Last Saturday, May 27, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 
struck the island of Java in Indonesia. The city of Yogyakarta was hit the hardest, and the death toll, as of this morning, was at around 5,700 and is still rising. Over 200,000 people have been displaced. And it doesn't help that a nearby volcano, Mount Merapi , has been showing signs of activity.
Indonesia is the fourth most populous nation in the world, with much of its people living in poverty. Recovery will be slow , especially because the country is still dealing with the disaster caused by the tsunami in 2004. Disaster relief organizations have been quick to respond, but will need to raise more funds in a climate of "charity fatigue." Perhaps you'd like to help?
If you're thinking of donating money, but not quite sure how, here are some tips on how to give with confidence to charitable organizatons from Charity Navigator, a cool web site that helps donors make intelligent giving decisions. If you're already familiar with the ins and outs of charitable giving, take a look at the Reuters Foundation's Alertnet page on donating to the Indonesian quake relief effort . The page lists over 20 reputable disaster relief organizations working to help the earthquake victims. There's a link to the donation form page of each organization listed.
As we've seen in our own Bay Area history, it will take more than a village to rebuild and rise from destruction. With credit card on one hand and a mouse on the other, you can make a difference.
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