This project will bring focus to the needs of children and communities in Tohoku and assist long term recovery following the recent disaster. We will attempt to fly thousands of Koi Nobori carrying messages from people all over the world dedicated to the Children of the Tohoku region in the Port of Yokohama on May 5th Children’s Day. These messages will be counted, and presented to representative children by Lower House Representative Mieko Nakabayashi on May 5th at 5pm.

Tohoku Support Activities, May 2 to May 5

Friendship and Fund-raising:
• Help us raise hundred (thousands?!!) of Koi Nobori with messages dedicated to children to be flown in the Port of Yokohama to be presented to community representatives, to be carried back to their communities. Many children currently housed in Shelters will be able to see proof of our support for them and belief in the future. Funds raised will go to projects that will help restore their communities.
• Performances in Zonohana Park featuring Yokohama children to be shared with children in Tohoku
• Fashion Show – featuring special designs by Jessica Rodriguez (Fashion Designer) of Peru for children
• VIP event at Landmark Tower
• Booths featuring fund-raising sales of T-shirts and organic products
• Sidewalk art
Education:
• Talks and exhibits around technologies that could help Tohoku communities featuring Aquaponics and Biochar

The Program:
VIP Event: May 2, 2011 (by invitation only)

Outdoor Program
Dates: May 3/4/5, 2011
Location: Yokohama Minato Mirai district “Zonohana Koen”
Time:
• 10 am through 3 pm on May 3rd and 4th
• 10 am through 6 pm on May 5th
Program: Music – Dance – Art exhibits – Children`s Fashion Show – Educational Exhibits – interactive Art – Koi Nobori designing – Art Activities for Kids – Organic product booths, Street Performers etc… The highlight will be the raising of as many (white) Koi Nobori as possible with messages for the children, with an aim to flying thousands. Art quality Koi Nobori will be produced by a variety of artists.

Booths will be set up throughout the 3 day outdoor event offering a variety of educational exhibits, fund-raising activities and entertainment for children.

Funds raised will be donated to Hope International Development Agency relief efforts and community rebuilding initiatives aligned with the 5ivePlanets mandate, as well as local “Schools Building Schools” projects in Tohoku.

Would you like to volunteer for this event? We are looking for volunteers to help us in many activities leading to the Koi Nobori event as well as the three days of the event.

Please email 5iveplanets@gmail.com for more information.

In order to allow our members to share information and learn from each other we have aso set up an interactive members site at http://www.5iveplanets.ning.com. Become a members and meet our community!

Buy a Koi Nobori and send us an email via message2Tohoku@gmail.com with a message you would like to send to children who are living in shelters in the affected prefectures. Our volunteers will write your message on a white Koi Nobori and we will fly it in Yokohama’s Port on

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The Headquarters of 5ivePlanets is a house in Asahi-ku, Yokohama generously donated by the Ogura Family. The Center which is due to open in May 2011, will feature an interpretive center introducing the potential of aquaponics and biochar as technologies that have the potential to enhance food production capacity in