Liberal Blogs for Hurricane Relief
"There's nothing wrong with America that can't be fixed by what's right with America." - Bill Clinton.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed thousands of lives. Together, we're raising $1 million for the American Red Cross and prove that the liberal blogosphere can help our fellow citizens.
Please donate now.
(For more details, contact info, and information about how to place our ad on your site, visit PoliticsAndTechnology.com. After PayPal processing feeds, 100% of funds will be transferred to the Red Cross.)
Progress
| Amount collected: | $180,414.00 |
| Campaign goal: | $1,000,000.00 |
This campaign has been closed. Donations are no longer possible through this page.
Comments on this campaign
Some details:
All proceeds will be sent to the American Red Cross fund for hurricane relief. Donations are being tracked by Drop Cash. Transactions are secured through Paypal. You can be certain that your contribution will be secure, for a good cause, and people will know it came from the liberal blogosphere.
Got questions? Want to know who is organizing this campaign? Go here for info: http://tinyurl.com/ae5ys
Server errors when I try to donate. Are we overpowering paypal?
Excellent idea. All blogs should post links to here.
This is a great idea, but how do I know it's legit? At this point it seems safer to simply donate to the Red Cross.
WordMunger. It's legit. Check out my website at http://www.mandatemedia.com. Or, heck, call me and talk to me - phone number on the website. (Please not everyone!)
I'll be posting the thank you from the Red Cross when we transfer the funds. In short, we're trying to be as open and transparent as we can. And if we're not legit about this, our business will collapse. So there you go.
I think this is a great idea, but why do I have to give you my phone number? The last thing I need is more telemarketing calls.
Just to make my previous comment clear, paypal would not allow me to make a donation without giving my phone number.
So leave yer farking work number!
Jeebus, Glenn!
PayPal keeps that number. We don't get it. I think it's so they can contact you in the event of a problem.
Are you going to make code for a logo or some kind of linking button available for us to put on our websites? It would be helpful to those of us who know only enough HTML to mess things up.
Just FYI, Duckman, I has already donated through Red Cross but wanted to donate some more to help out the liberal blog effort. But I've used paypal many, many times and never have been asked for a phone number -- so, frankly not knowing anything about who was putting this effort together, I asked the question. Guess I should have kept my "farking" question to myself, huh? Ciao.
Add another $75 to the total.
(Folks, give them the phone number of someone you don't like, like an exroomate, if you're worried about privacy issues. Just give the goddamn money; this is no time to stand on made-up principles.)
And don't forget to add $.01 in recognition of the skippy challenge. I'm not skippy, and I get nothing from this recommendation, but it's worthwhile to toss a bit of love (manly and heterosexual, of course) his way.
Would there be any interest in collecting an *unofficial* count of money donated by the liberal blogosphere outside of this venue? I, and many others, have already donated money through the red cross and others. If there is already a place, let me know, otherwise I would offer http://katrinablogdonation.blogspot.com/ as a place that can be used if no other is availiable.
please think about this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat52100050011&type=category
best buy will MATCH all instore and online donations to the red cross up to 1 million dollars.
perhaps you can work out something with them. or simply bring the total here to your nearest best buy. it would be great to reach ONE MILLION. it would be astounding to instantly turn it into TWO MILLION.
hi guys,
i've not only donated (not via paypal, sorry) but have issued the skippy challenge (http://xnerg.blogspot.com/2005/08/skippy-challenge-this-is-not-about-red.html) to all the blogs on my blogroll to match my donation of $100.01 (to the charity of their choice, though i picked the red cross) and to send same challenge to everyone on their repsective blog rolls!
darkpony, that sounds like a good idea.
I can get a matched contribution through work but need a reciept from the Red Cross. Is the receipt from the Red Cross?
We've added the "ad" to both Democracy for Oregon's website as well as Blog for Oregon.
Good luck with the campaign. I'm waiting to see if my husband's work is offering a match on contributions before I give any money. I want to make sure they get the most possible-- I'm from the Gulf Coast and I know what it's like to go through a hurricane.
OK -
So you are asked for a telephone number. I just donated, and guess what? I reversed two digits of my telephone number. Everybody is cool, my number is safe, and what's the big deal?
I scrambled up information to register for the privilege of posting this comment.
Besides, I feel that anyone who would contribute to the Red Cross (as I just did) has no moral standing... considering what a sick organization that is.
i heard that the $ wasn't really reaching the tsunami victims from the red cross and that they even gave money to the indonesian governement who used it to buy more arms against the people. i'm personally skeptical of the red cross. also, why are they taking time to rebuild streets in biloxi and alabama (read *white* neighborhoods) when they should be focusing more attention on SAVING LIVES in louisiana SCREW the looting who cares, just get food and water to people and get them out of there. i'm still not convinced about red cross. you should be asking questions!
Has there been any contact with some of the more reasonable conservative blogs? (c'mon, there must be some out there!) Maybe a friendly challenge would stimulate some cash flow.
I have already contributed here, and earlier I contributed directly to the Red Cross. But there's talk on Daily Kos about Red Cross "scandal, mismanagement, and misappropriation of funds." Now I'm concerned about whether all of the money being collected here will really go where it should. See this diary, for example: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/1/224719/8718. Is that what Drop Cash is somehow going to do? Or how can we know for sure?
I was told you can specify that your donation is to be used *only* for hurricane relief. Then they are required to spend the money that way.
There are also other organizations you can give to, such as Mercy Corps, if you don't like to give to the Red Cross.
Roses -- Yes, our funds will be designated for hurricane relief.
