This morning I awoke to the news that the death-toll in South Asia is expected to double meaning somewhere near fifty-thousand people have been killed. The New York Times is reporting that a third of the dead are children. The last wounded count I read was near eighty-thousand. This is all very hard for me to put in perspective, I mean currently this is ten times the size of September 11 — two or three times the size of earthquake disaster in Iran, one year ago.
It's also amazing to me how the scale of geography that has been affected. The New York Times has a good presentation on the waves path, speed, and reach. Also, here are some amazing photos of the Tsunami coming into Phuket and a video of the wave hitting a town called Patong.
How to help here in America is a bit unclear as there are multiple countries affected and there are as many, if not more, relief agencies involved. It might be better (safer?) to lend support to the Red Cross affiliated program: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. There may be a better place to suggest but at this time I am not familiar with it at this time.
Thankfully I know of at least one friend who is safe and sound but still waiting to hear back from another who may have been in Sri Lanka. The US State Department has set up a toll-free number for information about US Citizens possibly affected. In the US call 1-888-407-4747, if you're overseas call 317-472-2328.
I have been monitoring these sites for better information than what the American media are providing at this time. Of course the BBC is doing a fine job.
WorldChanging has first person accounts from their members living in the affected areas. Their coverage seems to be in harmony with the SEA-EAT blog.
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake Wikipedia entry. Great place to start for basic information about the event and regions affected including a spectacular animation of the Tsunami's course. With it you can really see how Sri Lanka took a huge direct hit.
If you come across other resources please let me know.
Join the fray by reading through and commenting at the end.
Yes, the BBC coverage is quite good I just read that The Indonesia death toll is now over 27,000. What I haven't been hearing (as my US news sources aren't that good), is what the US government is doing, if anything, to help. Does anyone have more info?
http://www.dagbladet.no/download/tsunamiphuket.wmv
I'm not sure of the source of this... a friend of mine sent me this link...
Someone's home-video in a building off the beach as the water comes rushing inside and just how fast it sweeps up the land outside.
I saw a report on the support initiatives there last night, and it was suggested that donating to UNICEF is probably the most direct way to help: http://www.unicef.org/
Granted, the person they were talking to was affiliated with UNICEF, but I do know that they are very active in the clean-up process.
What I haven't been hearing (as my US news sources aren't that good), is what the US government is doing, if anything, to help. Does anyone have more info?
NPR and BBC World Service have been reporting the amounts already dedicated by various coutries around the world. As far as online this came up from a Google News search.
oh by the way... if you're getting a 'forbidden' page on using my link above to the video... just copy the url and paste it in your address bar and it should work.
Wow, imagine that a world that exists outside of the USA? Within days, we will hear nothing of this disaster reported in the American media, yet 9/11 is brought up almost daily; a disaster that can harldy even compare to this most recent devastation. Maybe it's time that you guys woke up to the world around you, and become active participants in global affairs BESIDES colonizing the middle east. What a concept huh?
Take it easy Mike, nobody here said they liked how our media works here in the United States. And I don't recall any isolationist around here, go channel your anger somewhere else.
Thanks to Greg and everyone else who have written and checked up on me. As my post stated, we're fine and left the affected areas almost 2 days before it all went down, though to a large extent, we're completely numbed. I'll post more about it when I get back, but I'm far from an eyewitness.
It's horrible, really horrible. I woke up to the morning paper today, stating the death toll as 59,000 people. Yesterday, it was only 23,000. I just checked Google News --- it's now 68,000.
Indonesia was hit so bad and it's so chaotic that they're having difficulty keeping track of the bodies. This is so much worse than the earthquake in Bam, Iran last December.
Thanks for blogging about this. Not many non-Asian bloggers are getting the news out as yet.
If you're in Singapore or going to be in Singapore soon and would like to help, here's a list of ways you can.
For fear of spreading disease, bodies are being buried quickly in mass graves. It's really tragic. All those bodies used to be people with lives and families and hopes and dreams. Tsk.
It's about time we stop fighting amongst ourselves.
