No, I am not going down for this one. I was due to but I have a major bout of sinusitis and tonsilitis. I sound like a frog and look like death warmed over. Had I gone down, I would be in a bed rather than actively working.
A typhoon is a hurricane. That’s basically it. A cyclonic storm. Typhoons are the name given to them in South Asia and Japan and are named after the Arabic/Urdu/Hindi word for them. Toofan. Hurricanes are named after the Carib wind god Juracan who himself is derived from the Mayan creator god “Huracan”. They are generally called Cyclones though.
The Foundation Beyond Belief is launching a new Humanist Crisis Response for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which has been rated as the most powerful storm ever recorded by the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The power of this storm is mind-blowing, sustained winds of 195 mph and gusts up to 235 — with 10 million people in its path.
Put it this way, the Cyclone that I provided coverage for in India? This one’s bigger and faster. The one I covered for in India was one of the most powerful on record being twice the size of Sandy or Katrina and faster. The only thing that kept it from qualifying as a super cyclone was the size. Cyclone Haiyan has so far claimed around a 100 lives. But the toll is expected to rise as it continues and makes landfall over VIetnam.
The aftermath is absolutely devastating. After much research, FBB decided on the Citizens Disaster Response Center as the beneficiary. They’re based in the Philippines and on the ground already. Any help you can give is obviously very badly needed. You can find a link to donate here. Every dollar will go to the CDRC.
It isn’t enough to be anti-religion; if we are serious about our humanist principles, we must put them into action and help others whenever possible.
Do good, donate and be counted for secular charity.