So far, the 21st Century sucks

[pjthompson]

9/11, the war in Iraq, the tsunami, London bombings, Katrina... The 21st Century had better change it's tune right quick or turn out to be another terror like it's older brother, the 20th Century.

I haven't got a single useful thing to say that hasn't already been said: I've been horrified and fascinated by the events down south, like everyone else. I've made my donations; and inspired by raecarson asked if our not-for-profit does corporate matching. It does not, so a bunch of us are doing our individual thing. sartorias and buymeaclue, amongst others, posted useful go-to places for donations. In the unlikely event no one has encountered these yet, here's a couple:

http://www.redcross.org/
http://www.noahswish.org/ (disaster relief for animals)

It's too large and too horrible to take in properly. It breaks my heart.

I keep flashing back to a picture I saw of a dog--looked to be a retriever mix--sitting all by himself on the roof of a house with the flood waters lapping at the eaves. I don't know if he was smart enough to get up there by himself or if his people had been picked up, but the rescue folks refused to take him...

I don't minimize the human cost--it's horrible. But that picture really did me in. The animals are so helpless in all this, so dependent on us to take care of them. And when disaster strikes, people are often forced to abandon them. It's a tragedy on both sides of the equation. I know if that was my dog, it would drive me more than a little insane to leave him.

Bless all the people and all their animals.

ETA: Hannah told me that the Humane Society is also doing rescue work for animals. They are at:

http://www.hsus.org/

Comments

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

I took my post down. I keep--thinking I should post something. But then I think that this really isn't about me and it doesn't matter how I feel about it, only what I can do to help. So I'm doing that instead of posting.

(Which doesn't mean I don't think other people shouldn't post! Just that I wasn't comfortable with having it sitting there. I'm really glad people are getting the word out. If you want, the Humane Society is sending in rescue teams, too.)

I feel the same way about the animals.

[pjthompson]

I feel exactly the same way. This isn't about me. About the best I can do is direct people somewhere, send my best to the people who are suffering. It isn't about me.

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

I tried to donate to Red Cross just now, but gave up after waiting on hold for ten minutes. I'll have to try again later... good thing to see they're swamped, though.

[buymeaclue.livejournal.com]

Some people have suggested that if you can't get through to the main site, you can donate to your local branch.

I don't know how the Red Cross works, so I don't know how much (if any) of a local donation will go to hurricane relief. (Probably depends on what the individual branch is local to.) But it should get to someone who needs it.

(I got through no sweat using their online form the other day, so that's an option, too.)

[pjthompson]

Yeah, I had to try a couple of times, but I finally got through. Like you said, it's good to see they're swamped.