Note from the Editor: At the time of publication, official death and injury tolls from the earthquakes in both Ecuador and Japan were still being released. OCA acknowledges that numbers may have changed, and more information may be released. On behalf of the OCA staff, we would like to send out our hopes and thoughts to the victims and their families. For those in the NYU Shanghai community, if you are experiencing any distress, please contact Health and Wellness on 2059 9999.This past weekend, the international community reeled in shock as reports of earthquakes around the world hit the media. On Thursday and Saturday morning, Japan was hit by an earthquake of magnitude 7.0. Just a few hours later, on Saturday night, Ecuador was shaken by a magnitude 7.8. At the time I’m writing this article, the combined death toll is 445, with at least 32 killed in Japan and 413 in Ecuador. Both communities are struggling to find survivors, but communities around the world are stepping up to help, including NYU.Japan first experienced two earthquakes in the Kyushu region, and while the search for survivors went underway almost immediately, the efforts were stalled by heavy rains. The rains—and the second earthquake that followed closely on the heels of the first—made even the most well-intentioned volunteers nervous as rains, aftershocks, and threats of landslides. CNN reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described the rescue efforts as a “race against the clock”, and 25,000 self-defense force members have already been deployed. Japan also received an offer of military aid from the U.S., but has not yet accepted.Though there is no evidence that the quakes between the two countries are connected, alarm bells went off as Ecuador’s coastal Manabi region and surrounding areas suffered a quake 16 times stronger than Japan’s morning earthquake. All six coastal provinces have declared states of emergencies, and at least 2,500 people have been injured as roads, shopping malls, and tall buildings collapsed. Part of the reason why Ecuador may have been more unprepared than Japan is because this quake is the strongest since 1987, whereas Japan is always forced to examine and bolster their infrastructure to prevent against powerful earthquakes. Both Japan and Ecuador are on the Ring of Fire; the name scientists have given to a sensitive seismic area around the globe known for volcanoes and frequent earthquakes, starting in South East Asia and stretching along the coasts of Japan and Alaska and down the west coasts of North and South America. Japan and Ecuador’s placement on this imaginary line almost guarantees their vulnerability to earthquakes in the future.Across the GNU, Ecuadorean and Japanese students will be grieving and reaching out to friends and family. But, we can take comfort in the fact that they are not alone. Shortly after both earthquakes occurred, NYU Student Body President Michael Hengerer sent out an email to the global NYU community, informing students of a vigil being held that day at NYU’s Kimmel Center and also the launch of a new webpage. The website directs students who want to donate to two reliable nonprofits, UNICEF’s Ecuador Relief Fund and Global Giving’s Kumamoto Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. At NYU Shanghai, students are directed to an event titled “The Sun Will Shine Again for Ecuador,” hosted from 10 a.m. Apr. 24 at Cambio Coffee in Jing'an. The entrance fee is 50RMB, which will go towards earthquake relief. The event will feature Latin American dancing, art, and more, with up to half of all sales proceeds benefitting earthquake relief. Cambio Coffee: 861 Jiangning Lu, close to Haifang Lu. This article was written by Savannah Billman. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: NYU Student Government