12 November 2010

If you can please spare it...



Another earthquake and tsunami has struck Indonesia...
The 7.7M earthquake, which triggered a tsunami that has been recorded as being up to six metres (20 feet) high in some villages, struck 17 days ago at 9.41pm on Monday night 25 October.

The latest report from the Indonesian Government says that 447 people have been killed, 57 are missing, and 173 are seriously injured. More than 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes and are living in temporary shelters, many on the hills above their villages as they fear another tsunami.

As of 11/11/2010 -
SurfAid completed the first phase of our Emergency Response for the Mentawai Islands which has concentrated on assessing the immediate needs of the affected communities and distributing food and non-food assistance. We now move into two new phases of Recovery programs which will last until the end of October 2011.

For anyone that reads my blog will know, I am a HUGE supporter of SurfAid International. I get frequent email updates about what's happening in the Mentawai and what SurfAid is doing to help.

If you can spare it, please consider making a contribution. As you can see from the photo above a mere $2 will buy someone a hygiene kit. That costs less than a fancy coffee drink from Starbucks and will go so much further.

Mahalo.

11 November 2010

For Jeff & Ben...

As usual, I was listening to the Leonard Lopate show on WNYC while driving home from school today. Among the many topics covered relating to Veteran's Day, the segment "Backstory: The History of PTSD" with directors/producers John Alpert and Matt O'Neil really stuck with me. You may know Alpert and O'Neil from their HBO film "Baghdad ER" - they're back with a new film, "Wartorn 1861-2010" which premiers on HBO tonight. The film chronicles and discusses the history of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, more commonly known as PTSD - given how suicide rates among service members is still (horribly) on the rise, this film could not have come at a more critical time.

You may find a link to the broadcast of the interview by clicking here.


I urge you to watch this film and to also please educate yourself about PTSD and what you might be able to do to help a veteran in need.



In gratitude. Mahalo.