Hey everyone, I finally figured out where deep inside PayPal that the phone-number requirement is contained in the preferences. I've now turned it off.
Oh, I know the money being raised by you guys will go to hurricane relief. I have no doubt about that.
What I was talking about was with the Red Cross. There's been problems over the past years of people donating money meaning it to go to a certain disaster. Instead, it was used for other things.
It's now recommended when you donate to them that you specify that is must be used for Hurricane Katrina relief. In doing so, they apparently cannot use the money for other things.
Fellow Bloggers! Help get the word out about a powerful resource and grassroots effort to provide free housing for hurricane victims. I called the Red Cross today to let them know about an amazing resource for free housing for hurricane refugees. This housing is being offered across the nation by private people offering any housing they can for free. Check it out at craigslist.org. Click on the Katrina link on the left side of their home page. Click on the Hurricane Housing button hosted by moveon.org, and you'll find an awesome resource. OR try this link http://www.craigslist.com/about/help/katrina_aid.html
Additionally, people can offer free housing to victims on the craigslist site. It's an amazing resource that hurricane vicitims need to know about. As I said, I phoned the Red Cross hotline to tell them about it. The volunteer answering the phone didn't even know how to contact a supervisor to get the word out.
I'm a public school teacher in WA state doing what I can to help from a distance. By the way, if you like public school teachers, I have my own dropcash spot to help pay for my education. So if you're rich and you have more cash to drop, check out my posting. However, don't donate to me if you haven't donated to hurricane relief. Even a shameless beggar like me understands priorities. http://www.dropcash.com/campaign/donellesydow/public_school_teacher_seeks_college
Please put the 'contribute' button right at the top of the page as it falls below the fold on a smaller display. I think it's important that people be able to see it immediately as soon as they click over.
This is a GREAT idea!
I've added it to every page at dpsinfo.com, not just my blog (which doesn't get all that much traffic anyway).
I have a challenge - I have Google Ads at my site, and, for the month of September, I pledge all of my Google Ads revenue to this fund. It probably won't be a huge sum of money (I've been getting about $50-$60 per month, enough to cover my ISP fees, so it's something!), but I'll send a PayPal payment equivalent to the Google Ads revenue on 10/1. Other people want to consider doing that?
In the meantime, I'm about to PayPal you a donation (it would be more, but I just gave to the Red Cross the other day, and am currently unemployed).
Laurie Mann
Pittsburgh, PA
In reference to people's concerns vis-a-vis the Red Cross there are a couple important distinctions to make. This is an American Red Cross operation run in the USA. At times the International Red Cross has to make extremely hard decisions about cooperating with and even funding extremely unsavory types in developing countries b/c that is the only way to get aid and obervers in. I can understand both sides of the specific issue but it isn't really applicable here. The Louisiana Highway Patrol isn't going to siphon off $500,000 to buy anti tank rockets.
As to the other concern that the Red Cross takes money and doesn't always spend it on the event you intended it to go towards, that is somewhat true but less so than it used to be. Until 2001 almost all Red Cross emergency drives dumped donations into their general fund. The Red Cross then ran what they considered to be an appropriate response to the disaster at hand. In many cases not all the funds were spent. They remained in the general fund and were used for other disasters and events the Red Cross deals with every day.
This is not evil or cynical, at a certain point throwing money at a problem doesn't always bring an improvement in the situation. Also the Red Cross responds to THOUSANDS of small personal disasters you never hear about every year. No one holds telethons when a flash flood wipes out a few homes in a rural community. But those peoples lives are flattened just the same as if it occured in a big disaster. The Red Cross uses the excess general funds to pay for these smaller but just as urgent needs all around the country. They have never been accused of not spending the money they receive on aid, and they are extremely efficient in doing so.
After Sept. 11th the tried to do the same general fund routine and were widely castigated throughout the country for doing so. People were giving money for the express purpose of helping the survivors and the families of the dead, they didn't want the Red Cross deciding that the money was better spent elsewhere. As a result of the uproar the head of the Red Cross actually resigned and all of the funds were put into a specific Sept. 11th fund that was only spent on that response.
Since then the Red Cross has more prominently offered specific funds for specific incidents. So that this time the money goes towards the 2005 Hurricane Relief fund, or somthing to that effect. It still isn't a Katrina specific fund, but that is understandable. If another hurricane hits Mississippi in a month (god forbid) and causes more devestation you could make the arguement that funds donated for Katrina couldn't be legally used to respond to those specifically hurt by the new storm.
The Katrina response is so large and will so costly that the vast majority of anything contributed to it will doubtlessly go towards funding it. But there is an outside chance some money could be used to respond to hurricanes later in the season. Personally I don't have a problem with that. But that is up to every individual.
Anyways that is my understanding, I worked for another non profit in 2001 and remember that scandal well. I never worked for the Red Cross so if I got a couple details wrong I apologize. But I just don't think it's fair that people would withhold funding to really the most effective disaster response non profit in the country because of misunderstandings and misinformation.
God bless the people in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Right, that's why I said it's best to state the money is for hurricane relief (either for Katrina, or just for general 2005 hurricane relief). If you don't specify, they can put it into their general fund.
The Red Cross does a lot of work people don't even notice. A few weeks back the apartments up the street caught fire, displacing something like 20 familes. The R.C. was right there to help.
That's why if I wasn't headed towards needing surgery, I'd be volunteering to go to Houston. I have family just outside of Houston (where I grew up), so the Red Cross wouldn't need to worry about housing me-- just getting me to Houston.
They really need some people there with laptops, wireless internet access, and phones. They could be helping to get these people into homes and apartments rather than in cots at the Astrodome. It would also mean they'd have to redirect less people away from the dome.
