As it is, we haven't even started working seriously on our bike trip and already this nzwow.com blog has seen us through two different countries and continents. And a few days from now, we will be embarking on yet another trip to our fourth country in five months. :o)
We've much to be thankful for. We have been very blessed that things have worked out the way they have and that every time we hit a snag, we've been able to pull ourselves out of it in some way or other. Very thankful indeed.
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China is now trying to house about 5 million people who were displaced by the earthquake and aftershocks. That's five times the number of people who were made homeless by the 2004 tsunami in Acheh. If we thought Bandar Acheh was a crisis of mammoth proportions, imagine the predicament in China.
The government and aid agencies are trying to house as many people as they can. However, they are facing a serious shortage of tents, and are unsure as to whether or not the international community can provide the number of tents they need.
A quick Googling of numbers brings up the following...
There are just about 6.7 billion people in the world. So 5 million is about 0.075% of the world's population. That's less than 1 percent.
New Zealand's population is just slightly less than 5 million.
The US has a population of 60 times 5 million.
The UK's population is 12 times 5 million.
Australia is about 4 times 5 million.
I wonder from all these numbers, how many are outdoorsy, avid campers who own their own tents. Although having said that, the tents needed are larger than the ones usually used for camping.
But it's worth hoping that people do own tents of the size they need.
From here,
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Here's a picture of the Merang jetty where we set off for Lang Tengah island two weeks ago.
We've much to be thankful for. We have been very blessed that things have worked out the way they have and that every time we hit a snag, we've been able to pull ourselves out of it in some way or other. Very thankful indeed.
*****
China is now trying to house about 5 million people who were displaced by the earthquake and aftershocks. That's five times the number of people who were made homeless by the 2004 tsunami in Acheh. If we thought Bandar Acheh was a crisis of mammoth proportions, imagine the predicament in China.
The government and aid agencies are trying to house as many people as they can. However, they are facing a serious shortage of tents, and are unsure as to whether or not the international community can provide the number of tents they need.
A quick Googling of numbers brings up the following...
There are just about 6.7 billion people in the world. So 5 million is about 0.075% of the world's population. That's less than 1 percent.
New Zealand's population is just slightly less than 5 million.
The US has a population of 60 times 5 million.
The UK's population is 12 times 5 million.
Australia is about 4 times 5 million.
I wonder from all these numbers, how many are outdoorsy, avid campers who own their own tents. Although having said that, the tents needed are larger than the ones usually used for camping.
But it's worth hoping that people do own tents of the size they need.
From here,
Let's ransack those old closets for tents. If you haven't already, send a tent today.
"The Red Cross is calling for donation of tents for the homeless earthquake victims in Mianyang City, Sichuan Province. It is estimated that 600,000 tents are urgently needed.
Contact information for donation: For donation of materials, please send them to Mianyang Red Cross organization, and its postcode is 621000.
For donation of cash, please send the money to Mianyang Red Cross organization through Bank of China, and its account number is 820907105208092001."
*****
Here's a picture of the Merang jetty where we set off for Lang Tengah island two weeks ago.
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