Tsunami in Japan

I can't believe it's been over 10 days.

On March 11, 2011--Magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit off the coast of Japan, sending tsunami that wiped out an entire city. Due to the lack of electricity from the damage, the cooling systems of all the nuclear power plants shut down. Within a week, half them were on the verge of meltdown, and just two days ago, the officials announced a level 5 crisis. Only the Chernobyl explosion would top this. The people there are suffering from severe shortage of food, clean water, healthcare...pretty much everything. Especially fuel--people all over Japan wants to help those in need by donating, but they don't have enough fuel to transport the donations. The winter weather doesn't help the matter, as they endure nights in sleep-robbing cold.

On the news in TV Japan today, the officials discovered spinach and milk contaminated with radioactive materials. News in UK are speculating that sushi (and probably Kobe beef too)may go off the menu across US, since many import fish from Japan. They also found a trace amount of radioactive iodine in Tokyo's water supply. Their already short supply of food and water is being taken away.
And yet, there's no looting in Japan. People are waiting patiently for 3 hours in line to receive their share of food and water. Although the mindset has caused tragedies in the past (i.e. kamikaze and seppuku) this deeply embedded sense of community prevents them from engaging in such behavior.

While our family and friends were, fortunately safe from the tsunami (they live on the west coast of Japan), they're still experiencing earthquake aftershocks...and now a possible nuclear crisis.

What can we do to help? I feel sad, knowing that my family, friends, and people are suffering, while I'm clear across the globe away from them--and there's not a whole lot I can do except donate money and pray.

Prayers and money will definitely help the cause. But I also think that being appreciative of life, being grateful for everything we have would get us in a proper mindset to build a better future for everyone.