Indian Ocean Tsunami Disaster

The suffering of one person, whether we are aware of it or not, affects us all.

How much more so, then, the suffering of tens of thousands in Asian and African countries that at one time seemed remote and exotic, and that now, given our global community and instant forms of communication, have become like countries that are contiguous to ours.

At some point, aid in the form of goods and equipment and materials will surely be needed to rebuild structures and to renew the spirits of our global colleagues. But now, as many have told us, in the media and through the United Nations and care giving entities like the Red Cross, funds are absolutely necessary to purchase the food, the medical supplies, the clean water that hopefully will stave off potentially yet more deadly epidemics, illnesses, starvations.

We are here tonight to try to understand, to join our community to the many communities affected by this disaster, to hear personal stories, to draw love from our hearts and financial support from our resources to bring some small measure of comfort and help to those we now know are our neighbors.

Kenneth R. R. Gros Louis, Welcome, IU Forum, January 13, 2005

A videoconference was recently held in which about 500 students and citizens of the US and UK took part. Click here for more information about it.

Geological information about the earthquake, and subsequent tsunami in the Indian Ocean:

IUB Geological Sciences' PEPP Earthquake Science Program website, and a list of recommended websites.

More information is available at the U.S. government web site dedicated to the tsunami/earthquake disaster.

Since 30 December, many children and adolescents from around the world, and particularly the affected region in Asia, have been using a space on Voices of Youth they themselves created called "Tsunami Terror" to discuss the tsunami, its impact, and how they can help. This youth-led online space offers a timely and useful opportunity for young people in the region and elsewhere to express the emotions and feelings they might be experiencing after this unprecedented crisis in Asia. The purpose of this e-space is also to create an online youth support network during this traumatic time, and to share information among young people and others on what young people are doing and how they want to help.

Congress passed legislation allowing taxpayers to make donations for tsunami relief efforts through the end of January and claim this as a deduction on 2004 tax returns.

Donations are being accepted by many international relief organizations. The following are a few of the most popularly recommended:

• American Red Cross International Response Fund
• Care USA
• Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres
• Oxfam America
• Save the Children
• US Fund for UNICEF
• World Vision
• Association for India's Development (AID)
• AID IU Chapter contact person: Soma Sanyal at ssanyal@indiana.edu
• Complete Listing of Tsunami Relief Organizations from USAID