DO SOMETHING: Japan Disaster Relief

Be sure to buy a similar poster to this one for $10 at Etsy Shop NanLawson

Unless you are an insensitive a-hole (serious side eye to YOU, Glenn Beck... What, are you and Pat Robertson taking turns?!?!?), you cannot look at the startling images of the devastation in Japan without feeling for the people there, as well as the many Japanese-Americans here hoping and praying that their families are okay.



You can lend a helping hand to the people of Japan by donating to any number of the following organizations (Special Shout Out to Bust Magazine for providing this list):

* The Happy Hearts Fund was started by model Petra Nemacova after she survived the 2004 Indian tsunami. It’s not a first response fund, but helps rebuild communities after disasters. It’s administrative members are underwritten by the board, meaning that 100% of its funds go towards relief.

* ShelterBox provides shelter for displaced and evacuated persons. Reports are estimating that over 250,000 people have been made homeless by the disaster.

* Oxfam Japan helps fight poverty and social justice in Japan. It’s important to remember that in a disaster situation, it is often the region’s poorest who are hardest hit. Visit their website to make a secure donation.

* Lady Gaga has created white “we pray for japan” bracelets. They can be purchased for 5 bucks with all proceeds going to relief efforts in Japan.

* Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is sending two three-person teams to some of the hardest hit areas of Japan, the Iwate and Miyagi prefectures along the coast. To learn more about the organization's efforts or make a donation, visit Doctorswithoutborders.org.

* Salvation Army personnel are organizing efforts in Tokyo and will soon send a team to help the severely damaged city of Sendai, Japan. To contribute to earthquake relief, text 'JAPAN' or 'QUAKE' to 80888 to make a $10 donation or visit SalvationArmyUSA.org.

* Action Against Hunger and ACF International have provided relief efforts in Japan as well as preventive measures in the Philippines' province of Cuatuadnes. Thanks to alert systems the organization set up in the area, they were able to help 45,00 at-risk persons evacuate and prevent a much larger disaster. Their relief efforts are on-going.

* The Red Cross has begun relief efforts. To donate, you can visit their website or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone. A word of caution, however, when you text a donation 5-10% of your donation goes to mGive as an administrative fee. The best way to donate is through the organization's secure website, or using a good old fashion cheque.

* Save the Children is accepting donations for its Children’s Emergency Fund.

DOPE: Keith Olbermann's Quick Comment about Haiti

Now I know I said I wouldn't say anything about Pat Robertson... and today I resigned myself not to say anything about Rush Limbaugh and his comments about the earthquake and the devastation in Haiti. And technically I'm not saying anything.

However.... I think Keefus' comments are quite similar to my own (If you add an expletive here and there).



Below is an excerpt of the transcript which can be read in its entirety by clicking here:

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

OLBERMANN:

Back to Haiti in a moment, and reports now that quake victims in Haiti from the United States have been evacuated to, of all places, Guantanamo Bay. The first subject of the quick comment tonight is still the matter of Haiti, but relating to back here.

Even the worst of us in this political mosh pit of the early 21st century can stop, on occasion, in grief and in human sympathy, in mourning, or just in self-preservation. Not Rush Limbaugh and not Pat Robertson. We‘ll explore this at length later.

But Mr. Robertson, it is laughable now to try to call him reverend, explained today that this earthquake was part of a, quote, “deal with the devil,” that he claims the nation made in the 19th century to gain its freedom from France. “True story,” Robertson says.

Sir, because of your tone deafness, and your delight in human misery, and your dripping, self-satisfied, holier than thou, senile crap, I am now likelier to believe that you are the devil.

Limbaugh, meantime, did not know just when to shut up. Today he blamed communism for the poverty of Haiti, blamed President Obama for holding a news conference the day after this cataclysm, when he did not hold one after the failed, half assed attempt in Detroit, and said that Obama would, quote, “use Haiti to,” quote, “burnish their, shall we say, credibility with the black community in the both light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country.”

Mr. Robertson, Mr. Limbaugh, your lives are not worth those of the lowest, meanest, poorest of those victims still lying under that rubble in Haiti tonight. You serve no good. You serve no God. You inspire only stupidity and hatred. And I would wish you to hell. But knowing how empty your souls must be for you to be able to say such things in a time of such pain, I suspect the vacant, purposeless lives you both live now are hell enough already.

DO SOMETHING: Haiti Earthquake Relief

So I really really really want to blog about Pat Robertson. But I decided against it for two reasons: 1) It would be silly to dedicate two blog entries this week to TWO idiots with "foot-in-the-mouth" syndrome, and 2) I thought it would be MUCH more important to send that flow of energy to the people who actually need it: The People of Haiti.

So here are 5 ways to help out:

• Text "Yele" to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through Wyclef Jean's foundation, Yele Haiti, or you can make a donation directly to their website http://www.yele.org/

• CARE has deployed an emergency team to Port-au-Prince today to assist in recovery efforts. Their area of focus is rescuing children who may still be trapped in schools that collapsed. Make a donation to CARE

• 100% of your donation will go to the relief effort if you make a donation to the Baptist Haiti Mission. They are currently operating an 82-bed hospital that is "overflowing with injured.", and can definitely use the help. Make a donation to http://www.bhm.org/bhm/index.php

• Doctors Without Borders has BEEN in Haiti and has already set up clinics to treat the growing number of injured. Donate any amount so they can keep their efforts going by visiting http://doctorswithoutborders.org/.

• The American Red Cross has pledged $200,000 (which isn't a whole helluva lot, let's be honest). They expect to provide immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. They are accepting donations through their International Response Fund by going to http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main .

For more ideas go to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/haiti-earthquake-relief-h_n_421014.html

Peace from Brooklyn & Prayers for Haiti!!!