I'm sure you've seen this everywhere you frequent and by now you probably know what's going on with Japan. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs, homes, and the death toll for the recent earthquake and following tsunami keeps rising every day. There are many ways for everyone to help, mostly through donations; any amount of money can help. This post on egl has many tips and resources for those wishing to help out with relief efforts in Japan.
However, during this disaster, you can't forget about the other atrocities happening in the world at this time. Libya is in the midst of a serious civil war and thousands of men, women, and children are being raped, tortured, and slaughtered every day. This New York Times article gives a good timeline of what's been going on in Libya currently; in fact, the newspaper is reporting issues a little too well, as four Times journalists have gone missing in Libya. While there are definitely not as many opportunities to help those in need here, just being knowledgeable and spreading the word can help.
Everyone should know about the issues going on in their own country as well. I live in the United States and there are many charities here that need help too. Everyone has been hit by the global recession and charities are not excluded. Approximately 3.5 million people in the United States experience homelessness every year, and 1.4 million of those people are under 18. Homeless shelters and food banks are having serious problems keeping up with the growing demand of the increasing homeless population, and every single one of them would be grateful for any donations.
While the earthquake in Japan is definitely a big issue, you shouldn't forget about the other problems plaguing the world at the same time. Definitely donate to Japanese relief charities if you are financially able to do so. However, don't forget that other nations and even people in your own country are struggling and there are so many things that everybody can do to help.
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