If you didn't know, Friday there was a 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Japan (big enough to MOVE japan 8ft, and the tilt of the earth on its axis by an estimated 4in) followed by a huge tsunami (which went upwards of 6 MILES inland)
this has left over nearly 10,000 people dead or missing. on top of that, the tsunami knocked out the cooling systems to a # of nuclear reactors. 3 of which may have already started to meltdown. forcing the evacuation of nearly 1/4 of a million people. Food, water, and medical supplies are running low as u can imagine.
you can make an easy and quick $10 donation to the red cross for disaster relief, by texting REDCROSS to #90999

http://american.redcross.org/...ame=ntld_nolnav_text2help

If you can afford to donate, please do. $10 is really not that much money. most people spend more then that on coffie in a pay period.
Or, think about it this way; its the difference of a few "brand name" vs PC, or "no name" products when u do your grocery shopping this week. personally, im willing to eat some less tasty ketchup, so other people can live.


edit:
sorry if something similar was posted already, been busy and haven't fully read all the board posts. :)

I heard that Japan was moved 16 feet close to the use... which is awesome... take a trip to hawaii and then a short boat trip across the channal to Japan.

I understand wanting to help people in distress, but Japan can handle its business. They're a first world country with the 3rd largest economy in the world, and a government that strongly protects its people. There are bigger needs closer to home to spend charity on or places in the world that can actually use our help more than Japan. Places in the world that really have no one looking out for them.

i admit that this is Incredibly tragic, but i agree with Kyle on this one, unfortunately we NEED (almost) just as much help as they do.

sorry to say KC but that is a fluffed attitude........

yeah we all have issues,my country is being whacked by floods etc etc....

We are one of the first to throw money at countries in Aid even though we are a small country(pop wise)

The only time the world shows any sort of unity is in times like this,its a time when we all feel for our brothers and sisters and religion and race and b4 all that other BS kicks in....

I bet everything i own that should ur community get wiped out that you would want every little bit off assistance you could get...

I am all for looking after those at home but times like this should bring us together, 10k ppl dead(at a guess) 1 million people homeless... have a fluffing heart...

Have a heart? I went to New Orleans. I went to Haiti. Did you? I work with people who do disaster relief throughout the world. What the heck do you do?

do u want applause???

normally ppl who help out are humble and dont use it as some form of bargining chip to make u seem like a good citezan....

So you are saying that the next disaster hits the US we should all give ur attitude a go and do nothing?????

What do i do(to answer ur question) I pay a fluffload of tax and which a massive amount goes in aid for other ppl.... thats what i do.... ohhhh im a volunteer fire fighter(bush fires) spent time as a life guard on our beaches,multie award winner for fund raising for legacy,red cross and lions clubs.... but i just do that stuff,dont have to tell people about it....

k

i agree charity should begin at home.... but we all have a part to play as a "world".... and times like this show what we should all be about....

Good for you.

What you should do is recognize your local problem and look to solve it.

If there's a disaster in a place that can't handle itself like Indonesia, Haiti, most places in Africa, then go ahead and do what you can towards that cause.

Japan though is a different story. They can handle their business. If you're not from the US and there is a disaster here then don't worry, we can handle our business. China, Russia, Europe, they can all handle their own problems.

but those countries can handle it... if they piss the courpt goverments off that are raping the resources and the people....

I look at it different i guess....

If we(US/Aus) have an issue we know that the Japs would offer support and funds... yet those countries u talk about are botomless pits for our aid and what comes back...... nothing...

its like the 40 hour famine etc,how long do we need to keep feeding people that keep having kids that are gonig to die cause they cant feed them,why.... they are the wrong tribe....

the only time the world seems to come together is at times like this.... only time we are one race....


we need some V or indepandce day thing to happen to make us wake up and sort out the BS in the world...

local problems is what we have congressman/senators, and the rest for. if they aret doing their job, and they arent, then remember those who are messing our system up with excessive spending with your vote, for someone ELSE

are you freaking kidding me?
if ppl in the USA lose power for an hour they act like its the end of times. most people in the USA consider it a tragedy when Starbucks runs out of there favorite flavor.

