The only way I can comprehend the enormity of the loss of life in the tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean is to picture myself standing on top of Mt Archer, looking down at the city of Rockhampton below & imagining all of its 60,000 inhabitants dead.

Yet this is a natural disaster, made more horrific by the speed at which it happened. But it is less than the death toll of Iraqis since the U.S. & its partners invaded that country. To envisage what Man(un)kind does to its fellow humans, I would probably have to be in a satellite looking down over the continent of Australia & imagining all of its 20 million inhabitants dead. & even that might not be enough.

We may not be able to stop the war in Iraq. But we can provide some help to the devastated communities in Southern Asia. Two Australian agencies seeking donations are Care Australia & oxfam. & there are others. kari edwards has a comprehensive list of U.S. sites at transdada.