- From the Tibet Foundation -
http://www.tibet-foundation.org/news/urgent_emergency_appeal_-_kyekudo_yushu_earthquake/
You may have already heard the sad news of the devastating earthquake (a 6.9 magnitude) this morning at 07.49 (23.49 GMT) in Yushu (Kyedudo in Tibetan) in the northwest Province of Qinghai. This news has been widely broadcast on Chinese television and by the BBC.
Yushu County is 800km (500 miles) southwest of the provincial capital Xining. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region in the west and Kandze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the east.
Having worked in this region in the past, Tibet Foundation is familiar with the area and is already in contact with local people and local authorities. Ninety percent of the population there is ethnic Tibetan. The area is one of the poorest and remotest regions in the country with very inadequate communication and infrastructure.
The powerful tremor struck around 8 am local time followed by several other quakes, destroying or damaging almost all the houses, also school buildings, medical clinics and hospitals in the county capital, Kyekudo. Information regarding nearby areas is not available at the moment due to landslides and the breakdown of telecommunications. The official report of casualties states that some 400 are dead and thousands more injured. The unofficial and unconfirmed news from local people is three times greater than this.
The Chinese government has a good record of responding efficiently to such emergencies. The government and the Chinese Red Cross have already sent officials to assess the situation. Due to the remoteness of the region and poor infrastructure it could be a very challenging task.
We are directly in touch with some local people and local officers, and the Foundation representative in the nearby Kandze Prefecture is coordinating our assessment of the situation. Your help is most urgently needed for the Tibetans in the region. Whatever support you can give towards immediate assistance for medicine, clothing and food, and also long-term support for rebuilding schools and health clinics, would be very much appreciated. All funds raised by Tibet Foundation will go immediately to the people in need with no intermediary agencies.
Please, we urgently request you to help the Tibetans in Kyekudo affected by this devastating earthquake. We assure you that whatever amount you can offer, however large or small, will go directly to assisting the people in Kyekudo.
Donations
Either:
Send your cheque made payable to Tibet Foundation (Yushu Earthquake) to Tibet Foundation, 2. St. James’s Market, London, SW1Y 4SB, UK
http://www.tibet-foundation.org/news/urgent_emergency_appeal_-_kyekudo_yushu_earthquake/
Friday 16 April 2010
The Earthquake in Tibet Appeal
Earthquake in Tibet: Emergency Appeal
Please help Tibetans in the quake area, donate to Tibet Relief Fund's emergency Yushu Appeal here
14 April: An earthquake has devastated the Tibetan county of Yushu, in a remote mountainous area of Qinghai province on the border of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Initial news reports indicated at least 300 people have been killed with more than 8,000 injured. It is now feared the final death toll could be more than 2,000.
Click here to Donate to an official Body - The Tibet Relief Fund
Please help Tibetans in the quake area, donate to Tibet Relief Fund's emergency Yushu Appeal here
14 April: An earthquake has devastated the Tibetan county of Yushu, in a remote mountainous area of Qinghai province on the border of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. Initial news reports indicated at least 300 people have been killed with more than 8,000 injured. It is now feared the final death toll could be more than 2,000.
Click here to Donate to an official Body - The Tibet Relief Fund
Tuesday 13 April 2010
Are Pharmaceutical Companies all about the money?
I am sorry for the delay in getting this next article out for everyone but I’ve been busy volunteering on the island of Madeira since the freak flood of the 20th February.
On my last post, about the adverse effects of a vaccine called Gardasil, a friend of mine in Facebook, posed a very good question. He asked if the motive behind pharmaceutical companies injecting people with vaccines that are potentially harmful to human beings, or that haven’t been sufficiently tested under clinical conditions, was purely monetary.
My immediate response was to say yes. Money equals power. Power equals control. Control is the basis all politics and all governments are founded on.
Personally, I see pharmaceutical companies making billions and billions of dollars a year in profits from people’s malaise; no longer with the good intentions of helping people, but by actually being a part of the cause; in order to guarantee “long term” sales of their products. The way I see it is, it’s not in Pharmaceutical companies’ nor Governments’ best interest to have entire populations of healthy individuals. Why?
Well, there are actually a lot of factors at play here in a chain of events that are all related and interconnected with one another.
Governments (Politicians)
|
Pharmaceutical Companies
|
Health officials (Including all Health establishments)
|
Universities
|
Work Places
Working from the highest to the lowest, at the top of the food chain, we have governments who profit the most from our illnesses. They gain money from the pharmaceutical companies by way of campaign donations (at least in the USA.) They gain money by way of taxes - ours, the pharmaceutical companies and those of their employees - and they gain money via health insurance policies or national health contributions.
