Thousands Dead Near The Top Of The World.

Our hearts still at the news out of Nepal. A humanitarian crisis and ongoing tragedy unfolds half a world away, yet we must "soldier on", go to work, buy something. Who can say how we can respond, how we might compassionately reach out to people. places and events, so far removed from our daily lives, in ways that are appropriate? In the short term, having respectful funerary rites for all of the dead, but what else can we do to commemorate the loss? How might we begin to heal the wounds that may take years to fully hit those who have lost so much in the earthquake? There are some who know what needs to be done to stop the calamity from claiming lives, the "cleaners" of the world, health agents and sanitary engineers, but these are not grief counselors or shamen, financial advisers or community builders. The urge that we have to spare other humans such agony as the Nepalese people will carry is undeniable. How we reach out and offer to assist will speak volumes about who we have become as a human tribe.

When a hundred mile (161Km)long stretch, just West of Mount Everest begins heaving, you know that things are getting serious!

The greatest risk in the short term is exposure as people are unwilling to shelter in homes that are damaged by the quakes. The aftershocks continue to pose threat to security indoors and living rough out in the open is hazardous enough by itself. Lacking healthy food and safe water, the unseen threats are almost as daunting as the visible ones. How quickly can we assist those who are in true and desperate need? Can we quickly send thousands of sleeping bags, tarps and ropes to be airlifted in? I know that there are compassionate helicopter pilots that would fly those missions for free. Can we airlift tons of water in to the regions most devastated? Our human family can help, we just need to make a plan and exhibit the will to do what we can.

When? Let's start now, before another person dies.