Want to donate again but can't. I guess paypal is being overwhelmed. I'll try again.
FYI...I took Skippy's Challenge as well, it is gathering significant steam I might add.
We at ThatsAnotherFineMess.com are happy to join the cause. Our government has failed to rise to the occasion, it's up to the people now.
Well, I contributed a little bit here ($50), and I'd contribute more, but my company will match contributions through them dollar for dollar. I'd advise everyone to look into this at their own companies if possible.
As jabartlett said, can someone please give us novices the HTML code to put the icon on our own sites?
I am stunned at the slowness of this campaign. Center-left blogs get millions of hits each day. Even counting for overlap, that's a hell of a lot of folks. If folks gave $100, it would take only 10,000 to hit $1 million. If everyone gave $50 it would take only 20,000; $25 would take only 40,000. And yet this campaign is still at only $107,000? What gives?
The worries about Paypal are wholly misguided. It is a very trustworthy firm, owned by ebay now, that handles tens of thousands of transactions every day. C'mon people. Put your money where your convictions are.
I share the concerns about the Red Cross. At the risk of exacerbating the low-donation problem bjboyd aptly points out, I note that OxFam is putting together a response to Katrina. It's not what they usually do and, frankly, their website contains little detail about what they're planning, but it's an option.
I have one other concern: If most folks are giving to the Red Cross, might we not see a situation similar to that at Doctors Without Borders during the tsunami? That is, they had more than enough money for that and were diverting it to other needs. So, maybe there are other organizations on the ground along the Gulf Coast who really need the money? Who are they and what do we know about them?
"I am stunned at the slowness of this campaign. Center-left blogs get millions of hits each day. Even counting for overlap, that's a hell of a lot of folks. If folks gave $100, it would take only 10,000 to hit $1 million. If everyone gave $50 it would take only 20,000; $25 would take only 40,000. And yet this campaign is still at only $107,000? What gives?" - bjboyd
I gave some money to this campaign, but I already gave more significant quantities to the Red Cross. I believe that's what most people are doing.
well some of us are poor and can only give a few dollars! I am completely broke and i am very sorry i only gave $14. i wish i had more. If I had more I would give it I swear!
jlt - amount you gave doesn't matter. just that you gave.
I've read other good ideas for offering help to hurrricane victims. One is to get a group like your church, temple, or other - your business, your gym, your school, anything - and find a group like that in the Gulf Coast area that you can team up with to directly help them in getting what they need to restart their lives, homes, businesses. It's what you'd hope others would do for you if this horrible event happened to you.
I'd like to see bloggers get creative and help people connect with the businesses, churches, schools that need help.
Great idea. I found this link through David Corn's column in The Nation's on-line edition. I'm passing your URL on to friends and hope others will do likewise.
Can anybody point me in the right direction? I would like to donate some money to the katrina relief efforts. However, since Sept 11 I am well aware that Red Cross donations may actually go towards OTHER disaster efforts. I respect their policy, but would like to donate to this disaster. There are no questions that Red Cross is a great organization and this campaign is very important.
Any suggestion is appreciated. Thanks
Never mind! I found it. There are a bunch of highly reputable organizations accepting donations for Katrina relief efforts. Not trying to take away from Red Cross http://www.fema.gov/press/2005/katrinadonations.shtm
The Red Cross is NOT and NEVER WAS in New Orleans. Please know this. The government has not allowed the Red Cross in the city. Do not donate thinking that you will be helping the people still in New Orleans. See it on the Red Cross website: http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html
From Cream City's Link:
Disaster FAQs
Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?
Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.
The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.
The Red Cross has been meeting the needs of thousands of New Orleans residents in some 90 shelters throughout the state of Louisiana and elsewhere since before landfall. All told, the Red Cross is today operating 149 shelters for almost 93,000 residents.
The Red Cross shares the nation’s anguish over the worsening situation inside the city. We will continue to work under the direction of the military, state and local authorities and to focus all our efforts on our lifesaving mission of feeding and sheltering.
The Red Cross does not conduct search and rescue operations. We are an organization of civilian volunteers and cannot get relief aid into any location until the local authorities say it is safe and provide us with security and access.
The original plan was to evacuate all the residents of New Orleans to safe places outside the city. With the hurricane bearing down, the city government decided to open a shelter of last resort in the Superdome downtown. We applaud this decision and believe it saved a significant number of lives.
As the remaining people are evacuated from New Orleans, the most appropriate role for the Red Cross is to provide a safe place for people to stay and to see that their emergency needs are met. We are fully staffed and equipped to handle these individuals once they are evacuated.
The Red Cross is not in New Orleans, but it is in Houston and a dozen other cities where evacuees are being cared for. You can even give directly to a local chapter, such as the one in Houston caring for more than 10,000 in the Astrodome.
Hi everyone - just a quick note to all bloggers who want to link to this Dropcash: you can post the actual badge by using the following link:
http://www.dropcash.com/badge/hurricanerelief/liberal_blogs_for_hurricane_relief/
(just substitute the "campaign" within the address with "badge")
The sample HTML looks like this:
Hm. I can't get the HTML to show up - but this Javascript will keep this updated live tally on your own page. Let me try again pasting the code:
Alright, still not there. Pretty much just use add the link to the badge instead of HERE
Please - I need code so that I can put this campaign on my blog.
Hi mamorico let me try without the brackets (so please add the brackets yourself at the beginning and). It's a very simple code actually:
script language="JavaScript" src="http://www.dropcash.com/badge/hurricanerelief/liberal_blogs_for_hurricane_relief/"
/script
I put the link up on our site this afternoon and contributed what I could.