Second in the chain, and just under governments, are the pharmaceutical companies who, as we all know, make enormous profits from our discomforts. The more we have wrong with us, the more products they can potentially sell us.
Underneath them, I’ve put Health officials including all health establishments, because they are next in the food chain. They are usually our first point of contact when we’re not feeling well. Naturally, we go to our doctor or we end up in hospital. However, as I mentioned in my last report, in a lot of countries doctors and health establishments get kick backs (commissions) from pharmaceutical companies for prescribing their drugs.
Underneath Health officials I’ve put Universities. It’s natural that, the more patients there are in the world, the greater the demand is for health officials. Education and training are of the essence. We also need to remember that universities are responsible for a great deal of research that takes place. Hence, universities stand to financially gain from illness as well.
A lot of university research is either government funded or funded by pharmaceutical companies, but since one is in bed with the other (so to speak) it’s hard to tell where the money is ultimately coming from.
However, there is a a reverse side to every coin. The reality is, there aren’t enough placements at universities to cater for everyone. So, in a twisted way, it’s actually convenient to have fewer candidates. This leads me into the next category on the chain: the workforce.
With a third (or whatever percentage it may be) of the population unable to work, present employees can continue to work for a longer number of years. The retirement age has already being extended; at least in some countries.
On another level, it also means the status quo of things doesn’t have to be altered. This is greatly beneficial for those who are in high power jobs or in Scale A jobs; higher up the Socio-political Economical chain. Potentially, they can’t be challenged or so they think. The key players are in place and will continue to be there until they have had sufficient time to train a whole new team to replace themselves accordingly.
You may be thinking that it costs governments more to have someone unemployed, but does it? Some countries pay sick benefits or unemployment benefits and other don’t. Whatever they do pay, if they pay, is recovered in many ways as explained above.
Since there are a lack of jobs around the world, at this present time, it seems very convenient to have a percentage of people unemployed through some form of illness; especially certain age groups. Furthermore, since the world economy has slowed down considerably over the last couple of years, it also seems very convenient to give it a boost through extra worldwide sales of pharmaceutics.
However, since the EU parliamentary commission did take the pharmaceutical companies to court over the H1N1 vaccine, we might assume here that not all countries were behind the swine flu vaccine scam.
However, there could be two underlying reasons why, at least Merck, are desperate to sell their vaccines. In 2009, it was announced - I quote -
Merck and the Wellcome Trust will initially put up equal cash contributions — a total of $130 million over the next seven years.
Other funding could come from grants for specific projects, donations from governments and charities, or investments and licensing fees from for-profit pharmaceutical or biotech companies, said Merck spokeswoman Amy Rose. - End quote -
These funds have to come from somewhere.
This leads me to a very interesting fact that I came across on the Internet; donation records from Merck’s CEO to the Republican Senatorial and Congressional campaigns between 2006 and 2008.
Merck, Pfizer Inc and Sanofi Aventis US, three major names in Pharmaceuticals, still Patron Mary Pallin and her Gala events, as well as various other Republican events. It’s funny to also note how Merck’s income from US federal contracts has sky-rocketed since their contributions to the republican campaigns. You can see for yourself by following the link provided in the resources and further reading section.
I think it would be safe to assume and draw the conclusion here that, on the basis of these facts, both the US Senate and Congress, therefore, fully condone pharmaceutical companies’ actions.
My friend (on Facebook) also wondered if there was some darker, deeper, sinister element at play; like trying to wipe out half the world’s population. I’m less likely inclined to believe that. It’s far more profitable to make people suffer, on a long term basis, than to have them (putting it bluntly) die in the short term. Although, this too may have some advantages.
Let’s explore this in a little more detail:
Most vaccine manufacturers use substances like: Polysorbate 80 (also known as Tween 80) - As I’ve already explained, and it’s a well documented fact, it’s an infertility substance. Governments know this. The FDA knows this. We can, therefore, assume that its use in vaccines could be threefold:
To control the population count. As we have all heard, the world is getting over-crowded. So, somebody somewhere has decided we need to slow our growth down a bit. Instead of enforcing a child number policy per family, (like China or Tibet), which, let’s face it, most countries wouldn’t accept, governments happily let us be injected with something that might help solve the problem quietly. That way, there’s no need for social reform, no new legislations, no referendums, no social unrest and well, what the public doesn’t know can’t hurt them.
