Jet Li Escapes Tsunami

[herb ox]

In case you haven't been listening to the news, one of the most massive natural disasters in history occurred the night after Christmas. Massive tidal waves have leveled entire villages and resorts in India, Thailand, and from Indonesia to Sri Lanka as well as many other areas. Every time I check news.google.com the death toll rises. At the time of this writing, the death toll is at 63,000 and rising.

Many here in the US and abroad have been affected by this event. Even Jet Li and his daughter were almost washed away by the waves flooding the hotel in the Maldives he was staying at.

But don't take my word for it - Check it out yourself (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/li_quake_injury)

peace

herb ox

[SimonM]

It's up to 68,000 now.

[Oso]

ok, so death is bad...but since no one can put a cap on birth rates then disasters like this are a necessary evil. so are wars.

anyone ever think where we would be if no one on this planet died from anything other than old age????

noses to *******s in people, that's where.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

while i don't disagree with you, now is not the time dude.

[Oso]

well, the problem is that no one ever wants to talk about the reality of overpopulation.

[TaiChiBob]

Greetings..

Nature will balance the scales on its own time.. to make light of such a trgedy or to imply its usefulness for population control is insensitive and lacking compassion for the victims and survivors.. a cold and pointless observation at an inappropriate time.. tens if not hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, countless more are surviving on an hour by hour basis.. to downplay this disaster as anything less than unfortunate tragedy it is, is a disrespect to all the people that lost their lives and those that struggle to survive..

If overpopulation is an issue for someone, address it as such.. certainly, we all recognize overpopulation as a critical issue, but.. i greatly favor education and awareness over war and natural disaster as a control measure.. how very odd that the issue isn't so important as to be brought up independent of this tragedy, it seems very opportunistic..

Oso: I generally appreciate your posts.. this time, i do not..

Be well.. be sincere and compassionate as well..

[cerebus]

Overpopulation may be a problem, but I don't see "downsizing" in this manner as a viable solution. For anyone who does, all I can ask is: Are you willing to step up to the front of that line with your family and help solve the overpopulation problem?

It happens, and when looked at coldly and clinically one can say that it's necessary. This sort of thing I can't look at coldly or clinically. Sure, it happened "over there". Next time though it could be you & yours. An unhappy situation all around. :(

[Oso]

how very odd that the issue isn't so important as to be brought up independent of this tragedy, it seems very opportunistic..

actually, I have brought this up before.

not meaning to be insensitive. just realistic.

TCB, I'm not downplaying the disaster. And I actually am a very compassionate person. This disaster is surely horrible for those involved.


i greatly favor education and awareness over war and natural disaster as a control measure.

so do I. just because I can say one thing that appears to be insensitive does not mean that I wish it to be so. It would be nice if education and awareness would be the answer. I just don't have any faith that humanity is going to save itself.

It is just my observation that modern humans can't get past the idea that we can expand and expand w/o natural disasters that have been occuring for millennium aren't going to affect us on a larger scale as we cover this planet.



Overpopulation may be a problem, but I don't see "downsizing" in this manner as a viable solution. For anyone who does, all I can ask is: Are you willing to step up to the front of that line with your family and help solve the overpopulation problem?

you seem to think that I'm looking at this situation as a proactive thing. I'm not suggesting that wholesale slaughter of innocent people is a viable means of population control. Only that when it does happen it's the universe's way of controlling something that is out of hand.

the only way I'm going to have children is to adopt. i don't feel the need to 'spread my seed'. there is no longer a biological necessity to do so. The best answer would be for all people to stop having babies and those that want children adopt from the pool of thousands of unwanted children that there are in the world.

also, what about the wildlife? the rats, the mice, dogs and cats?

It is about balance and 'the cosmos' (you may insert God, Yawheh, Jah, the 10,000 things or whatever you believe here) evening things out.

[Kristoffer]

R.I.P to everyone that died and are dying as I type this. If this would have happend in USA you'd b crying you're eyes out. So go drink your egg nog or something. Compassionate my ass.

[Ray Pina]

I can understand both sides actually. It's sad what has happened. I saw a picture of a little Swedish boy holding a sign asking for his parents and two brothers who are missing .... and porbbaly dead. This is terrible.

Like wise, it was terrible when my mother got cancer, had to get hooked up to a hospice breathing machine in my house and die on my H.S. graduation morning. And then my father getting strung out on coke and me having to pick him up and take the noose off of him.

I don't write this as a "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" sob story. I write it to express that pain and suffering are a part of life, and if we like it or not the Tao shall keep all things in balance and all we can do is accept it. Some situations we can put our brain, wealth and muscle into solving some we can't.

60,000 people dying my title wave, to me, is just as sad as the kid who got hit my a bus on the corner .... families are hurting. The best I can do is hope that they will grow and learn from their experiences the same way I have learned from mine, and continue to see the lessons and reasons behind seamingly unfortunate events.

God works in mysterious ways.

[Ray Pina]

On a side note I saw a woman on CNN this morning who's missing a brother .... she blamed the Tsumani, caused by an earthquake, on, get this, global warming and nuclear testing.

Is it me, or have earthquakes and tidal waves been occuring on this planet for millions of years? Before man sparked the first engine or split an atom?

I understand that in a time like this people get angry and want to point blame, but it's also times like this that one reveals themself.

[red5angel]

I don't think Oso's making light of the situation, I think he's just trying to keep it in perspective. It sucks, no one is denying that, but these things happen, it's a part of life.

oh, and for you non-americans or anyone else who wants to make slams at nationality - fukk you. If it happened in your country kristoffer you'd be crying your fukking eyes out too instead of sitting on your ass in front of a computer being self rightious.

[SPJ]

I have college mates from Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.

Growing up in Taiwan, I was exposed to constant earthquakes, Typhoon, flood and mudslide.

But mountains of waves, ---

:(

[SPJ]

China put a brake on birth rate by "rigidly" enforcing "one child policy".

The average US family has 2.5 kids.

Population in Europe is shrinking and aging.

India soon will be the most populated state. There is no sign of slowing down.

Unfortunately, no "adequate" birth control program is in placed for poor or developing countries.

[Ray Pina]

The one thing that bothers me about this whole scenario is that the whole world is calling the U.S. cheap now.

They've been riding our a$$ for two years, nobody wants to help us after 9/11 and now they come to us with their hands out.

I feel sorry for those suffering now. But the dead are dead. Money won't bring them back. The U.S. is presently engaged in a large task in the middle east relatively on their own (after one of the worst hurricane seasons on record), so let France and other generous countries pull our weight on this one.

[red5angel]

don't you love that efist? We send over a "meager" or "stingy" 35 million dollars and we're cheap. That's regardless of the fact that we're fighting a war, and that the total contribution of aid to this whole debacle has yet to be determined. That's why I say we just need to follow my 4 step plan.....

