Prayers going for all those in Sumatra, Bangladesh, India, etc., hit by the earthquake and tsunami.

Prayers just said. May God be with them at this time...

Prayers are being added to all the others being said all around the world, for those affected by the quake and tsunami. Blessings upon those who passed from this life, and sympathy and care for those who survive.

Aid to these countries will be greatly needed... I am also praying for our president and congress to do the right thing.

Prayers and caring thoughts are on their way from Mid-Husdon, New York ... I heard on NPR today that quakes of this magnitude may have aftershocks for a few years. What a scary thought. Peace be with all of them ..some time soon.

A letter to the editor in today's New York Times says pretty much what I was feeling, but hadn't yet formulated:

<I>To the Editor:

It was the lingering spirit of Christmas that left me wondering whether the earthquake and tsunami south of Asia could have been an opportunity to fight terrorism in a different way.

If we weren't so wrapped up in war and the military pursuit of peace, we could afford an organized force that is prepared to "invade" devastated areas on a moment's notice to help with recovery.

If we were as prepared to extend good will as we are to wage war, we'd have a lot more friends in the world and a lot fewer enemies. That's something our gargantuan military power has failed to achieve.

Glenn Cheney
Hanover, Conn., Dec. 27, 2004 </I>

It is a wonderful thought and I wish we could strive for that goalof replacing military with humanitarian aid!

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hi folks....i have a friend who lives in sri lanka who i have been in touch with via e mail since this horrible ordeal began. i just wanted to tell you all how proud i am to have friends who think beyond their own 'space' and thank you for starting this thread and for keeping good thoughts and prayers headed where they are needed. i am going to send him the link to this thread and it's ok with him, i 'll share some of what he has told me. it truly is beyond comprehension even after you read it.

events like this (sadly) put many things in persprective...there just doesnt seem to be as much time to hate when horrors of this magnitude occur.

i wish there was more to do than pray but i'm happy knowing that our prayers are helping.

i assume there is a disaster relief fund somewhere as well.

i'm keeping extra good thoughts for everyone not sleeping in their own bed tonight (unless, of course, it's by choice!).

Here is a link to CNN's list of organizations accepting donations for aid .

I am making my donations to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, and to CARE.

Prayers to all who are affected by this disaster (and that's a mighty big list).

Thank you for the link, Wyld. I think your choices were excellent, too, by the way.

Wyld, that New York Times letter kind of helped me formulate something I've been thinking too. WE've had day's of media coverage seeing the disaster over and over and calls for help. It's wonderful to see humanity rushing to the aid of people affected by this horrendous carnage caused by a natural occurance.
I told my daughter that a presenter on a morning show here (like your Today show) said
he didn't think it was right to show bodies on the beach and people being swept away etc.
She replied that she thought we need to see it as we are so protected from some of the horrendous realities that are happening all over the world. And I replied that it's a shame that we haven't been shown hours of footage of the realities of a human made disaster that is also occurring in that other country where 100,000 citizens and over 1,000 brave troops have been killed.
But I guess the reason would be, That is a War??????????????
Hope you get what I'm saying and that I'm not taking anything away from the poor souls affected by the Asian disaster but I was trying to imagine being an innocent citizen in Iraq and seeing the attention being given
to a natural disaster when the devastation of my country was caused by (you know who) humans. Makes me think of all the human and financial power wasted in Iraq that could be helping the Asian countries here.
This is one of those things it's hard to discuss with people coz they look at you like your bent or something, so I thought I could get it of my chest here. I did'nt mean for it to be political just a kind of observation of human justification of suffering. Oh I don't know what I mean....
I just feel sad for them all I guess.

Louise, thank you for saying what many of us are thinking today. The earthquake/tsunami is an awesome, awful reminder of our relationship with Nature. Iraq is, simply, a tragedy; preventable by us, if we cared to prevent it. My tears are for both, I don't know which/if there are more for one or the other. I can't get my mind around the horror of either one.

I posted this link on Topical but I think a dupe could be forgiven. There are a number of places to find out where to send some kind of assistance:
http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/

Also this thread on Democratic Underground has a list of agencies. It's also on the front page of the site now, but I don't know if it'll stay there, so I figured I'd post the actual thread. I guess if everyone in the world who can do something...even if it's just a little, does so, it'll be of some help. This is so big that it's really hard to take it in, isn't it?

The world at times can be a hard place on its own without us humans throwing in war, greed, apathy, and all of the other things we heap upon each other's suffering. My hopes and thoughts to all.

This is truly a terrible thing, I agree with what you said Zap, me and alan were only just talking about thet last night. It was in one of our news paper a few days agao that the Beckhams ( a footballer and a sulky stick, for a living) were "very upset about faceing the threat of having to tare down their two story £30,000 fort climbing frame they have had built, due to lack of planning permistion" !!!!

£30,000 would do so much for the people affected by this, not to mention all the money Bush and Blair wasted on the war. it make me feel so sad and angry at peoples utter selfishness at times like these.
But it dose make me feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who feels like this.
Me and Alan will donate somthing next week when we have a bit more monet sapre, and just feel so greatfull of what we have.

...thanks for those links for aid.....

...i heard on the news today, oh boy, that the 35 million pledged by Bush is what we spend for 4 hours of war in Iraq....

....called all my senators and reps....hope they'll get my voice mails when vacations are over...

...meanwhile, found an email from moveon.org....where you can sign a petition to ask the White House and Congress to jump on board a little more...

 http://www.moveon.org/tsunamirelief/