Help for Japan!

One of the reasons I began this blog is to raise awareness.
Often times I felt helpless when I saw some of the world's problems, because I thought: "I don't have any money to give them. I don't have any resources to donate."

Then I realized that the real problem was never lack of of money or resources, but lack of understanding and compassion.

Then I realized the real problem wasn't a lack of understanding and compassion, but a lack of education and experience which produce those.

We need experience; of other people, cultures, ways of life; so that we can empathize with their problems, and have compassion. (This is why I think its so important to travel) 

 

 We need an education, that shows us the things we can do to help.
(This is why I believe so strongly in social activism.)

  

These pictures are just a few examples of how Japanese culture has contributed to my life. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Japanese people in this difficult time for them.

  I've also researched and included links on how you can help Japan right now. Maybe, like me, you don't have any money to donate. That's okay. Just by reading this, maybe clicking on the links, you are part of a chain reaction of awareness. I believe that if a butterfly flaps its wings in Mexico, it can cause a storm halfway around the world. Lets combat this tsunami-earthquake with a positive storm.

  https://www.mercycorps.org/donate/japan?source=55400&gclid=CPTWm8ahzKcCFYbb4AodeHuNDA

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0313/Japan-tsunami-Here-s-how-you-can-help

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/11/how-to-help-japan-earthquake-relief_n_834484.html

Corruption

I don't understand how when it comes to dealing with corruption, the smartest, kindest, most caring people shrug their shoulders and give up. 

For the biggest challenges facing our world today, we seem to have a supply of innovative, intelligent minds ready to combat them. AIDS? Scientists! Breastcancer? Doctors! Rainforest depletion? Activists and shade grown fair trade coffee farmers! 

Yet when it comes to helping our sisters and brothers in war-torn or natural disaster struck countries, such as Pakistan, African countries, or Afghanistan, we shrug our shoulders and say, "well we have given them plenty of money, and most of it just goes into the coffers of the warlords, the politicians."

I am glad that more people are becoming educated to the fact that the real problem is not lack of money, food, or even caring. The real problems are an ingrained fear of lack in those societies, which causes a grasping attitude towards materials, a culture of bribery, and above all, greed. (I make an important distiction here that this is not caused by the people, but circumstances, often made worse by US politics...)

So yes, corruption is a problem, but why do we consider it an insurmountable problem? We're not shy about finding alternative energy sources, protesting in the streets against the Iraq war, (SF 2004, woohoo! holla!), building houses for poorer people in Mexico City and New Orleans. We even have walkers for our disabled dogs. When it comes to a little skimming of the fat, however, we don't touch it with a ten foot pole. 

I implore my readers to not become discouraged! There are corruption indexes, to help you make good investment choices. There are transparent, non-governmental organizations. The minutes and budgets of our own Congress are allowed to be seen by the public. There are alternative ways to help like micro-financing or the Heifer project international. These give small amounts of resources to families, and the economic benefits ripple throughout the community. Give books, not money! For each year of education a girl receives, she postpones child-bearing; which combats poverty and gives her family a better chance of survival. I encourage you to check out these ideas, and post me more of your ideas!

Come on people; our country produces lights that we clap on, robots that mop our floors, and computers to which we can dictate our letters. We can deal.