I have lived in Kath for a little while now, and I was in my room Saturday morning when the 7.8 hit. 40 hours later, I'm still alive because of the metal desk that stood more or less intact against the collapsed structure, wood and cement, of the house I was in. My situation really doesn't compare to a lot of people who are stuck here and in much worse condition.. I was only in danger of suffocation and some dehydration. After I was pulled out, I couldn't locate most of the people I know in the city, it's very hard to understand what's happened to them. I'm lucky.. my brother located me and I am travelling to get medical help in India.. the situation in Kath is very grave with many people injured and very little space to keep them warm or safe. From what I understand many rescue groups are coming in to help.

The earthquake was near equal in magnitude to the 7.9 that hit San Francisco in 1906, which is regarded as one of the worst natural disasters in the US. Both earthquakes have claimed upwards of 3,000 lives. The Nepali quake was at a very shallow depth (10-11 miles I believe), so the devastation is very widespread. There are people in India as far down as Kolkata who have fissures down their walls and foundations from the aftershocks alone.

I think we spend money on a lot of things, and if you can give even a little bit to Red Cross, or to CCP if they open up PLEX For Good, then I think it would be a good thing.

This doesn't lessen the pain and suffering of humans and non humans anywhere else in the world.. and there is a lot of suffering the world over.. but something really horrible happened in Nepal Saturday morning, and every little bit of help would go a long way.