A united world steps up to help

Unless you've been off the grid for the last two days, you've no doubt heard, read and watched coverage of the 7.0 earthquake that hit the tiny Caribbean island of Haiti. Having visited a few third-world countries in my life, I'm always surprised by the standard of living for many of the people in our world. Medicines that I take for granted are scarce in many countries and education is only a dream for many of the world's children. Their "home" consists of a few boards placed on-end with a piece of tin resting hap-hazardly as a roof. Many children don't have clean water to drink. A few years of education - if even that - is the norm. Always, it makes me pause and realize just what a good life I have. Then I come back to my home and I return to my small world. I never want for food. I read and write without thinking. My home keeps the rain, snow and cold away. I can be in contact with friends and family simply by pressing a few buttons on my cell phone. And my computer keeps me in touch with the world outside. But it's during times like this - when the people of Haiti are struggling to find family and friends buried underneath tons of debris; when their communication is cut off; when they must count on people around the world for food, for clothes, for life - when I really know how lucky I am. And it's at times like this when, luckily, the people of the world step up to help. We put aside bickering and name-calling. We forget past differences and focus on our similarities. It's when humanity is at its best. From MSNBC, here's a list of countries and organizations that have pledge help to Haiti. Of course, this doesn't include the help pledged by President Obama on behalf of the US. The people of the US have always been there when the peoples of another country needed help - and we'll be there again. Let's hope that by tomorrow, this list is twice or even three times this long:

• The United Nations is releasing $10 million from its emergency funds.
• The Irish telecommunications company Digicel said it would donate $5 million to aid agencies and help repair the damaged phone network.
• The European Commission has approved $4.37 million with more funds likely.
• Spain has pledged $4.37 million, and sent three planes with rescue teams and 100 tons of emergency relief equipment.
• The Netherlands has donated $2.91 million and will send a 60-person search-and-rescue team.
• Germany gave $2.17 million and sent an immediate response team. Another team with 20 rescue dogs is on standby.
• China will donate $1 million, according to Xinhua News Agency.
• Sweden has offered $850,000 along with tents, water purification equipment and medical aid.
• Venezuela has sent doctors, firefighters and rescue workers.
• Mexico will send doctors, search-and-rescue dogs and infrastructure damage experts.
• France is sending two planes with doctors, food and medical equipment.
• Britain has sent 64 firefighters with search-and-rescue dogs and 10 tons of equipment
• Iceland is sending 37 search-and-rescue specialists.
• Taiwan is flying in 23 rescue personnel and 2 tons of aid and equipment.
• Israel is sending an elite army rescue unit including engineers, rescue workers, doctors and medics.

It sounds like a lot of help but for those who have lost family, or who are still searching for loved ones amid the rubble, it means nothing. So, tonight, I ask three things:

1. That you say a prayer for the people of Haiti
2. That you give those you love a hug
3. And that you remember how lucky you are