Can you give us a sense of when the money will be disbursed? Wouldn't it be useful sooner rather than later, or does it matter as long as the IRC know what they can count on?
Thanks.
Thanks niny! I just started Information Architecture class, and haven't gotten quite that far yet! I've got it working now.
By the way, please look here
(oops, I was saying)...
HERE for up to the minute updates about what the red cross is doing in New Orleans. The money is being put to good use.
HERE: http://news.google.com/news?q=red+cross+new+orleans&hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&client=safari&rls=en&tab=wn&ie=ISO-8859-1&scoring=d
Thanks -- but your URL goes to stories about what the Red Cross is doing outside of New Orleans for evacuees from there. (I.e., the Astrodome is in Houston; the Superdome is the one in New Orleans.)
And I'm glad it is doing so. But the Red Cross itself, on its website (see upthread) says that it is not and has not been in New Orleans this week.
It is important to be honest in fundraising. It is important to donate to the Red Cross to help evacuees and the people in areas outside of New Orleans also hit by the hurricane. But it also is important for donors who want to help those still in New Orleans to give to organizations that are there.
This is a cool way to raise funds for those in need. I'm adding this link to my blog too. Thanks for posting it.
PAYPAL SUCKS TO NOT USE IT!!!!!!!!!
www.paypalsucks.com
USE
www.e-gold.com
According to PayPal accepting their ToS (Terms of Service) in effect means you waive your rights to credit card consumer protection laws if you want to use their service, and that you may not issue a chargeback for unauthorized use of your credit card and PayPal account, or if you do, then they have the right to limit your account. Is this legal? We don't know. But it's how Paypal operates.
I will give all that I can monaterially, but I also had a thought yesterday...I travel alot for my career, and I am a member to nearly all nationally recognized hotel reward programs...frankly I rarely use them. I probably have more than 2 weeks of free nights accrued at various hotels. I know there are hunderds of people at my firm and probably thousands of people across the world that have unused hotel rewards as well. Does anyone think this could be a good idea? I thought it might just be enough to get some people to a stable place where thier children can get back to school and start to get thier lives back together. Any thoughts?
Gray,
Many non profits will take your rewards points. Any 501c3 will can also make them tax deductable. They are very valuable for organizations that travel. If the ARC doesn't want them, then I will take them for our project. We'll give you the tax deduction. www.NewYearBaby.net
Someone earlier asked if conservative blogs might link to here...and the answer is yes! Check out The Anchoress (www.theanchoressonline.com) which is how I found ya'll.
I love this idea. BUT, the application of it is counterproductive. I question the resourcefulness of adding yet another middleman through which to funnel money, reducing the amount actually used for relief efforts. By directing donations through PayPal, 3% of the donated funds go to pay PayPal fees! Now, this is one thing when this is the only or most practical method for fundraising for an org, but, given that this is all just going to be redirected to the Red Cross ANYWAY, this "cause" is just serving to take away money that could go to relief efforts and give it PayPal to increase their profits. What's the point? The Red Cross banners are site-specific: why not continute to use the LBfHR graphic on the individual sites to link to this site--as it likely is motivating donations that might not have otherwise been made and then have this site link to the Red Cross, so people would donate directly? The Red Cross would *still* know how much came through here (and, if you want a running total of funds donated through this site, just set up a section for people to type in how much they donated) and donations wouldn't be funneled off to for-profit business PayPal. More money for people affected by the hurricane, less money for the people getting rich off of PayPal and eBay.
I donated, but I have a concern about paypal, too. Have a look here: http://www.somethingawful.com/index.htm - these guys managed to collect $30000 to help hurricane victims, only to have paypal cause so much trouble that they just give the money back. I don't live in the US, so I can't do much there, but can someone on this board call their senator and ask them to apply some pressure on paypal? I don't think it's a lot to ask to put in a bit of an extra effort in times of a national disaster, and I think paypal can be asked to do that, too. It's bad enough that it doesn't occur to them to waive the fees for transactions like these, but to just stand by while $30k is lost to the hurricane victims is ridiculous behavior.
I agree with Eliza. I gave my money direct to the Red cross. this is a nice idea but the bottom line is to get the money there the most direct way. Like Eliza says-add a link and keep track. Add in $50 more from a liberal blog reader
Poor retired librarian with no money but a good idea: this is addressing the serious immediate needs. But the refuges can't go home for months Social fabric rips when thousands are in athletic facilities, and the house guest solution will only last so long. My idea is from Depression days: Use county fairgrounds in southern states and put up small Tent Towns, build a community. Fairgrounds already have roads, water, sanitary facilities, phones, kitchens. Dignity, self-governance - each family group gets its own tent, a temporary school for the kids, local civic groups and churches can provide food, clothing. Federal and state social services more manageably provided to smaller groups. The community will find productive ways to spend weeks and months until they can get home. We kept strength and spirit together in hard times years ago in community, and that is the real need here. Let's share the load broadly.
Today is my son Jeremy's 28th birthday. I can't think of a better present than a gift to the Red Cross for Hurricane relief in his name. Happy birthday kid!
You don't have to worry about Paypal taking a fee if you donate by transfering funds from your checking account instead of using your credit card.
Hello everyone. I am new to your site, glad to have found it.I posted an ad to offer my house up for housing. Hope it is safe to do, as most the organizations asking for help will not assume any liability. What do you all think?