Im sure anyone living through Katrina would say that they appreciated the help others gave them, and would have welcomed help from anyone else, because there government failed hard core despite being the biggest economy in the world, and at the time, one of the strongest.

well, the events in Japan are much worse. not only has there been bigger loss of live, there has been much more damage. experts are saying it will be the most expensive natural disaster in history. and its not over. and on top of that, Japans economy, although large, is very fragile already, and falling 10% in 2 days, wont help.
America doesn't have it 1/2 as bad as most of the countries you refuse to help

once again i agree with KC,

im glad to hear that you have this thing you call a heart, but i think its time to use our brains. we are in debt enough, watch the unnatural disasters coming our way in the next 2-3 years. if you believe in god then prey but i guess the "right" thing would be to say "a small donation couldn't hurt" Lets face it, if those reactors critically melt down they are fluffed

this world if Filled with hate and arrogance, divided into races and different parts of land. Its not my call, but im sorry to say thats just the way it is. we even have Hate in this counrty for one an other. just imagine a perfect place where killers, gang members, kid nappers and corrupt governments never existed. (ohh what a place that would be) if you think of the word Earth it is Really a Extremely Beautiful place, but only until you see behind all the closed doors....

oh come on *sings*

"We are the world"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hhX0KkQBW4

^^-- if you guys havent seen this edition of we are the world yet, check it out.

btw imo, that kid that starts it makes justin beiber sound like rubbish, lolz

Gonna have to call BS on that one.

The economy runs off of having a debt. Most of the debt was made because money was placed in the system to grow the economy for a better future return, and those returns were reinvested. Sure you owe money, but EVERYTHING gets stronger when it is done correctly (Most first world countries do it correctly). So debt isn't even really an excuse.

Third, you need to save money for disaster funds? Wtf, the population density of the US is a FRACTION the amount Japan is, therefore any natural disaster is likely going to affect far less people.

You can say you don't want to donate, which is fair, that is everyone's right, but don't make up stupid reasons why you shouldn't, just say it is because you don't want to, and that is that.

Gonna have to call BS on that one, you have no clue what you are talking about in every level.

http://en.wikipedia.org/...ign_states_by_public_debt

Relatively the US is in FAR less debt then Japan is, and you say you don't have enough money? (Japan having the second worst debt relative to GDP in the world, first of all first world countries)

Second of all, the economy runs off of having a debt. Most of the debt was made because money was placed in the system to grow the economy for a better future return, and those returns were reinvested. Sure you owe money, but EVERYTHING gets stronger when it is done correctly (Most first world countries do it correctly). So debt isn't even really an excuse.

Third, you need to save money for disaster funds? Wtf, the population density of the US is a FRACTION the amount Japan is, therefore any natural disaster is likely going to affect far less people.

You can say you don't want to donate, which is fair, that is everyone's right, but don't make up stupid reasons why you shouldn't, just say it is because you don't want to, and that is that.

You seem to have a extremely poor view of Americans. Most of what you just said there is complete bullfluff. The US hands out more Aid than any other coutry in the world dude, you seem to think that the US is refusing to help japan? Where are you getting your facts, this message board? The us navy has sent a flotilla, not a fleet, a flotilla of ships to help. We have something like 50,000 troops stationed there that are already helping.

That is just the large scale. There is a small company near where I grew up. They make iodine tablets for ppl exposed to radiation to take. I believe this extremely small company has already donated 50,000 tablets to tokoyo and is planning on sending more. This is just one example of that is happening all across the country.

I went to Haiti with a group of engineers from my company on a goodwill mission to see what we could do to help. We wernt paid, we donated 2 weeks of our time and our skills.

What the fluff is wrong with you dude? The US is an extremely generous nation. You are listening to a few loud assholes and forming an opinion of an entire populace. Stop

What mrford says is true, but you couldn't really tell it from people's response on this thread for the most part.

Pop just got mad cause he is like "Their country is seriously messed up" and the typical response was "We got our own problems to worry about, everyman for himself". These aren't exact quotes, just condensing several paragraphs into two lines :P.

My answer is, everyone has their own problems, but if you don't got a neighbour or friend to help you out in a time of need, what do you have at the end of the day?

that's only partly the point. the point is, you should be willing to help those who really need help. Japan is more than capable of helping themselves. There are people who can't much closer and just because there isn't a noticeable disaster just aren't help. It feels wrong to me to send money to those who don't need it, like with Japan, as opposed to sending that same money to help those who really do.

I can see both sides of this argument. As a former Volunteer Fire Chief, I can certainly back KC on the need for money to be donated here in America every day to such charities as the United Way, Red Cross, and such. Just about every minute of every day, someone's home is destroyed in America by various causes.

Some folks have insurance, and some don't. I'm sure the same applies in Japan.

My "professional" position is that no one should be hesitant to ever donate a lousy $10 to help people anywhere on this planet who are suffering in a disaster.

