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In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan recently, with concerns have been substantial as the country begins to pick up the pieces.
With natural disasters on the rise both in media prominence and in scientific predictions, the global community faces many issues in the wake of the Japanese tragedy. A nuclear disaster plausible, the emission of radiation is something we must consider.
As incidents like Chernobyl and Three Mile Island come to mind, it is imperative that we remain optimistic and encourage the Japanese to overcome the invisible threat of radiation and rise to the occasion of rebuilding the country from the rubble it has horrifically been reduced to.
At the forefront of this tragedy, of course, are the Japanese people. Living in a country that has felt the wrath of natural disaster, the Japanese are struggling to satisfy even the most basic needs, and it is time for the global community to lend a hand during this difficult time. As organizations come together to help those suffering, a large-scale sense of community is felt.
Search-and-rescue teams hailing from various areas around the world are stepping in to help and it’s truly amazing to see the unity established by individuals who don’t even share a similar language or cultural belief system. Just weeks ago, relief workers from the United States were working alongside their Japanese counterparts to aid New Zealand’s earthquake victim — but and now they are coming to the rescue of those they so recently worked beside.
Coming to the need of others is exactly what we should be doing, but unfortunately there are individuals who wish to seize this opportunity to scam and pillage the graciousness of others.
Similar to what we saw with Hurricane Katrina, people are collecting funds under the pretense of it going to Japan, only to benefit those scheming enough to take advantage during a crisis. While we may want to give money and help in every way we can, it’s also important to make sure the money is getting into the right hands.
Overhearing a conversation at a local establishment, an artist expressed an interest in raffling off her craft in order to raise money for the relief efforts. Others were skeptical about which organization she should be donating to strictly because of the questionable practices of the groups that claim to donate, but fail to follow through on their promise. This woman, however, was quick to note that she donates directly to the Japanese Red Cross, and I couldn’t think of a better way to ensure that help gets to the right place.
It is tragic that we live in a world where we have to question the motives of others. While it should be human nature to help those suffering, scumbags have their own personal agendas to attend to first. Images of the destruction in Japan should be enough to deter people from stealing resources from the Japanese, yet some do it regardless.
Assuming these people lack any kind of conscience whatsoever, it is up to those who wish to help to find worthy and reliable organizations that will use their contribution for the greater good.
Shooting a quick donation via text may be simple, but is it really going to the right cause? Before eagerly pulling out your wallet or opening up your checkbook, first make sure your money will actually be benefiting Japanese relief efforts and not someone’s new sound system. Don’t let scam artists lavish in your generosity while the intended recipients of your donation continue to hurt.
With this being said, Yahoo offers a list of organizations that are accepting donations for the Japanese relief effort and are trusted internationally. These include the American Red Cross, Save The Children and World Vision.
Do what you can to help, but be wise in selecting who you donate to. We all want the best for those who are suffering and with a little responsible research, we can do a lot of good.
Ryanne Nason is a fourth-year communication student. Her columns will appear every Thursday.
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