To subsequently provide future fertility treatments to infertile couples who want to have a child. As I mentioned in an earlier article, at between 2,000 to 5,000 US dollars per treatment, the pharmaceutical companies stand to gain tremendous wealth. If we examine it a little closer, it’s also another way of controlling the population count. Since it is such an expensive treatment, and not always successful, many couples wouldn’t be able to afford it. So, eventually, just the act of having a child would become a luxury for those who are financially better off.
To ensure that some of the millions of orphans around the globe find parents willing to adopt them. That’s not such a bad thing, right? Except that, most major adoption agencies are government organisations (or affiliates thereof,) and if they’re not, you can rest assured governments around the world are trying to shut them down. So, from a cynical point of view, is this another way of redirecting more money into government funds? - Also, adoptions come with a high price tag. So, one has to question whether even adopting a child is, or will solely be, for the financially privileged. Are children really being thought of, or would this just be another form of legalised human commerce?
A lot of pharmaceutical companies are using substances like Mercury, Thimerosal, Aluminum and its derivatives. None of these have ever been proven safe for human
With the ever increasing number of people getting better health education and turning to alternative methods of Health Management, such as: Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Holistic Nutrition, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Tibetan Medicine, Aromatherapy and an in-exhaustive list too great to mention here, it’s fair to say the pharmaceutical market suffered losses.
These same pharmaceutical companies have tried to ban natural supplements on a worldwide scale. They have tried to shut down, discredit and ban natural health remedies and all kinds of Natural Health Specialists. We should be asking the question; why?
If this doesn’t prove that it’s all about the money and the politics; nothing does. Don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself. I am not showing you anything that isn’t public intellectual property and readily available out there.
Resources and further reading:
http://littlesis.org/person/2473/Richard_T_Clark
http://www.merck.com/about/leadership/board-of-directors/home.html
http://www.womenspolicy.org/site/DocServer/WPI_Gala_invite_2010.pdf?docID=2921
http://www.fedspending.org/fpds/fpds.php?database=fpds&reptype=r&detail=-1&sortby=a&datype=T&parent_id=227272&sum_expand=P
http://blog.taragana.com/health/2009/09/17/drugmaker-merck-british-research-charity-to-develop-vaccines-for-diseases-in-poor-countries-12084/
On my last post, about the adverse effects of a vaccine called Gardasil, a friend of mine in Facebook, posed a very good question. He asked if the motive behind pharmaceutical companies injecting people with vaccines that are potentially harmful to human beings, or that haven’t been sufficiently tested under clinical conditions, was purely monetary.
My immediate response was to say yes. Money equals power. Power equals control. Control is the basis all politics and all governments are founded on.
Personally, I see pharmaceutical companies making billions and billions of dollars a year in profits from people’s malaise; no longer with the good intentions of helping people, but by actually being a part of the cause; in order to guarantee “long term” sales of their products. The way I see it is, it’s not in Pharmaceutical companies’ nor Governments’ best interest to have entire populations of healthy individuals. Why?
Well, there are actually a lot of factors at play here in a chain of events that are all related and interconnected with one another.
Governments (Politicians)
|
Pharmaceutical Companies
|
Health officials (Including all Health establishments)
|
Universities
|
Work Places
Working from the highest to the lowest, at the top of the food chain, we have governments who profit the most from our illnesses. They gain money from the pharmaceutical companies by way of campaign donations (at least in the USA.) They gain money by way of taxes - ours, the pharmaceutical companies and those of their employees - and they gain money via health insurance policies or national health contributions.
Second in the chain, and just under governments, are the pharmaceutical companies who, as we all know, make enormous profits from our discomforts. The more we have wrong with us, the more products they can potentially sell us.
Underneath them, I’ve put Health officials including all health establishments, because they are next in the food chain. They are usually our first point of contact when we’re not feeling well. Naturally, we go to our doctor or we end up in hospital. However, as I mentioned in my last report, in a lot of countries doctors and health establishments get kick backs (commissions) from pharmaceutical companies for prescribing their drugs.
Underneath Health officials I’ve put Universities. It’s natural that, the more patients there are in the world, the greater the demand is for health officials. Education and training are of the essence. We also need to remember that universities are responsible for a great deal of research that takes place. Hence, universities stand to financially gain from illness as well.
