AUSTIN, Texas - There may be a sharp group of people connected to the tens of thousands of people who have come here this week for South by Southwest Interactive Festival (SXSW). And in an attempt to gather the collective power of these digital skills to help with disaster relief that hit Japan on Friday, the organizers quickly took action.

Today at SXSW Interactive has announced SXSW4Japan director Hugh Forrest, a Web site, where conference participants are invited to donate a total of at least $ 10,000 in emergency aid for Japan.

"Maybe SXSW community raise $ 10,000 for Japan in 4 days? Sure, we can," the site encourages the participants. "We at SXSW Interactive can make a difference. We can raise money for the American Red Cross to provide disaster relief in Japan. Make a donation to the American Red Cross or create a fundraising page to raise the support. "

On site, there is a button to create a custom page fundraising, and also a donation button in general.

At the beginning of the course, it is difficult to say whether the community will be able to respond to the call for $ 10,000 in donations. By 15:15 CT Sunday, only $ 530 had been announced. But as word spreads of the campaign, it is likely that the connective power of the thousands on hand this week will be the challenge.

It is clear, however, people in Austin SXSW pay attention to what happens in Japan, as an exploration thousands of tweets coming out of the conference has revealed.

"If you were able to afford to attend SXSW or buy one day iPad, consider saving some $ $ $ for the relief of the earthquake in Japan," tweeted David Bisset. "Just sayin."

And Twitter user Eric Nakagawa added his sense of "I just read the death toll has reached 1000, I won my entire budget drinking SXSW Japanese Red Cross."

This may seem to some as an empty gesture, but what is clear is that many people here feel over the responsibility to do something to help.

Perhaps the approach most welcome was a personal site created to take advantage of the hysteria began earlier this morning to launch a fake site called beta Hoodlez.com investor Chris Sacca. As reported by TechCrunch, dozens of people tried to enter the beta, only to discover it was a hoax Sacca. But now, someone actually registered Hoodlez.com and those who visit the site to try to get into the beta is satisfied with this message: "There is no beta ... there is something better while we know you're probably coming to trial. to get a beta invite through tweet Chris Sacca, we have something much better for you. can make a difference by donating to the American Red Cross "

As Sacca even tweeted, "Okay, it's just unbelievable."

At the same time Twitter user tweeted Leigh Duncan-Durst that she and others are encouraging all SXSW speakers to add the tag "hash # sxswcares to mobilize support" for Japan. There are already hundreds of tweets be reproduced here with the label hash.

If you're in Austin, or if you see coverage of SXSW and they are worried about people in Japan, please consider making a donation. You'll certainly be able to build your budget fast enough to drink.

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