Here is the URL to Aid India

http://www.aidindia.org/CMS/

Also

http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/

is the one stop for all aid and relief work for the people affected by the disaster.

Looking through my fingers:

As I sat at home on Christmas Day or just December 25th if you prefer, trying to avoid the harshness of the world I made a valiant effort not to turn to the TV. Trying to avoid the harshness of the world and enjoying my ability to sit in solitude and give Thanks for all that I have. Knowing that half way around the world in a war that has two sides there are people on both that don't have a moments time to reflect for a moments concentration means the difference between life and death. I then remember the other countries where not only because of the war but just due to the affliction of brutality have similar situations their entire lives to those that fight a war for a number of years. Just thinking about it is sickening. The cold tough brutal world humbles me in thanks for what I have and devastates my entitlement complex. Justice is thing of privilege not a basic human right. Whether this is right or not I'll leave for the politicians to debate.

Giving in to my very American addiction I faltered and landed on a button powering the television. As I live and breathe I sat in awe like a child at his first screening of the Shining. I looked through my fingers trembling with despair not able to believe what I was seeing before me. Tsunami? Not wanting to look, tormented by the humbling power of Mother Nature, I turn my head and shut it off again. After gathering myself I look again to see 24,000 fatalities and unimaginable devastation. What's it all for? Why have I been spared? The guilt pours over me survivor guilt for those that I have never even known.

May the natural forces of the universe have mercy on the whole of humanity.

Humbly Shaken,

D.J. Tardif

It could have been a lot worse.

A 1991 tsunami killed 138,000 Bangladeshis.

138,000.

Just in Bangladesh, not spread out among several countries.

Let *that* sink in for a minute.

Well, here's something for all of this that may end up bringing all of this close to home.

Mt St. Helens is back on the watch list, apparently as a direct result of the quake.

The USFS has shut down five miles from the foot of the mountain in every direction.

Here is the direct link to AID's donation page, just in case.

Please help.

Here is the direct link to AID's donation page, just in case. Sorry forgot to provide it.

https://www.aidindia.org/aidadmin/DonateToRRF.jsp

Please help.

The Salvation Army is also taking online donations:

http://www2.salvationarmy.org/ihq/www_sa.nsf

The 1991 disaster was not due to a Tsunami, it was due to a supercyclone which hit and flooded Bangladesh. I think this is the first time in recent memory that there has been such a Tsunami disaster in that part of the world.

For more information about the history of cyclones and supercyclones in the region:

http://www.metoffice.com/sec2/sec2cyclone/tcbulletins/05b.html

The horrifying thing is that the death toll is likely to rise still further. In 3rd world countries, especially in remote areas, medical facilities, clean water supply and relief facilities are often limited. Some of the Indian islands are quite remote and distant. Whats needed now is a massive relief effort. Money will help, but it will take a while before it can be deployed effectively.

MAKE DONATIONS TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN SOUTH ASIA.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATION
ACCEPTING DONATIONS CLICK HERE : .">http://www.boshtang.com/2004/12/tsunami-update-deathtoll-rises-to.html.

THERE IS A PLETHORA OF INFORMATION ON INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN, CANADIAN, INDIAN AND PHILIPPINE AID AGENCIES.

Note: Some employers match your contributions to charities. So if you put 100 $ the employer would put another 100 $. This way you could double your contributions. Check with your employer and find out which charities are matched by your employer and make a donation to one of those charities.

Hi Dan,

I am collecting lists of relief organizations, and other relief efforts in & around Bangalore (that is where I am based). I try to keep this list updated on my blog at http://rajeevdm.blogspot.com

thanks
Rajeev

You can also donate through Amazon
http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/my-pay-page/PX3BEL97U9A4I/002-8904659-0237604

One other donation site is World Vision:

www.worldvision.org

We in the Indonesian Embassy have received many phone calls expressing their sympathy and condolences and asking how they may be able to help. It's so heartwarming. We have actually put in our website (www.embassyofindonesia.org) the address to where they can deliver their contribution, and I think your blog is another effective way to give such information:

National Coordination Agency for Disaster and Refugee Relief (BAKORNAS PBP)
Jalan H. Juanda No. 36
Jakarta 10110 - INDONESIA
Contact Person: Mr. Sugeng

Those who prefer to send financial donation may as well send it to the address above, or through the Embassy of Indonesia, 2020 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20036 (Contact Person: Mr. Ade Wismar Wijaya, phone # 202-775-5212).

The Indonesian Embassy has also opened a book of condolences since yesterday.

The International Rescue Committee is working to establish fresh water supplies in the affected areas. http://www.theirc.org

Brutal. Of course, we're likely to see some idiot economist telling us that this helps economic growth.

I just wanted to put something out here.
Why has there been such a strong international effort to help the victims of the earthquake in Asia and such a relatively smaller effort to help those in Darfur, Sudan?
Please don't mis-interpret what I am asking here, one cause is NOT more just than the other - I feel terribly for victims of both. However, it is worth noticing that one tragedy rallies the world and one does not.
Any thoughts?
-Jen

TEAM is another good organization providing relief.

http://www.teamworld.org/

J