There's not much to say on a day like today aside from acknowledging the tragedy of the earthquake in Japan, a tragedy that now has over 400 confirmed deaths, and a sea-faring vessel of at least 80 crew lost. If you haven't been following along, I'd suggest meandering over to your favorite news outlet and taking the time to look into it.
There's not much to feel positive over the disaster, of course, but there were a few things that buoyed my spirits.
Hit the break to find out what.
What the Internet can be, at its best, is the catalyst for a global community. In the moments this morning as the news broke, Twitter-- which can often highlight the absolute worst of communal groupthink-- had rallied together to not only talk about the tragedy, but also offer condolences, bring individuals together, and form a support structure for everyone affected.
Like: Google almost immediately launching a Japanese version of their Person Finder, which had first been launched following the Haiti earthquakes, to help people locate family members.
Like: Options for aiding the upcoming, assuredly massive Tsunami relief efforts, popping up all over Twitter and Facebook, aggregated handily here by CNN.
Like: Celebrities using their status to positive effect, ranging from Dave Chappelle to Justin Bieber.
I've written a lot about the problems the Internet has, and how it can negatively effect our global consciousness. But the tragedy in Japan, and all the places throughout the Pacific feeling the continued after effects, allowed humanity to show its very best through the Internet.
The problem isn't over. There are still massive aftershocks (up to 6.3 on the Richter scale) rocking Japan, the death toll is still only in its initial stages, and the infrastructure of those areas most heavily hit will take awhile to stabilize. But what we have is a global community that immediately took to assistance, and must continue to help Japan.
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