March 11, 2011
On Friday March 11, 2011, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan.

This triggered 4 metre waves in Japan and tsunami warnings across the Pacific coastline, including British Columbia.

Hundreds of people are reported dead, and many more are injured or missing. The earthquake has caused fires and severe damage to buildings, leaving more than 4 million households without electricity.

The students traveling to Japan on University of Lethbridge exchanges are accounted for and safe.
Four Faculty of Management students have been contacted, are in areas unaffected by the earthquake/tsunami, and are on their way to their host universities.

Students from Japan at the University of Lethbridge have been contacted by staff at the International Centre for Students and at this time none of their immediate families have been affected.

Counselling services are available for those wishing to speak to someone about how this has affected them personally. They can be reached through this website: http://www.uleth.ca/counselling/

DONATIONS FOR RELIEF EFFORTS

Beginning next week, the Japanese students, working with staff from the International Centre for Students, will be launching a fundraising and awareness campaign to support relief efforts in Japan through two major charities -- Shelterbox International and the Canadian Red Cross.

Look for awareness displays on campus next week, locations TBA.

You can donate online to these organizations by visiting these websites:

Shelterbox

http://shelterboxcanada.org/

Red Cross

http://www.redcross.ca

The Government of Canada has information relating to the earthquake and tsunami at this website:

http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/japan_earthquake_japon_seisme.aspx?lang=eng

Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Relevant Media links can be found here:

CBC: http://www.redcross.ca

CTV: http://www.ctv.ca/

Global TV: http://www.globaltv.com/

CNN: http://cnn.com