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December 27, 2004

Tsunami

[from Justin]

It is hard to say something about something so terrible. It's not really a moment for a political blog. If I was around there I would just try to find some way to join the aid effort. I have heard on the news that cash is the best way to help from far away. I don't know what the best organizations are to give to - anyone with good suggestions please make them in the comments section.

Posted by justin at December 27, 2004 11:28 AM

Comments

Got these off the Guardian website:

www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf

www.ifrc.org (International Federation of Red Cross/Crescent Societies)

www.unicef.org

As I see stories about the East Indies quake/tsunamis and note the now-22,000+ death toll, I'm noticing how effectively (and appropriately) the media are encouraging compassion in viewers and I'm thinking, What if a commensurate amount of exposure were given and compassion kindled into far deadlier man-made atrocities, like the 1991 US attack on Iraq in which, if I remember correctly, some 200,000 people were killed and most of the infrastructure was destroyed, guaranteeing that deaths would continue en masse into the forseeable future? The way the media are giving attention to this natural disaster seem quite effective, and suggests to me how they could be covering the U.S. destruction of Iraq, pharmaceutical company-caused AIDS deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, etc.

Posted by: deang at December 27, 2004 08:31 PM

If you are OK to help victims in India I would suggest. Association for India's Development
http://www.aidindia.org/CMS/

They are a progressive organisation, working for the development, and giving a voice to the poor and marginalized in India. They also have done important relief work in the past.

Posted by: Krishna Pagadala at December 27, 2004 09:03 PM

Although this is a blog that updates (you may have to scroll down), this seems like a good source for finding relevant relief agencies:
http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/
also:
http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/

btw, I'm pretty blown away by this award-winning place (and source of the above links) :
http://worldchanging.com/

thanks for the epic work here at Under The Same Sun :)

Posted by: Fran Battaglia at December 28, 2004 05:58 AM

sorry (it's late), the other link was...
http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/__Sumatra.htm

Posted by: Fran Battaglia at December 28, 2004 06:02 AM

The American Friends Service Committee is accepting donations to help the survivors of the earthquake and tsunamis in Asia & Africa. As the situation is assessed, other forms of aid will be solicited; information on how to help is
listed at: http://afsc.org/give/asia-relief.htm

(click link below)The Quakers will seek out those who are not getting aid through other relief agencies. I heard that half of a town of 95,000 in Acht (sp?) has been killed. This is an unbelievable tragedy.

Also, I am going to call the White House Comment line tomorrow 202-456-1112 and tell them that the US should give at least $250 million to relief efforts (not $35 million, as it stands right now). We are spending $250 million per day in Iraq right now.

Posted by: Susan - USA at December 28, 2004 11:29 PM

India Relief and Education Fund is a 501-c-3 organization raising funds for those affected by the tsunamis. Donations can be made by mailing checks to

IREF
C/O Romi Mahajan
1411 143rd PL NE
Bellevue, WA 98007
(425) 591-7664

Posted by: Romi Mahajan at December 30, 2004 05:21 PM