A lot of university research is either government funded or funded by pharmaceutical companies, but since one is in bed with the other (so to speak) it’s hard to tell where the money is ultimately coming from.
However, there is a a reverse side to every coin. The reality is, there aren’t enough placements at universities to cater for everyone. So, in a twisted way, it’s actually convenient to have fewer candidates. This leads me into the next category on the chain: the workforce.
With a third (or whatever percentage it may be) of the population unable to work, present employees can continue to work for a longer number of years. The retirement age has already being extended; at least in some countries.
On another level, it also means the status quo of things doesn’t have to be altered. This is greatly beneficial for those who are in high power jobs or in Scale A jobs; higher up the Socio-political Economical chain. Potentially, they can’t be challenged or so they think. The key players are in place and will continue to be there until they have had sufficient time to train a whole new team to replace themselves accordingly.
You may be thinking that it costs governments more to have someone unemployed, but does it? Some countries pay sick benefits or unemployment benefits and other don’t. Whatever they do pay, if they pay, is recovered in many ways as explained above.
Since there are a lack of jobs around the world, at this present time, it seems very convenient to have a percentage of people unemployed through some form of illness; especially certain age groups. Furthermore, since the world economy has slowed down considerably over the last couple of years, it also seems very convenient to give it a boost through extra worldwide sales of pharmaceutics.
However, since the EU parliamentary commission did take the pharmaceutical companies to court over the H1N1 vaccine, we might assume here that not all countries were behind the swine flu vaccine scam.
However, there could be two underlying reasons why, at least Merck, are desperate to sell their vaccines. In 2009, it was announced - I quote -
Merck and the Wellcome Trust will initially put up equal cash contributions — a total of $130 million over the next seven years.
Other funding could come from grants for specific projects, donations from governments and charities, or investments and licensing fees from for-profit pharmaceutical or biotech companies, said Merck spokeswoman Amy Rose. - End quote -
These funds have to come from somewhere.
This leads me to a very interesting fact that I came across on the Internet; donation records from Merck’s CEO to the Republican Senatorial and Congressional campaigns between 2006 and 2008.
Merck, Pfizer Inc and Sanofi Aventis US, three major names in Pharmaceuticals, still Patron Mary Pallin and her Gala events, as well as various other Republican events. It’s funny to also note how Merck’s income from US federal contracts has sky-rocketed since their contributions to the republican campaigns. You can see for yourself by following the link provided in the resources and further reading section.
I think it would be safe to assume and draw the conclusion here that, on the basis of these facts, both the US Senate and Congress, therefore, fully condone pharmaceutical companies’ actions.
My friend (on Facebook) also wondered if there was some darker, deeper, sinister element at play; like trying to wipe out half the world’s population. I’m less likely inclined to believe that. It’s far more profitable to make people suffer, on a long term basis, than to have them (putting it bluntly) die in the short term. Although, this too may have some advantages.
Let’s explore this in a little more detail:
Most vaccine manufacturers use substances like: Polysorbate 80 (also known as Tween 80) - As I’ve already explained, and it’s a well documented fact, it’s an infertility substance. Governments know this. The FDA knows this. We can, therefore, assume that its use in vaccines could be threefold:
To control the population count. As we have all heard, the world is getting over-crowded. So, somebody somewhere has decided we need to slow our growth down a bit. Instead of enforcing a child number policy per family, (like China or Tibet), which, let’s face it, most countries wouldn’t accept, governments happily let us be injected with something that might help solve the problem quietly. That way, there’s no need for social reform, no new legislations, no referendums, no social unrest and well, what the public doesn’t know can’t hurt them.
To subsequently provide future fertility treatments to infertile couples who want to have a child. As I mentioned in an earlier article, at between 2,000 to 5,000 US dollars per treatment, the pharmaceutical companies stand to gain tremendous wealth. If we examine it a little closer, it’s also another way of controlling the population count. Since it is such an expensive treatment, and not always successful, many couples wouldn’t be able to afford it. So, eventually, just the act of having a child would become a luxury for those who are financially better off.
To ensure that some of the millions of orphans around the globe find parents willing to adopt them. That’s not such a bad thing, right? Except that, most major adoption agencies are government organisations (or affiliates thereof,) and if they’re not, you can rest assured governments around the world are trying to shut them down. So, from a cynical point of view, is this another way of redirecting more money into government funds? - Also, adoptions come with a high price tag. So, one has to question whether even adopting a child is, or will solely be, for the financially privileged. Are children really being thought of, or would this just be another form of legalised human commerce?
