On Friday, Florio mentioned how the tragic events happening half a world away in Japan helped put the NFL’s frustrating labor mess into perspective.
The hard-to-fathom images have been jarring personally. My father-in-law was traveling in Sendai exactly one week before the quake hit.
My wife’s friends and family are all thankfully safe in Tokyo, although the non-stop shaking of the Earth still hasn’t stopped. (And the food stores are now almost all empty.)
Their lives have been disrupted, but so many more in the country weren’t as lucky. In a statement released on Monday, Ravens safety Haruki Nakamura reached out to those with means to donate to the Red Cross to help those less fortunate.
The U.S. has donated $7.75 million dollars as of late Sunday, including $1.1 million by texting 90999 on your mobile phone. Nakamura’s full statement can be viewed after the jump.
“The tragic events surrounding the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan has triggered many emotions from people across the world.
The disaster has affected many people, including myself.
I am proud to be a Japanese American, and honored to be one of few players in the NFL of Japanese heritage.
The aftermath of the earthquake has been felt by people of all nationalities. Those of us with family and friends over there have been frantically attempting to contact them to make sure they are alive. I’m lucky to say that my family and friends in Japan are safe!
Though I haven’t suffered any loss of life in my family, others aren’t so lucky. As the death toll continues to rise, the danger associated with the earthquake is equally as elevated.
In fact, the life-threatening situation continues to escalate every day. Radiation from the nuclear power plants that have been damaged has escaped and now hovers in the air. Aftershocks from the earthquake pose a constant threat while disrupting everything from public transportation to the ability to find clean water. I am not exaggerating when I say Japan is faced with a life-and-death situation.
I ask not as a professional football player, but for those who are in life and death situations in Japan, that you contact the American Red Cross, and see what you can do to help those in dire need. I would consider it a tremendous gesture of kindness if you can donate anything to help those who cannot help themselves survive this terrible disaster.”
Sincerely,
Haruki Nakamura
[Baltimore Ravens]