[MoreMisfortune]

no couple should be allowed to have more than 2 kids
if they want more they should adopt

this will the law when i rule


and i agree with chinas "one baby only" policy, its good.

but i also think this got nothing to do with the tragedy

[GeneChing]

Not only did they get this posted earlier (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=34575), their response has been more appropriate. Here on the main forum, y'all got muddled by the knee-jerk defensiveness over the accusations of stinginess - if that offends you, just give more. If it doesn't, why bring it up? Down on the Wing Chun forum, they've posted places to donate. Kudos to the Wing Chun forum members. They've shown true wude.

[red5angel]

bwahahahahhahaa Gene, your cracking me up. "Kneejerk reactions" "Wingchun forum" "True Wude" - apparently you don't get over to the wingchun forum all that often.....

[ZIM]

Originally posted by GeneChing
Not only did they get this posted earlier (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=34575), their response has been more appropriate. Here on the main forum, y'all got muddled by the knee-jerk defensiveness over the accusations of stinginess - if that offends you, just give more. If it doesn't, why bring it up? Down on the Wing Chun forum, they've posted places to donate. Kudos to the Wing Chun forum members. They've shown true wude. Come now. Check the "unbelievable" thread. I know I linked to aid agancies and first-person accounts, there.

As for "stinginess":

Australia: $26M, plus five military transports and 50 specialists
Austria: $1.36M
Belgium: One military transport to deliver UNICEF aid
Britain: 370K (pounds), $100K, plus $481K of materials to Sri Lanka
Denmark: 45 tonnes of supplies, $1.82M
EU: "Ready to release" 30M Euro, 3M Euro already released.
France: 100K Euros ($140,000)
Finland: 500K Euro.
Germany: 2M Euro.
Greece: 17 doctors and staff.
Italy: 2 helicopters and crew.
Japan: $30M.
Netherlands: 2M Euros.
Poland: $336K
Spain: 1M Euros pledged, 19 volunteers
Sweden: Two communications specialists and some tents and radios.
USA: $35 million, plus 12 US Navy vessels and 5,000 sailors.

By the way:
I do not mention this information to denigrate any other nation's aid to those affected by this tremendous disaster.
*Any* help is needed most urgently, and often showing up in person is better than simply throwing money.

Also:
None of the figures factor in private donations.

Israel was sending crews, but Sri Lanka rejected them. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4130599.stm)

It occured to me that, in addition to donating, supporting the local economies might be a great thing to do. Why not buy some imported coffee (http://www.coffeereview.com/index.cfm)? Sumatra, Java & southern India has some of the finest coffees in the world.

[MasterKiller]

The stingy reference was made in regards to Gross National Product. All the guy said was that the richer countries in the world don't give that much in foreign aid in relation to their GNP. The U.S. ranks last at about 0.14%. Compare that with Norway, who gives 0.92%.

[TaiChiBob]

Greetings..

Somehow, i sense that using the Iraq "war" as an excuse not to send money is laughable.. that is a war that shouldn't have been in the first place.. That is not to say that other wealthy nations shouldn't ante-up their fair share of compassion and currency for the unfortunate survivors.. it simply implies that to whine about the US funds expenditures in Iraq has nothing to do with the tsunami situation.. The US made a error of judgement regarding going to war with Iraq, it should not affect compassion for those involved in a tragedy of such enormous proportions..


I feel sorry for those suffering now. But the dead are dead. Money won't bring them back. No, but money will help the survivors, aid will help prevent disease and epidemic, and less attention to militaristic ventures of opportunity will allow more attention to helping rebuild the US image trustworthy and reliable.. rather than marauding opportunists..

To assert "keeping things in perspective" as a means to justify a cold and impersonal perspective is one of the qualities that are less desirable in a situation where such a tragic loss of life and broad scope of suffering is imposed by any means including "natural" means..

The U.S. is presently engaged in a large task in the middle east relatively on their own (after one of the worst hurricane seasons on record) It is noteworthy that it seems okay to lament our own "natural disasters", which according to some posters should be perceived as simple natural events and accepted as such.. but, consistency is important here.. as if the hurricanes somehow play into the US perspective along with its own ill-conceived war while a tsunami half way around the world is just a natural event that should be accepted.. of course it is true, it IS a natural event, we can't control it, nor should we.. we can only accept it in the end, but.. a display of sincere compassion and respectful attitude toward the unfortunate seems little to ask with much to gain..

If our collective memories are working, we can recall the weeping and wailing of 911.. massive loss of life by any means in any place is worthy of respect and compassion, not just on your own doorsteps but wherever man is separated from his spirit prior to a reasonable passage into one's "winter season"..

Be kind, it's cool..

[ZIM]

Originally posted by MasterKiller
The stingy reference was made in regards to Gross National Product. All the guy said was that the richer countries in the world don't give that much in foreign aid in relation to their GNP. The U.S. ranks last at about 0.14%. Compare that with Norway, who gives 0.92%. So? Compare the amounts pledged/donated to the GDP of the areas affected. Comparing it to one's own is misleading, I think, since one cannot transfer the scale of one's own economy.

[norther practitioner]

With those #s however.. does that account for private donations....

I'd have to imagine, that the US, as an entity with both the private and government put together, puts in mo' money than anyone by a factor of 10 by the time this is said and done.

[MasterKiller]

Originally posted by norther practitioner
I'd have to imagine, that the US, as an entity with both the private and government put together, puts in mo' money than anyone by a factor of 10 by the time this is said and done. I'm not arguing that. Neither was he. All he said was that according to GNP, the richer countries give a much smaller percentage.

HE NEVER EVEN NAMED A COUNTRY.

It's really just been blown out of proportion. Anytime American's feel the tiniest slight by a foreigner they're up in arms and putting new bumper stickers on their SUVs....

[Ray Pina]

I think I'm being misunderstood a bit here. I love man, I love and respect life. But at the same time I also take the 'Heaven views man as nothing more than straw dogs" aproach. On the surface this does sound cold .... but there is substance beyond the surface.

As for natural disasters, I get the same, "O ****" feeling inside when I hear of several hundred dying from hurricanes or some surfer who drowned surfing big waves. "****, that sucks."

This recent tragedy is off the scale, but it's merely a matter of numbers. This Iraq war is terrible, right? Compare it to the deaths of WWI or WWII it's a joke. But it hurts just the same right? So numbers in tragedy don't make a difference to me .... they're all straw dogs, but so am I. But I also cultivate the light.

Now speaking of 9/11. That one was different in my eyes for a personal reason (this tidal wave IS impresonal to me because it is "over there" and I don't know anyone who died though I do have a friend who was in the area in Thailand two days before it hit --- he moved to hit a 48 hour party).

