Russia's Chernoble accident was awful. Haiti's Earthquake was awful. The Christmas Tsunami of 2004 was awful.
But I can't imagine how one begins to recover from a triple whammy of nuclear meltdown, 9.0 earthquake, and 10 foot tsunami simoltaneously. the stories coming out of Japan put Hollywood apocolyptic block buster movies to shame.
And although the tsunami is technically over, aftershocks continue and nuclear meltdown and explosions continue even as i type this.
Some people are angry. they say the government and power plants should have forseen this and prepared. Personally i think no one on earth is more prepared for disaster than the japanese. I don't even know how one could have prepared more than what's already in place. Indeed, the fact that only 10 thousands lives have been lost is a testament to the preparations. A similar quake/tsunami in Sumatra killed 227,000 people and Japan itself has lost over 142 thousand in a quake that was only 7.9. Indeed, when quakes higher than 7.0 hit populated areas, usually the carnage exceeds 100 K. To have saved all but 10 K is remarkable. And yet... 10,000 lives is simply huge.
Others are praying and folding paper cranes. This angers my husband who feels folding hands and paper is just a silly waste of time and isn't doing anything to directly help people. But perhaps when one feels helpless and hopeless, putting your trust in a higher power can give you the strength to continue on and the peace to do so calmly so others around you are calm.
But please, once you have finished your prayer, PLEASE PLEASE do something to help! The one thing the rescue workers need now is money. Money to buy blankets, food, water, rescue supplies.
RIGHT NOW, people are fleeing their shelters to get away from nuclear catastrophe. Except the heroes who are exposing themselves to lethal levels of radiation to try to keep the plant from completely destroying what's left of the country. Those heroes will need radiation treatment, and that medicine is expensive.
RIGHT NOW any building left standing is trying to accommodate any person left without a place to sleep. They need cots, food, and clean water, and those things have to be bought and shipped there.
RIGHT NOW rescue teams are being assembled around the world. however, each team needs money to fly to Sendai and Miyagi, money to buy food to , equippment to help search for bodies, eat and a place to sleep. Rescue workers cannot work tirelessly without rest and food.
RIGHT NOW you can do your part to help Japan recover from one of the worst triple catastrpohies in modern human history.
RIGHT NOW Visa is waiving any fees incurred when money is exchanged between your currency and the Japaese Yen. Use Visa to donate to your favorite disaster relief fund and save money while helping others!
Right now, I'm thinking of my baby and am so thankful we are far from disaster. Yet so many of my friends are right in the middle of this disaster. Right now I am thinking of them too and hoping for a miracle.
