The SE Asia Tsunami touched many lives and many funds were raised b/c in the Western world we saw many white tourists in danger and somehow it was easier for the Western world to find it more relevant and to identify w/the crisis. They saw people like themselves in danger. They saw places they had visited devastated.

This Pakistani earthquake, we see people w/whom we can;t identify because they are dressed differently, look different from us, there are no white tourists in danger, nor is this a place we have traveled and vacationed to. Hence it doesn’t touch our lives with as strong relevance or strong identification as the SE Asia tsunami.

That is one of the reasons why we haven’t seen a significant coverage in the media and why it is sliding off the relief efforts picture, just like the mudslides and devastated, destroyed and sunken villages in Guatemala and El Salvador due to hurricane Stan.

I am very pleased to learn you and your friend are participating in relief efforts. I wish him the best and safe mountain climbing experience.