A lot of pharmaceutical companies are using substances like Mercury, Thimerosal, Aluminum and its derivatives. None of these have ever been proven safe for human
With the ever increasing number of people getting better health education and turning to alternative methods of Health Management, such as: Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Holistic Nutrition, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine, Tibetan Medicine, Aromatherapy and an in-exhaustive list too great to mention here, it’s fair to say the pharmaceutical market suffered losses.
These same pharmaceutical companies have tried to ban natural supplements on a worldwide scale. They have tried to shut down, discredit and ban natural health remedies and all kinds of Natural Health Specialists. We should be asking the question; why?
If this doesn’t prove that it’s all about the money and the politics; nothing does. Don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself. I am not showing you anything that isn’t public intellectual property and readily available out there.
Resources and further reading:
http://littlesis.org/person/2473/Richard_T_Clark
http://www.merck.com/about/leadership/board-of-directors/home.html
http://www.womenspolicy.org/site/DocServer/WPI_Gala_invite_2010.pdf?docID=2921
http://www.fedspending.org/fpds/fpds.php?database=fpds&reptype=r&detail=-1&sortby=a&datype=T&parent_id=227272&sum_expand=P
http://blog.taragana.com/health/2009/09/17/drugmaker-merck-british-research-charity-to-develop-vaccines-for-diseases-in-poor-countries-12084/
Monday 12 April 2010
From the flowering Udumpara - whoever he or she may be ...
I received this email and though it was beautiful ... so, I'm sharing it.
Dear Chinese Government,
I am the voice you wish to silence. I am the one who exists in this lifetime, yet speaks from the spirit of ages. I am the one you should fear. For I am the one who will keep the fire of life burning in the hearts of my people.
Although I may seem like a mere mortal in this lifetime, I am the soul of centuries. I am the fire from the flame that never dies.
I have lived through wars and famines. I have watched as all life ceased and started again. I have watched in silence as man killed man. I cried tears of lotus leaves when you tore the heart out of he who dared to carry my name but not relinquish his people.
I have returned for the love of my people. You know this and I know this. You cannot kill me. I am everywhere. I speak through the voice and with the voice of millions.
The very core of my heart grows stronger every day as I learn more; as does the love I share with those who call to me.
I hear the cries of those you hold in chains. I feel the pain of those you beat because they yield not to your will. I know the burial grounds of every corpse you have violated. Yet, you cannot kill me. Your time has come. Relinquish. The wind has changed. You know it and I know it. The tide has turned. You know it and I know it.
My people are already free. You know it and I know it. You cannot bound that which you do not possess; that which you cannot possess. You know it and I know it.
Freedom is relative. Spirit is free. The heart is free. The will is free. Land is a matter of material convention. Politics are a mere dispute to justify gross salaries and inflated egos.
I am the prediction. I am the prophecy. I am the flower you wish to deny. I am the beginning, I am the end and I am the middle ground. I see all. I hear all. I feel all.
You cannot kill me for I am eternity, but if you wish to know my name; you may call me hope.
The flowering Udumpara
Watching over Tibetans everywhere
Dear Chinese Government,
I am the voice you wish to silence. I am the one who exists in this lifetime, yet speaks from the spirit of ages. I am the one you should fear. For I am the one who will keep the fire of life burning in the hearts of my people.
Although I may seem like a mere mortal in this lifetime, I am the soul of centuries. I am the fire from the flame that never dies.
I have lived through wars and famines. I have watched as all life ceased and started again. I have watched in silence as man killed man. I cried tears of lotus leaves when you tore the heart out of he who dared to carry my name but not relinquish his people.
I have returned for the love of my people. You know this and I know this. You cannot kill me. I am everywhere. I speak through the voice and with the voice of millions.
The very core of my heart grows stronger every day as I learn more; as does the love I share with those who call to me.
I hear the cries of those you hold in chains. I feel the pain of those you beat because they yield not to your will. I know the burial grounds of every corpse you have violated. Yet, you cannot kill me. Your time has come. Relinquish. The wind has changed. You know it and I know it. The tide has turned. You know it and I know it.
My people are already free. You know it and I know it. You cannot bound that which you do not possess; that which you cannot possess. You know it and I know it.
Freedom is relative. Spirit is free. The heart is free. The will is free. Land is a matter of material convention. Politics are a mere dispute to justify gross salaries and inflated egos.
I am the prediction. I am the prophecy. I am the flower you wish to deny. I am the beginning, I am the end and I am the middle ground. I see all. I hear all. I feel all.