From news sources I heard all yesterday, the US has been helping with logistical planning and aid management since this happened. They at least 15 planes running routes flying in 500,000 pounds of aid, $35M committed in donations, and are helping surveying the damage, locating smaller villages and towns hit hard with little or no communication into them for relief and rescue attempts.
A truly sorrowful event. I would hope everybody would chip in somehow, someway to help out.
I think the issue is not where or how to donate. It is more to simply to go ahead and do it. The mainstream aid agencies are honourable. The urgency is the speed of aid delivery as every bottle of fresh water, package of medicine or food may save a life. As the Unicef lady said, people need clean water, shelter, food, toilets, medicine and a decent burial NOW. Political niceties can wait for another day.
Indonesia deaths could reach 80,000 and that's just Indonesia!!!
the US has been helping with logistical planning and aid management since this happened. They at least 15 planes running routes flying in 500,000 pounds of aid, $35M committed in donations...
Yesterday Colin Powel said that US Aid will exceed $1B when all is said and done.
People believe what Colin Powell says still? Just curious.
Actually what I find disturbing is CNN's coverage. Perhaps the initials stand for Corpse News Network as their coverage definitely exceeds what is reasonable and has become completely exploitive in nature.
As far as US aid, we will see. The sad part is that the aid that is going to matter most is the immediate aid, and the US is certainly being slow to provide that. Coalition building in this situation is ridiculous showboating.
BBC are now saying the death toll could be as high as 100,000. Yikes.
Good job on all the links Greg. If anyone wants to put an Amazon donate button, here's how to do it (saw your Red Cross button, just showing another method) - via Scoble (who is also providing some good links on how people can help).
Less people will make a better world - for all of it's inhabitants. People die. Wildlife and flora die. The competition generally isn't close.
Score +60,000 for wildlife. Nature -- the world's greatest eco-terrorist.
Charles I was going to delete your post but maybe it's good everyone sees what an asshat you are.
I was terribly disappointed with some of the user comments on Hellmut Issels photo gallery.
Charles... you break my heart. Do you really believe that? Never mind, I have no interest in trying to communicate with a toad.
I changed my mind about trying to communicate with a toad. WTF not?
Charles wrote: "Less people will make a better world"
Actually... I think you might be on to something here Charles. How about if we replace all those people who died because of the tsunami with people like you? Ya... I kinda like the sounds of that.
Would YOU trade places with any of those people Charles?
I mean after all it "will make a better world - for all of it's inhabitants".
Right Charles?
Charles emailed me this a while ago to complain about being banned from further commenting.
In his words: "Maybe this isn?t the best situation to speak about overpopulation? It?s what comes to my mind when I see entire species go extinct with no media attention, while situations such as these bring the worlds attention."
You'll have to excuse Charley. He's apparently very upset that some ladybugs died and CNN wasn't there to cover the carnage.
Apparently Charles doesn't know his asshat from a whole in the ground.
http://enure.net/portfolio/web.html
Second from the top, World Medical Fund and I quote...
"The site I designed has been replaced. I have nothing to do with the new site whatsoever. I still fully support this organization."
Screen shot saved for future posterity.
I've heard that world total contributions so forth have reach $261 Billion. Great to hear. I'd love to see the final donations when you also factor in all private contributions.
STASH will give you three free issues if you donate $50 to the Red Cross Asia Earthquake and Tsunamis Fund. Deal ends on 12/30/2004.
Props to Greg and all for their efforts. I was semi-joking above when I cracked-wise about Colin Powell talking out of the side of his mouth, but I guess I was right. According to the link, just this week Powell [alledgedly] said, "the United States has given more aid in the last four years than any other nation or combination of nations in the world." In fact, for development aid, America gave $16.2 billion in 2003; the European Union gave $37.1 billion. In 2002, those numbers were $13.2 billion for America, and $29.9 billion for Europe.
According to a poll, most Americans believe the United States spends 24 percent of its budget on aid to poor countries; it actually spends well under a quarter of 1 percent.
...most Americans believe the United States spends 24 percent of its budget on aid to pour countries.
I bet this is the same group who believes Alaska is an island no bigger than Wyoming floating somewhere near Hawaii.
