As with every political uproar, natural disaster, war and celebrity break-up, the media has a tendency to drive issues into the ground. The fact that we become desensitized to tragedy and important issues so easily is a reflection of this. Also to blame is perhaps our somewhat hardened nature.
But apathy doesn’t go far. We must notice the real-life happenings of the world and be prepared to lend a hand when we’re needed.
And we are needed. The tsunami that devastated the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries is being referred to as one of the deadliest disasters in modern history. It was triggered by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean that registered 9.0 on the Richter scale, causing 50 foot waves to batter coastlines and cities. Even the east coast of Africa, 2,800 miles from the epicenter of the quake, felt the effects.
At least 175,000 people have died as a result of the tsunami, but this number is inconclusive and the estimate rises daily. We are shocked by this news, but do we really understand what these statistics mean? To put the number in perspective, it’s just as if our capital city Jackson (population: 179,000) was simply wiped out.
The after-effects are proving equally debilitating. Original fears were of starvation and epidemics. The United Nation’s rapid efforts to provide food to the survivors quickly quelled the fear of starvation, but the epidemics are a different story.
There have already been multiple cases of tetanus and gangrene, and threats of cholera, diphtheria, dysentery and typhoid are still looming dangerously.
More than $3 billion has been pledged by national governments ($350 million coming from the United States), but much more is needed to repair the countries’ economic damages and food and water shortages.
Perhaps I’m cynical, but it’s depressing that at a time when we’re needed desperately to save lives we can’t offer more than the combined annual salaries of Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg. The wealthiest country in the world by far, we are embarrassingly overshadowed in donations by Australia, who pledged almost $800 million to the cause.
That’s not to say that celebrities aren’t offering a hand. The NBC and Red Cross-sponsored Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope featured artists such as Madonna, Elton John and Diana Ross. A cricket match in Australia brought in more than $15 million for the cause.
So where do we come in? It may feel as if we’re completely disconnected from the situation that’s happening halfway around the world, but this does not excuse us from helping somehow.
Donations of clothes, foodstuffs and other non-financial supplies aren’t helpful, as the cost of transporting them exceeds the cost of buying them locally. As far as monetary donations, though, every little bit helps. The Union bookstore is accepting donations of a dollar, which you can contribute while making a purchase. If you’re shelling out $400 for textbooks, what’s the harm in one more? If you have more to contribute, there is a mile-long list of organizations accepting donations for aid on MSNBC.com.
The immediate response of the world towards the tsunami relief effort is amazing and, though it may not seem like it, help can and should come from Mississippi State as well, which you can help to accomplish by a small donation, in whatever increment you can spare. No amount is too small to be appreciated.
Erin Clyburn is a sophomore English major. She can be reached at [email protected].