You cannot kill me for I am eternity, but if you wish to know my name; you may call me hope.
The flowering Udumpara
Watching over Tibetans everywhere
Friday 2 April 2010
Good Friday - The Spirit of Christ
Today sees the end of what is traditionally known as “Good Friday.”
In Christian tradition, Good Friday is the day the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is remembered, as is his resurrection. In many countries, it’s also tradition to reenact the Via Crucis (also known as the Via Dolorosa or the 14 stations of the cross.)
Along his path to his crucifixion Christ encountered good people who did good deeds. The two most renowned are Simon helping him to carry his cross and Veronica wiping his face. Let’s not forget that Christ’s death and resurrection, in Christian tradition, represents hope for salvation.
Here in Madeira for one group of people, and for one family in particular, it certainly was a Good Friday in terms of good deeds. It was a day when people came together to truly give life to the meaning of the spirit of Christ.
In their own way, one small group of volunteers gave hope and ignited a little light for salvation in the hearts of a family who became homeless after the freak flood of the 20th February 2010: a single mother and her two young children, who have been living in rented accommodation for 6 weeks now, because their house filled with mud and became inhabitable.
Today, on this special day of good deeds, this group of volunteers gave up their free time; precious time with their loved ones and their friends to clean up the mud filled house. Some even brought their friends along to the locality in Curral das Freiras.
They worked all day. They worked in the blazing sun. They walked up and down the side of a mountain countless times. They didn’t take a lunch break. They were called communists for working on a day when everyone else wasn’t working. They were called sinners for working on a Holy day. Yet, they sang, cleaned up mud, laughed and carried on giving hope to a lady and her two children who are desperately trying to get their lives back.
I was one of the volunteers. I watched the lady of the house’s motivation and enthusiasm grow with every inch of mud that was being removed. I saw the light at the end of the tunnel shine in her eyes. Her glimpse of salvation from doom and gloom was to know she wasn’t alone in her plight. We were there for her and with her.
I’m not a Catholic, but surely that is the true spirit of Christ, and it reassures me to know there are still human beings on this earth willing to give their time and their energy to help perfect strangers; no matter what the time or the day.
In Christian tradition, Good Friday is the day the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is remembered, as is his resurrection. In many countries, it’s also tradition to reenact the Via Crucis (also known as the Via Dolorosa or the 14 stations of the cross.)
Along his path to his crucifixion Christ encountered good people who did good deeds. The two most renowned are Simon helping him to carry his cross and Veronica wiping his face. Let’s not forget that Christ’s death and resurrection, in Christian tradition, represents hope for salvation.
Here in Madeira for one group of people, and for one family in particular, it certainly was a Good Friday in terms of good deeds. It was a day when people came together to truly give life to the meaning of the spirit of Christ.
In their own way, one small group of volunteers gave hope and ignited a little light for salvation in the hearts of a family who became homeless after the freak flood of the 20th February 2010: a single mother and her two young children, who have been living in rented accommodation for 6 weeks now, because their house filled with mud and became inhabitable.
Today, on this special day of good deeds, this group of volunteers gave up their free time; precious time with their loved ones and their friends to clean up the mud filled house. Some even brought their friends along to the locality in Curral das Freiras.
They worked all day. They worked in the blazing sun. They walked up and down the side of a mountain countless times. They didn’t take a lunch break. They were called communists for working on a day when everyone else wasn’t working. They were called sinners for working on a Holy day. Yet, they sang, cleaned up mud, laughed and carried on giving hope to a lady and her two children who are desperately trying to get their lives back.
I was one of the volunteers. I watched the lady of the house’s motivation and enthusiasm grow with every inch of mud that was being removed. I saw the light at the end of the tunnel shine in her eyes. Her glimpse of salvation from doom and gloom was to know she wasn’t alone in her plight. We were there for her and with her.
I’m not a Catholic, but surely that is the true spirit of Christ, and it reassures me to know there are still human beings on this earth willing to give their time and their energy to help perfect strangers; no matter what the time or the day.
Wednesday 17 March 2010
Projecto Coração da Madeira - The Heart of Madeira
The project “The HEART OF MADEIRA” is a non profit project, which offers physical and psychological support to the community of Madeira; wherever necessary. A task force of specialist volunteers has come together from different backgrounds and from various non government organisations; all with one purpose - to show social solidarity.
