7.0 Earthquake Tuesday in Haiti

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[Lani]

Here's a way that we can help, especially if cash-strapped: Phones for Haiti

Working and nonworking old cell phones, batteries and chargers are refurbished, recycled and resold, with the money generated going to the American Red Cross for the Haitian earthquake relief efforts.

You can print the shipping label on the website, and you don't even need postage.

http://www.phonesforhaiti.com/index.html

Your donated cell phones won’t go directly to quake victims — instead, ReCellular refurbishes and sells the phones in developing countries as an alternative to new models. The full value of each donated phone is then contributed to the American Red Cross.

In some cases (i.e. with a new iPhone or similar smartphone), up to $100 is contributed to relief efforts. Non-functional phones, batteries, and chargers are also accepted. So what are you waiting for? ReCellular offers free shipping, so there’s no excuse not to donate.

http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/01/15/recycle-your-old-cell-phone-to-help-quake-victims-in-haiti/

[justafarmer]

thanks Lani!!!
I have a bunch of phones here I can send.

[Sister Artemis]

A tangent of the crisis is the way in which people are using newer technologies to give: not just online, or by phone, but with simple texting, tweeting, and awareness raised through social media.  I don't actively participate in tweeting/texting, and Mudflats is about as social as I get in the web media.  Still, it's everywhere around me.  And it's gathering a ton of money.

Even the companies are using new models - texting and tweeting - are getting in on the giving action.  Verizon is apparently immediately forwarding donations which come through their network - that is, sending off the money before you even get your bill.  Rather smart, given the tragic situation where the need is immediate. 


Though I don't tweet, and don't spend much time facebooking (I have to for work, but that's about it), I've been impressed at the way in which certain events have used these ways of communicating to great effect.  The Iranian election protests of course come to mind, and it seems to be working here too.

[Lani]

There are concerns about the charity Yele Haiti, which include questions about how much of the money actual benefits people in Haiti.  Regardless of how the financial questions are resolved, the charity does not appear to have a meaningful presence in that country or any experience with disaster relief.

Groups raise doubts about Jean’s charity group
Tax returns, audits show Yele Haiti intertwined with musician’s businesses
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34887376/ns/entertainment-celebrities/

[boodog]

In light of many Haiti charity scams, CNN's Impact Your World, has a list of vetted charities to donate to.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/

When in doubt, the well known Red Cross, Unicef and Doctors Without Borders are always safe donation sites.

[Irishgirl]

Someone else from Alaska will be famous soon - and it isn't any of the usual suspects.

I just read an email from Christa Brelsford's Dad reporting that her boyfriend told him she was interviewed by Larry King tonight and will be on the morning shows tomorrow. I didn't see anything on Larry King's website yet, but it may be too early.

Now some folks can get a good look at a very different kind of Alaskan, one that is very compassionate about the circumstances in Haiti despite her own life changing injuries and loss of her foot. Wow again.

I saw Matt Lauer interviewing her today and I was blown away. He was too. That is one Alaskan woman you can be proud of.

[Lani]

I've been looking for updates on the situation.  So much is being flown in that the airport is congested.  The good news is the road from Santo Domingo is now passable, so flights are being rerouted there and at least one convoy from the International Red Cross is on its way.

Helicopters are dropping food and water.

The main port is too damaged to be used.

[pacos_gal]

I read somewhere today about them trying to rig up something to make it possible to off load some of the ships.  There was ship suppose to arrive today filled with supplies.  That would come in handy. 

Fantastic news about the road from Santa Domingo being open.  That will help a lot.  There are also some other ports that they were routing some ships to that were not damaged, not sure if they are in Haiti or Dominican Rep. 

They are still digging survivors out of the rubble.  I don't know how long that will last, but I hope the people can hold on for a bit longer if necessary. 

There has to be some more good news out there and we should post it as we come across it. 

[Writing from Alaska]

Here is another option for donations. The American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) is a highly rated charity. Christa Brelsford's brother works for AFSC and if you are interested in donating there, you can even give a donation to honor Christa. Just thought some of you might be interested in that.

Code:

https://secure2.convio.net/afsc/site/Donation2?idb=71254698&df_id=1240&1240.donation=form1&JServSessionIdr004=le2mqltzn1.app9b

As others have mentioned - I recommend Doctor's without Borders, and recently heard of  International Medical Corps (Donation@imcworldwide.org)  or Haiti Partners (haitipartners.org
 
It is my understanding that at the time of the earthquake, the Brelsford siblings were working with Haiti Partners. Also, another option is the Amanda Marga Universal Relief Team (support@amurt.net), an International India-based relief group since 1965.

