Asian Tsunami

Just heard a few hours ago that some ex-co-workers of mine are okay, but as of Thursday, 30 Dec 04, the death toll has hit 118,000.

The number will only go up over the next few months with the lack of basic services, fresh water, etc.

MSNBC has a plethora of links to donate aid -

http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.asp?id=/d/ip/tsunami_aid_04/data.js&navid=6758618&GT1=5936&cp1=1

(Sorry to bring everyone down, but imagine the entire capacity of Trader Vic's in Emeryville disappearing... 1,073 times)

I know what you mean. It's pretty hard to wrap one's brain around that number of lost lives in such a short time. Not to mention the ongoing aftermath to deal with for some time to come. In addition to their food and shelter needs, may they receive the comfort and strength to carry on through each following day.

Here's a few major places to donate I found:

http://www.unicef.org

http://www.doctorswithoutborders-usa.org/donate/

https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

I was wondering when and how to bring this topic up on Tiki Central- a disaster of this scale somehow makes even the tragedy of 9/11 seem small.

We are one group who has taken great joy in in savoring the imagined pleasures of the tropical islands, even though many of us live in inland areas far from the sea. Outrigger canoes, glass fishing floats, and other sea-related items fill up portions of our decor in our various tiki rooms, and have given us great gratification over the past several years. I am sure that many of us are shocked to see how such an ideal setting can, with little warning, suddenly be turned into a scene of death and destruction for so many.

I'm sure that most of us will continue to live our tiki life-styles, but let us remember that it is not a one-way cultural street, where we can take what hedonistic images and activities we wish, without giving nothing in return. Friends are people who help other friends when they are in trouble or need help, and I do think that our tiki community should definitely reach out and help these other communities when they need our help the most.

If there was ever a time to purchase one less bottle of rum, and to send the money instead to help those communities in need, now is the time to do so.

Vern

Great post Vern, very eloquently put.

My friend's sister left yesterday to go work with the relief efforts. Her specialty is in detecting and preventing the spread of water-bourne diseases.

She will certainly be sleeping on a cot for the next few months, bathing infrequently, eating far less than she is used to, and will have to deal with witnessing the suffering of untold thousands. She will also prevent the spread of a few dozen nasty diseases like dysentry and malaria from spreading to the devistated populations of these ravaged lands.

She goes into this situation willingly and bravely.

I look at my own vocation: music, and it all seems so trivial all of a sudden. Who cares if Monster Cables suck or not when 120,000 people have just been swept into the sea, never to return?

If I had any skills or qualifications that were of worth in this crisis, I'd be on a plane right now to do what I could.

Since I don't, I send my respect to those who are helping, and my condolences to those who need the help.

May everyone on TC, and all of your loved ones, have a safe and healthy new year.

I was also wondering how to put that on TC, but finally thought that silence might be as good.
I have some hawaiian relatives that lost friends on surf vacation on thailand.
And my brother was there a few weeks ago.

I'm not the kind of guy that usually donate or even pray, as I'm not very religious, but this time, it's so huge...I'm very chocked by what happend.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=35713&item=6143121606&rd=1

100% of the final value will go to
United States Fund for UNICEF: 2004 Tsunami Relief Fund

UNICEF has mobilized aid in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka to provide relief from the Sumatra earthquake that touched off a series of tsunamis, killing tens of thousands of people and leaving hundreds of thousands of children and their families in serious jeopardy. Well over 75,000 tons of humanitarian aid is on the way in the form of water supplies, emergency health kits, tarpaulins and tents, school supplies and more.

This donation is backed by: Our Guarantee
Check it out ... they need our help , so bid it up Baby ! Get some cool mugs and help out. Up for auction are 1 Red Bug Eyes and one Red Kreepy. Both of these are extremly rare mugs. Bid now and you may be lucky enough to get both of these Ultra Red Tiki Mugs by Munktiki.Yeah....

Great idea - i have a ton of cr@p i don't need anymore lying about the homestead - tiki mug doubles, old comic books, LPs, etc.

Time to start digging through the basement (aka my fortress of solitude).

Is there a paypal adress where you can just give some money. I can't find it, only online way.

http://donations.paypal.com/

If this isn't what your looking for Virani maybe try calling them or sending your inquiry thru an email.

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_contact-phone

[ Edited by: DawnTiki on 2005-01-02 10:42 ]

I have Tsuanmi Relief auction up on eBay now. There's a link in Marketplace:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=12587&forum=12&0

I've quoted you in the auction text, ikitnrev, I hope you don't mind.

[ Edited by: purple jade on 2005-01-02 13:23 ]