The purpose of the project is to:
1) Provide voluntary services in the areas of clean up, reconstruction and building advice; on a structural and architectural level - where privately owned houses were damaged during the freak flood of the 20th February 2010.
2) Distribute clothes and other material goods on behalf of and in collaboration with other organisations and institutions; including Caritas of Funchal.
3) Offer free specialised psychological support to people who have not yet received it
4) Investigate and determine other ways in which “The HEART OF MADEIRA” may more efficiently be able to help people who need it the most at this moment in time.
5)Collaborate with as many varied organisations as possible with a view to: maximising volunteer corroboration, efficiently receiving, handling and distributing material goods in order to distribute to benefit as many people as possible; as quickly as possible.
6) With this intent in mind, “The HEART OF MADEIRA” has already created partnerships with: AURA, Acreditar and The Buddhist Union of Funchal.
7) Publicly announce and advertise what material goods are needed in order to call upon Madeira’s sense of solidarity; and the solidarity of foreign contributors.
8) Collaborate with Madeira´s army, any and or all government institutions, any and or all non government organisations, local fire-brigades including the voluntary sector, any and or all social solidarity groups etc, with the intent to collaborate and not work in conflict or opposition.
We are not politically motivated. Our only motivation is to help our island and it’s people.
The project coordinators are volunteer psychologists who have been working in the army barracks since the 20th and 21st February 2010; Drª Isabel Rodrigues, Drª Carmo Aragão and Drª Venerina Conti.
If anyone wishes to donate furniture or other material goods, or if anyone knows of anyone who needs anything: please contact us.
Please note: We are not handling cash donations but you can donate through the English church in Funchal.
The purpose of the project is to:
1) Provide voluntary services in the areas of clean up, reconstruction and building advice; on a structural and architectural level - where privately owned houses were damaged during the freak flood of the 20th February 2010.
2) Distribute clothes and other material goods on behalf of and in collaboration with other organisations and institutions; including Caritas of Funchal.
3) Offer free specialised psychological support to people who have not yet received it
4) Investigate and determine other ways in which “The HEART OF MADEIRA” may more efficiently be able to help people who need it the most at this moment in time.
5)Collaborate with as many varied organisations as possible with a view to: maximising volunteer corroboration, efficiently receiving, handling and distributing material goods in order to distribute to benefit as many people as possible; as quickly as possible.
6) With this intent in mind, “The HEART OF MADEIRA” has already created partnerships with: AURA, Acreditar and The Buddhist Union of Funchal.
7) Publicly announce and advertise what material goods are needed in order to call upon Madeira’s sense of solidarity; and the solidarity of foreign contributors.
8) Collaborate with Madeira´s army, any and or all government institutions, any and or all non government organisations, local fire-brigades including the voluntary sector, any and or all social solidarity groups etc, with the intent to collaborate and not work in conflict or opposition.
We are not politically motivated. Our only motivation is to help our island and it’s people.
The project coordinators are volunteer psychologists who have been working in the army barracks since the 20th and 21st February 2010; Drª Isabel Rodrigues, Drª Carmo Aragão and Drª Venerina Conti.
If anyone wishes to donate furniture or other material goods, or if anyone knows of anyone who needs anything: please contact us.
Please note: We are not handling cash donations but you can donate through the English church in Funchal.
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Madeira clean up puts the world to shame!
Ladies and Gentleman, if I ever had any doubts that I was living in the wrong place, let me tell you that over the last week and a half those doubts have been completely erased. Madeira may be a small island but heck, when it comes to getting its ass into gear, (excuse the expression) by God, it surely shifts it.
As you all know, Madeira was hit by a freak flooding on the 20th February. I live on the island. Not everywhere was affected, but the areas that were suffered great loss and serious damage.
Everywhere else in the world, clean up operations are carried out solely by the military. Not here! I have never seen so many people volunteer to help out in the clean up of anywhere. Adults, children, the more mature in age; everyone who is able bodied and can chip in in some way. In the barracks where I've been volunteering, I even had a french lady (who was on holiday here) show up and lend a hand. Goodness knows how many tourists helped out along the seafront.
The fact of the matter is, on friday I tried to go into the city and couldn’t. The roads were all still closed. Last night, when I went to work, I could drive all the way from home right through the city, along the seafront, into the old town. Admittedly, one of the dual carriage ways is still closed but I bet any money that by tomorrow or the day after that will be open too.
