In Japan's aid: Extend your help!

The death toll from the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that shook Japan and a subsequent tsunami is in the hundreds and is expected to rise.

Here are some ways to help disaster victims affected by the earthquake:

The Red Cross is organizing efforts to help. You can donate to the effort by visiting the Red Cross's donation website or by texting REDCROSS to 90999, which will in turn donate $10, according to a Huffington Post article.

Save the Children, the world's leading independent organization for children, released a statement today that the organization is "mobilizing its global resources to respond to the needs of children and families affected by the earthquake and its aftermath, and an international emergency team has been dispatched to assist staff in Japan." Those looking to donate to that effort can visit Save the Children's donation page.

Global Giving has set up a fund-raising effort that has raised thousands of dollars so far and "will disburse funds to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami," according to the Global Giving donor website. Donors can choose to give a one-time or recurring donation of anywhere between $25 and $1,000.

You can also donate through:

SALVATION ARMY

CONVOY OF HOPE

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS

SHELTER BOX

The Google Person Finder has been set up for those looking to locate loved ones in Japan. The link to that site is: http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en.

Do you know of any other ways to donate or help those in need following Japan's earthquake? Comment.

Woman in control - A salute to Bangalore's first lady city transport driver

Photo: Sudhakar Jain-NIE Photographer

At an age,when her classmates were learning stitching and other household chores, Prema,who is now officially the first city bus driver,rode bikes and learned driving buses.

But for Prema Ramappa Nadabatti, the realisation of her ambition took a long road from Gokak in Belgaum to Bangalore and 24-years of waiting to bring to pass,what she dreamt as a sixteen year old.

Now a single mother,Prema drives the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses on routes as challenging as Shivaji Nagar to KR Market and Brigade Road to Electronic City.

Prema,however, is a believer that if you have determination,there is nothing that is impossible. "When I was a child,I wanted to learn bicycle but it was scary in the beginning,later it was so much easier and it was the same with driving a bus as well," Prema says.

"There are challenges,but there is nothing impossible," she adds with a smile.

In a profession such as driving public transport buses - which is primarily dominated by men,for Prema,it is the support and encouragement of male colleagues and supervisors that put her on the right path.

"All my male colleagues cheered when I first took the bus and even on the roads in traffic,bikers when they see me driving give me a thumps up," says this mother of a single child.

Prema,before joining BMTC, was with Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation,however, since there she was given the job of a conductor,she opted for BMTC.

Life,however, is still difficult for this 'lady' BMTC driver,who alone has to shoulder the education of her son,who is in first standard now. She gets a salary of ` 3,000 along with extra ` 60 per day,when she drives the Pushpak as driver cum conductor.

"There are days,when my whole body starts to aches due to physical strain,but I am happy because, I am doing what I wanted to do," she adds.

Ambitions such as of Prema are made of sterner stuff,who understands the challenges of her profession,but knows what she can accomplish. Now next she wants to be first woman Volvo driver in Bangalore.

oh aye! aye! The Irish loss worth 2000 UK Pounds!

The Irish Creamed the Indians on Sunday(March 6). India's victory thus was a lousy one. But sadly, a case of missing sporting kit added to the valorous defeat of The Boondock Saints.

The tale of misfortune but got extended a wee bit for the Irish left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper, Niall O'Brien,whose kit bag with sporting equipment worth 2000 British Pound was stolen from Hotel Royal Gardenia,where the Irish team was staying.

The cricketer has filed a case with the Bangalore Police. For the readers of this post, a copy of the complaint letter has been put up. While anybody, who knows anything about the matter can contact the Cubbon Park Police.

What a shame!


(Click to view the Complaint letter)


Sorry Folks had to blind the address details and phone number for security reasons!