perhaps only me here closest to this tragedy...
did I said :
"maybe no one can illustrate this by words or numbers for this disaster......!!!!!" and "terribly sorry for human being!!"
so..pls stop with bla...bla...bla...
Tsunami
Hi A'af ~
You're right that numbers and words cannot begin to truly express this tragedy. You may, in fact, be the one physically closest to this tragedy. However, many of us are still impacted by it, in various ways. It occupies a huge space in our minds, our hearts, and our consciousness. There are some of us who are directly/indirectly impacted by it in still other ways. No disrespect to the victims or to those who survived is intended by anything said here. It is something of worldwide concern, and we all deal with it in our own, different ways.
~ Elizabeth
You're right that numbers and words cannot begin to truly express this tragedy. You may, in fact, be the one physically closest to this tragedy. However, many of us are still impacted by it, in various ways. It occupies a huge space in our minds, our hearts, and our consciousness. There are some of us who are directly/indirectly impacted by it in still other ways. No disrespect to the victims or to those who survived is intended by anything said here. It is something of worldwide concern, and we all deal with it in our own, different ways.
~ Elizabeth
Glad to know you are well A'af. I was away the past week while this tragedy unfolded. I have a cousin who spent a couple of years working in Indonesia a few years ago.
For all of us who can afford here are various reputable agencies to help out from a CNN How to Help link:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/1 ... .aidsites/
For all of us who can afford here are various reputable agencies to help out from a CNN How to Help link:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/1 ... .aidsites/
Even if you removed the far-reaching realities of it, there remains still another aspect, well expressed by Mia Farrow, an ambassador for UNICEF. I read it, after following the link that Kush provided [I'm trying to find a charity, wherein the vast majority of funds will go for direct aid to the victims, rather than administrative costs]. This was her comment:
Add to that the far-reaching realities, and you have this ongoing tragedy continually on people's minds. There are still people here who are concerned for loved ones.“My first reaction when I heard about this was just horror. The numbers weren’t in yet, but I knew they’d be huge. I knew that it would be immense. As a human being, in the human family, I think all of us are in deep grief,” Farrow said.
This morning Amy Goodman on her morning T.V. and Internet show had an Indonesian activist who gave out some names and websites of grassroots charitable organizations where you can be sure the money is going to the needy , not the charity organizers. My contribution is being made on behalf of an uncle I just lost so it must be a religious group to suit my family. Amy's show also discusses the military dictatorship in Indonesia and the imposition of martial law. Links to East Timor action Network and Tapol the Indonesian Human Rights campaign can be found at Amy's website. If interested go to
http://www.democracynow.org
A'af we really do want to help and are not just exploiting the sensationalism of this tragedy like a cheap newspaper. We have all lived through tragedies large and small. It's part of being human. Some even think it's a test of character, a chance for spiritual advancement. At least it can be put to that use.
Your contribution to the board right now is most important because you can tell the global village here things we cannot find in newspapers and on T.V.
http://www.democracynow.org
A'af we really do want to help and are not just exploiting the sensationalism of this tragedy like a cheap newspaper. We have all lived through tragedies large and small. It's part of being human. Some even think it's a test of character, a chance for spiritual advancement. At least it can be put to that use.
Your contribution to the board right now is most important because you can tell the global village here things we cannot find in newspapers and on T.V.
-
Anne-Marie
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:03 am
Dear Insanitor ~
I was very pleased to see that you have signed up for going to help. I heard today from someone that some people have had to come home, after going there to assist, because they just couldn't bear the intensity of the situation. That doesn't surprize me. I'm glad to see that you're willing and able to take the chance.
The only reason I asked about you/Fiji was that someone said they were glad to see that you are okay. I didn't think that Fiji was in the affected region [and knew it was the Indian Ocean], but thought perhaps I was wrong about Fiji's location, when I saw that.
Georges lives in Ireland. He hasn't been here for awhile because he's switched over to allpoetry.com. I know he would appreciate your concern, though.
Yes, you're right, Anne-Marie, the people are responding out of a very genuine and sincere spirit.
Thank you, Lightning, for that information on the grassroots organizations. That's the kind of thing I'm most interested in. I'll look into it. Without having a credit card, and those being organizations that are located over there, I wonder if sending a check will work, or what other kinds of arrangements will become necessary. I guess the websites will make all that clear.
I'm sorry to hear about your uncle's death. We still suffer our own, individual losses, not made any easier by the catastrophic ones.
