Help for tsunami victiims

[BillVoiers]

Virginia and I had been agonizing over how best to help Tsunami victims, when we learned that a very dear friend of ours, former Eurekan Randy Eckhardt,is taking off for India shortly, AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, to help victims in the worst hit part of India. He has spent time in that area and knows it well. We are thinking we have a way to contribute with assurance that the tsunami victims will get the full benefit, but we need to talk this over with Randy, first. If some of you know Randy, you should be able to guess what we're thinking. We'd like to have your thoughts.

[becsflowers]

It is my opinion that cash would be the donation of choice. At least thats what ABC news people have reported. They have PLENTY of rice and food inland, but need clean water rescources and money to get other things.
Being there to over see it in person by a friend you trust is a pretty good guarantee it will go to what is most needed there at the time.

[BillVoiers]

You got it, Bec!!!!!

[BillVoiers]

To fill you all in a little better:

Dear Bill and VA:

Thanks for your email. Sorry I've been out of touch. Lots going on here.
I'm leaving for India, indefinitely, in the first week of February. I've
been busy organizing everything. A friend will come in and run the gallery.
She'll bring her art in, and we'll keep it open and running till the end
of the lease, in May, 2005.

I'll be in the Southern coastal region of India. The Tamil Nadu coast was
hit hard during the Tsunamis. More than 7000 people lost their lives in
that area. This is the area where I've spent many weeks. the little
fishing village that I lived in, just outside of Pondicherry, I'm sure is no
longer there. Somewhere along the Bay of Bengal, I'll set up a bit of a
life and will work with 1, and possibly 2 organizations that are doing
incredible work in that region, helping to bring back parts of
infrastructures of villages, repairing and rebuilding roads and homes,
supplying towns with aid, etc.

I'd love to go to Indonesia, or Sri Lanka, because I know the need there is
greater than in India, but there's little organization in some of the more
remote areas, and although I've spent time in both those countries, it's
more difficult to live there. I know that at least in India, I can set up a
base and eat without getting "too" sick. Being a burden on an already sever
situation is something that I would not like to contribute to. So,
hopefully I'll remain well enough to be an able-body person, and will
certainly do what I can to help, for as long as I can.

I'll have this email and this will be my contact. If I'm able to acquire a
physical address, I'll send it.

I hope 2005 is treating both of you well. I'm thinking of you.

Love Randy.

(P.S. Randy has been in deep depression since the election, but now he's come alive.
He is one of the finest, most compassionate, people we know, and we want to give him all the support we can.
Let us know if you want to help, too, B & VA, bvoiers@aol.com, 253-9558)

[This message has been edited by BillVoiers (edited 01-07-2005).]

[This message has been edited by BillVoiers (edited 01-07-2005).]

[becsflowers]

"Nothing cures "election depression" like a trip to storm-ravaged India!"....

(Wouldn't that be a nice slogan on a travel brochure? WHY don't people let ME write travel brochures??? Chamber: are you HIRING?)

Anybody else need a "catchy" slogan?

[savilatea]

This site shows before and after photos http://homepage.mac.com/demark/tsunami/2.html

[PMilam]

That is an incredible site. I just cannot fathom the loss of lifes and homes.

[Becky Davis]

Europe had a period of three minutes of silence for the tsunami victims. I think some of the pictures of people bowing their heads are touching. We lowered our flags out of respect.
I am trying to remember when was the last time we as a nation had a silent moment. Was it after the OK bombings?

[BillVoiers]

HERE'S AN UPDATE ON THE SITUATION IN INDIA FOLLOWING THE TSUNAMI:
Dear Bill and Virginia:

I appologize for this email being so lengthy.

I'm sorry that I didn't get the chance to call you over the weekend, Bil.
I've been trying to put everything into perspective here, as far as how to
end my existence here and begin it anew in India. I've just been busy and
out of touch, limited with my phone and computer at work, etc.

Thank you once again for your thoughtfulness and concern, and for your offer
and willingness to donate to areas/peoples in need, in Southern India. As I
mentioned to Virginia, money isn't a problem in Southern India. I know that
sounds strange, but things are flowing along smoothly in the areas near
Pondicherry and the Bay of Benga (many fishing villages affected in this
area).

Thank you also for putting info. on Geekfest. I've never gone onto Geekfest
and really don't even know what it is. Your efforts and sincere thoughts are
greatly appreciated. Thank you.

As far as donating to a relief agency; most large organizations probably
have more money than they know what to do with. The world has come out in
full force during this tragedy and Billions of dollars have been rasied,
independantly. Two of the largest organizations that I know have integrity,
and disperse funds to the appropiate areas of need ( not towards
administration, etc.), are Doctors without Borders and Americares. Oxyfam is
also good, but these organizations have enough money! Doctors without
borders, isn't even accepting cash donations at this time. They, as many
are overwhelmed.

Americares operates as a relief agency and has a huge warehouse in Europe,
and two here in the states. They were one of the first organizations to get
a plane with supplies to either Sri Lanka, or Indonesia, from their
warehouse in Europe. They also have hundreds of millions of dollars in a
reserve account. My suggestion to anyone who wants to contribute is to find
a smaller, grass-roots organization (but of course this would entail some
research) and give to them. They are out there, as I've heard and read
numerous stories about them. Some are doing incredible work.

I won't know where I'll be needed until I arrive in India. I do know that
there are great things happening there, and will continue. Long term
assistance is always the challenge! Attached is an example of what the
small community of Auroville is doing. They are just one of dozens of
organizations, equally as committed, working in Southern India.

