Japan Earthquake. Korea. Canada. Others. How to help.

Well maybe to get the selfish part out of the way first. To friends in Canada and elsewhere: I'm fine, Korea itself is fine and everyone else here is fine as there have been no effects from the earthquake that hit Japan felt here to date. Fortunately for Korea, the epicentre was off of Japan's east coast and we didn't even feel it here.

Now to the sad news and the real story. At least 300 people are dead after the worst earthquake in Japanese (recorded) history - and in the most earthquake prone country on earth that's saying something. Pictures on the Korean news broadcasts paint an ugly picture and, unfortunately, the number of dead will probably rise. I do think it is a credit to the Japanese earthquake prepardeness training system and earthquake proof building design that *relatively* few fatalities have been recorded thus far. While that's not much comfort to anyone, in a place a densly populated a Tokyo I think it could have been much, much worse. Property damage will cost billions to repair and will take weeks or months.

Other places seem relatively unaffected. The cast of Twilight have been safely evacuated off the west coast of Vancouver island (seriously) and the Hawaiian coast guard report no serious damage, though insurance agents that insure boats will be busy next week. One man died in California when he and two friends decided to go out on the beach to film the incoming tsunami...... I will simply cite this as further proof of natural selection and move on. No serious damage in the Philippines or Indonesia either, who also had warnings issued.

Canadian, U.S and Australian Red Cross already have funds set up and you can donate online. Korean Red Cross doesn't seem to yet, but I'm sure it's on the way. The Japanese Red Cross website was down when I last checked, if up it's probably the best way to give to help people today. If you are in China check the Hong Kong Red Cross, I haven't yet but they are usually faster than their mainland counterparts. You can use http://www.xe.com/ to figure out what yen, or any other currency, is worth in whatever currency you are donating in. We've put in out $100can through the Canadian Red Cross already, it's easy to do. Canada also has its fund up for the New Zealand earthquake, so if you are feeling especially generous remember them as well. Other ways to help: buy something Japanese. A new Nintendo game, a six pack of Asahi Premium (delicious btw) or anything else you can think of. That cash will go back in to the Japanese economy and, in a small way, help rebuild.