Everyone has heard about the devastating earthquake in Haiti.

As earthquakes are something I work with on a(n almost) daily basis (the scientific part of it, anyway), this one hit close to home. You know, I am in this constant dilemma that I am really fascinated by natural disasters, which are bound to happen no matter what, and at the same time really shocked and petrified by the destruction and pain that they leave behind. Obviously, our research is mainly concerned with studying the patterns of natural disasters in order to issue warnings and save lives.
Still, it’s kind of disturbing to admit that sometimes we’re “thrilled” at the office when something that we were predicting actually happens. We are a far cry from actually predicting the exact time and intensity of natural disasters; research and historic records are much too young to even begin to recognize larger patterns, and the vast number of different  factors that are involved in a natural disaster adds to the “confusion”. However, we do know the areas that are most prone to be hit and can at least try to educate the public and public officials to have an emergency plan in place.

I honestly wasn’t aware that Haiti was situated on or near an “active” fault zone, but that’s not saying much, because apparently “Scientists have warned for years that the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic, was at risk for a major earthquake.” But one scientist also said that “The problem with these kinds of strikes is that they can remain quiescent — dormant — for hundreds of years. So it’s hard to predict when they’ll occur.” And this is exactly the crux of the matter – people, even here in earthquake-susceptible California, are just NOT PREPARED. We shouldn’t be surprised that Haiti, a country with so many other pressing problems on the forefront, was even less prepared for a disaster of this magnitude.
Just because scientists KNOW about something, it doesn’t necessarily mean that their warnings will be met with instant action.

Kelly has started an initiative that everybody should be part of:

The Help Haiti Blog Challenge

It’s basically the idea that everybody has something to offer and that you could offer a trade: your thing for cash, to donate to charity doing relief work in Haiti. Since I am not really producing/selling anything right now (even though that might change in the future – heads up!), I’ve already donated to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund yesterday. I donated $20, and I’m willing to donate more, because every dollar counts. Even if you can only spare $10, or even $5.

Everybody can spare $5  – just skip one of your daily caffeine fixes at Starbucks!

Do not NOT donate, because you think it’s not going to make a difference. It will. Haiti will have a long way of recovery ahead of itself – it’s not only about getting food, water and medical supplies to the victims of the earthquake now, but it’s also about helping to rebuild Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area in the weeks and months to come. Please don’t hesitate, GET INVOLVED.

Some other people in the blogosphere, who are not offering anything, have pledged to donate money for every comment that they receive on their blogs. I’ll jump on the bandwagon and will donate one dollar to the Red Cross for every single comment left on this post between now and Monday January, 18th, 2010. I know that some of you are usually not inclined to comment, but please make an exception just this once. I would love to hear about any of the following:

• How you are able to go about your daily life when there are massive world crises unfolding
• How you are planning to help the people of Haiti
• What news program are you following about what’s happening in the world. (May I suggest: Democracy Now).
• Anything.
• If you are too busy or overwhelmed, just type two words. Help Haiti.
  

And if you’re so inclined, here’s

How To Join the Help Haiti Blog Challenge.

What You Can DO.

Here’s how we can share, together, so we can give, together, to our people who need and deserve help in Haiti.

1. Sign up for the Help Haiti Blog Challenge (go here). Write about it on your blog and tag it “Help Haiti Blog Challenge“. Ask your people to join you and do the same.
2. Add the Help Haiti Blog Challenge badge to your blog.
3. Make your offer: I will donate ________ dollars to _________ on behalf of the next person who buys _________ from me. [This is optional:  you can, of course, JUST DONATE.]
   
4. Make your donation and tell us how much you donated.
5. Tweet about it using the hashtag #haitiblogchallenge. Update your facebook status with a request to pass on the message and the call to action. Send e-mails. Everywhere you are, online, talk about the Help Haiti Blog Challenge, tag it, and call your friends, family, colleagues – your people –  to action.

Kelly has also generously provided a couple of badges for you to wear on your site. And some code to use it. Just copy+paste it. It’s good to go.

Large Badge

<p>
<a href=”https://www.kellydiels.com/2010/01/14/the-help-haiti-blog-challenge-you-can-do-it-we-can-do-it-together” target=”_blank”>
<img src=”https://www.kellydiels.com/images/help-haiti-blog-challenge.png” />
</a>
</p>

Small Badge

<p>
<a href=”https://www.kellydiels.com/2010/01/14/the-help-haiti-blog-challenge-you-can-do-it-we-can-do-it-together” target=”_blank”>
<img src=”https://www.kellydiels.com/images/help-haiti-blog-challenge-small.png” />
</a>
</p>

Let’s gather our online people to help our real-life people.

You can do this. We can do this. And it will be bigger than anything we could have done alone.

Pass it on.