Japan: Earthquake, Tsunami, Burning Reactors, and Snow; a Little Help?

(Reuters, via Voice of America VOANews.com, used w/o permission)
"A rescue worker uses a two-way radio transceiver during heavy snowfall at a factory area devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, northern Japan, March 16, 2011"

That photo is from a Voice of America article:

• "Snow, Hunger Add to Misery in Quake-Stricken Japan"
  VOANews.com (March 16, 2011)

Quite a few folks in Japan weren't killed in the earthquake and tsunami that hit their east coast last Friday, GMT starting at 2.46 p.m. March 11, 2011 (5:46 a.m. March 11, 2011, UTC) That's good news: particularly for them and their families.

The bad news is that many folks who managed to avoid being trapped in rubble and/or drowned have the clothes they were wearing - inside - when the earthquake hit. Which, by itself, isn't much of a problem: except that's all some of them have now. That's a bit awkward, since the temperature's been getting below freezing in that part of Japan, and it's been snowing.

Still, they can't be all that badly off. All they have to do is go to the nearest 7-Eleven®, pick up the Japanese equivalent of a cheesburger and fries, and call someone to pick them up, right?

Actually, under normal circumstances that might work. There are a fair number of 7-Eleven® stores in Japan.

Except that these folks didn't necessarily get out of the building they were in with money or credit cards, the cell phone system is down, and - too often - so is the rest of the town.

Don't get me wrong: there are bright spots. For one thing, some of the fires in Japan are under control: and being used to keep kids warm.

There's still the matter of getting everybody into shelters, and feeding them once they're there. Japan has a fine transportation network, and normally getting food to where it's needed is routine.

Again, Japan is experiencing some unusual difficulties just now. I'm quite confident that they'll find the trains that went missing when the earthquake hit, get their railroad system in working order again, and repair or rebuild roads: which will make rebuilding towns and cities a lot easier.

Problem is, all that will take time: and there are people who need food now.

Disaster in Japan: Lots of Options

So far, I haven't run into anyone who believes there was no earthquake, and that what Japan is experiencing is some kind of a plot: but I wouldn't be surprised if I did. And that's another topic.

I have, though, run into some fairly interesting reactions to the earthquake, tsunami, flooding, fires, death, destruction, and (quite likely) melting nuclear reactors:

1. God's punishing those Japanese
   • Not impossible
   • But not necessarily true, either
   • An unhelpful claim
     
     • When said by a foreigner
     • In my opinion
   • See "Japan's Earthquake, Divine Retribution, and the Tower at Siloam"
     (March 15, 2011)
2. Dead people and burning buildings? Now that's funny!
   • Or, not
     • Humor is so subjective
   • See "Japan, Good Taste, Common Sense, and a Duck"
     (March 15, 2011)
3. Can't find relatives?
   • We can help
   • See "Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011: People Finder"
     (March 14, 2011)
   • Kudos, Google!
4. What do you need?
   • Relief organizations are ready to help, like
     • Catholic Relief Services
       
     • Caritas Internationalis
5. My prayers are with you
   • It can't hurt
   • And can help
     • In my opinion

Responses numbers one and two aren't, I think, all that helpful. Granted, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" put Jonathan Edwards on the map back in the 18th century - and that's yet another topic.

Number three, Google's 'people finder,' is, I think, a fine example of what folks can do with Information Age technology. And another reason why I don't wring my hands in anguish about improvements in communications and data processing. Which is yet again another topic.

Number four: That's what this post is about.

Number five may sound obscenely impractical, but I don't see it that way. I don't know how prayer works, but it does. I think a case-in-point is the account of the centurion's servant. (Matthew 8:5-13) Anyway, I figure it doesn't hurt to ask.

Now, back to number four.

Prayer is Good: So is Charity

Maybe you don't want to help folks in Japan. That's your decision. They're not the only ones in the world right now who could use a hand: and giving anything is a matter of choice. Folks who do decide to help others by contributing to some charity should, I think: think. I did a micro-review of a pretty good advice article, in another blog:

• "Aid to Japan: Pretty Good Advice"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (March 13, 2011)

It all boils down to 'don't be stupid.' Also, that it's generally better to give:

• Money
• To a charity you know is legitimate

I think Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Internationalis are okay, but what do I know? Please: do your own research.

• Catholic Relief Services
  • "CRS Ready to Respond to Devastation in Japan"
  • Donate
• Caritas Internationalis
  • "Massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan"

Like I said, whether you give anything is up to you: and Japan isn't the only place in the world where people can use help. CRS and CI are both global outfits. One thing I like about the Catholic Church: There aren't many places in the world where we don't already have someone there.

Related posts:

• Japan
  • "Streaming News Video: NHK World, Japan"
    Apathetic Lemming of the North (March 16, 2011)
  • "Japan's Earthquake, Divine Retribution, and the Tower at Siloam"
    (March 15, 2011)
  • "Japan, Good Taste, Common Sense, and a Duck"
    (March 15, 2011)
  • "Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011: People Finder"
    (March 14, 2011)
  • "Aid to Japan: Pretty Good Advice"
    Apathetic Lemming of the North (March 13, 2011)
• Wealth
  • "Wealth, Poverty, Stereotypes, and Snidely Whiplash"
    (March 8, 2011)
  • "Success, Wealth, Poverty, and Getting a Grip"
    (September 27, 2010)
  • "Wealth, the Vatican, the White House, Corporate Headquarters, and Cultural Values"
    (February 4, 2010)
• Prayer
  • "Prayer, Rules, a Saint, and Lent"
    (February 25, 2011)
  • "Christchurch, New Zealand: A Cathedral, a Hotel, People, and Prayer"
    (February 24, 2011)
  • "What a Beautiful Day! And Thank God for Rain"
    (June 9, 2010)
  • "Prayer, Medicine and Trusting God"
    (March 4, 2010)
  • "Happy Lent?! What Kind of a Nut am I?"
    (March 3, 2009)

In the news:

• Kyodo News
• "Fifty Workers Stay Behind as Conditions Worsen at Japanese Nuke Plant"
  FoxNews.com (March 16, 2011)
• "Japan's emperor urges nation not to give up"
  FoxNews.com (March 16, 2011)
• "Snow, Hunger Add to Misery in Quake-Stricken Japan"
  VOANews.com (March 16, 2011)
• "Japan Timeline: How The Disaster Unfolded"
  Sky News (UK) (March 15, 2011)
• "Caritas Japan working to rebuild lives of disaster victims"
  CNA (Catholic News Agency (March 14, 2011)
• "Pope Praying for Japan's Quake Victims"
  Zenit.org (March 11, 2011)

List of 'Japan earthquake disaster' posts in this and other blogs:

• "Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11, 2011: Posts"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North