In recent years, natural disasters have been happening one after another all over the globe. The damage to lives, wealth and natural resources is unprecedented. On the TV screen, we witnessed the devastation left behind on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea by three tsunamis. In China, the worst flooding of the Yangtze River in this century engulfed houses and rice fields. Desperate victims lost everything.

The land is fragile and the forces of nature are unpredictable. We may forget the disasters, but we will never forget the terrified faces on the television screen. Words such as panic, sorrow and bewilderment are inadequate to describe the plight of these victims, who are left with nothing at all.

We feel deeply for these people. Regardless of our skin color, nationality or way of life, we have all experi-enced happiness, anger, sadness and joy. We are all in need of clothing, food, safety, love and care. These are the basic needs of all human beings, generation after generation.

However, most people only sympathize with the victims, rather than taking any concrete action to alleviate their anguish. They do not think about how they could really put their kind intentions into practice and give those victims a hand. If you console yourself by saying that someone else will help them or that the government should shoulder the responsibility of helping them, then you miss out on the chance to help others. You are not exercising your capabilities as a human being filled with love.

Many international relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, the International Humanity Association or Medecins du Monde, can immediately and efficiently organize relief missions as soon as a serious disaster happens anywhere in the world. Motivated by sincere care for their fellow human beings, members of these organizations risk their own lives to go deep into disaster areas to assist victims. In so doing, they show the best of human nature. Many victims have survived their ordeals because of the charitable help of these organizations.

If it were not for the aid of these charity foundations, these disaster victims may not have survived, since help from their own local governments has often been slow and inadequate.

In our modern world, we can see and hear actual footage immediately after a disaster happens. Communications technology has considerably shortened the distance between people, and the electronic mass media can reach the farthest corner of the world. Giving help to neighbors who are in want of food and clothing for their basic existence should be the basic principle of mutual assistance for people filled with love. After all, who would ever claim that they had never received help from others?

Relief organizations do not work for their own gain or profit. The reason why their members are so enthusiastic to help others is because they have compassion. In addition, they have realized that only by actively giving love and care can people transcend the hardships of life on earth. By activating the love that comes from inside us and calling on more people to join relief missions, we will not become slaves to materialism. We will be able to avoid the conflicts among people that arise due to greed and selfishness and prevent unnecessary disturbances and disasters from occurring in the world.