http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Tue, 11 Jan 2005 12:37:00 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/31/173104.php#comment-108007 this is one of the ten largest disasters in recorded history - no list handy, though 108007@blogcritics.org Tue, 11 Jan 2005 12:37:00 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/31/173104.php#comment-108005 Is it true that this is the largest natural disaster in modern history? I had friends in Sri Lanka; I'm just happy they're alive and well! 108005@blogcritics.org Tue, 11 Jan 2005 12:35:38 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/31/173104.php#comment-106358 Forwarded from an email from the author Arthur C. Clarke: "This is indeed a disaster of unprecedented magnitude for Sri Lanka, which lacks the resources and capacity to cope with the aftermath. We are encouraging concerned friends to contribute to the relief efforts launched by various national and international organisations. If you wish to join these efforts, I can recommend two options. - Contribute to a Sri Lanka disaster relief fund launched by an internationally operating humanitarian charity, such as Care or Oxfam. - Alternatively, considering supporting Sarvodaya, the largest development charity in Sri Lanka, which has a 45-year track record in reaching out and helping the poorest of the poor. Sarvodaya has mounted a well organised, countrywide relief effort using their countrywide network of offices and volunteers who work in all parts of the country, well above ethnic and other divisions. Their website, <a href="http://www.sarvodaya.lk/">www.sarvodaya.lk</a> , provides bank account details for financial donations. They also welcome contributions in kind -- a list of urgently needed items is found at: http://www.sarvodaya.lk/Inside_Page/urgently%20needed.htm <http://www.sarvodaya.lk/Inside_Page/urgently needed.htm> There is much to be done in both short and long terms for Sri Lanka to raise its head from this blow from the seas. Among other things, the country needs to improve its technical and communications facilities so that effective early warnings can help minimise losses in future disasters. Curiously enough, in my first book on Sri Lanka, I had written about another tidal wave reaching the Galle harbour (see Chapter 8 in The Reefs of Taprobane, 1957). That happened in August 1883, following the eruption of Krakatoa in roughly the same part of the Indian Ocean." 106358@blogcritics.org Sat, 1 Jan 2005 18:08:37 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/31/173104.php#comment-106249 I made a contribution to the Red Cross, and thought, why, like the "First Night" celebrations which have become popular in NorthAm over the last two decades, can't a "Make the World a Better Place" fund contribution be a ritual for December 31st? You could set aside money during the year for the ritual, and so on, instead of waiting for disaster. 106249@blogcritics.org Fri, 31 Dec 2004 17:31:20 EST