But if you're going to look, you might as well stop and help, too.
Following this tragedy reminds me of an article Nicholas Kristof wrote recently discussing the marketing of social issues. He writes how people in the global west are less inclined to help those in the developing world when the issues are presented to them in a way that makes the problem look huge; people are more likely to help when they realize they can better the life of one individual person.
I'm not sure how this theory works in disaster situations, whether the magnitude of destruction and loss in a disaster such as the recent Haitian earthquake prompts people to help or overwhelms them even more. Yet I think it's important to remember that each dollar we are able to contribute goes far. The Red Cross' campaign that allows people to text HAITI to 90999 donates $10 immediately, and is charged to your next phone bill, has already raised $3 million.
A little bit can go a long way.
If you are someone who makes a bit more money and can spare more than $10, here is another idea that will greatly touch Haitian lives. This email came across our desks today at work, and knowing that the lack of clean water is a huge cause of death for survivors of the initial disaster, this effort involves donations of water filters (for as cheap as $60) which are then matched by an outside organization.
Translation: You donate one water filter. Haiti gets two.
Single handedly, there isn't much any of us can do to better the lives of Haitians. But together, if we act in whatever small way we can, the possibilities of what can be done are unimaginable. You are only powerless if you choose not to act. Below is a small list of some blogs I read and some organizations I know of that are doing good work regarding Haiti, and development in general. Feel free to send along others that you know of.
People to follow on Twitter: http://bit.ly/4uShpS
ONE Campaign's Blog: http://www.one.org/blog/
Organizations to support with longstanding projects/relationships in Haiti:
Partners in Health: http://bit.ly/7bsUly
The organization I work for has a list of development agencies involved in Haitian relief. The list has over 20 organizations and can be found here.
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Another email that crossed my desk from the Department of Health and Human services suggests supporting these organizaitons:
InterAction: http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti
Better Business Bureau-Charities Providing Haiti Earthquake Relief: www.bbb.org/us/article/charities-providing-haiti-earthquake-relief-14690
Global Giving-Haiti Earthquake Relief: http://www.globalgiving.org/haiti-earthquake/
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