The bars, cafés, restaurants and shops are now going back to normal. Tourists were sat admiring the marina. People were standing at the bus stops and life almost seemed completely normal. This is just 11 days after the terrible event. The extent of the work carried out made my jaw drop in utter amazement as I was driving and constantly repeating to myself: “wow.”
Even the road that completely collapsed in the famous footage out on the Internet has been completely rebuilt. One final coat of tarmac and it will be as good as new, open and ready for daily business. Anywhere else in the world clean up operations like this take months and months. Not here!
Villages that were left isolated without water, electricity and other amenities are all accessible in some way. They all have their amenities back in addition to supplies of food, clothes and other essentials. Schools and businesses are all back to normal.
Every day, people who have been staying in the barracks are being re-housed into temporary accomodation until they can be re-housed permanently. The government has promised to build 400 new homes.
The people who didn’t lose their houses completely have started rebuilding with bricks and cement. Neighbours are helping out. Communities are coming together. Someone cleans, someone digs, someone mixes cement and someone else lays bricks. It’s truly incredible.
The tourists we have here are even more amazed than I am. Talking to them, some admit they were a little anxious about coming here at first. Yet, seeing with their own eyes, they all end up telling me, they are so glad they came because if they hadn’t they wouldn’t have believed all this was possible in such a short space of time.
I can hardly believe it and I live here, and I feel so proud!!! Proud to be a part of a community of people who doesn’t just sit on their asses waiting for things to happen or for the government to bail them out. They’re making it happen!
I see small miracles every day and huge events taking place on the island all because of the dedication and hard work of its people; people just like you and I. The rest of the world could learn a thing or two from Madeira about how you really roll up your sleeves and just get on with it without waiting for others to do it for you.
If there are any doubting Thomas’ out there who thought the flower festival wouldn’t go ahead, think again! Then again, you don’t have to take my word for it, you could just come and see for yourself.
As you all know, Madeira was hit by a freak flooding on the 20th February. I live on the island. Not everywhere was affected, but the areas that were suffered great loss and serious damage.
Everywhere else in the world, clean up operations are carried out solely by the military. Not here! I have never seen so many people volunteer to help out in the clean up of anywhere. Adults, children, the more mature in age; everyone who is able bodied and can chip in in some way. In the barracks where I've been volunteering, I even had a french lady (who was on holiday here) show up and lend a hand. Goodness knows how many tourists helped out along the seafront.
The fact of the matter is, on friday I tried to go into the city and couldn’t. The roads were all still closed. Last night, when I went to work, I could drive all the way from home right through the city, along the seafront, into the old town. Admittedly, one of the dual carriage ways is still closed but I bet any money that by tomorrow or the day after that will be open too.
The bars, cafés, restaurants and shops are now going back to normal. Tourists were sat admiring the marina. People were standing at the bus stops and life almost seemed completely normal. This is just 11 days after the terrible event. The extent of the work carried out made my jaw drop in utter amazement as I was driving and constantly repeating to myself: “wow.”
Even the road that completely collapsed in the famous footage out on the Internet has been completely rebuilt. One final coat of tarmac and it will be as good as new, open and ready for daily business. Anywhere else in the world clean up operations like this take months and months. Not here!
Villages that were left isolated without water, electricity and other amenities are all accessible in some way. They all have their amenities back in addition to supplies of food, clothes and other essentials. Schools and businesses are all back to normal.
Every day, people who have been staying in the barracks are being re-housed into temporary accomodation until they can be re-housed permanently. The government has promised to build 400 new homes.
The people who didn’t lose their houses completely have started rebuilding with bricks and cement. Neighbours are helping out. Communities are coming together. Someone cleans, someone digs, someone mixes cement and someone else lays bricks. It’s truly incredible.
The tourists we have here are even more amazed than I am. Talking to them, some admit they were a little anxious about coming here at first. Yet, seeing with their own eyes, they all end up telling me, they are so glad they came because if they hadn’t they wouldn’t have believed all this was possible in such a short space of time.
I can hardly believe it and I live here, and I feel so proud!!! Proud to be a part of a community of people who doesn’t just sit on their asses waiting for things to happen or for the government to bail them out. They’re making it happen!
I see small miracles every day and huge events taking place on the island all because of the dedication and hard work of its people; people just like you and I. The rest of the world could learn a thing or two from Madeira about how you really roll up your sleeves and just get on with it without waiting for others to do it for you.
If there are any doubting Thomas’ out there who thought the flower festival wouldn’t go ahead, think again! Then again, you don’t have to take my word for it, you could just come and see for yourself.
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