These recommendations come via an uncle of mine who knows of these groups and is pretty well versed in their work. He knows people who work with them as well so has some familiarity with what they are able to do.

[Lani]

We act for the sake of the thousands of American citizens who are in Haiti, and for their families back home; for the sake of the Haitian people who have been stricken with a tragic history, even as they have shown great resilience; and we act because of the close ties that we have with a neighbor that is only a few hundred miles to the south.

But above all, we act for a very simple reason: in times of tragedy, the United States of America steps forward and helps....

In the aftermath of disaster, we are reminded that life can be unimaginably cruel. That pain and loss is so often meted out without any justice or mercy. That "time and chance" happen to us all. But it is also in these moments, when we are brought face to face with our own fragility, that we rediscover our common humanity. We look into the eyes of another and see ourselves. And so the United States of America will lead the world in this humanitarian endeavor. That has been our history, and that is how we will answer the challenge before us.

Why Haiti Matters by Barack Obama http://www.newsweek.com/id/231131/page/1

[Sister Artemis]

My president reminds me how much I like the warm and fuzzy side of humanity.

[Sirenoftitan]

The destruction caused at the epicentre of Tuesday's earthquake in Haiti is even more dramatic than in the ruined capital, a BBC correspondent says.  Tens of thousands of people there are living in the open, and the population is in profound shock, he says.  Survivors in the capital, Port-au-Prince, have become desperate as they wait for aid gradually being handed out under an international relief effort.

[...]

The UN has also reported a rise in the number of people trying to cross into the neighbouring Dominican Republic, and an influx into Haiti's northern cities.  David Wimhurst, a spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force in Haiti, said aid was being delivered as quickly as possible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8463938.stm

[Sirenoftitan]

Senegal's president says he will offer free land and "repatriation" to people affected by the earthquake in Haiti.  President Abdoulaye Wade said Haitians were sons and daughters of Africa since Haiti was founded by slaves, including some thought to be from Senegal.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8463921.stm

[pacos_gal]

Canada and Canadians are doing their darnedest to actively help Haitians.   

This article talks about quite a few things that the Candians are doing, such as the Canadian government matching every dollar given for Haiti relief up to 50 million.  I particluarly like the Shelter Boxes that are being sent. 

http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2263197

"The Canadian government has said it will match every dollar Canadians contribute to the relief effort in Haiti up to a maximum of $50-million," states a media release from the LCBO.

District 7070 of Rotary is supporting the relief effort by sending Shelter Boxes which can house a family of up to 10, provide water purification tablets, food, a small cooking stove, sleeping mats and blankets. Within a day of making the decision this week, 47 boxes from the district were dedicated to the relief effort, said Cobourg Rotarian Gail Moore and more are coming. All five Rotary clubs in Northumberland have pledged to be part of the shelter box effort, she said.

In addition, the Canadian government is looking to fast track immigration from Haiti.  I think if you are Haitian and have family in Canada then you have a very good chance of getting here quicker.  I think that is one of the things on this weeks agenda. 

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/01/15/haiti-canada-immigration.html

The Canadian government says it is looking into a plan to help fast-track immigration from Haiti in the wake of the earthquake that has crippled the Caribbean country.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday he and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney have been discussing ways to ease immigration and refugee rules to allow more Haitians into Canada quickly.

[daMamma]

My president reminds me how much I like the warm and fuzzy side of humanity.

 

Prime Minister Harper really is a good and decent man.  He gets way more flack than he deserves. 

[judi]

In the midst of so much political warfare that we seem to have lately...made me mighty proud today to be an American when I saw former pres clinton, and bush and current pres obama together...and in one voice give the message that the usa is united to help haiti now and in the future

after giving just about all that we could...redcross, oxfam, drs without borders...just did not have any more cash on hand...

so just put out a  email to all bakers out there, went to local hippie store to see if we could set up there, got some folks who know more than me to send press releases and get on radio...and now will have bake sale....all proceeds going to drs without borders for haiti...letting the people of haiti know that we in fredonia ny and others in rural our county ...care...


just had to do more...not enough...but more

[daMamma]

That sounds wonderful judi, fantastic ideas we can all pick up on.

[Forty Watt]

I really hate to post this but it is part of the unfolding story.  I'm only giving the link for those who want to follow it, no quotes. 

Retribution swift and brutal for Haiti's looters
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/17/retribution-lynching-haiti-looters

[Aeroentropy]

Oh. My. Word. 40.

It is certainly going to get uglier before it gets better.

My heart continues to break for this desperate country.

[daMamma]

You took the words right out of my mouth Aeroentropy.