Tsunamis All Around Us

It is inspiring to me that as we arrive at and pass the two month mark since the devastating tsunami in southeast Asia that interest has not waned. People are still giving and people are still responding. The response to the need that was created by the devastation has been amazing. However, it might be good to look at the tsunamis all around us. The latest figures put deaths related to the earthquake and tsunami at 160,000. Think about this: (All figures courtesy of Faithful America at www.faithfulamerica.org)

World Hunger claims lives at a rate of more than one tsunami PER WEEK!

World hunger, one of the most preventable of human tragedies, claims 25,000 lives every day, according to Bread for the World.

HIV-AIDS kills at a rate of more than 19 tsunamis in one year!

HIV-AIDS may surpass the black plague as humanity’s worst epidemic, according to Peter Lamptey, president of the Family Health International Aids Institute. An estimated 14,000 people worldwide are infected and 8000 die EVERY DAY.

The killing in Sudan equals, in the most “optimistic” scenario, roughly 2 tsunamis; the worst case scenario is 7 tsunamis!

If the genocide in Sudan continues unchecked, according to Andrew Natsios, head of the U.S. Agency for International Aid, “We will have one million casualties. If things improve we can get it down to about 300,000 deaths."

All of these figures tend to seem overwhelming. You may wonder how we could even begin to help with problems so big. That was the same question many asked when the tsunami hit. But faithful people took action. While the people who perished will never be brought back, the outpouring of money, love and service has made a tremendous impact on the communities trying to pick up the pieces. Imagine what the same love, compassion, and resolve can do for the preventable tragedies all around us.

Just some things to think about.

peace,

will