Along with Prayers and Donations, Time for Action on Climate Change

To put any storm we may experience this winter into perspective, Super Typhoon Haiyan just crashed into the Phillipines with sustained winds of 195 mph and gusts as strong as 235 mph, making it probably the strongest tropical cyclone to hit land anywhere in the world in recorded history. More than 125,000 people nationwide were moved to evacuation centers, and damage is likely to be significant. Last year, December's Typhoon Bopha, with sustained winds of 175mph, killed 1,100 people in the country, and, compounding the misery and loss, just last month an earthquake hit the central Philippine island of Bohol, killing 222 people. The Philippines is considered one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. So in addition to holding good thoughts and prayers for everyone affected, we can also help by contributing to relief efforts and urging U.S. action on climate change.

Once it passes through the Philippines, Haiyan is likely to head back out into the South China Sea over the weekend, where it may well strengthen once again before heading toward the Vietnamese coast.