Reporting from the Heart

This report from Oregonian photographer Motoya Nakamura is heart-wrenching and moving and so worth watching. I've worked with Motoya on stories I've done for FoodDay and MIX magazine and, unlike some photographers, he's always engaging with the people he's covering, especially the children. I can only imagine how difficult this assignment must have been for him.

See a second video of Motoya and reporter Richard Read describing their experience covering this story.

Reporting from the Scene

It's probably a good thing that the world's attention moves on from tragedies, recovering from disasters the magnitude of the earthquake, tsunami and multiple nuclear accidents in Japan. That we do what we can by donating to recovery efforts and then return to our everyday concerns.

But it's also good to be reminded that the pain, sorrow and loss of the people of that country (and others like Haiti and Indonesia) continue. The video above was shot by the terrific Oregonian reporter Motoya Nakamura, who has returned to his native country to report from the areas affected by the devastation. He is posting videos and photos from his trip on his tumblelog, and it's well worth checking (you can also follow him on Twitter).

Eat Well, Do Good!

A heads-up to readers that this Tuesday, Mar. 29, you have the perfect excuse to go to your favorite restaurant and spend as much as you like, totally free of guilt. Including dessert.

Why? Because more than 50 Portland restaurants, coffee shops and bars will be donating a percentage of the day's profits to Mercy Corps' relief efforts to aid victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The list of participating restaurants is impressive, so gather your friends, family and the kids and head out; you could even make a day of it. And for once you can smile when the bill comes (don't forget that dessert)!

Details: Dine Out Tuesday, Mar. 29, for Japanese Earthquake Relief. See list of participating restaurants.

Top photo: Rin Suzuki, age 3, has been living in the Kesennuma gymnasium with her parents for two weeks. Photo by Joy Portella for Mercy Corps.