If the number of people who died during 9/11 dies because two planes accidentally crashed into each other, I'd say, "What a shame."

However, it was an attack that took place within my literal view -- I could see the buildings burning from across the street, I saw them collapse. I also know people who died in the attack. These were not mere deaths, these were victims of a violent attack. You can call them urder victims. But even that wasn't what really affected me. What affected me was the chaos of when it first happened. I didn't know if more planes were coming. If gunners would be unleashed on the streets. I also didn't have TV because I just moved so news was coming in over the radio. So for me, this wasa different experience just as the tsunami is a different experience for someone who lived near where that happened. This is just all common sense.

When I see a funeral prossesion drive past I lower my radio out of respect. But I feel differently when I am in the funeral prossession because I lost a friend..... can you fault me for that?

As for my views on the war, to sum it up:

Should we have? .... probbaly not. But we needed a staging ground to fight and we couldn't use Saudi Arabia or Pakistan because of politics so why not kick out the bad guy anyway? And it doesn't hurt to choose the war ground and to draw Jihadis there instead of here.

Its too late for could've and should've .... we're there. With that being said, no body has jumped at the bit to help us besides the U.K. In fact, everyone has been quite against us. So I think $35 million is quite generous of us already considering we have a lot of expenditures right now. You can't look at things seperately. AmEx still wants me to pay my bill, it doesn't care that I spent a fortune at Christmas, and my landlord still wants rent, and my girl still likes to go out to eat .... nothing is independant.

Also, let's not lose sight of the geography involved in this.... where is the money puring in from Muslim nations? Where's the Bin Ladin family with their money and construction crews? Where's the Saudis? ect. etc. And with all this disaster these nations turn down the help of Israel?:confused:

I know the folks who died have nothing to do with the nations politics anymore than I do. It's all just man being man in a natural world..... and sometimes I can cry and laugh about it but I keep going on living and breathing, living and breathing.

[SPJ]

With all the satelites in orbit;

With all the weather gatherning techno and mighty power of computers in the 21 century;

Where was the warning to all the people near the India ocean?

:confused:

[Oso]

Nicely put, EFist....were I so eloquent....

[SPJ]

On 9-11;

I visited the WTO twin towers, everytime I went to China town.

There was a girl I acquainted who selling souvenirs on top of the building.

They were gone.

Chinatown was filled with flowers and pictures. Some companies moved to Jersey.

I was on my way to Immigration office near I-10 for the citizenship oral test on 9-11. I have been in the country over 14 years.

I heard on the radio. The twin towers were attacked. Everybody was not to go to LA, disneyland or hollywood. The Pentagon was attacked. Both president and vice president were in separate locations and --. All flights cancelled, ---

-----

[ZIM]

Originally posted by SPJ
With all the satelites in orbit;

With all the weather gatherning techno and mighty power of computers in the 21 century;

Where is the warning to all the people near the India ocean?

:confused: There was, but wasn't, one.
The Pacific tsunami warning service noted the quake and issued two bulletins, the first of which could've provided advanced warning.

The problem was three-fold:
First, the maritime & weather stations in the Indian ocean zone weren't used to tsunamis, and so didn't heed the bulletins. [no training]

Second, the bulletins were geared for the Pacific basin and noted that there 'wasn't a danger of tsunamis to the Pacific'. A lack of vetting on the Indian ocean side downgraded the bulletin to information-only. [no experience]

Third, there was no population warning systems in place, thus any warnings would have been sporadic in any case. [no infrastructure]

---------
MODS:
Any chance we could get the 'unbelievable' thread hitched to this one? It was covered there previously.

Thanks.

[TaiChiBob]

Greetings..

EF: Understood and appreciated..

My point was that an opportunity was presented and responses were made.. personal choices as to how to state opinions regarding an obvious natural tragedy.. This tragedy needed no links to other tragedies, no comparisons to wars or individual issues.. it stands on its own both in scope and intensity.. and, here i state my own personal opinion, that any link to other issues is disrespectful.. i am solely concerned with the well-being of my fellow man regarding the tsunami, that i am compelled to write the checks and if i had the resources i would travel there to help (and maybe check-out some local breaks).. here, in central Florida, after the first hurricane, Charley, the aid and relief pouring in from around the country was a moving and greatly appreciated display of compassion.. crews from as far away as St. Louis were working around the clock to restore our services.. our school took them snacks and drinks as often as was possible.. it's my turn to "pay it forward", so.. i write my check and send it to the relief center for Sumatra, and as funds permit i will write another..

War is preventable cause and effect.. not relevent in the context natural disasters.. regardless of its perceived "natural inevitability" (which i disagree with) it is controlable.. our species just hasn't figured that out yet..

Be well..

[ZIM]

Speaking of 'inevitability', its maybe a good time to look ahead a bit.

One natural disaster the population of Indonesia is quite familiar with is erupting volcanoes. Sometimes the region is referred to as the "ring of fire". There are several large and very active volcanoes on Sumatra, at least two within spitting distance of Jakarta itself.

If the maps are at all accurate, there is a faultline which runs up the Bay of Bengal and continues in a great arc into Eastern Mongolia having intersected or joined others along the way.

Were I a betting man, I might put my money on a major volcanic outburst in the next few months, or a large quake somewhere under Bangladesh or in South West China.

[SPJ]

Yes;

There will be aftershocks in days, weeks, months and years.

President Bush said in an address that in these past few days, the loss and tragedy are beyond comprehension.

Big sigh!

Sympathy and condolense!

:(

[ZIM]

good link (http://tsunamihelp.blogspot.com/)

[red5angel]

well said efist.

taichibob - you've obviously misunderstood. no one is trying to draw similarities to the Iraqi war and What is going on in the Indian Ocean, what I said was that because of the Iraqi War (notice the lack of emotional reponse in that phrase) much of the US budget is currently tied up, whether you believe in the war or not, it's a fact.

[Kristoffer]

Red - of corz I would. Where did I say I wouldn't?
I don't get you're post man

[GeneChing]

Listen, I pay taxes like every good American making less than 100K a year, and my tax dollar goes to a lot of things I don't beleive in - don't get me started on that. Helping the needy in crises is something I do believe in. You can bemoan the international reactions of the American government's response all you want. Or you can simply donate your time, energy and money to whatever cause might provide some relief. Arguing about whether or not America is pulling its weight as an international benefactor does little for those in need. If you're really sensitive about this, just donate to any of the many worthy relief efforts that are springing up out of this tragedy. What America does with our taxes is one thing. What we do with our own resources after taxes is up to us.

[red5angel]

my wife and I donated what amounts to about a months pay for both of us. She has been doing the christian chidlrens fund for a while so has an interest in the area personally.

[David Jamieson]

these are very good points from gene and red.

it is two questions:

do you care?

what will you do?

