American Go E-Journal

BELGIANS LAUNCH “GO4JAPAN”: A go club in Belgium has “switched our upcoming tournament to a support rally for the people of Japan” in the wake of the recent earthquake/tsunami, reports local organizer Joost Vannieuwenhuyse. “Already countries like Germany, Spain and Czechia are thinking about, or planning to host similar events,” Vannieuwenhuyse tells the E-Journal. Hoping to make this “a global initiative in the go-playing community,” the Belgium club has launched a Facebook page under the name “GO4 Japan” where others who want to organize their own local events can communicate and coordinate efforts. “Our club, as well as the organization of the Basel tournament in Switzerland will be giving all the registration fees from our tournament to the Japanese Red Cross Society,”adds Vannieuwenhuyse, suggesting that “It would be nice to also see some events there that take place in the US.” “I hope this way we, as go-players, can give back some support, no matter how big or small, to a country that meant and still means so much for this hobby, passion, life of ours. And to offer at least some relief to the people who are suffering from this ongoing disaster.”
ISRAEL HOSTS JAPAN SUPPORT TOURNEY ON MARCH 30: : An “Identifying day with Japan” has been organized for Wednesday, March 30th in Rosh HaAyin, Israel. The home of both current and previous Israeli go champions, Rosh HaAyin’s mayor joined the effort “with enthusiasm,” reports Shavit Fragman, President of the Mind chain of go clubs in Israel. Money collected at tournament will be delivered to the Japanese embassy, and the event will also include a Tree of Wishes, origami crane folding — in Japan, it’s commonly said that folding 1000 paper origami cranes makes a wish come true — and lectures about Japanese culture and the recent disasters in that country.
UK YOUTH EVENT RAISES £150 FOR JAPAN RELIEF: At the just-concluded Youth Championships in Oxfordshire, England, £150 — the result of a collection, together with the proceeds from the event– was sent to the Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal.