Miles? They need money; hard cash. I, for one, have made a nice financial contribution to help with badly needed relief efforts. I sincerely hope everyone takes the time to make a donation to the relief efforts.

FWIW, I'll be traveling through SE Asia (an 'unaffected area' of a hard hit nation) later this month, and if there is anything I can do during my stay to assist the relief efforts, I will. This event is difficult for me to see unfold from here in the states as a world traveler; I have been to the nations affected, I have met people/locals in my travels, enjoyed the hospitality, and I've been to beaches/hotels affected which no longer exist in a recognizable state. If I moved my travel up a few weeks, it easily could of been me on a beach in Phuket, Thailand, or somewhere in Malaysia as I was looking at spending a few days there.

How about 1/5th of the TSA budget? I noticed the "initial" US response was only $15 milllion, which was sharply critized internationally as being "skimpy" -- other nations were stepping up at the same time promising over 100 Million EUR immediately. In Sydney, Australia, for New Years (was too late to cancel the celebrations) they did a telethon to raise money for the victims. Perhaps I haven't had the right TV channel on tonight, but here, I don't see any large New Year telethon's raising money for the victims. While it is a New Year, as of 55 minutes EDT, it's a difficult new year in many parts of this world.

While many say chairity does start at home: give a contribution to a local agency in your community and then give a contribution to the relief effort.

Kind Regards,

SDF_Traveler

P.S. The amount the US is giving is equal to building a football stadium. I think the US govt could cough up a bit more and perhaps divert some money from agencies like the TSA to help some at home as well. Record numbers of people don't even have basic health insurance here in the United States.