It has nothing to do with what our governments do. It is not our governments purpose to look after other countries. But in times of need, there is money aside for these things and every country gives to or borrows from the IMF or the IDRF, the red cross, the red crescent and of course the funds in place by teh effected countries that already exists.

Back to those two questions. And something we threaded about a while ago in regards to compassion and charity. These two things are necessary to ones Kungfu. Without them (compassion and charity) there is something missing from "kungfu".

Help with what you can, if you can. These people are some of the worst off in the world and they certainly won't turn shy on a helping hand in this time.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

Originally posted by Oso
well, the problem is that no one ever wants to talk about the reality of overpopulation.

actually its one of my favorate topics. i even thought the same thing as you in the back of my head when i heard about this. i even read this whole site pretty much: http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/snuffit4/reading.html

i think they are psychotics but i read it.

i just dont think it's cool to go there just yet. i guess im not one to preach about cooth, but it would be like me brining up overpopulation at your grandmothers funeral. but instead of her being laid out in a funeral home shes rotting on the street. and instead of having one dead grandmother you got about 80 thousand.

or like calling the earth 3k people lighter on 9-12.

i dunno .... i just seen too many dead kids and it makes me feel worse than i have in a long time.

[fa_jing]

My 2 cents: I don't think this natural disaster helps the overpopulation problem. Both people and resources were destroyed. It's not like any people suffering from starvation are suddenly going to eat because of this disaster. If anything, the opposite is true. It may eventually have a positive impact 1000 years from now, but that is pure speculation, and furthermore I don't believe that man really can care what happens 1000 years after his own death. I think we have evolved or whatever to be compassionate to others living in the same time that we do.

OTOH, I don't think Oso is coming from a bad place or anything. I actually think that man naturally wants to rationalize away tragedy, as a way of coping with it. I see it all the time. We do need to go on with our lives. Anyone that takes this pain too close to their heart is going to be out of commission.

To sum up: Nature happens. But everything should be done to alleviate the current problem and try to keep it from recurring again if possible, according to our capabilities.

[MoreMisfortune]

hmm i liked that site GDA

xepct the part where a dude humped another dude and the part where a dude drank pizz

[MoreMisfortune]

this is good stuff man
http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/snuffit1/police.html

[Ming Yue]

:(
over 120,000 now


http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7208303

[ZIM]

...And naturally the email scammers are trying to cash in on the tragedy....here's one:
--------------------------------

Dear Sir/Madam,

With sympathy and heavy laden hearts, we hereby appeal to your sense of generosity to assist by donating any amount you can afford towards The "TSUNAMIS DISASTER HELP FUNDS", which is aimed at assisting the victims of the Asians Tsunamis which took place on Sunday the 26TH December, 2004 .

We are a non- governmental charity organisation with offices and members across 5 continents namely Europe, North America, South America, Africa and Asia. Our goal is to assist poor, innocent survivals of both man-made and natural disasters. Our officials and members are scattered in places in needs of human and material relief as seen in cases of Sudan ( Darfur ) and Haiti etc.

We would appreciate it, if you can send us an email. For further enquiries on how to make donations towards the Tsunamis Disaster Help Funds ( T D H F )

Yours Sincerely
Mr. Cedric Hyzy
Chief Coordinator
-----------------------

Needless to say, ignore these jerks. :mad:

[red5angel]

of course they are.

That's why I'm holding out for a series of natural and man made events that will effectively knockout the current state of this planet. I can then rise up through the ranks of local gangs to create a nation of capoeira killers who will slowly spread across the globe forcing the people to bend to my will and do what I say.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

Originally posted by ZIM
...And naturally the email scammers are trying to cash in on the tragedy....

i would be very happy to personally knife **** any sick **** that would take advantage of a situation like this.

[ngokfei]

can't believe I actually read all these posts at one time

and not be drunk or on drugs
:cool:

I think I'll correct that oversight right now
;)

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

kung lek ....
These two things are necessary to ones Kungfu. Without them (compassion and charity) there is something missing from "kungfu".


interestingly enough jackie chan gave over 60k from his own pocket. at least according to cnn he did.

[TaiChiBob]

Greetings..

First, i humbly apologize if i have misinterpreted anyone's posts..

But, in this time of tragedy and loss on a scale almost beyond belief, i am amazed that folks can elaborate about the philosophical nature of this event.. maybe next year at this time it might be slightly more acceptable.. but, sitting here in the relative safety of our little computer nests and expressing anything less than grief for the departed and best wishes for the survivors (and, you can do that with a check to a reputable relief agency, too).. is callous and disrespectful.. As has been said, when disaster appears on our own doorsteps the perspective seems to have a different impact..

I suppose that i am too willing to believe that human nature is inherently harmonious and well-intended, that chaos and ill-will are acquired or cultivated qualities.. many people tell me i'm an idealist and that the opposite is actually the case.. often the evidence supports that point of view, but.. if i give up my belief in my fellow humans it would greatly diminish the quality of life i currently enjoy..

I sense that most people that take "oh well, it's just Life, accept it" attitudes are just trying to express their "seasoned veteran" personality.. or show how "Tao" they are.. but, for me, my compassion wells up without solicitation, and i express it as a part of the nature of "who i am", the Tao of me.. sure, i can accept this for what it is intellectually and philosophically.. but, that perspective is tempered with the huge loss of life and the magnitude of immediate needs for survival and the long-term rebuilding of the regions affected.. i grieve for the human family.. and am shocked by those that don't.. forgive me if my shock sounds too abrasive.. A tragedy such as this, by my account, is not subject to the tallies and scores of quibbling nations.. it was/is an unpreventable sudden natural disaster that separated hundreds of thousands of people from their souls.. my heart and my resources go out to them..

Be well..

[ZIM]

I don't know, TCB.

Not to argue with your sentiment, as I agree with it, but as I was watching the news last evening, I noted tha many of the makeshift hospitals set up were Buddhist temples.

Which got me thinking. If religious/philosophical beliefs have any value, aren't they for, especially, events like this?

Do the monks view it in any particular way while they do the all-important work of helping? I'm certain of it. And I'm certain it has something to do with valuing the person they have right in front of them, whether dead or alive.

[PangQuan]

This is the largest loss of life to happen in one day that any of us have ever been in existance to witness. I personally take this as an omen. Not the "from above" kind. But the we need to wake up kind. Segregation and hatred has always been a major player in this world. This is just a small example of the fact that we are all in this together. Life. My sorrow goes out to those that have lost the most precious possesion of all, life, family, and safety. I truly hope that welcoming this new year with such a travesty will help those of us who are able to make a difference in the quality of life for all; do just that. I give you all, and those who cannot read this, the best of wishes from my family of one. May we all continue to move forward on a mission of peace.

