have suffered damage to their homes, had valuable items of memory taken washed away, and are still experiencing trouble in their daily life. When I think of these hardships, I am tormented by a serious sense of helplessness.
- What can we do as occupational therapists (OTR) to help those who still suffer?
- What must we do as OTR to help those who still suffer?
I believe that each OTR will look at his/her own situation and decide how to act accordingly. We would like you to share your plans and ideas next year, from September 29th-30th at the 23rd Tohoku Occupational Therapy Congress to be held in Yamagata. We have already designed a homepage for you to express your thoughts and opinions. Through this HP, OTR form different areas can exchange information and by next fall, with everyone's cooperation, we will be able to show the ‘strength of Tohoku' within and outside the OT society.
Please cooperate with our plan. We'll update the HP regularly, every week. Please show your actions and suggestions of OTR for the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster to all in the world of OT. Please send your messages to the address at the bottom of this page. We also accept pictures and video clips.
“We are as one!” Let's think how we can help the future of humankind and the world of OT in Yamagata at the 23rd Tohoku Occupational Therapy Congress. I await your precious messages to be shown to the world of OT.
Best regards,
Yumi Suzuki OTR, President of the 23rd Tohoku Occupational Therapy Congress in Japan
- Homepage address: http://totc23.umin.jp
- E-mail address: totc23-office@umin.ac.jp
Please send your name, location, OT job description, message title and about 400-800 words.