I also say that for those who feel that we need to take care of our own first and foremost, when you see a calamity like is going on in Japan, use it as a reminder to donate $10 or a pint of blood to the American Red Cross or the relief agency/charity of your choice. Giving is good..

.

i call bullfluff on all this.
"we have enough debt"
as a country on a whole perhaps...
but you're going to tell me you aren't going to waste $10 on coffee, chips, candy, a movie, dinner out, drinking, bar hopping, weed, video games, buying your 2 yr old designer jeans, ect, ect ect?... some wont, for sure. But you can guarantee 95% of people are. hence why the US #1 export is garbage/recyclables.
i call b.s

"It feels wrong to me to send money to those who don't need it, like with Japan, as opposed to sending that same money to help those who really do."

what a load of fluff.
you're saying some poor kid with nothing but the cloths on his back living in a school class run with 60 other people doesn't need help?
and leaving all that aside, i'm not even talking about your government. im talking about you. a lot of people in every country arn't in a great financial spot, but the truth is, most in north America are.
and ford..what makes you think im talking to the people that do help out? your statement is just retarded. clearly a lot of aid relief comes from the states, the US gives a LOT of help both government, and citizens. USA controls more wealth then any country on earth. and when 60% of the country is obese, its clear they have a little to spear for the less fortunate.
you have to "take care of your own' for sure. but when you throw out more food in a day then some people eat in a week (which most in this continent do) you can afford to help out people effected by one of the worst disasters ever ;)

Why do we want to turn a topic about helping people in need into a barfight?

tis the American way? lol

also


this is my point im trying to make.
i wasn't trying to make a big thing here. just saying 95% of ppl can afford a lousy 10 bucks. every week i donate to my local food bank, but this week on top of that, ill skip that case of beer.
shouldn't be a big deal

ttt

He was referring to the barfight for the American way :P
Although I do like a good barfight now and then :)

its not so much of the ten $1 dollar bills and i MAY not know much of what im talking about, but my beliefs are that we Will have a crisis here in America soon, one way or another.

For the guy saying that i dont know what i am talking about, go ahead and donate money (feel free) no one is stopping you, in fact i am glad you are because they DO need help. should we donate a LITTLE, yes i agree, should we have ppl over there helping yes i also agree. (there you have what you wanted to hear)the point is that we need to help our selves.

Boost the economy???? the gov. is handing out money just further putting us in debt. if you ask me id say they are just prolonging a unnatural disaster, unfortunately. why do you think that a lot of small business are closed down, Banks closed even General Motors has felt a Huge sting and almost went Bankrupt did ANYONE see that coming (seeing how they make a fluff ton of our stuff including our military vehicles)Jobs are becoming more scarce, prices of Gold are souring silver as well. WHY sacrifice what we dont have for another country that needs it (some argue does not need it) I think i am Commy by Blood!

its the greedy ppl with the majority of money and the corrupt politicians to blame, so there is no point in arguing with each other

GM is going down cause it wasnt a very well run company after a couple decades, the US was supporting a 1 legged man who was trying to tapdance :P

Their reason was to keep the economy moving, and to keep jobs, which is a worthy endeavor, but the company was not built to succeed with all the greedy CEO's.

As for the government handing out money, that is what caused the entire regression the other year, giving mortgages out to anyone with a hat, the banks owned all the houses and no one was paying.

And saying the government is just handing out money is a poor way of putting it. Sounds like some rich fellow giving 20's away to every person he meets.
In reality, they give enough money for a business to succeed, and if that business goes from losing money to making money, even after a while, the government gets it all back in taxes eventually.

No country can truly succeed on its own.
And I can bet most of the money given to Japan, would ensure trade agreements go in their favor in the future, so it isn't even lost money.

Not saying governments are super well managed, but giving money away doesn't seem near as stupid as it does initially.

Question:(Giving,Investing or Loans) were did all of that get us?

Answer: to the point where we are now (not good)

Think ahead a little: Its only going to get worse!

That is the only point that i am really trying to get across

If you think America is really in a bad position now compared to the rest of the world, then meh, not much I can say.

And stuff may get worse, but it IS worse for Japan right now, a lot worse.

Here's a few thoughts:

1) Let's not politicize threads that are really just all about giving.
2) If you want to give $10 to Japan, do it.
3) If you think charity money should be better spent at home, donate $10 to a local charity.

If you have reasons you don't want to donate to Japan, good for you, but as Popcom, Dragon and K4F are trying to say: don't discourage people from being charitable.

LOL @ trying to argue out of paying a lousy 10 bucks.

Seriously... if you think the USA is in fluff right now, then the rest of the world must not be doing too great either.