[TaiChiBob]

Greetings..

ZIM: i'm not sure i follow your connection to my post(s).. i do not disagree with what you have last posted..

PangQuan: Thanks for sharing..

Be well..

[SPJ]

Agreed.

At the moment of a disaster and huge loss of human lives, any words would seem to be detached, cold and heartless.

As they said, everything is without words or speechless.

Alhambra is a predominantly Chinese community in east LA county. They raised over 100,000 $. At one time, there were over a hundred people waiting in line to donate.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. So they said.

[ZIM]

Originally posted by TaiChiBob

ZIM: i'm not sure i follow your connection to my post(s).. i do not disagree with what you have last posted..
No worries, TCB. :)
The connection was more along the lines of amplification, hopefully exploring areas [Buddhist views, etc] more in tune for a MA board. Can't really find those viewpoints in mainstream news, after all.

Speaking of which, does Gene [as a lay monk] have any particular commentary on the tragedy? I'd be curious to read it.

[David Jamieson]

attn: Canadian brothers and sisters.

http://www.redcross.ca

give what you can afford, then give a little more.


For every dollar you give red cross Canada for the tsunami relief effort, the Canadian government will match it.

Make your money do something that is needed to be done urgently.

[cerebus]

Anyone know if the U.S. government has such a program in place? I haven't checked out Red Cross in the U.S. yet, I was looking at some other groups.

[Cung-Fu]

I have yet to hear ANY of these "humanitarian liberal do gooders" in Hollywood donate SHlT yet!

Susan Sarandon, where the FvCK r u when people really need you?

Probably still trying to free the "COP KILLER" mumia.

Makes you wonder where do their principles really lay.

[David Jamieson]

I would be less concerned with hollywood and more concerned with what I could do, but that's just me.

Too many people take an opportunistic spin on a majour tragedy... sometimes nothing is really done at all, and example being the earthquake in Bam, Iran.

There was huge loss of life in a single country, and yet, after a few days, nothing more.

anyway, not the point.
the point is there are some organizations that have the ability to get on teh ground and distribute aid quickly. Thre are a lot of organizations who will take the money, but can't implement. THink about this when you help out if you help out.

Give the much needed cash to those who can implement and distribute. Don't throw your money into a bureaucratic hole, or a possible exploiter or to an organization that has all the best intentions but is impotent.

anyway, ttt, and a reminder that tehse folks are gonna need help, do your new years resolutions include helping others more? Here is your chance.

[SPJ]

Sandra Bullock donated 1 Mil.

She donated the same amount post 9-11.

[ZIM]

Since there isn't a Tsunami warning system in place, the technogeeks out there put one together.

http://sms.x11.net/arc/

http://sms.x11.net/

[David Jamieson]

guy, make your own donation and help out. It doesn't matter what other people do or do not give. What matters is that YOU act.

[cerebus]

Sandra Bullock rocks!!

[MoreMisfortune]

id hit that
two time

[David Jamieson]

http://www.redcross.org

http://www.redcrescent.org

http://www.care.org

http://www.oxfam.org

http://www.unicef.org


These are all reputible organizations that have people in the area and on the ground now. Do your best to help with what you can.

[David Jamieson]

ttt for links to help

[David Jamieson]

ttt

[PangQuan]

This is a great organization, 93 % of donations go to the cause, the other 7 % are set for administrative purposes. For those of you unfamiliar with charity organizations this is rather good.

here is the link

http://www.mercycorps.org/splash/

[ZIM]

Amazon has online donations, at over $13 million at present, 100% of which are going for relief

That's more $ than many nations.

[Cung-Fu]

Sandra Bullock has always seem to be the down to earth type of actress. She is the type you want to bring home to mom.

ShlT I'll bring her anywhere, esp. the bedroom.

[MoreMisfortune]

id hit it one more time
making three time total

[ZIM]

Write to this guy for details- I got it from Lockergnome, looks legit.
========================

Hello,
This is Nick the CEO of CoffeeCup Software.

I'm sure you have heard about the earthquake and tsunamis that have
devastated Asia. Over 120,000 people have died so far and almost 1/3
of these are children.

I just gave to Oxfam - a respected non-profit that is working to help
survivors of this horrible disaster. Oxfam can not give you anything
for your donation, but CoffeeCup can give you software when you help
the people of South Asia.

You can donate quickly and easily online Here:

-> https://secure.ga3.org/02/asia_earthquake04?source=aqt04_cc


If you donate more than $35 email me your receipt and I will give you
your choice of CoffeeCup VisualSite Designer, CoffeeCup Firestarter,
or CoffeeCup PixConverter.

Donate more than $100 and I will give you the CoffeeCup HTML Editor
or CoffeeCup Direct FTP.

Donate $500 or more and I will send you ALL of our software on CD.


To get the software just donate to Oxfam using the link above, then email your receipt and choice of software to: donate@coffeecup.com


Thank you for your support in this time of great need,

Dr. Nicholas Longo - Founder|CEO
CoffeeCup Software Inc.
www.coffeecup.com

[cerebus]

I went with Unicef. ;)

[David Jamieson]

keep it going!

any excess will be redirected to other areas where need is great.

It is sad that it usually takes a disaster to bring out the very best in people, but I hope that 2005 can be a year where the power of the peoples compassion is king over everything else!

Who knows, maybe there is a shot at feeding, clothing, sheltering and educating every single person on the planet. You know that can only lead to a greater peace which is probably the greatest step forward we can take collectively.

[ZIM]

Since this has become the thread for posting news items:
The UN says kids may be in danger (http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0002/20050104/1934424551.htm&photoid=20050104XGO1116&floc=NW_1-T) from gangs sellling them, now that their parents are gone. :(

Of course, the UN doesn't have a lot of moral authority on the kids issue after the whole Congo thing, but still....


maybe there is a shot at feeding, clothing, sheltering and educating every single person on the planet. You know that can only lead to a greater peace As if.
Look, let's not make it a re-distribution of resources thing, OK? Moratorium.

[red5angel]

Who knows, maybe there is a shot at feeding, clothing, sheltering and educating every single person on the planet.


sure, if everyone got a clue, united together and did to all the 3rd world dictators what the US did to Iraq, we certainly would have a hope of feeding, clothing and educating the worlds masses. ;)

[David Jamieson]

Keep those contributions rolling in guys and gals.

[SPJ]

Jackie Chan donated 0.5 Mil HK $.

There will be a concert on Friday evening. All the "stars" from Taiwan, China and HK will perform to raise $.

The theme song is "We are the world".

[cerebus]

Well Kung Lek, I agree that it's too bad that it takes a disaster to bring people to contribute to charities, but some of us can barely even pay our own bills as it is.

