Tell AT&T and Verizon to stop delaying donations to Japan

As Japan struggles to overcome a disastrous string of events -- including a possible nuclear catastrophe -- millions of us have sought to help, often by donating money to urgent relief efforts.

But if you donate via text message, your donations may take up to 90 days to reach aid organizations that need the money as soon as possible.

Even though they're getting large amounts of free media attention for their text-to-donate programs, companies like AT&T and Verizon have chosen not to release the donation money right away. Many customers assume that they're sending funds straight to disaster zones in the crucial days after the earthquake, but donations are transferred after the end of your next billing cycle, a process that can take up to three months.

Masaya Uchino, a law student in San Francisco with family in Japan, started a petition on Change.org to demand that AT&T, Verizon, and other major phone service providers stop delaying much needed donations from reaching organizations doing relief work in Japan. Please add your name to the petition now:

Stop the delay

After the earthquake in Haiti, Change.org members and others asked phone companies to provide donations immediately -- and the phone companies came through. But so far they've refused to take the same step, and it's up to us to join Masaya in speaking out.

Thanks for taking action,

- Weldon and the Change.org team

To repeat Joe's post -

You can help Japan deal with earthquake/tsunami by donating through The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) ... Joe

Yeah chelle, I think the Red Cross is the best way to get our monies to those in need. That's what I'm using....thought about texting, now I'm glad I didn't. I use verizon as my carrier too...that makes me ashamed :(

jeez the boring clutter doesnt change around here

Joe, I have to tell you that I absolutely love your positive attitude! You are one of the most optimistic people I know. I love reading your interviews and seeing how your mind thinks. I can't wait for IV to be released (yep, I said it - IV). I can't even imagine how wild a 3-D Foot DVD will be. I gotta laugh just thinking about that. I love ya to pieces and hope you guys have the best time ever with yer Foot shenanigans. lol!

Bryan Adams did

Axe- For a pedal that has been out no longer than the Ice 9, I'd say it's pretty dang good that it made it on any top list at all considering how many hundreds of options that you have when it comes to effects.

I'm sure this whole mess in Japan is going to throw a wrench into production of everything that we use that is made there. The Japanese get enough of my money from all of that, I'm not going to just hand it over for free. There are PLENTY of problems in our own country that need attention; too many to list, actually. Not to mention our government is writing checks that they can't cash; the U.S. can't afford to provide aid to anyone but ourselves right now.
The Japanese will recover just fine. We DESTROYED them in 1945 and killed almost 300,000 people and they are now one of the most successful countries in the world.
Just a few years ago, we had hurricane Katrina, which New Orleans is still trying to recover from, and last year was the oil spill in the Gulf, which has been all but forgotten about. Just a couple examples off the top of my head of problems here at home that still need our attention.

wow

Exactly right Scubadaz.

I didn't intend for my post to make me sound like I don't feel bad for what's going on over there, and I'm not one of those that feels like the Japanese had this coming because of Pearl Harbor; although there are some people living who probably do feel that way, and rightly so. However, I think everyone will agree that was settled long ago. I was just using that as an example that they can and have overcome huge obstacles in the past.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but most problems in America are caused by GREED