It's lengthy, but will give you an idea. Love Randy >>>


Progress Report - Facts & Figures, 10th Jan. 2005

First two days: immediate emergency relief

The tsunami struck 26 th December in the morning. By noon the first ad hoc
meeting of concerned Aurovilians took place in Kuilapalayam to deal with the
crisis.

First emergency activities

* A relief camp, with cooking and drinking water facilities, was set up
in New Creation, ready at 4 pm . A doctor attended the most urgent medical
cases. Some 1400 villagers were being sheltered and fed and blankets were
handed out. Another smaller camp was set up in the Kottakarai area.
* On Monday the 27 th , it was decided to shift the refugees to an
Auroville school which offered better protection. The influx from coastal
villages continued. Relief activities were conducted in close collaboration
with the local authorities.
* On Tuesday the 28 th , teams of Aurovilians went out to make a first
rapid assessment of the situation along the coast and in the Auroville beach
communities. Immediate relief to the flood victims continued.
* On that same day, following the warning for another tsunami, the
relief camps gave shelter to and fed about 2500 residents.

Auroville Tsunami Relief Centre

* Under the umbrella of Auroville Village Action Group the Auroville
Tsunami Relief Centre has been made responsible for the tsunami relief
related activities. Jos van den Akker and Hemant Lamba were appointed as
coordinators of the team . Networking activities with others NGOs, contacts
with the press and general coordination of relief and rehabilitation
activities is among their tasks. Jos handed over his responsibilities to
Dave Storey on Monday January 10 th .
* Many volunteers came forward to take responsibility for tasks that
needed to be planned and coordinated. An office, open from 8 till 6, has
been set up. From this office all relief activities are being coordinated.
* Three Field teams were immediately formed. Two teams went out to the
villages along the coast to assess the situation. One team took up
responsibility for the affected Auroville beach communities. We are now
doing reassessments.
* A Clean-Up team is responsible the cleaning activities in the
villages.
* A Trauma Counseling team has been formed and is now working with the
affected villagers and Aurovilians.
* A Financial Management team is taking care of incoming funds and
donations from India and abroad. They have set up a comprehensive and
transparant accounting system for incoming and outgoing funds.
* A Communication team releases updated information on our activities on
the Auroville website www.auroville.org (http://www.auroville.org) is also responsible for interacting
with the media. Short films covering our activities are in the process of
being produced.
* A Sourcing and Purchasing team makes sure the needed items are ready
for distribution at the right time.
* A Distribution Preparation team receives the purchased or donated
goods/items and prepares suitable kits according to specifications given by
the village field teams.
* A Health team is coordinating all health-related issues. A survey on
water safety is being carried out. Furthermore a supplementary feeding
project, covering all the villages where Auroville is active, is being set
up.
* An NGO-Networking team is responsible for establishing relationships
and coordinating Auroville's relief and rehabilitation activities with other
NGO's involved in tsunami related relief and rehabilitation. A database,
searchable by anyone, anytime, anywhere, with all tsunami-related info will
be set-up. This database will be incorporated in a special intranet,
categorizing and disseminating all tsunami-related information among the
concerned NGO's. The aim is to create a coordination and information sharing
model, useable in any future disaster emergency.
* An Office team functions as a nodal point for the entire relief
efforts and makes sure the Tsunami Relief Team can function smoothly.

Assessing needs and distribution

* After assessing the immediate needs, the distribution team started to
compile relief items, consisting of food, clothes and blankets. A more
detailed assessment took place in the meantime. On the basis of this needs
assessment, distribution of packages of school supplies, buckets, trunks,
kitchen utensils, etc., took place. In addition, sports materials were
distributed among the youth.
* Distribution of food and non-food items is continuing. We expect to
finish the present round of distribution by the end of tomorrow, Thursday
the 13 th. All distribution is taking place after consultation and in close
collaboration with the local village elders. All distribution activities are
done by volunteers.
* We are keeping full distribution records on individual and the
village/community level.

Cleaning

* A special Clean-Up Team is taking 100-150 volunteers, on a daily
basis, into the villages of Ganagachettikullam and Mudiliarkuppam, as well
as the beach areas in front of Auroville beach communities. More villages
and locations are being cleaned every day.
* The volunteers include residents of the villages in and around
Auroville, Aurovilians, guests of Auroville and students from Auroville
schools.
* The cleaning is done together with the residents of the village, as
this is a major contribution towards boosting their morale.

Auroville beach communities

* All affected beach communities have been visited. Individual needs and
requests have been assessed. Money has been released for necessary works
like fencing, small repairs, house renovation, new water pumps. Assessments
of further needs are taking place.
* Personal financial support will be provided to all those who need it.
* Volunteers have been assisting in cleaning up the debris.
* Pumps have been installed to desalinate water wells. The salinity
level is going down and under control.
* The process of finding temporary housing solutions for some residents
is in full swing.

Trauma Counselling
Since many residents of the shoreline villages are traumatized by the
events, we are now in the process of setting up trauma counselling relief
activities. Members from the Auroville Tamil Women Group and other concerned
parties have set a up a structure and visited the villages since Wednesday,
January 5 th .

Rehabilitation
Gradually the Auroville relief operation has been moving into the
rehabilitation phase. The first meeting and brainstorming sessions are over
and various working group are now fully functional, covering temporary and
permanent shelter needs, the rebuilding of livelihoods, training,
sanitation, etcetera.

Government Liaison
The Auroville Tsunami Relief Team is in daily contact with the local
Government Administrator Adi Dravid, Mr. Abdul Hassan, assistant secretary
Mr. Atulia Mishra from Tamil Nadu Government, District Observer, and the
District Collector Mr. K.Balachadaran.