If I was making a comfortable income, then I'd be happy to contribute regularly. However it was only as recently as November of '02 that I myself was homeless & living on the street. Given a few more years to make a decent income, it'll probably be different. But for now, I have to limit when & to whom I donate (& I imagine a few other people are in a similar situation).

Though I agree that griping about rich people not giving doesn't get us anywhere, it can be a frustrating thing to see (though, just because the rich folks aren't being public about it doesn't mean they're NOT giving, of course). ;)

[SPJ]

President Bush donated 10,000 $ personally.

Australia is on the top for now as far as amount of $ donated for the relief of south Asia.

China donated 65 mil.

Taiwan donated 50 mil.

[MoreMisfortune]

schumacher (if thats how you spell it) donated 10 milion

[SPJ]

Men or Mensch.

This is the time I wish I have some wealth, too.

:D

[PangQuan]

I personally dont make much, yet i donate 20 bucks every month. I have a sponsor kid in the Phillipines. i just dont buy that coffee once a week. its all about moderation. in general rich people are just greedy *****s. Thats how they got rich, stepping on others and ripping people off. Not all however. I was homeless and on the streets for 3 years of my teenage years. It has taught me the importance of charity. Of course i never got any other then what my friends could spare, couch or floor on occasion. Sometimes it is amazing at how much you actually get in return when you give a little.

[SPJ]

Jet Li explained his near death experience with Tsunami in the concert.

He was with his 2 daughters and an aunt. They were near the swimming pool. He started to notice the waves acting strangely and turning in circles. He picked up one daughter and urged the other to move back into hotel. The water came near his knee and then the waist. He turned around. The building and the swimming pool were gone. They were in the ocean.

One of his daughter was rushed out by the water. Luckily saved by one of the hotel staff.

--

Jet Li will travel to the states and Europe to raise money for the relief. Once he is done with the concert in HK.

[SPJ]

In the concert, over 100 stars from China, Taiwan and HK all performed and donated some funds.

There are many things auctioned to raise money.

One thing caught my eyes is the chart called Diamond Sutra in Lotus. It is hand written Jing Gong Jing with a lotus pattern.

This side of the world;

Steven Spielberg donated 1.5 Mil.

[cerebus]

:confused:

[SPJ]

Yes; Christians' views are that natural disasters are from God to punish people, because people have sinned.

We are once reminded of the fact that how small we are and how fragile our lives are compared with the force of nature.

Daoists' views would be that everything is following the Dao.

Buddhists' views are that lives are all but sufferring, aging, and death. These are inevitable. How to see thru them; how to accumulate good deeds to set in good karma; stop the wheel of reincarnation and reach enlightenment.

Money may not buy back lives that were lost. But it will help the surviving people to survive and rebuild livelihood from debris.

Food, water, medicine, tents, reconstructions. vacc, etc.

We do share one living space which is planet earth.

We do flow the same warm blood in our bodies.

We do share sorrows and grieves of our fellow dwellers on the planet.

We do feel for and try to help the less fortunate and deprived among us.

We do pray for the families and friends living around the India ocean and surviving the historical disaster of the 21 century.

Giving a helping hand that we could money wise or not.

[cerebus]

I'm just not sure what Wolfen's point was.... if he had one.

[SPJ]

I have no clue, either.

:D

[ZIM]

Originally posted by SPJ
Yes; Christians' views are that natural disasters are from God to punish people, because people have sinned.

[snip]
I wouldn't dream of speaking for all other faiths [although I might interpret them *by* mine] so I'll just make a wee suggestion: Perhaps the word "some" should be placed before "Christians"

Otherwise it's just another offensive statement in a world of them. Don't you agree? :)

[SPJ]

Yes. Well said.

Agreed.

Christians are about love and the greatest love of all from God.

Christians are about salvations, too.

Love our neighbors like ourselves.

---

[MoreMisfortune]

i wouldnt say "some", id say "quite a bunch"
specially on the poor and less educated i have seen this partern more easily found
BUT
the poor are a not minority!

well at least not here

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

i would urge everyone to keep the focus of the thread on dontating what we can and our general sympathies.

[ZIM]

Originally posted by GunnedDownAtrocity
i would urge everyone to keep the focus of the thread on dontating what we can and our general sympathies. You and your URGES! :mad:


:D

ttt

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

zim.....
You and your URGES!

hehe ... my urges used to be quite something different on the forum didnt they?

i just dont want to see this get into a philosophical debat about the tsunami. not with that ******* anyway. we went a couple rounds with oso at the begining of this thread, but that was cool cause oso isn't a cock monger. this guy isnt oso and i believe he loves the cock. i avoided saying that intially (after an edit) as i didnt want to play into his hands and start an argument on this thread. i have since been added to his ignore list so i can speak freely now.

he can not like sympathy all he wants, but it's ****ing obvious that that's exactly what this thread is intended for. maybe we should start another thread where people can talk about their philosophical views on the tsunami. i'd do it myself but ****face here is the only one that really needs directed there and im on his ignore list :) i just think this thread has been awesome and i'd hate to see him ruin it. i wouldnt be running my mouth if it were someone else, but he's proven on other threads that he has the capacity to do so.

sorry zim ... that obviously all wasn't intended for you but i really needed to vent that.

kung leks incessant canadian head flapping about giving instead of *****ing is 100 percent on the dot. i know not everyone can afford much, but both ebay and amazon or setup to take donations as small as one dollar. bugets are tight but if your online reading this now, the odds are you can afford one dollar.

[cerebus]

Welllll Wolfen.... you can walk around "feeling" all the "love" you wish, it won't help feed a single starving child. Donating some money however might feed several children.

Your comments about "conscience" being "bought off" has no bearing on this incident. Why should anyone's "conscience" bother them? Did they cause or contribute to the disaster?

And what, exactly, would you suggest we do to help (other than walking around feeling all loving)? I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not able to just drop my entire life (such as it is) and run over to give physical assistance (though I wish that I could).

If you have a point, you're losing it by trying too hard to sound like a fortune cookie.

[ZIM]

coffee coffee coffee yum yum (http://www.coffeereview.com/article.cfm?ID=100)
It may seem a bit ghoulish to carry on about the pleasures of Sumatra coffee when communities not very far from the Sumatra growing regions are suffering through a catastrophe of unimaginably horrific proportions. However, as stark as the contrast may be between a coffee cup and news footage of upended cars, shattered houses and body bags, appreciating Sumatra coffee can only help Sumatrans. The higher the price paid and the more recognition the small-holding farmers of the Sumatran highlands receive for their coffees, the quicker the entire region, including the tsunami-swept northern lowlands, can return to something resembling normality.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

no thats actually great idea.

donating is awesome, but maybe we could also try to buy some of their stuff for a while. for people who buy imported coffee that would be perfect. i may try some just because.

what else comes out of there that we could buy up?

