The immensity is almost too much to comprehend and more than I anyone can bear. However, we accomplish nothing by quivering in our seats and shaking our heads at the images on television, on the Internet, on the front page of the newspaper. Instead, we should help.
- United Methodist Committee On Relief
- CARE
- Doctors Without Borders
- OxFam America
- Int’l Medical Corps
- AmeriCares
- UNICEF
- Int’l Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (Red Cross)
- Direct Relief
- Action Against Hunger
- Save The Children
- Islamic Relief
- Mercy Corps
- Samaritan’s Purse
- Project Hope
- Brother’s Brother
Twenty. Ten. Even five dollars to any of these charities or many others listed elsewhere will do more than you know. The scope of this tragedy is growing still, because the tsunami was only the beginning. History teaches us that nature can be brutally opportunistic in times like these, bringing more rain which brings more flooding which introduces disease and hampers relief. I promise to go back to making clever observations and talking about mix CDs and movies soon, but … just for now, give a thought and a prayer and maybe a little cash to people on the other side of the planet.
More Information: A collaborative blog called TsunamiHelp has been established to provide news and information as it develops and to promote and coordinate relief efforts as they establish. Additionally, the Wikipedia entry for the disaster is updated by the minute.
And one more thing. Please. Remember who is hurting here. Consider the immense loss, then project (if you can) the incredible amount of resources and cooperation that will be necessary to feed, clothe, bandage and shelter all of these people. After that, imagine what they will all need to restore their normalcy and dignity. This is not the time to feign national offense at the misinterpreted statements of an overworked UN official facing the biggest task of his career. Do yourself a favor and put his comment in context. Are we being “stingy” right now, for this catastrophe? No. Should we have a better record of charity over all? Yes. We all should.
