Friday’s 9.0 magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami have left Japan devastated. Officials have estimated that more than 10000 people may have been killed cities have been wiped off the map and the economic cost is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
On top of all this a small band of nuclear technicians and scientists are the last defense separating the island nation from a full-blown nuclear catastrophe. As we sit watching television or reading the news our hearts are with the Japanese people. But what can we do?
As students at Pepperdine we have a natural inclination to just want to go there be the boots on the ground aiding victims personally. But is this the best way to help? Oftentimes not. Helping firsthand makes us feel better personally but it’s usually economically inefficient. I have compiled a list of various ways to help that cost a lot less than a $1000 round-trip airline ticket and in the end could be even more beneficial.
1. Donate to World Vision. The organization has already put out a $10 million appeal the funds from which according to the organization will go toward “non-food relief items supplies for babies and small children support for women and interventions for children who are separated from their parents including their safety.” Donations can be made at worldvision.org. If you feel like helping out in a more personal way making a long-term commitment you can sponsor a child for $35 a month. Last time I checked that was just a little bit more than I pay for my Verizon data coverage every month. If you sponsor a child he or she will probably not be in Japan but we can’t let the situation in Japan allow us to forget about other people in need around the world.
2. Text. A number of organizations have begun accepting donations via text message. You can text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to donate $10 which will be charged to your cell phone bill. You can also text “JAPAN” or “QUAKE” to 80888 to donate $10 to the Salvation Army.
3. Buy a Lady Gaga “Japan Earthquake” bracelet. If you think that helping isn’t worth it without tangible evidence of your good will you can buy a bracelet for $5. According to MTV the effort had already raised $250000 on Tuesday only two days after the campaign was launched. Bracelets can be purchased on her website.
4. Get on iTunes. Yes even Apple has jumped into the aid fray. Donations from anywhere between $5 and $200 can be made to the Red Cross via the iTunes Store.
It’s as easy as buying the latest Justin Bieber album or even Rebecca Black’s thought-provoking new hit “Friday.”
5. Sell some baked goods. If you’re cash poor a bake sale is always a good idea. A $2 box of brownie mix can turn into $10 or $15. Sell the first batch buy another box and bake another batch. Even if you don’t have the eggs and oil needed I’m sure your neighbor would be willing to give you what you need.
6. Pay your taxes. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) already has search and rescue teams on the ground looking for survivors. And the U.S. Navy’s USS?Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is already off the coast assisting the Japanese Self-Defense Forces with relief efforts.
With any donation it’s important to be aware of the type of work the organization does. While people’s hearts are usually in the right place with situations like this there is such a thing as “bad aid.” If you want to check out the work a non-profit is doing there are websites that can help. Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) and GuideStar (guidestar.org) both offer tools to evaluate how efficiently non-profits are managed providing valuable information that can help you make an informed decision.
