DTF @ Citrus This Monday!!

It has been a busy couple of weeks since I set up my campaign ‘Make Change For Japan’. I have received media attention from my universities news team, Behind the Spin (an online PR magazine) and influential tweeters which has been great as it has really helped the word spread and encouraged people to donate.

So far £821.35 has been raised for The Red Cross Tsunami Appeal – that’s only £178.65 away from my target. We’ve had people donating the money that would have been spent on packet of cigarettes, Cadburys cream eggs, bottle of wine, morning coffees and nights at the pub – one supporter has even given up alcohol for an entire month to support the campaign. I have been using Facebook, twitter and lots of different blogs to attract attention and get donations – I am now currently focusing my attention on a fundraising event to create some more ‘hype’ in an attempt raise more money and spread the word. It will take place on Monday 4th April at Citrus Bar in Headingley, Leeds. There will be live music; 3 bands and a DJ, a photographer and special drinks offers on wine, beer and cocktails. The event will kick off at 8pm and go through until midnight; entry is only £2, with the opportunity to drop a few more pennies in the bucket if you wish J The official after party is going to take place at Chilli Whites popular student night Rendezvu, where 10p of each vodka drink bought will go to my appeal. By coming along to DTF @ Citrus you will in return get a wristband which gets you into the after party for a discounted rate of £2.

Successful First Day

I am proud to announce that in the 24hours of my campaign 'Make Change For Japan' being launched on Monday over £150 was made!

Massive thank you to Jack Keatings, Hannah Shanks, Beverly Thomas, Micha Kirkbride, Will Hill, Michael Harrison, Sebastian Mysko, Victoria Finn, Alison Hill, Hannah Craig, Charlotte Batchelor, Lucie Wrightson, Billie Mcloughlin, Ailsa Brogan-Hewitt, Rachel McGeary, Carly Quinn, Alex Goodwin, Kristian Wass and Laura Johnson who have all made very generous donations!

Please support my campaign by making a small change today and instead donating the money to 'Make Change For Japan' through just-giving.

Much love,
Jasmine x

Make Change For Japan

Last week a gigantic earthquake (measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale) struck Japan, adding to the devastation a tsunami with 7 meter high waves later hit the east coast of Japan leaving a huge trial of destruction. The death toll currently stands at 3,000 and is expected to raise to around 10,000 as the search for missing loved ones continues. However the ones lucky enough to come away with their lives, are likely to be among the 2,000 seriously injured, rarely still have their homes and are likely to be separated from friends and family. Since the quake and tsunami hit, only a few days ago 3 nuclear plants have blown up leaving millions of houses without electricity and water, and causing a very dangerous environment.

Yesterday I set up a fundraising campaign to help raise money for The British Red Cross, who are in desperate need of support as they work with the Japanese Red Cross providing healthcare, support staff and teams to asses the damage and needs of the communities affected. Temporary centers have been set up in schools and public buildings housing more than 500,000 of the victims left homeless, The Red Cross have already mobilized 85 teams to assist in such centers.


The idea of my campaign is very simple, yet hopefully effective. I am encouraging people to make a simple change to their lifestyle and donate the money they are saving to the campaign, for example walking or cycling to work instead of getting the bus, or having a packed lunch instead of buying their lunch. I have also suggested that supporters could get together with friends and plan a cheap night in instead of a night out and donate the money they save.

I want people to be inventive with what they do to save money! I would like to stress I am not asking for people to donate money they do not have just simply give up something they don't need (however big or small) and donate the money instead.


Make a SMALL change in your life and make a BIG difference for victims in Japan!


As part of my campaign I have put together a Facebook event called Make Change For Japan, set up a twitter trend #makechangeforjapan through my twitter account @JasmineBellPR and created a just-giving site to make donations safe and simple (donating directly to The Red Cross) for my supporters. 


It has only been 24 hours since I launched my campaign and already managed to raise £141.34 for the cause. I aim to reach my target of £1,000 within the next month. However with the generosity of friends, family and followers I am confident I will exceed my aim.


Please follow my campaign and do what you can to help; plan a cheap evening with friends, cook instead of having a takeaway, give up buying a bar of chocolate, have one less drink on our night out...do whatever you can! Let me know what you come up with so I can give others ideas! 


BE INVENTIVE - PRIZES WILL GO TO THE BEST IDEAS!!! 


Just Giving - Make Change For Japan
Make Change for Japan

Facebooks plans to become a 'bully safe' environment

Facebook recently announced that they will be enforcing their site to be a ‘bully safe’ environment. They want to encourage their site to have a stronger sense of community and “create a culture of respect” for users.

However as Facebook currently have 500 million active users across the globe it does make you wonder if it is even possible to monitor the relationships between them? Do they even have the staff required to do so?

Although Facebook have never revealed the number of staff they employee to handle such complaints, I can’t imagine there team is large enough to closely monitor the Facebook activity of 500 million users.

Facebook revealed last week at an anti bullying conference at the White House, they intend to simply leave it up to the users of Facebook to monitor malicious behaviour between friends. Victims of bullying can feel safe that 'harmful banter' posted on the site can be easily flagged up by trusted friends and reported to Facebook.

The actions they are taking must be applauded as they are finally taking action against online bullying. I have no doubt that this will help reduce the amount of bullying on the site, however I do wonder how much good this will bring ‘real life’ bullying.

What happens after the incident has been reported and removed from the site? The problems that originated on the internet may be bought into real situations, be it in the playground or the workplace –there are no buttons to click ‘report problem’, posing the threat of physical abuse. Facebook said that the system was designed to encourage people to solve online problems "face to face" - this is certainly a statement for dispute.

Maybe the more logical solution would be for victims or friends of victims to alert Facebook to where the problem has stemmed (for example a school), so that the problem can be solved in a calmer environment where real action can take place.