I was very pleased to see that you have signed up for going to help. I heard today from someone that some people have had to come home, after going there to assist, because they just couldn't bear the intensity of the situation. That doesn't surprize me. I'm glad to see that you're willing and able to take the chance.
The only reason I asked about you/Fiji was that someone said they were glad to see that you are okay. I didn't think that Fiji was in the affected region [and knew it was the Indian Ocean], but thought perhaps I was wrong about Fiji's location, when I saw that.
Georges lives in Ireland. He hasn't been here for awhile because he's switched over to allpoetry.com. I know he would appreciate your concern, though.
Yes, you're right, Anne-Marie, the people are responding out of a very genuine and sincere spirit.
Thank you, Lightning, for that information on the grassroots organizations. That's the kind of thing I'm most interested in. I'll look into it. Without having a credit card, and those being organizations that are located over there, I wonder if sending a check will work, or what other kinds of arrangements will become necessary. I guess the websites will make all that clear.
I'm sorry to hear about your uncle's death. We still suffer our own, individual losses, not made any easier by the catastrophic ones.
Duh! Bangor does not equal Bangalore...one of the listers is from there though...Yes, I know of a few people Liz who have not been able to cope, mainly with the anger aspect they are facing. It's not something you expect and I guess when we dream of being aid workers we have some romantic allusions at first. My friend has worked in earlier as a medic in refugee camps and is more clued up as to what we may be dealing with.
Re the credit card bizzo, there are some banks and credit unions over here who are accepting deposits into a bank account set up for the crisis appeal. Maybe you have similar arrangements?
I can understand your indignation A'af. It does seem like a lot of blah blah blahing, but as others have said it's an expression of pain and frustration at not being able to do much. Keep us informed of the realities please!
Thanks for the kind words Linda - hope you are well too.
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
Buddha
Buddha
I'll check into that, Insanitor. Thanks for the suggestion.
Understandable error on Georges' location. The two aren't so far apart in their spelling or sound.
You're right on the grief counseling. Desperately needed, but the medical, sanitation, shelter, and sustenance needs are so compelling that it's probably hit-and-miss and piecemeal at best.
When you say that, I can imagine the anger of aid workers. The lack of what's really needed, in addition to poor organization, no doubt multiply it even more. I know the anger I've experienced regarding lack of adequate resources in the social work realm. To compound that a million times over and face it on a 24-hour basis would be all but unbearable. I'm glad you're able and willing to at least try.
From what I've heard, attempts to organize amidst such overwhelming conditions and numbers have been horribly thwarted. At least you're being prepared as best you can be by your friend. I cannot imagine you won't be called at some point. Their needs will be ongoing for years.
~ Elizabeth
Understandable error on Georges' location. The two aren't so far apart in their spelling or sound.
You're right on the grief counseling. Desperately needed, but the medical, sanitation, shelter, and sustenance needs are so compelling that it's probably hit-and-miss and piecemeal at best.
When you say that, I can imagine the anger of aid workers. The lack of what's really needed, in addition to poor organization, no doubt multiply it even more. I know the anger I've experienced regarding lack of adequate resources in the social work realm. To compound that a million times over and face it on a 24-hour basis would be all but unbearable. I'm glad you're able and willing to at least try.
From what I've heard, attempts to organize amidst such overwhelming conditions and numbers have been horribly thwarted. At least you're being prepared as best you can be by your friend. I cannot imagine you won't be called at some point. Their needs will be ongoing for years.
~ Elizabeth
A'af ~
That's a very good idea regarding doing something in Leonard's name. I'm wondering if sending Jarkko a check might be an option, and whether her would be willing to send collected monies to one of the grassroots organizations that Lightning has mentioned. It's asking Jarkko to take on a lot. I wonder if Leonard's office might be willing to be the collection point for something in Leonard's name. Not that he would even care that his name be attached, but I guess that might be something that we would feel good about.
~ Lizzytysh
That's a very good idea regarding doing something in Leonard's name. I'm wondering if sending Jarkko a check might be an option, and whether her would be willing to send collected monies to one of the grassroots organizations that Lightning has mentioned. It's asking Jarkko to take on a lot. I wonder if Leonard's office might be willing to be the collection point for something in Leonard's name. Not that he would even care that his name be attached, but I guess that might be something that we would feel good about.
~ Lizzytysh
The best way to send óur contributions is to use the national bank accounts of Red Cross, UNICEF etc. We don't use any checks any more here in Finland: foreign private checks are not cashed at all, and for bank checks the charge is about 20 USD!! Organizing a campaign of our own would only make things complicated and slow.
Jarkko
Jarkko