A modest suggestion about the Southeast Asian tsunami

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:21 pm

Boys:

As any of you who have read my previous thread know, I'm pretty shook by the disaster in Southeast Asia due to the tsumani and earthquake because I have a friend who lives in Madras, India, one of the hardest-hit areas.

I replied to his e-mail to me today, asking him what I could do to help his fellow people. I'm assuming these people need money for relief efforts right now more than anything, so I think I'm going to start by taking $50 I had earmarked to make my next videogame purchase and send it to a relief agency working in the area like the Catholic Relief Fund, Red Cross or UNICEF. CNN.com has a list of agencies that are working in the area now, helping the afflicted.

Give it some thought: Fifty bucks is only one game that we probably won't even miss. But if 20 of us each sent $50, that's $1,000, money that goes a long way in that part of the world to help some people who are hurting beyond our comprehension.

Again, just a modest suggestion.

Take care,
PK

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 3:14 am

PK, while I cannot afford $50 right now I would be able to donate $10. Can you set up a Paypal account? I would be happy to send you the money and have you send it where you see fit.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:23 am

Great idea, pk.

FYI, this blog has links to a bunch of relief organizations that will be helping with the Tsunami aftermath:

http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:30 am

Rob:

Thanks for the blog link.

Piggy:

Many of the charitable and humanitarian organizations listed at the blog Rob linked and at CNN.com and MSNBC.com offer online donations of any amount. I suggest you check out those sites.

I did a bit of research last night to find some of the most efficient and effective American-based charities, and these were among the best:

CARE
American Red Cross
Christian Children's Fund
Catholic Relief Services

All four of these charities are helping tsunami and quake victims.

I'm sending my donation to Catholic Relief Services because I'm a practicing Catholic, and I remember putting spare change into CRS poor boxes as a kid at home, school and church.

Thanks, boys.

Take care,
PK

AcemanPR · Post by **AcemanPR** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:34 am

Ever since the 9/11 tragedy, I've donated $50 a month to the American Red Cross, knowing they will put it to good use in areas of need. I certainly hope that my contribution this month and the next few will go towards those in Asia.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:38 am

AcemanPR wrote:Ever since the 9/11 tragedy, I've donated $50 a month to the American Red Cross, knowing they will put it to good use in areas of need. I certainly hope that my contribution this month and the next few will go towards those in Asia.

You're a good man, Ace. A better man than me.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:40 am

Death toll is up to 44,000, according to MSNBC.com.

44,000.

Man.

Out,
PK

krustylew · Post by **krustylew** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 12:22 pm

Done and done [American Red Cross International Response Fund].

Great idea PK.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 12:44 pm

50 bucks to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

F308GTB · Post by **F308GTB** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:07 pm

Wife already had us send $50 to Red Cross online early Monday morning when we woke up. Told her we could put more based on what my ebay lots go for.

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:20 pm

Done deal.

American Red Cross International Response Fund. http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:07 pm

pk500 wrote:Death toll is up to 44,000, according to MSNBC.com.

44,000.

Man.

Out,
PK

I just keep imagining a baseball stadium full of 44,000 fans. Then to think that's how many people parished in that horrific earthquake is unimaginable. I think I read where they said 1/3 of the deaths were children.

Awful.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:10 pm

I've read where the majority of deaths were of women and children simply because they didn't have the weight or strength to hang on to something while the tsunami waves rushed in and out.

Seeing the pictures of parents grieving over the bodies of their kids, roughly around the age of my kids, is ripping me up. My heart continues to weep today.

Out,
PK

Jackdog · Post by **Jackdog** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:31 pm

You guys seen this story yet?

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/world/2968161

For a very small women,she had a great will to survive. Wow.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:36 pm

pk500 wrote:Seeing the pictures of parents grieving over the bodies of their kids, roughly around the age of my kids, is ripping me up.

Yeah, some of those shots are brutal; I'm having a rough time dealing with some of these as well. Half of me wants to tear the photographer a new one for daring to take a photo in such a time, but the other half of me says it will be photos like these that help bring badly needed relief.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:56 pm

webdanzer wrote:
pk500 wrote:Seeing the pictures of parents grieving over the bodies of their kids, roughly around the age of my kids, is ripping me up.
Yeah, some of those shots are brutal; I'm having a rough time dealing with some of these as well. Half of me wants to tear the photographer a new one for daring to take a photo in such a time, but the other half of me says it will be photos like these that help bring badly needed relief.

I have no problem with the ethics of those photos running. First, they tell the story better than any printed word could -- a case of the cliched "a picture tells the story better than 1,000 words" really being true -- plus hopefully they will spur donations.

It was an easy call for me, especially after seeing those photos. New videogame or somehow helping the couple grieving over the body of their son who looks the same age as my son?

P.S.: Got another e-mail from my friend in India today. Hospitals in Madras are treating the injured citizens there free of charge. That's something quite special -- the better angels of human nature flying overhead.

Take care,
PK

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 7:26 pm

I've vacationed in that very same Thai island about 3 times in the last 15 years. If you've ever been to any of those locations, think of it like Hawaii to the 100th power, it's absolutely beautiful. And the last thing on you're mind if your a tourist there or native is that something like this would happen.

Also remember this all happened so quickly. The waves hit the shore and receded within only a minute or two. The psychological shock of one second relaxing on the beach, away from your day to day life, then the next second hanging onto your dear life is something unimaginable.

Yes, the sad thing is that most of those victims are kids. Also, many of the people who live there are very nice kind hearted simple people. Kindness is the only thing they have to offer since they come from impoverished backgrounds. It's really sad for that whole region.

If there is anything positive to come out of this is it has renewed my faith in my fellow human beings. People over there are helping everyone out regardless of their nationality, race, etc.

James_E · Post by **James_E** » Tue Dec 28, 2004 11:36 pm

We donated today. I convinced my wife to commit alot more than my wife originally thought we would, but f*** it, we've got everything we need and WAY more. We do give year round as well, but took this opportunity to send in a large (to us) sum to try to help out.

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 9:31 am

My wife and I are going to pool our Christmas money together and send it today. Wish we could do more.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 12:58 pm

Now the death toll is upwards around 80,000 and could reach 100,000 as reported by CNN.

blueduke · Post by **blueduke** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:56 pm

Now this is odd.......................

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&c ... &printer=1

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:39 pm

I don't know if this is the reason but aren't animals the first to notice earthquakes. I read that somewhere. It could be that most felt the quake and moves away from shore. Or it could be that were washed out to see.

I don't know.