Donate to Myanmar & China Relief Fund

Every now and then we've heard or read the recent news about the devastating natural disasters in Myanmar and China. It's disheartening to see the increasing number of casualties, deaths and the tragic scenes of the disaster areas.

Millions are homeless and suffering from starvation, contaminated water, diseases, the list goes on. Victims urgently need money and basic daily necessities following Cyclone Nargis and China Quake. They need every help they can get. That said, we are grateful to be spared of such natural disasters other than the tsunami in 2004. We should also never get too comfortable with what we have now.

Many people want to contribute but unfortunately, fall prey to email scams. These 'thieves' grabbed the opportunity to collect the people's money as 'donations'. This is a stern reminder to all people. If you want to donate towards relief and humanitarian aid for the victims from both countries, seek out the appropriate websites of the charitable organizations. The best way to avoid email scams is don't respond to unsolicited emails.

If you are a Malaysian like me, there are a few options you can help out:

Write cheques payable to The Embassy of the People's Republic of China. Cheques can be drop or sent to the following address:
Sichuan Quake Fund,
Star Publications (M) Bhd,
Menara Star, 15, Jalan 16/11,
Petaling Jaya 46350, Selangor, Malaysia .
For inquiries, call: 603-79671388 ext 1121

Alternatively, you can also donate to World Vision Malaysia. You can also send a cheque in the name of Tabung Bencana Kementerian Luar Negeri (Foreign Ministry Disaster Fund) to the ministry. The cheque can be forwarded to the following:

Encik Mohamad Zamberi Othman
Ketua Akauntan
Kementerian Luar Negeri
No.1 Jalan Wisma Putra
62602 PUTRAJAYA
Tel: 03-8887 4251 / 03-8889 2924

So people, please DONATE wisely and generously and help make the world a better place to live. No amount is too small.

Natural Disasters: Myanmar & China

Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar

China Earthquake

For the first few months of 2008, many of us became impatient and looking forward to our new beginnings and the new world to arrive. Unfortunately, this May had been an unlucky month of natural disasters, particularly in Asia. Natural disasters always happen unexpectedly. As the people of Myanmar struggle in wake of Cyclone Nargis, along comes the earthquake in Sichuan.

Hundreds of thousands of people are dying in Myanmar as a result of the cyclone, and now tens of thousands are feared to be dead in southwest China as a result of an earthquake and the numbers are staggering. As I write this, another storm appears to be headed to Myanmar.

Imagine if, here in Malaysia, something like a cyclone whipped through your neighbourhood, flinging pieces of your house and all of your belongings far away. Having said that, it reminds me of the tsunami that rocked Penang, Kedah and some Asian countries in 2004. Imagine being separated - by yards, by miles - from your partner, your kids and not knowing where they were. It's unimaginable and terrifying, I know, but surreal to a lot of people at this sombre moment. I'm very thankful that I haven't encounter any personal experiences with natural disasters so far.

I've been in the state of grumbling and rumbling lately about things in life but these recent natural disasters have shaken me awake to reality. My heart oozes with compassion for those caught up in these disasters. When I think of those people must be going through, my spirit falls miserably.

What's happening to this world? Is doom day coming?

China Earthquake Buries 900 students

Almost 900 students have been buried by collapsed buildings during an earthquake in south-western China, state media reports. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in Sichuan Province on Monday afternoon, raised immediate concerns that the death toll could rapidly rise. The earthquake's toll, in human life and damage to infrastructure, is still largely unknown.

The massive quake was felt as far away as Bangkok, Thailand, more than 2,000 miles from its epicenter in the Sichuan Province.

The massive and massively controversial Three Gorges Dam project was apparently not damaged by the quake, according to early government reports. Still unknown is whether the largest water diversion project the world has ever seen helped to trigger the earthquake. Tremors stemming from the project have been one of many long-standing environmental concerns.

The earthquake comes less than three months before the start of the Beijing Summer Olympics, when China hopes to use to showcase its rise in the world.

Click for additional earthquake information and shake maps from the USGS

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