Please help my homestate of Lousiana as much as you possibly can, in any way you possibly can. Please also, if you can, spread your donations around to many different shelters and agencies. From the ground I've observed a "supply clog" at some of the major organizations. In the long run, this will be fine, even good. With a large volume of supplies The Red Cross can be a lasting help in displaced peoples lives. Goodness knows it will all be needed and used. However, in the short term, some of the smaller shelters are going without while the larger organizations sort and distribute what they have. Please don't let any of my advice keep you from giving! We are in desperate need right now. Thank you for your help.
I'm disappointed with the glacial pace of this campaign. People, c'mon! I suspect that there are some who think that enough has already been raised by the Red Cross. Or, perhaps some who believe that all of the funds raised shall not get to the intended recipients. Some may be smarting from relief efforts from Hurricane Andrew. Folks, I am sure that all of the money is going to translate into the aid that the victims direly need. This is the worst catastrophe in the history of the United States! It has struck the poorest regions of the U.S. Please! Our compatriots need your help! Even if you've already given - please! The crisis is not over! It will take a long time to ameliorate the area and make it habitable. It will be expensive to feed and clothe and educate the displaced people. They have lost so much, suffered so much. We must help! Every American must stand together and pitch in! Your contribution through PayPal will be completely secure. Anything you can contribute will be appreciated. There's no excuse for anyone who has a job not to contribute. I work hard for a living. I'm a working man and I'm giving as much as I can. As hard as things are for me it is NOTHING compared to the suffering and torment that these victims have gone through. So, I beg all of you - give today - and thank you all for sharing what you can.
I noted some above concerns about Paypal "taking" x% of your gifts as fees. As a professional fundraiser, I feel compelled to point out that pretty much any time you make a gift to a nonprofit on your credit card, whether online, over the phone, or via mail, a little portion of that is a processing fee. In order to accept credit card gifts, we must pay a fee to either the credit card company, the clearinghouse that processes the gift for us, or both. That's just how it works. Each CC company has a different fee structure, usually calculated per transaction, and we have to pay them in order to allow you to make your gifts that way. If you give directly to the Red Cross with your credit card, I'd say there's a 95% chance that a small percentage of your gift turns out to be a processing fee too. If you're terribly concerned about it, you can (as someone said above) have Paypal transfer directly from your checking account. You can also mail a check to the organization of your choice - just know that there's probably quite a backlog on mail and check processing since they're being flooded with donations right now (and that's a good problem to have!).
I think it's great that so many people are taking the time to do some research before making gifts, but some of that information can be misleading if you aren't in the business. I just hope you'll all consider making a gift that's appropriate for your values and your circumstances - not just now, but over the next several months. Really, every little bit helps!
This is really easy and cool. I want to put the html on my blog.
http://stonecupidreal.blogspirit.com
Has any of the money collected been donated? Seems like the Red Cross needs this money NOW - there's no reason to wait until you've got a million dollars before you donate.
After hearing about the donation scams on the news, I'm starting to have misgivings about not just donating directly to the Red Cross. You can do a lot to mitigate those concerns by giving us some documentation that donations have been made - and when future donations are made.
Hmmm. From what I'm reading at crooks and liars and other places, I'm not the Red Cross is doing a terrific job. They sure are visible--I see their ads everywhere.
Katrina and A Smaller Shelter in Need
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As an individual, I recently learned of The Van Buren Baptist Camp within the small town of Van Buren, Missouri, population 800; has taken in more than 1,500 Katrina evacuees. This has almost tripled their population. Please consider giving clothing and other items to help this community stay afloat.
And, remember to list items contained within each package by listing gender and sizes of each item within each package, by including a packing slip outside, or within each package. Also; keep in mind those things that are considered "non essential" items that could help make one's day and are inexpensive to include. E.G., if for a female, consider including a tube of lipstick and comb or compact mirror. If male, what about a shirt, tie and jacket from one's closet that one no longer wears? People need to do interviews for new employment and will want to look their best. In any event, please consider helping the camp with some kind of donation.
Address:
Van Buren Baptist Camp
1404 D Highway
Van Buren, MO 63965
Thanks for putting this together, Liberal Blogs for Hurricane Relief!! I don't want to torpedo your efforts, but is Red Cross the best place to put our money? Consider these thoughts:
Humanitarian Crises: What is a Progressive to Do? Some guidelines for progressive donors
By Timothy A. Wise
Progressive-minded people who want to contribute to humanitarian aid efforts too often abandon their progressive principles, particularly in crisis situations. Why? They want to help, and they want to do so quickly. And they focus on the service-delivery – food rations, medicines, shelter – rather than the service deliverers. Natural enough, when people are starving in front of you on your television every night.
The problem is that aid goes not to projects or services but first to service providers, the agencies themselves. And aid is power. Those who get more aid end up stronger than those who don’t. The issue that I think progressive-minded people should always keep in mind is how their donation is affecting the relative power of different groups involved in a crisis situation. In other words, when the crisis is over, who do you want to be stronger as an institution, and therefore better able to address or avert such crises in the future?
Here are a few guidelines I like to use:
1. Support agencies that build local capacities and institutions– Some aid agencies, including most of the largest and best-known in the US, are “operational”, that is, they set up offices in-country and provide services themselves, often hiring large numbers of local residents to work for them. Operational agencies often weaken local institutions, drawing qualified staff out of relatively weak local organizations. This is true even if there is a fair amount of skill and/or technology-transfer in the process, because the transfer is individual rather than institutional. By contrast, some aid agencies work primarily through local partner institutions. Wherever possible, support those.
2. If possible, support institutions whose involvement pre-dates the crisis – There are a lot of ambulance-chasers in crisis-response work. Those who arrive late lack strong local ties, are often culturally insensitive, and don’t really know how to get things done. By contrast, agencies that have been working with local groups on non-crisis activities are well-grounded, sensitive, and can get things done.
