posted
Just horrible....massive suffering!! Sometimes I wish I was healthy enough that I could join the red cross and volunteer during a disaster like this.
Posts: 55 | From S.E. Wisconsin | Registered: May 2007
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posted
This is absolutely tragic. My heartfelt prayers go out to all the victims and their loved ones. This breaks my heart. My church was already beginning a fund raiser tonight and I am so excited to be able to do something. I wish I could do more. Keep sending prayers their way.
-------------------- aka: Lyme Warrior
In order to do "real" science, you have to have a "real" conversation with nature.
Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History!
"Just Demand your Rights" Posts: 869 | From nor - cal | Registered: Apr 2008
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
Started watching Anderson Cooper last night and had to change the channel....
Like you cheezehead, my first thought was to physically be there and help.
I keep forgetting that is not do able yet.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
Horrific.
Posts: 212 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Jul 2009
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
10 Ways to Help Haiti (Got this from a planet green post but looks like they go it from a blog done by the White House)
Relief efforts are building in response to the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday. Centered 10 miles from the capital Port Au Prince, it was the worst earthquake to hit the region in more than 200 years and the devastation is enormous--thousands of structures have been destroyed, including hospitals and countless homes--people are trapped in the rubble, and we don't even know the full extent of the damage.
Several great lists of how to help are already up and running, including on the Huffington Post, some of whose ideas we borrowed--here are a few more.
* Send a text to "Haiti" to "90999," and a $10 donation will automatically be given to the Red Cross to help with Haiti relief efforts. (The charge will show up on your cell phone bill.)
* Donate to Partners in Health: an awesome organization founded in Haiti by Paul Farmer that has already done so much great work in that country. Louise Ivers, the PIH clinical director in Haiti, sent a plea for help, saying, "Temporary field hospital by us at UNDP needs supplies, pain meds, bandages. Please help us."
* Wyclef Jean is requesting help for the Yele Haiti Foundation, which he started to support development in his home country. Texting "Yele" to 501501 will automatically donate $5 (and charge your cell phone bill), or you can donate through Yele's website.
* Ushahidi, which crowdsources crisis information, has created a map of Haiti to which anyone can submit updates on road conditions, building collapses, etc., by phone, email, or online. Ushahidi, which means "testimony" in Swahili, is an open source project that was started in Africa, but is customizing a response for Haiti. Check out the map that's already up and running, follow them on Twitter, and help them out if you can. (Check their site for the local SMS number, which was not available as of this morning--or use their international number +44 7624802524.) Cell towers and most of the local news stations in Haiti are down, so efforts like these are filling a particularly challenging gap in information.
* The Haiti Earthquake Relief Center is run by the Haitian Alliance, which has been working to make Haiti "green and literate" (including tree-planting efforts), and is coordinating collections and shipments of food, medicine, and temporary shelter (tents, blankets, etc.), to the millions of Haitians affected by the quake.
* Support Mercy Corps, which is sending a team of emergency responders. Donate online, call 1-888-256-1900 or send checks to Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund; Dept NR; PO Box 2669; Portland, OR 97208.
* Ben Stiller's Stillerstrong, "in recognition of the severity of the earthquake in Haiti," is temporarily sending all donations to emergency relief efforts for earthquake victims.
* Direct Relief is coordinating with in-country partners, including Partners in Health, St. Damien Children's Hospital, and the Visitation Hospital, which are particularly active in emergency response. Donate to Direct Relief online.
* One Day's Wages, which has already committed $5,000 to the relief efforts, is asking for people to consider donating a day's wages (or any other amount, really) to support their partnership with World Concern, which has an office in Port Au Prince. The office is still standing, but they need help to boost their emergency and disaster relief efforts and to support communities affected by the earthquake.
* Follow BBC's Have Your Say's Twitter list dedicated to Haiti. And of course, the whole Twitterverse is abuzz with talk about Haiti--if you see any ideas we've missed, please leave a comment here or send us a tip.
Stay tuned to what's happening on the ground in Haiti, and follow the White House blog to keep up with what the U.S. is doing to help Haiti.
...I do not have a cell phone but was amazed how technology is helping to make things move so much quicker.
Also heard on AC that planes had started arriving with supplies but they need helicopters to get the supplies in the area as the heavy equipment to clear roads has not arrived yet.
haiti recently had purchased a lot of trucks to do this but they are all over the country so it will take time to drive them to the sites needed.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
Anderson Cooper? UGGGGG!!!!
He is the one who reported that New Orleans was basically ok after Katrina.. and folks lightened up, emergency services slowed up ... and the President even went to play golf I believe because it didn't seem to be a huge problem... according to Anderson Cooper.
UGGGGG!!!!!
I hope he does a MUCH better job reporting on this horrible disaster!
I hope the victims are getting their basic needs met and can find some peace.
