Carlos in DC: Role of Social Media and Internet Activism after the Chile Earthquakes and Pacific Rim Tsunami Scare [VIDEO]

The brutally strong earthquakes in Chile have left hundreds of people dead. So far there are more than 700 victims and counting, and more than 2 million Chileans are now homeless. Central Chile was shaken early on January 27, 2010, by more than 90 quakes, within a 5.0 to 8.8 scale range, and resulting Tsunamis around the Pacific ocean hit several Chilean seaports and towns. The people of Chile are now in urgent need of help.

In tragic moments like this, Internet social media tools are of great help. It’s very inspiring to see so many Internet writers, bloggers and online activists working hard in the aftermath of this sudden emergency. Regardless of origin, nationality or interests, people from all over the world are trying to help the Chilean people in any way we can.

People walk along the shore after an earthquake in Pelluhue, some 322 kms, about 200 miles, southwest of Santiago, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010. (AP Photo/Roberto Candia via Boston.com)

Montserrat Nicolas is a Chilean blogger and writer based in Washington, DC, who has been reporting news and updates about the earthquake for over 20 hours since the night it occurred. Montserrat said that several web communication tools have being very useful in her work. She has used 3g phones, Blackberry, MSN Messenger, Twitter, GTalk, Skype, Twitpic, and the most valuable information posted by the U.S. Geological Society (USGS) website.

Montserrat says also that she was surprised by the enormous support received from all over the world since “we are a small country”, adding that most Chileans are trying to stay calm, “because we are a country of earthquakes” and we are mostly prepared, even though this quake has been one of the strongest in that country's history. [Watch video interview at end of this post].

Certainly, Chile is a country that knows of earthquakes, because of its location within the so called Pacific Ring of Fire. The Chilean population is educated since elementary school on how to respond to this type of emergencies, and constructions in Chilean towns follow strict regulations that take under consideration the country’s geological location.

This preparedness has made a big difference in Chile in comparison with the recent quake in Haiti, for instance. Haitians are not used to quakes because these hadn’t occurred for over two centuries in their country. Also Haiti’s lack of a widespread Internet service and enough communications infrastructure made it harder for the victims to get in contact with the world, and for rescue teams to reach out the most needed. Also the precarious housing buildings in Port au Prince weren't prepared for an earthquake.

In Haiti about 300,000 people died in a quake that was 500 times weaker that those in Chile yesterdady. The death toll in Chile is most likely to be smaller and so far less is than a thousand. This huge difference is not a matter of money only, but of preventive education and the availability of communications technology. Lives can be saved in natural disasters, when people are ready to act.

I remember while growing up in Peru, we were also taught on what to do during and after a quake, how to evacuate and help others. It’s crucial at the moment of natural tragedies to react quickly and calmly. This also applies to online activism. If you are in an area of emergency, try to use the available tools and learn them now before it’s needed, because we all can help when that time comes.

When all telephone services were cut off in Chile, Internet users were able to communicate using their cell phones and computers. The biggest news agencies in the world relied on social networks to collect information from the victims, and from those who were trying to help.

Chilean Twitter user YoSoyAllendista, has been one of the most actives online activists in the quake aftermath. With over 8,624 followers, this user nickname translates “I am a fan of Allende” referring to the former president Salvador Allende, killed by the U.S. supported military coup of 1976. YoSoyAllendista told me in DM that “this is an emergency where everyone is doing what we can, what is in our hands. This is a social network that is in the streets.”

Like YoSoyAllendista, many Chilean Twitter users are being read every minute by U.S. news corporations, in order to know what is happening in Chile. In Washington, DC, the National Public Radio (NPR) created a Twitter list with the most valuable and popular twits from Chile. Also in the U.S., Google has opened a “Person Finder” website customized for Chile, as it did for Haiti.

This is a cool list of social media tools used during the Chile earthquake emergency, summarized by Gigaom:

Twitter List: As it did during the Haiti earthquake, The New York Times has collected some Twitter accounts with information about what is going on in Chile.
Ben Casnocha: The entrepreneur and author has been tweeting details about the earthquake and its aftermath
Twitpic: People have been uploading images of the devastation in and around Concepcion, some of which have been collected by The Huffington Post.
Ushahidi: A site designed to act as a central clearinghouse for information about disasters such as the Chilean earthquake.
Livestream: A live video feed from Chilean TV via the Livestream service.
Person Finder: A Chilean version of a tool that Google originally created to help during the Haiti earthquake.
Map Maker: Google has also opened up the use of its mapping database for use by aid organizations, and people can help via the Chile Update Page. Google has a page set up with other resources, including the ability to click and donate to Unicef and other charities from the page.

Meanwhile in Chile, its billionaire president elect Sebastian Piñera, is traveling to the affected area using his private helicopter. Piñera has met with current president Michelle Bachelet, and today many Chileans looted supermarkets out of desperation and hunger. A Chilean twitter wrote this afternoon "if I had my own helicopter, I would go to the southern hills of the country, where people are hungry for the last 36 hours..."

Piñera is a right-wing businessman who owns the country’s biggest airliner among other corporations, and he is expected to take office on March 11, 2010. When Piñera won this year's elections, he sent verbal attacks to Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez. Today Chavez has arrived to Chile, bringing assistance.

Money and supplies are needed in Chile right now, but we also need to remember that we must stay in solidarity with all peoples, regardless of our nationalities or political views.

This is a time when our planet is changing, we are going through difficult moments. So we need to be ready for whenever our assistance will be necessary, or when we will be forced to reach out to others for help. The Internet tools will be there to assist us, we hope.