I was semi-joking above when I cracked-wise about Colin Powell talking out of the side of his mouth, but I guess I was right.
You've forgotten to include all the other donations given by the US in the crisis around the world which go above and beyond merely "development aid." Also American citizens in 2003 contributed $241 billion to charitable causes, with some reports stating as much as $32 billion going to foreign charities. Could it be more? Of course, but people are giving a good chunk of change already. Just because you can give more doesn't mean one is stingy.
In the end, we can all give more. Bringing politics into it merely riles sides and nothing gets done.
Greg says...
You'll have to excuse Charley. He's apparently very upset that some ladybugs died and CNN wasn't there to cover the carnage.
Isn't that a valid point? It would be genocide, wouldn't it? Disasters happen, but it seems an entire loss of a species is a grave event which is little noticed in our media. I'm a bit dissapointed that you, Greg, cannot appreciate some parts of his argument while dismissing others.
I believe what's upsetting people is the fact that he seems to be celebrating the deaths of a 100,000 people. This of course is valid. I think his sense of environtmentalism is possibly misunderstood. One could take it as a hate for human life, or as a love of all life. Humans of course are a constant damage to what one could state as the natural environment. His mood seems to be a bit misanthropic though.
Please refrain from calling me an asshat and I'll do the same for you.
Overpopulation and extinction are grave issues, indeed. Less people will make a better world, certainly. I fully support efforts to mitigate against these problems.
However, to make such a remark in reference to a tragedy like this is a bad job. By the way, there is nothing wrong with taking back a thoughtless comment. Charles, I suggest you rethink what you have said; it sounds like you are a better person than this glib blabber suggests.
Isn't that a valid point?
Sure it's a valid point. Was it made in pour taste and at a completely inappropriate time? Yes it was. And since we're making valid points, here's another: The world would be a lot better off without Charles and Gerald, both of them are taking up oxygen, water and other resources that other humans and animals could be using.
Hm. Not to be picky, but a loss of a species is a grave event, but it is not genocide.
Genocide = the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group.
Are ladybugs a racial, political, or cultural group?
Good point Beerzie.
Greg, thanks for making threatening comments towards me. You're such a pleasant chap.
Poor taste and innapropriate times are relevant or not, depending on who you are. This same argument is what stops some folks for protesting wars. Don't think wars and the destruction of the planet and mass extinction are of similar seriousness - then that's your opinion.
Gerald, the wife just sent a memo down saying I'm being too antagonistic so I'll stop playing for now.
If only I had a ball and chain we could've stopped this even sooner. Take care.
Oh for God's sake, Charles comment was inappropriate, very poorly timed, in bad taste, offensive, disgusting and just plain stupid. NO ONE is be antagonistic. (sorry Greg's significant better half, I mean no disrespect.)
I ask again... Would YOU trade places with any of those people Charles? ... it "will make a better world - for all of it's inhabitants".
Charles,
For the Love of God, stop being such an ignorant, selfish prick. Such dreadful disasters make nothing better of the world, and I find it hard to believe anyone, even the likes of you, believe it does.
If you'll read above Ray, Charles is banned from commenting on this site.
From his site:
The correct way to take this all is:
There is an obvious struggle between humanity and the rest of the life on this planet. Species go extinct on a regular basis, and these occurrences go without significant media attention. This, I feel, is wrong. I do not celebrate the loss of life in any form, except in ill-placed sarcasm. I do find it disgusting that humanity is such a negative force on the rest of the life on this planet. One of the major driving forces of this negative force is overpopulation, which multiplies our negative capabilities.
How should one go about accomplishing a more positive role? Well, one could take the time to read Natural Capitalism, and take it to heart. One could promote Fair Trade in order to bring up living standards across the globe, and thus decrease birth rates. One could purchase a bicycle and actually use it.
To all of the people who I offended with my poorly written comment – I should have taken more time to compose my thoughts. Sorry. I do not mind offending people, but I do mind when people misunderstand my intent.
Attaboy, Charles.
USA is responsible for the dead of tens of thousand man women and children in Irak and people are dying every day.
Do something about that you wankers. Down with USA