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| Using Forums in South-East
Asian Disasters |
| Posted: 27-03-2006 | Views: 117 |
| Author: Steve Pavis |
When the Internet was invented,
it was looked upon as a way to find information in online
encyclopaedia, or to advertise marketing material, or
to find basic information. In other words, everyone expected
it to be a glorified, easily accessible encyclopaedia,
with maybe a few experts easily accessible online.
What few people dreamed was that the Internet would rapidly
transform the way we look at all communication.
By using forums and wikis online, we can transcend communications
limitations. Instead of asking one person at a time a
question, we can post it and wait for one of hundreds
of people at the forum to answer. Instead of looking up
different bits of information in hundreds of places, we're
finding it gathered together and easily accessible at
wikis and forums.
This has been made dramatically clear by recent events.
Instead of searching for a loved one in a major disaster
through hundreds of different aid databases, worried relatives
and friends can find them by posting a query online, or
by checking online postings made by some of the lost themselves.
Forums have been a real blessing recently in disasters
in Southeast Asia and on the Gulf Coast in North America.
They may prove to be beneficial to the earthquake victims
in Kashmir as well.
What Are Forums?
A forum is a site where anyone can post a message or question,
and anyone else can read that message. In order to know
who's posting, forums require users to register with their
site, but that's a simple and straightforward process.
In exchange for your registration, you have access to
news, information, personal messages, advice, ways to
help, and ways to get help. In the Gulf Coast hurricane
disasters, dozens of people located their family, children,
or friends by using forums online.
Forums are generally moderated by human beings, so abusive
messages (called "posts") are eliminated and good information
is encouraged. It also enables simple sorting and organization
of information, so that users are able to easily find
the information they need.
The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Forum
At the South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Forum, you
can access a great, well-developed forum with all kinds
of information on the Southeast Asian tsunami and its
victims, and the Kashmir earthquake. You can find data
about tsunami and how they form, problems facing those
delivering aid to Kashmir, and ways that you can help
by donating your skills or cash to tsunami and earthquake
aid agencies.
Some of the forum features offered include the following.
Resources For Tsunami and Earthquake Aid
If you really want to be able to donate your time, goods,
or cash to tsunami relief, but you wanted more control
over how the money was spent, this can be a great source
of information for you. Because the tsunami affected so
many different countries, including several with very
little aid infrastructure, it can be a nightmare finding
out where you can do the most good with your help.
The Kashmir earthquake presents a different set of problems
that are just as intimidating. While the earthquake's
area was more limited and it has been pretty clear who
was killed or lost in the disaster, it's much more difficult
to deliver aid to those suffering the after-effects due
to the inaccessible areas, political problems, and the
arrival of winter
A forum offering information on places where tsunami aid
is still needed, or that tells you who you can contact
in order to give them assistance, is a perfect way for
you to target your assistance and ensure it gets to those
who still need it.
Information About Tsunamis
If you don't really understand tsunamis, you can post
questions and get answers from people who have become
reluctant experts on what tsunamis really do, as well
as the natural mechanics of what drives them. You may
also be able to find statistics on the damage and loss
of life caused by the 2004 tsunami.
You can also ask questions about the situation in Kashmir
about everything from maps to help you see why it's so
hard to get aid in to detailed information about those
who still need help, or who haven't even been reached
yet by rescuers and aid agencies.
Finding Loved Ones
Whether you're a missing person or you're missing a loved
one in the tsunami's aftermath, a site where you can post
messages to find everyone can be invaluable. If you're
halfway across the world, that goes double; it's almost
impossible to drop your whole life to look for your loved
one at the site of a disaster.
The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami forum has an
area where you can search out the ones you lost, and get
information on other places you can look for them as well.
Donation Information
Last, and most importantly, the South-East Asia Earthquake
and Tsunami forum helps you find the most convenient and
simple method for donating to your chosen cause. It also
gives you a variety of different ways you can donate without
even noticing, from taking advantage of the Donate while
You Sleep program where a portion of the cash you pay
to stay at a hotel is donated to charity, to information
about how you can take advantage of new tax rules to donate
even more.
Register Today
You can register at the South-East Asia Earthquake and
Tsunami forum for free so that you, too, can post to this
forum. Your registration will make you part of this worldwide
information sharing network. You'll have access to the
latest and most personal information possible on the Asian
disasters, and you'll be able to find ways to help that
you can afford.
In addition, you can join a vibrant community of users
who are all dedicated to one thing: the easing of suffering
for those who have suffered so much.
If your free registration helped a single child, would
you register? If your tiny little titbit of information
helped someone on the other side of the world, would it
be worth it?
There's no guarantee that your registration will do anything.
But there's always the chance, and it costs you nothing.
Danny Wirken owns and runs http://www.tsunami.ws/ which
is part of the 1000 strong online Community of http://www.444.net
that critically reviews and rates millions of products
in 11 countries and services for the benefit of other
consumers. Available free of charge to consumers in local-language
versions in major western European markets, more than
1.5 million consumers visit the 444 Network every month,
making it one of the largest Blog Portals in Europe. The
444 Network also has far reaching charitable outlets from
educating underprivileged children in South America to
Disaster Relief in South East Asia.
Tsunami.ws is an example of an online company doing its
best in making the world a slightly better place.
This article is free for republishing
Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/ |
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