[Worldwalker]

Leebase, there are times when your position is not appropriate. This is one of them.

And yes, the effects of the Japanese earthquake are rippling through many other areas. I keep tropical fish, and I was looking forward to my local fish store getting in some red cherry shrimp yesterday. No shrimp, and there aren't going to be any shrimp -- theirs come straight from Japan. (they're little bright red freshwater shrimp ... very decorative in fish tanks if you like that sort of thing; I do) Countries are linked together in the modern world in ways we don't even notice until some of them affects us personally.

Unlike, say, Haiti, Japan is a very rich country. They're not going to be struggling to pay for their earthquake repairs. But anything that goes to support outside groups (urban SAR teams, etc.) going to help, especially those whose countries are not paying their travel bills, could be a huge help. During a natural disaster, people like SAR dog handlers, emergency doctors, etc., get on the planes first and think about how to pay for it later. Help from their fellow citizens is what makes it possible.

Something else overlooked is support for their employers. Do you have a co-worker who might not show up some morning, with only a "in the field, back when I can" note in their place? It can be hard to find a boss that allows that sort of thing. His donation is a hole in his business, and that, too, needs to be dealt with. Pitch in and make sure their work gets done. Long ago, I was that person; you would not believe how much it matters to know that your job is being covered while you're getting your two hours of sleep on a cement slab somewhere. Are you one of their customers? Cut them some slack; they can't be here to help you, they're helping people who need them more than you do. They'll be back, probably tired and sore and with haunted eyes and stories they can't tell, but they'll be back. Knowing that their customers, too, think what they're doing is more important than the optimal distribution of wealth is another sanity saver.

And as for getting an iPad, if you wanted one: Certain people thinking of Apple's profits. That's what they're here for. Buy, buy, buy. But for those of us with hearts, those who aren't paid to only care about a particular company, yes, it does matter. Not just for the benefits to the people who need it right now, but to ourselves. Feeling good about yourself instead of greedy is worth more than any gadget. Just time-shift your spending. Let's say your discretionary funds, which you've been saving for your iPad, amount to $X per month. You find out that one will be available for you in 3 months. So you have $3X from your iPod fund you can spend on relief aid, and then refill the fund over the next 3 months from your discretionary line item. You're doing what you can to help, so you feel good. You're still buying an iPad as soon as you can, so the company shills are happy. Everybody wins.

p.s. Doctors Without Borders is always a good charity to support if you don't have a personal favorite already. They focus more on the undeveloped parts of the world than the urbanized ones, but they do have teams in Japan.