3. Support privately funded initiatives – The US government is the largest aid provider in this country and it now contracts much of that work out to US-based aid agencies. More than half the budgets of most of the largest US-based aid agencies come from the US government. So what? Well, first, your money is relatively less important to such efforts, which tend to be multimillion-dollar activities. Second, those agencies naturally tend to be accountable mainly to the US government, not to its private donors or, more important, to the local community it serves. Third, official US aid programs are among the most political in the world, hewing to State Department objectives and guidelines first and humanitarian guidelines and needs second (or third or fourth). USAID brags that 75% of all its aid comes back to the US – paying US consultants, buying US products, etc. Is that what you want to support? This doesn’t mean all US-government-funded aid is bad; not at all. But you as a donor have a choice. Why choose that?
4. Small is beautiful – The aid industry is dominated by the largest agencies, which compete for and win government contracts and can then spend massive amounts of money promoting themselves to the US public highlighting how low their overhead is. Of course, their overhead is low because they’re getting multimillion-dollar US contracts. You have a choice; why strengthen the largest and strongest groups? Many of the smaller and lesser-known agencies do great work. And the last thing Rwanda or Haiti needs are aid agencies with more resources and power in-country than the government.
5. Be internationalist – In addition to supporting small, privately funded, partner-oriented activities, consider agencies with strong international ties to other such agencies. European and Canadian agencies, including some of the largest ones, are much more progressive and effective in practice than their US counterparts. Oxfam US, for example, is part of a large and growing network of Oxfam International affiliates who co-fund each other’s work in areas where each is strong. The partnership model is much more common in Europe and Canada than it is here. And their governments do not put the same kinds of strings on aid as USAID does.
6. Medical aid in a crisis is often more important than food, shelter, or other assistance – Why? Food and other goods are needed on a scale so massive it is difficult to have much of an impact with a private donation. It usually comes from governments and international agencies. Local public-health institutions, however, which are often weak and underfunded to begin with, are always overwhelmed in a crisis. Refugee camps and feeding centers are breeding grounds for disease, which usually take more lives than starvation or exposure (though they are obviously related).
7. Think beyond the immediate crisis – Where possible, look for groups that will stay with the issue and the people after the headlines (and the funding streams) die down.
8. If you find a good agency, consider making a long-term commitment to it – Crisis-driven funding makes nonprofit aid agencies difficult to manage. It also often leads agencies to focus on crisis-response work at the expense of long-term local institution-building, which is the most important work of all but the hardest to fund. Long-term support for such work is the hardest find. If you like the work you see during the crisis, you’ll probably like the agency’s other work as well. Support it with a multi-year commitment.
9. Last (but usually first on donors’ minds) support agencies that make effective use of funds – Overhead is not the only issue here, or the most important. Look for a track record of accountability. Make sure there is the capacity to carry out what’s being promised.
The campaign is a nice idea. I am griped about the fact that FEMA states NOBODY from the hurricane has any desire to come to Ohio. Our city was prepared to take in victims with apartments that were furnished and families willing to take in people and after we prepared for them FEMA states they will not fly anyone to Ohio because it is too far and nobody wants to be housed that far away. I don't believe that, I believe FEMA failed to take a survey on that. These people HAVE to evacuate and FEMA seems to prefer to house the homeless, sick, disabled and hungry children in stadiums as opposed to clean independant apartments and warm homes waiting to help. I THINK FEMA HAS THEIR PRIORITES MIXED UP.
I've given $1100 so far, but not to left-leaning blogs. Are you guys going to make your goal?
Are you guys going to make your goal?
Not unless we come up with some creative ways to raise more funds. If any of the other liberal bloggers want to share ideas on how to promote this, contact me on Workbench.
How about something crazy like getting the liberal blogs to actually promote the effort in addition to bitching about W? Perhaps you should start with Oliver Willis who has written 66 posts since this started without ever mentioning it again. Unless you think that people really pay attention to banner ads.
Want to help someone...Help Me! I live 50 miles north of New Orleans, have a good job and insurance. I also have $4000 worth of damage to my home that insurance will not cover and FEMA is a waste. If you have a job and are not poor then you get no help. For some reason the hot water pipes under my slab were damaged by tree roots from a tree that almost but did not fall over. Now I am stuck with $4000 of damage and I can not cover it. Perhaps I could do better if I were poor and did not have a job. km5er@mailblocks.com
Katrina Relief Fund
Citizens Helping Heroes has launched a targeted campaign to help the families of National Guardsmen currently serving in Iraq who have been left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. In coordination with the local National Guard Office of Family Programs monies raised will go directly to the families of those service members deployed overseas, who live in the Gulf Region.
In Louisiana and Mississippi, the states hit hardest by the hurricane, up to 40 percent of their National Guard troops are on active duty in Iraq. While the National Guard at home has been taking part in rescue operations and law enforcement, some 6,000 members of the Louisiana and Mississippi Guard have been forced to watch the catastrophe from 7,000 miles away in Iraq. Over the past eight months, 23 members of the Louisiana National Guard have died in Iraq — only New York's Guard unit has suffered as many deaths.
Private Richard Beyl of New Orleans (94th Engineer Combat Battalion), stationed in Mosul, is worried about his family. "I've tried calling, but I haven't been able to reach anyone. When I call my cousin's cell phone, it says all circuits are busy. I just want to get in contact, so I know that they are all right. I hope they left before it hit."