Seeing this brings back memories....
My father- Military pilot- use to fly rescue missions down there and in other areas after major disasters. I can still see the look in his eyes when he would come home afterward... tragic.
I am a trained disaster worker.. and for years did search and rescue missions/firefighting, etc for several volunteer organizations.
My heart breaks that I have the training to help and the experience... but no longer have the ability to do more to help others who need some assistance...
And have no more to offer right now, other than prayers.
posted
I don't particularly care for the Red Cross.. so I'm donating to Convoy of Hope. They are "local" and were already in Haiti the second day.
Can you imagine even just the logistics of locating people there?? Hopefully, someone will set up a computerized system so that we know who survived and WHERE the survivors are located so families can find each other.
There is just a total breakdown of communications.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
You might want to check with your local Red Cross and Salvation Army if you are able to do even a little something.
One year.. after the bad floods in the mountains in Virginia... I returned home and volunteered at the local Salvation Army store.
I was too sick to be doing that or anything else .. but I could not sit around knowing my beautiful state of Virginia had folks who were hurting and who had lost everything.
Since I couldn't pop in the fire department and "volunteer"... and that WAS funny...
I got to a station house after driving all day and went in to offer my services and was told by the firefighter there...
"We don't take no girls."
I was rather shocked and asked if he knew what discrimination was... and not surprisingly... he didn't. Anyhow.. he called the chief of the department at home and said there was a girl here that wanted to volunteer.
Then he said to the boss (obviously because the chief said no girls too).. "I already told her that."
They talked a bit more and he then told the Chief..
"Well, she has more training than you do, Chief."
Rather than put them on the spot by having a "girl" problem to deal with... I excused myself and headed back down the road.
Anyhow...
My effort for the disaster doesn't seem like much compared to what I could do (before Lyme)... but it was a job that needed to be done. So I spent a week in the warehouse mostly sorting donated shoes to be sent to the victims.
I told myself I would be happy to serve up mashed potatoes on a plate in a food line... or package up toiletries for victims to have... whatever.
So if you get the urge.. the volunteer organizations MAY be the place to go. Be sure to call first and ask.
posted
Tincup...with all due respect (and I do respect you and very much enjoy reading your posts) what the heck were your watching after katrina? I watched AC and I saw some of the best reporting Ive ever seen anywhere. He reamed Mary Landrews(sp?), a senator from Louisiana a new a-hole. I saw him cry. I saw him beg for help. Anderson Cooper was fabulous.
Posts: 212 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Jul 2009
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
The media coverage of Katrina was actually one sided and more focused on New Orleans than it was my state of Mississippi where we actually got the brunt of the Hurricane. Most ppl don't even know that.
New Orleans suffered mostly because their governor or other high officials did not keep the levees in shape, after the federal governement had given them money just for that project; so the levees broke and all he** broke loose. The levees were in such bad shape, it was an accident waiting to happen. This was the state of Lousisana's fault.
Then the mayor of New Orleans did not do his job, to get people out of there, yet he got re-elected??? Never did get that one. The state didn't get ppl out either. It was the federal gov that took that responsiblity.
Of course it was all very devastating and many people suffered in both NO and MS; but the actual Hurricane itself hit Mississippi and did an extreme amount of damage that never really got noticed because the media ran with what took place in NO.
People in MS also lost everything and not because our government wasn't doing their job. We have a super great governor, who stepped up to the plate.
These are actually the facts that the media has never to this day covered.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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sutherngrl
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posted
Just want to make it clear that I'm not down playing the sufferings of the people of New Orleans in any way. All of that was horrendous; but it could have been prevented!
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
Hey Gah....
Thanks for your nice reply. I don't mind explaining a bit.
I was watching the reports prior to, through and after Katrina. I have family and friends there in the south and folks on rescue mission there, so I was glued to it.
I saw Anderson Cooper reporting that the worst was over just as the winds started going down. He made it appear it was no big deal there... and things were ok.
Because of that report, I was relieved, as were millions of others.
But other reporters at the time had major concerns and were reporting they needed help and we had a HUGE disaster taking place.
When officials, who could not get information from their own "people" because of downed phone lines, heard it was basically "over"... according to Cooper...
The focus was shifting to mop up efforts and not addressing the floods, the rescuing of stranded people, etc.
It appeared Cooper didn't know about the folks in the stadium and other places (?) .. or the flooding in the city that was taking place... at least in the beginning.
Yes, he did finally get to the site to report more accurately and first hand... but that initial report in MY opinion was VERY damaging to the rescue efforts...
Especially since the workers trying to help had no communications with the outside world or each other.. and didn't know what was going on a 1/2 mile away at any given time... putting them in great danger.
Because he was on a station that is broadcast nation wide... one that Congress and policy makers often watch... I thought his reassuring folks things were ok... maybe trying to get the "scoop" out first (?) ... when they weren't ok, was a problem.
