Chao Praya River - July 11 (left) and October 23 (right)
If you’re wondering why I’ve been a bit quiet here on LTMS lately, it’s not for a lack of motivation. Quite honestly, I just haven’t thought that now was a good time to be writing about the language while the country has been struggling with a very serious crisis.
And no, I’m not talking about Occupy Wall Street, the idiots in the GOP trying to send the middle class back to the Stone Age, or the banks milking us for every last cent we have.
No, I’m talking about my second home. Just in case you aren’t aware, the central region of Thailand has been in the midst of crisis for several weeks now dealing with uncontrollable flooding.
The Western news agencies are just now starting to pick up on the story, but unfortunately they haven’t said much in the way of what can be done to help. I don’t want to go crazy with links to news stories that apportion blame or postulate on what should be done; no, if you really want to read that stuff you can look it up yourself.
What I do want to do is ask for your help. If you are reading this blog then you are either (a) a lover of Thailand and Thai culture, or (b) a friend of mine who knows how much I care about my wife’s homeland. As I write this people are without electricity, potable water, and fundamental necessities that they need to survive. I’m not even talking about “living comfortably,” I’m talking about basic survival.
I am asking that you please consider donating to the Thai Red Cross Society. Any amount will do. Even $5.00 – that second cup of Starbucks you get each day – can help.
Here is a map showing – as of October 24th – where the flooding is around Bangkok:
Please, do something, anything to help.
The floods hit chiang mai where i live about 2 weeks before they hit bangkok. We were right in the middle of it, deployed sandbags for 2 days around our shop. Lucky not to much damage but i have seen and heard a lot of people got far worse. Now bangkok is getting hit hard and have heard first hand stories of water flooding homes up to chest height so people are migrating to chiang mai for a while.
They do need all the help they can get.
Richard,
Please be safe. We are trying to stay very tuned into what’s going on there. My wife and I hope you, your family, friends, and community, all stay safe and dry. Please keep us updated with the situation.
So sad to hear this news, we will be praying for those who lives in Thailand. Be safe always. They really need our help now.
I think they need our help because they are suffering from calamity..Hoping to send them some goods..
I agree. We should help other. Which others? All others, if possible.
The whole world must be united to help one another in this kind of tragedy. Not only Thailand but other countries who suffered from flood, tsunami, hurricane and other calamities.