[cerebus]

Wow, this guy's a real loonie toon isn't he? I was giving him the benefit of the doubt and he thinks I was "trolling" him. He obviously doesn't know what the term means. Well at least he put me on "ignore" so I won't have to listen to him rant at me.

Ya gotta laugh at someone who joins a discussion forum and puts everyone on his "ignore" list so they won't disturb the conversation he's having with himself... :D :D :D

[SPJ]

Maybe I was only 4 years old.

We lived in the police dormitories on the hillside in Keelung, Northern Taiwan. It is called the city of rains. It rains may be over 250 days a year. Anyway, there was a good drainage system to the river and out to the sea. That winter the rainfalls were more than usual. And yes, there would be a mudslide.

My mom told me that, the water somehow overwhelmed the drainage system. The water reached the beds. We were all wakened up and evacuated to a more secure higher place. The whole city was on alert for mudslide.

The same nite it happened. The whole building was buried in mud. It took the Army engineer corp to dig everything out. Everything was ruined. The beds, TV, furnitures etc. We only had a few clothings with us. And yes, the government, the city police and central police admin took care of us.

If there was no warning or evacution, I will not be typing this to tell the story.

[SPJ]

I went to Costco and Henry's market. They both have donation boxes linked to international Red Cross.

Beware of internet donation scams.

When I was 6 years old, there was a big earthquake. My whole family hid under the bed. The whole building was shaking violently. We were at 2nd story. There was no time to get out.

When I was 8 years old, there was a flood from Tam Sui river on the Taipei county side. The water submerged many houses. Our building was on highest ground. We were on the 4th story at the time.

----

I was in California in early 1990's. I was shaked up early in the morning. It was the Northridge earth quake.

---

But nothing like the Tsunami of 2004.

---

[ZIM]

A Roy named Tsu (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20050101/od_nm/quake_india_baby_dc)

[ZIM]

Programmers take note! (http://otasblog.blogspot.com/)

[SPJ]

A link to good organizations for the relief.

Relief (www.networkforgood.org/topics/international/earthquake/tsunami122604.aspx?source=AOL&cmpgn=CRS)

[ZIM]

ttt

[SPJ]

It is just a link.

I am only aware of Red Cross and UNICEF.

I do not know the other organizations well.

So I am not endorsing any organization there.

[ZIM]

Originally posted by wolfen
TTT?
To the Top?

Zim... this thread is a sticky! Yes/no. When you view 'most recent posts' it doesn't show unless posted upon.

[David Jamieson]

Organizations that are on the ground and can do the most:

red cross/red crescent

world vision

oxfam

care

unicef

doctors without borders

various military units and civil engineers from a variety of countries.

many people have undertaken to charter aircraft and get supplies there themselves.
The response has been unprecedented and it is indeed a reassurance in humanity when people act in this way.

By the way, The need for Doctors is not that great. The need for carpenters on the other hand is huge. These folks need to rebuild.
Any ideas on how to get building supplies and labour to the area would probably be greatly welcome at this point.

[David Jamieson]

I agree, The Buddhist Temples have been a huge factor in helping the people. The temples in your area are very likely to have something going on and I would say this is an excellent point to engage your money, time or services with.

This is a large logistical problem because of distribution and access. There is definitely overlapping and redundancy in some areas, but with a little time it will get sorted and this is to be expected.

There is also civil strife in Sri Lanka and this is causing some problems with distribution to Tamil held areas. So, if you want to help the Tamil peoples, then it is at this point probably good to give directly to a tamil organization if there is one in your area.
Not saying it is all bad, but it is in the bounds of human nature to use these types of catastrophic events to good or bad purposes.

Don't let this small factor of -bad- deter you from giving to the whole.

[Ming Yue]

In my town (Asheville, NC), the Habitat for Humanity has pledged $25,000 US and is calling for individuals to match that amount.

$50K will build one Habitat home here, but will build about 65 homes in the hardest hit areas.

Habitat International so far has raised $2M for the cause.

http://www.habitat.org/

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

ultima online players have raised quite a nice sum of money thanks to a guy named crazy joe. basically he took in game donations of gold/items, sold them on ebay, and gave 100% of the proceedes to red cross. to my understanding hes submitted one check for 3k and is working on his second.

http://www.crazyjoe.us/

[David Jamieson]

well, just to flap my canadian head a little more with some simple math.

For 60$ (cdn) you can feed a family for an entire month!

A month!

I know many of us here don't have a lot of cash, or even much extra. But we can give up a soda pop, or a beer or that take out pizza.

If all you have to give is 5$, that five dollars will fill a few peoples bellies and give em a bottle of clean water or twenty.

On a personal note, this global grassroots action has really restored a lot of my own dwindling faith in humanity. I feel better than I've felt in a very long time seeing people stretch their hearts like this. I am only sorry that such a tragedy has occured.

My coin jar is empty, how about yours?

[Vajramusti]

A report from the field (as Kung lek points out- the outpouring of help is heartwarning and necessary. We are human first!)

There are now 7 people on our team, including two Indonesian drivers.
One works for a Malaysian couple that has joined us for a week. There
are two medical nurses and a nurses' aide from Norway, and myself. We
arrived in Band Aceh last night and slept in the parking lot of the mosque
here. The city is unbelievably wiped out, with 120,000 people dead,
70,000 missing and over a million homeless. The numbers change all the
time, but you get the picture. I slept in my one man tent with the smell
of death and wondering if another wave will sweep us all away as well.
You will get some actual photos when I hae the opportunity. I'm using
the computer in the mosque right now, which is being used as a refugee
camp and coordination center for the relief effort.
Today we will go to the surronding camps and help those that have
medical needs, and I will be working with those that need food and housing.
We are going to find a base camp outside Band Aceh near a villiage that
needs long term help, (building shelters, latrines, clothes and
rehabilitation in general.) There were 4 earthquakes here yesterday, but we
were on the way here, so I don't have the details of the destruction.
Almost everything is already destroyed, so it is hard to tell what is from
before the last quakes. Most buildings, cars and people were swept away
and it's just a mud pile of rubble, with cars, pieces of homes and
bodies mixed together. They found three thousand bodies just yesterday, and
shipped out 42,000 because there was no more room to bury people here.
Our group is gathering to get back on the road, so I don't know when
I'll have access to another computer. Thank you again for being a real
help to the people here. Your encouragement is needed and appreciated by
my whole team.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

thats really awesome dude.

you guys are ****ing heroes.

[cerebus]

That's great that you're over there doing this. I wish more of us could join you. Keep up the good work man! ;)

[SPJ]

Hollywood at its best.

The concert of hope with American Red Cross.

I listened to Drew Berrymore.

Some may listen to Ben Affleck.

It is amazing to see so many "stars" working together for a good cause.


