以下是一封我們剛剛才寫好要寄給國際朋友的英文信件，請朋友們能夠伸出援手幫助受創嚴重的日本。如果有任何人需要，請自行拷貝拿去轉寄。
美國國會眾議院今天在會議開始之前，全體起立為死者默哀並為日本祈福。除此之外，美國的第七艦隊，這一次救災行動的代號就是“Operation Tomodachi”。Tomodachi就是日文的「朋友」，因此，我們決定將這次發起募捐的行動也稱為「朋友計劃」（Operation Tomodachi）。
英文信件的後面有中文譯本，方便不習慣英文的朋友了解信件的內容。
感謝大家近日來，對我們在日本家人的關心，以及所有人對日本人民和國家的關懷。
（圖片來源︰abhrlifework.tumblr.com/）
Dear friends:
It is entirely fitting for the rest of world to rush to Japan to assist in the largest disaster that happened to this nation since 1945.
After Christchurch was devastated by earthquake on February 22, 2011, Japan was quick to send a 70-strong team of search and rescue experts to help out in the relief effort.
At the two devastated earthquakes in Haiti and Chili in 2010, Japan had also sent in their emergency medical team as well as donation of money and supplies. Of course, Japan was not alone in these rescue efforts or in humanitarian aid. Many other countries around the globe have stepped in when other fellow human beings are suffering and in need.
The situation in Japan now is grim. As reported by the media, the nuclear crisis was a triple whammy for Japan, coming on top of the fourth strongest earthquake ever recorded, and one of the most powerful tsunami in history, which caused heart-breaking scenes of unimaginable devastation and loss of lives in northeast Japan.
The death toll is estimated at 5,000 just in one prefecture, and the number is still climbing. The survivors, meanwhile, are short on food, water, gasoline, and power. People are starving off hunger with instant noodles or rice balls while dealing with the loss of loved ones and homes. In spite of 100,000 Japanese troops and more than 500 foreign rescue specialists, the relief operation is being hampered by damaged transport infrastructure, including roads, rails, and even sea ports to these regions.
According to NHK, the public broadcaster in Japan, more than half a million people are living in emergency shelters or still stranded. So, the situation in Japan right now is grim, is really an understatement.
If you are willing and capable, please lend a hand in relief effort. There are several ways to donate to help and here are two of the reputable ones:
WORLD VISION to help Japan
http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=10339&item=2200736
RED CROSS in JAPAN-Google
www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html
To follow up on the development of earthquake-tsunami-nuclear alert in Japan, here is a closely updated web site:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami
Thank you most kindly for your support!
親愛的朋友：
全世界都趕往日本，並協助這場1945年以來最大災難的救援，絕對是合情合理的舉動。
2011年2月22日，當紐西蘭的基督城被地震摧毀後，日本很快就派出由70人組成的搜救專家隊伍，到紐西蘭幫助進行救災的工作。
2010年，日本也派出緊急醫療小組，並捐贈資金和物資，以幫助地震中受災的兩個國家海地和智利。當然，在這些救援的工作或人道主義的援助中，日本並不是唯一的國家。許多其他國家和地區，都會自動在其他人類受苦和需要的時候伸出援手。
日本現在的情況是嚴峻的。誠如媒體的報導，核能廠的危機是對日本的第三重打擊，加上人類有記錄以來第四強的地震，再加上歷史上最猛烈的海嘯，造成了日本東北部難以想像的破壞和生命損失，全都是令人心碎的場面，。
只在一個縣境內，死亡人數目前的估計是五千多人，而且人數還持續上升中。同一時間內，倖存者也有食物、水、汽油、和電力短缺的問題；他們只能以不足的泡麵或飯糰果腹，還要應付失去親人和家園的痛苦。儘管有10萬名日本自衛隊和500多名外國的救援專家，救援工作因交通基礎設施，包括道路、鐵路、甚至港口的損壞而受到阻撓。
根據日本國家NHK電臺的報導，目前有超過五百萬人仍滯留在緊急庇難所或受困於災區。因此，日本現在的情況是嚴峻的說法，真的是過度輕描淡寫。
假如，你願意並有能力，請伸出援手幫助日本災民。有好幾種方法可以幫助捐贈，而這裡有兩個可靠的管道：
世界展望會–幫助日本
www.worldvision.org / HelpJapan
日本紅十字會–Google
www.google.com/crisisresponse/japa__nquake2011.html
如果你想追蹤日本的地震海嘯和核能警報的發展，這裡有一個隨時更新消息的網站：
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/japa__n-earthquake-and-tsunami
感謝你的支持！
Source: TaiwanOnline