As Americans largely focus on the civilian families devastated by Hurricane Katrina, CHH wants to ensure that families of those so bravely fighting on our behalf are supported. The organization is encouraging citizens to remember that Katrina is an added hardship to military families already facing financial and emotional difficulties. These families had already made huge personal sacrifices on behalf of our country before the devastation of Katrina. This disaster only heightens the financial and emotional pressures already facing the families of service members serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
for more information please visit: http://www.citizenshelpingheroes.org
I began a grassroots org in Seattle thats working with the 700+ people that we have moved here to our area. I work with some great local community groups and some wonderful people, but things like toys for the children of these families and simple needs like the $ to order and pay for new birth certificates etc, wellm thats hard to come by. I ran across this site and I am not sure how to start here to raise $$, but I do have a 501c non profit status and working on our 3 status. We are also meeting with the Seattle Foundation to move forward to become a long term solution organization. Any thougts, suggestions etc?
email me direct at seattleco@katrinahousingnw.org of you can help. One of our biggest needs is simply for gift cards for these folks to buy the things they need (Like coats for the new cold weather climate they are getting used to!). We have an accountant and are forming a good board of directors, but this is still in the beginning stages. Thanks for any and all commentary!
I am one of the many who lost everything when Katrina hit St.Bernard Parish this past August. I am a single mother with two children. We have moved six times so far since we evacuated from St. Bernard two days before Katrina hit. I lost my house, my car,my telephone and my job! I am not writing this to gain pity or donations. I need information! I have had the hardest time trying to get assistance for my family from any organization. I know that there are many scammers trying to receive assistance that they aren't entitled to but where can one go to get help if their family is legitimately in need of help? I have heard to go to a local church but I do not have transportation at this time to get to any church in my area? Does anyone know of a particular organization that is helping people like us? I am legit and can prove it. Thanks for any helpful information that you can give us...dawn70043@yahoo.com
Lets all get online and try to make a living! I found a easy way to get on my feet since Katrina!
Check it out!
http://www.buildcash.org
Double Money Every 40 Days And Get Paid Every Day
Once in a while there comes an opportunity that is so unique and powerful that will change your whole mindset on how effortlessly it is to be successful on the internet.
The name of the company is called 12 daily Pro,and it is one of the easiest and coolest money makers online.
They pay you 12% per 12 days to look at advertisement. To participate in our advertising pool it cost min $6 to maximum $6000. So as a member you are paid to look at adverisement and you can also advertise your business also to our over 84,000 + members.
It is like gettting paid to watch TV because you do not have to purchase anything to get paid. All you do is login to your back office and click on start surfing look at 12 sites which takes about 5 minutes.
http://www.buildcash.org
Essentially you are paid your Principal plus 44% of the money you participate with.
Although in the rules it states they will pay you in 7 business days after the 12 day term, they have always payed members in 4-5 business days.
The company has a six month track record and it is part of a 2 year old industry which has over 500,000 members worldwide that has paid members Millions of Dollars monthly.
12 daily itself have over 84,000 members and they are growing at a rate of 1000 per day. Why such incredible Growth in one program?
Although, there are dozens of these programs online however 12 daily stands out from the rest for these following factors.
-- Pays you 44% Profit and principal in 20 days or less;
-- If you take your principal and profit and cycle again you will have double your money in 40 days or less;
-- All you do is view 12 sites daily for 12 days which takes 5 minutes
-- NetIba certified- NetIBA is a consumer protection group that protect consumer from Fraud on the internet;
-- They have a forum which allows you to connect with other members and we have over 100 pages of Paid testimonials;
-- They have a landline for you to speak to customer service if need be, but they ask you to go to the forum first to get most of your questions answered;
-- Impeccable payment record, they have never been late on payments even with server issues on their site;
-- Constantly communicate with members 8. Multiple Income Streams both on and offline to make sure 12 daily last for years to come;
-- Minimum is $6, max is $6000;
-- The Management team has a collective fourteen years of experience in the areas of marketing, advertising, media, and online investments;
-- Great customer service and support;
-- If you chose to share this with others you will make 12% of every upgrade they make. (This creates residual income for you because people like the program so much that they are constantly upgrade to larger and larger amounts);
-- A great forum where you can meet other satisfied members.
Join now!
http://www.buildcash.org - http://www.buildcash.org
I would just like to say that I feel for the people in Louisianna and Mississippi. However I live in an old place that received damage to the roof more than it did have. Now it leaks on top of all the other repairs as a total it needed before. I wish I could get help with the repairs to my little cabin that I am not finacially able to do. I do have pictures if needed and a paypal account at windy2965@aol.com if anyone is interested in giving me a hand with them. THANK YOU!
Thanks for this great post. You've got some really good info in your blog. If you get a chance, you can check out my blog on {donate} at http://www.donateagain.com
Mary Anne Martin
http://www.donateagain.com
.
Good luck on your goal of raising 1 Million Dollars, of course if Bush, Chertoff, and Brown did their jobs life would be easier for everyone in the gulf coast, and New Orleans. Too bad all the money for national disasters goes to support an international disaster, Bush's Iraq War.
Liberal Blog
www.thehollywoodliberal.com
Too bad you didnt raise a million, but keep up the good work.
i want money plz give your html and i put my blogs
Sorry to be a bummer to all you libs out there but William Jefferson Clinton is a douche and a moron, he cheated on his wife with a woman who didnt look much better, as a president he should have tried harder.. If ur gonna discrace the United States atleast do it right--> commit sodemy with a penthouse pet in the oval office. and of course get cought.
some wanna be CPA was telling me how Bush should have taken it apon himself to get help to the poor inhabitance of Louisana. Now reality check Bush cant order the National Guard to activate that order has to come from the governor. the whole leadership structure of Louisana seemed to have caved in when stress level went up. The fact of the matter is Liberal Democrats by in large stand for Nothing and stand against anything Bush. Check yourself dont let your dislike of the President make you stupid. Besides if we all had the same anti-war, anti-violents, Pro-animal rights, pro-vegetarianism attitude, we would be taken over by Mexico and pretty soon France would have noone to surrender to.