:cool:

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

i didnt even know about that.

i usually dont have much to say good about ben aflak, but good for him.

[Serpent]

You know what ****es me off? This is a serious tragedy, to be sure and lots of generosity from the wealthy is needed. BUT, it's f@#ked that it takes something like this for it to happen. There are people all over the world that are starving and in need of medical aid and food and shelter ALL THE TIME! Imagine if humanity pulled together like this all the time...

[herb ox]

Yes, bredren,

how good and how pleasant it is to read about folks who want to make a difference and finally get beyond menial bickering. I almost lost hope for the main forum... whew! :) I never thought this thread would make it as a sticky...

positive vibes alive

herb ox

[Vajramusti]

Well, I'm sleeping in my one man tent on the same grounds as the tsunami refugees in Band Aceh. The ground still smells of death and is full of flies. (There were hundreds of bodies piled there just a few days before we set up camp, but at least it's reasonable dry except for the three days and nights of continual rain.)
Communication has been a problem due to the dialect thing. We have a Malaysian woman on our team who has been much help in getting connections to MERCY Malaysia, who has given us unlimited access to medicines that we need, as well as some clothing for the refugees we found in the mountain. In the meantime, I've been brushing up on my Acehen, the language of the locals and also the GAM geurrilas, (not the big monkeys, but the 'rebels' in the area). Here's some examples...

Ngon Tony, Bek Timbak!
(Friend Tony, Don't shoot!)
Tony baje makanan, ie, ngen ilowe, ubat, silop, anak mit sipatu.
(Tony gives food, water, clothes,medicine, sandals, and children's shoes.)
Pue saket? Loen saket ule? Ciret? Loen Suum? Loen Sijuk? Muntah? Prot saket?
(Where's pain? Headache? Diarrea? Fever? Chills? Vomit? Stomach ache?)

I understand that the GAM are everywhere, hard to distinguish between the Indonesian Army because they have the same uniforms, and have advanced technology, weaponry and unlimited financial backing. I may have even met some while visiting the mountain refugees, but I've heard some are 'nice' and others are ruthless cowboys. I may even have a bunch in my tai chi group.
Anyway, we will be leaving to a section of the West coast in a couple of days that has not received any medical attention, and no personell has arrived to even access the situation there. The US military has air-dropped food and water and saw refugees fighting over the cargo.
I spoke with a general in the Malaysian Army that has two helicopters and 500 infantry as well as a complete MASH unit that may be willing to help. I'll know more this evening what extent he is willing and able to assist. Our other option is to find a captain and boat to get us there, because there is no access by road, but that will cost us an arm and a leg, and I'm already running short.:)
I'm going to forward thios news to some others because I have limited access to the computer, and will soon have none. I hope to be able to afford a satellite phone in case we need supplies or emergency evacuation. If I can find one it will cost $800. Hopefully we can get my general friend to drop us off and won't have to pay for the boat, but even so, we may try to find a friendly local who can get us around the coast to other villages by boat.
I hope all is well at the kwoon and with your life. I'm doing fine. Say hello to everyone and I'll do my best to answer their emails little by little.

Bless,
Tony

PS I was on tv two days ago teaching tai chi and kung fu to the local refugees, and there was such a great response to the story that they woke us up at 5AM to do a one hour special today. Over one billion people in Indonesia watch the broadcast. All of a sudden, many people recognise me and say 'Hi Mister!' and make some tai chi kind of moves.

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

any updates?

[ZIM]

A baby hippo & a tortoise (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/asiaquakekenya)

/waiting for a hippo/tortoise style to come out ;)

[tug]

Vaj, you are going to be rewarded greatly in the next life for the work you are doing over there. The thoughts and prayers of my family and friends are with you and all the other emergency workers, the survivors and their families.

It's been two weeks since your last post, how is it going?

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

keep the news coming if you hear anything else then.

its sad to think that while our focus on the tsunami isn't quite what it was, the suffering of the victims still is.

it makes me feel guilty, but i guess thats the way of things when they happen on the other side of the world. i'm sure i wouldnt be as distracted by other things if i were there like tony.

[GeneChing]

Inspired by his Tsunami experience in Maldives, Jet Li is initiating a charitable organization he is called ONE Foundation. To find out more about the project, see his official website (http://jetli.com/jet/index.php?s=work&ss=projects&p=one).

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

i hope this pans out for him. if it does ill definitely sign up and contribute. the idea is great as so many more people would be willing to give a single dollar a month vs. thinking they had to do 20 or even 5. however, to be completely honest im not 100% optomistic about it getting off the ground. i think it could, but its not going to be easy.

[GeneChing]

We have a potential co-op project that I'm working on through our non-profit branch, the Tiger Claw Foundation (http://www.tigerclawfoundation.org). According to a representative of Jet Li, the ONE foundation is still under development and probably won't be fully operational for a few more months. Until then, Jet has another charity group that he supports called Awakening Buddha - I'm still getting more information on that. Since they've had some response on the ONE foundation (from us, specifically) they have proposed setting up a special dedicated fund at Awakening Buddha until ONE is established. I'll let you know more here as I know more...

[GunnedDownAtrocity]

i think someone took his name.

http://www.one.org/

unless thats his but it doesnt look like it.

[GeneChing]

Go to Jet's site - http://jetli.com/ - he has information on the front page now.

We just received 25 UNLEASHED posters, autographed by Jet Li, which we will be raffling through the Tiger Claw Foundation to raise funds and awareness of the ONE foundation. I'll let you know more as soon as things are settled. Expect an announcement in the next week or two...

[GeneChing]

See our new fundraiser at TigerClawFoundation.org (http://www.tigerclawfoundation.org/) :D

[Odin of Wei]

Did anyone hear Jet Li on Howard Stern like a week ago.

Stern kept saying that he did karate and kept whining about how he could kick his ass. :p

[GeneChing]

Here are the results of our Tiger Claw Foundation fundraiser for the ONE foundation. (http://tigerclawfoundation.org/pastprojects/project_unleashed.htm)

[MasterKiller]

Why is this thread still sticky?

[GeneChing]

On the whole, I don't beleive in sticky threads. I find them undemocratic. But this was a karma act, and we cling to the acts of good karma, perhaps. So shines a good deed in a weary world.

[MasterKiller]

There is no such thing as good karma. All accumulation of karma is bad.

[GeneChing]

If there's karmic debt, it follows logically that there is karmic credit. I certainly hope so because otherwise I might be karmically bankrupt. ;)

[SPJ]

I believe in Karma.

Yes, Karma does not know good or evil.

Cause and effect.

If you do a lot of good deeds, you are accumulating your Yin De.

If you do not receive the good results in this life, your posteriors may benefit, too.

Goodness brings goodness.

Evils begets evils.

So they said.

:D