I am sure he is a dear fellow and a caring man too .. but that one BIG blooper, I feel, caused a lot of harm. Of course it was but ONE of many big bloopers that happened... so it wasn't pointed out as much as the others.
If you will remember too.. I think, don't quote me.. it was Katie Curick (sp?) who was laughing when the Twin Towers was being attacked on 911. She thought it was a camera trick or something... and made fun of it.
I know these reporters are not perfect... but they really need to be careful when the world is watching and lives are at stake.
I hold nothing against either of them.. we all make mistakes. I still watch the news sometimes too.
posted
Fundraisers are springing up all over the place here.
You know, whatever we did before being ill, I am so glad that any of us had that experience, to really live and participate as fully as we did.
The trick now is to figure out the modified ways we can help.
Like, TC, now you help rescue people with Lyme/co's, in a lyme-green online ambulance...
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Caught bits and pieces of the news last night but brain is not working well enough to recall info...
I do recall that 1/2 of the pop is under a certain age...lots of kids and young people
saw this morning where they were trying to figure out how to co ordinate efforts and info to have the people clear places for the helicopters to land that will be bringing in supplies.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
I'm excited to hear that an aircraft carrier has arrived there. That will help a lot! They have a hospital on board and of course all the helicopters to get people there.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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The best you can do is donate if you have the money. MANY of our donations have already gotten there and they are recieving aid already! PLEASE donate if you can. I have through SMS (text message) 10 dollars goes onto your phone bill and they do not spam you - only 3 texts, one to tell you "are you sure?" then another to say thank you and how to cancel further texts, and then one to inform that you were removed or continued to recieve.
PLEASE HELP THEM.
-------------------- I'll make the most of it, I'm an extraordinary machine Posts: 43 | From Cleveland | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
Tincup...I see your point about AC. I was not aware of his early reportings. But I was moved to tears when I saw his emotional pleas for help on behalf of the victims. It was refreshing to see such heartfelt reporting.
I hope I didn't come across as rude.
Posts: 212 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
I sent $10.00. I also said a prayer of gratitude for my pillowtop mattress, my own bathroom and my bottle of water that was next to me.
We may have Lyme, but we have our comforts. I know I sometimes forget. Love to you all, and Street, glad your friends/family are ok.
Posts: 374 | From United States | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
Snailhead, thank you! I have sent them as well and many prayers. SMS is how I sent my 10.00 to Red Cross. They are getting some of our aid right now I hope some water and food. Blessings to you all and keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We should never take anything for granted. <3
-------------------- I'll make the most of it, I'm an extraordinary machine Posts: 43 | From Cleveland | Registered: Dec 2009
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posted
Be careful in clicking on aid links - I got phished today - one of the sites got ahold of my email list and sent a good number of them an invitation to shop at a website. Don't know if this has happened to anyone else yet?
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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posted
Good advice Robin. I used Redcross.org. You can specifically designate your $$$ toward Haiti.
Posts: 374 | From United States | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
P.S. They got five more alive people out of that pancaked Supermarket today, five days after the quake. Amazing.
Posts: 374 | From United States | Registered: Nov 2008
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posted
That was so wonderful, snailhead .. and they said the people survived in part because they had access to food and water. How awesome is that miracle!?
I heard on the news that the Jonas brothers donated $50,000 to the Convoy of Hope. I'm going to give there and through our world relief organization connected with my church's denomination.
Robin.. Was that with a well-known organization like the Red Cross, or what???? Very scary!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Thx to anyone who can give - they need it -
but not my phishy "friends" who probably make money when anyone clicks on their website link as invited to do so by me - NOT!
Lymetoo, I have no idea which site it was - I was just checking out aid sites.
I am now hearing from longlost friends from the past about this - lol - at least no one has believed I'm REALLY asking them to buy all those tv's and digital cameras - lol
but yes, do go for the legit links, folks, otherwise you too may end up "selling" for the underground market - with all proceeds sent to Haiti, of course... Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
good to come here and read the good news. i have not been able to watch lately on TV as the usual has been going on...the worse news magnified.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
It is titled Beyond the Horrors
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
Watched part of Larry King last night. They were having a telethon type of thing to raise funds for unicef and red cross.
One guy was also watching an organization on the web where you donate money and help to build a house.
Don't know how much they raised last night. But, did hear it was record breaking.
Also heard about the number of children left without parents on one channel and then another channel said they really didn't know.
The one channel said something like 300,000 children?? Don't trust my memory.
(update: saw on Oprah today that haiti had close to 400,000 orphans before the quake.
Also saw where a few of those children were adopted and are now in the states...children who have been in the process of being adopted.
[ 01-20-2010, 07:45 PM: Message edited by: kam ]
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