THE TSUNAMI IS OLD HAT BUT MUCH MORE MONEY IS NEEDED

The British public has so far donated £300m, roughly $526m. A lot of money you might think. WRONG. We spend £1.62 billion in the UK simply on ice cream every year, while in the US you spend $20bn on the chilly treat. Collectively we spend over $19bn on games. If we are prepared to throw away our cash on something so unnecessary, then we must also be prepared to spend it on something worthwhile.

This week make a pledge to save people's lives and help them to rebuild their communities. Choose one of these pledges and stick to it:

PLEDGE 1: For one week match the money you spend on junk food with a donation

PLEDGE 2: When you buy your next game, match the money you spend with a donation

PLEDGE 3: If you can't afford to give, just give $1 or £1

• It will take ten years or more to re-establish the lost communities and the infrastructure that allows them to be self sufficient.
• It will cost many billions of dollars.
• It can only be done with your help.

Aid Agencies may say that they can't spend all the donations on relief work. They are right. The relief work is now over, but caring for the shattered communities' needs and the masses of engineering work needed to get them back on their feet will cost money. Lobby Aid organisations to channel resources to begin reconstruction.

If you don't want to donate via DEC, try one of these charities instead