In the wake of the recent earthquake in Japan and the resulting tsunami, people around the world have been looking for ways to help and hoping for any news that aid has reached Japan and that efforts are being made to salvage as many people as possible during this dire time.

Although it will take so much more to help the situation and the danger Japan and many places globally face right now is far from over, news from Engadget indicates some aid is coming in from the technology community. Thomas Ricker, writer for the site, expains:

"As a tech publication, we're obviously focused on the impact recent events will have on Japan's vast consumer electronics industry -- an industry that has responded with millions of dollars in cash, equipment and services to help with the relief effort. Thus far, Canon, Panasonic, and Sony have each pledged ¥300 million ($3.67 million) in donations. Sony is also matching employee contributions as will Mitsubishi who's donating a whopping ¥500 million ($6.1 million) in aid. On the equipment side, Sony is donating some 30,000 radios to relief efforts while Panasonic is providing 10,000 radios, 10,000 flashlights, and 500,000 batteries. NEC, Kyocera, and Epson are each donating ¥100 million in funds, computers, and telecoms and IT equipment."

Easy methods to help and donate have also recently been put into place. The Red Cross of the United States, as always, is accepting donations on their website. They have even made it possible to donate via cell phone. In conjunction with Google, the Japanese Red Cross Society has made it possible to send donations directly to Japan. The new Google Crisis Response, a complete expansion beyond the people finder previously mentioned, having made its debut helping the people of Haiti, Egypt and Australia, sports a feature that makes donation fast and easy. Many of us cannot read Japanese, so this is a great help on Google's part. The page also keeps the world up to date as events unfold, provides emergency numbers and resources as they are found, and provides vital black out information time tables. Flight statuses globally, alarms and warnings for areas of the world that will be affected by aftershock and shelter information are also actively updated and added hourly.

Donations made through iTunes will also go directly to the American Red Cross. Touting one of the largest credit card databases in the U.S., this makes donation a cinch for regular iPod or iPad or iDevice users.

Spreading helpful news such as this is one of the internet's biggest strengths. It is amazing what things are possible when communication is coupled with speed. We hope that as much as possible can be done to spread the news and that these resources are helpful to as many as possible.