Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images

I didn’t get to go to SXSW this year, but I’m happy to see that one of the leading Web design conferences in the world is trying to make a difference in one of the biggest natural disasters Japan has ever faced. (These videos illustrate the scope, but they’re pretty intense.) At the time of this writing, SXSW4Japan has raised over $46,000 of their $50,000 goal for the Red Cross to use to help the Japanese people recover from this devastating tragedy.

“At SXSW this year, there’s a lot of discussion and debate about influence. Now it’s time to stand up and be truly influential as we raise support for tsunami relief.”

One of my favorite podcasters, Paul Boag of Boagworld, is offering donors a free e-book based on the previous season of his podcast and has himself raised almost $700 towards this fund with his campaign page. (I thought about creating my own campaign page, but I don’t have anything cool to give away right now, so I’ll just spread the word!)

Credit: TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Another charity organization about which I’ve written before, Philanthroper, is also getting busy with their efforts. Philanthroper creates “daily donation deals” wherein people can donate $1 to their charity of choice; since the disaster, those charities have revolved around helping Japan recover.

“[T]he organization has medical supplies staged and ready to be airlifted… Direct Relief International is a major cog in any UN relief efforts in Japan.”

Yesterday, it was ShelterBox, a group sending boxes with over 100 pounds each of shelter equipment disaster kits to the worst affected areas. Today, it’s Direct Relief International, helping them provide $30 per $1 donation in wholesale medical supplies.

Philanthroper is careful to disclaim that they don’t require the charities to use the funds they receive for Japan specifically, allowing them to use the funds wherever they are needed. However, these charities are currently mobilized in Japan so there is a high chance of the funds going straight there.

Credit: TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images

Whether you can donate $1 or $1000, everything helps. The scope of the emergency the Japanese people are living with right now is more than I can wrap my mind around, and they need our support.

Places to Donate:

• To the Red Cross through Boagworld’s SXSW donation page (and get a free e-book!)
• Through Philanthroper to the charity of the day. UPDATE: They’ve added a Japan disaster relief charity roundup page for all the related relief programs. They say they’ll leave it up for at least a week.
• To Direct Relief International