Just one more thing.. Some weiner is photographed holding a sighn that says: "Will bombing familys stop terrorism?"
Response: If someone calls and tells you there going to bomb your house, the logical action would be to leave, maybe even aleart your neighbors. If you don't then you deserve whatever happens. Israel cannot be expected to just endure the attacks on them by terrorist nations. If a man approached you and said he was gonna kill you, then began Slap you around would you just stand there and wait for the slaps to become full force punches and eventually kicks when you fell to the ground helpless? or would you defend yourself? if you said "Run Away" your being a moron, Cuz where the hell is Israel gonna run to? ..I'm out, just stopped in to shine some reality into your brains. Have fun kids
having given to katrina relief and being from n.y. i8 wonder if i will give again if they have more trouble down there with ray nagin as mayor .
If anyone wants to donate to me feel free to:
Hi, first i would like to thank this site for having this. I'm 24 years old. be 25 next month, i have 3 kids and a gf i'm supporting. Its really hard out ther only earning min wage, and trying to take care of a family of 5.I'm way behind in all my bills. Rent is over $500 a month. My heat and electric bill is over $300. I am also trying to finish my school. I have 1 more year left. I have a hard time getting to school and work. So a car would be great for me, even if someone can donate one that would be great, or $1000 so I can buy a used one. My kids dont have very much toys, They also need new cloths. So if anyone can donate $300. $100 for each kid. $500 for my credit card, thats maxed out. and some money for food we are starving here, $500 a month would be great or $250 every 2 weeks would help out lots for food. I know thats lots i'm asking for. But any amout would really help me out alot. I know for sure one day when I'm doing good in life making a good living. I sure will help someone out, right now I do alot of volunteering in my community. Its just hard with a family and living off min wage. so thanks I really need help if anyone out ther can help me.
Oh yea a nice vacation for me would sure help out if anyone would want to donate me $2000 for a nice trip for me.
I would aslo like to say if u dont donate I would just like to say thanks for your time, for reading this.
Thanks,
Donate to paypals bryanjeffery@hotmail.com
ActressThe story begins with an elderly actress who recounts her life and careerSwimsuitSwimsuits offers online shoppers a fashionable selection of cute bikini swimsuits and accessoriesAishwaryaThe official Aishwarya Rai website offers photographs wallpapers and screensavers of the former Miss WorldLohanThe sexiest pictures of beautiful Lindsay LohanMarketComplete financial market coverage with breaking news analysis stock quotes before & after hours market data research and earningsNight VisionSupplier of night vision device including goggles binoculars rifle scopes and other daytime and night vision opticsWifiLearn how WiFi networks work build your own wireless network and find the best prices on wireless routersMoviesThe best online source for movies movie times movie trailers entertainment news celebrity photos box office celebrity interviews and movie reviewsFlooringFlooring is the general term for a permanent covering of a floorlingeriesThe best lingeries underwear nightwear bras lingeries briefs panties pajamas sleepwear loungewear shorts beach wearevideosView thousands of music videos and create your own video channels based on your favorite artistshot moviesFree milf clips screen mates animali free xxxrated porn granny fuck movies flowers of hentai black teens fucking with the hentai lesbian movies fucking hotmovies positionAfter reinstall of system when I tried to run movies I cannot click on progress bar to change movie position anymorefilmsThe letext flim hollywood flim bollywood flim movies worldThere is a lot more to the WORLD MOVIES Channel than meets the eyegreat moviesThis is a movie that keeps you locked to the screen because it has everything a great movie should havecelebritiesthe top celebrities based on such measures as the number of visits to their Web sitesadrianalimadirectAdriana Lima was discovered while shopping at a local mall at the age of hot womenThis gallery includes a small sample of the many hot women in our Featured Model and GirlshakiraThe lead single from Shakiras second english albumparis hiltonParis hilton pictures and biography paris the heiress is first born in the latest generation of the hilton familytera patrickThe best tera patrick sites and pictures here you can find all the information you need about tera patrickmovies maniaBe sure to stop into Movie Mania to see our new store and specialsmovies pointMonths after you have seen the film if something occurs that reminds you of a scene in the movie point it outall stuffsAfter meeting with all but one of the finalists and researching the background of language
PLEASE DO NOT SUPPORT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS - READ THIS
The American Red Cross - the thieves that they are - still has over $300,000,000 from funds collected by them for tsunami relief. I have just returned to the states after two years of tsunami relief volunteer work and I am sick and need help. The Red Cross has plenty of money but as they told me “ we do not help AMERICANS”. Who the hell gave them the money - Americans did - and they will not even talk to me on the phone.
What is the RED CROSS doing with this money - How much interest is that money receiving - what are their plans for the funds - why have they not used this money after 28 months - and why do they not help Americans that have been physically, emotionally, and financially devastated?
The US government did nothing for AMERICANS that were destroyed by the tsunami - NOTHING. I cannot even get my senators or congress people to answer my mail - why they is no help? The USA spends hundreds of billions on IRAQ, billions on helping Katrina victims, 70 billion a year on Illegal aliens, and wastes billions every year but not one dollar to help someone that has devoted many years of their life to helping others.
The worst part of being in the tsunami was returning to the USA and finding out that I am screwed. President Bush, in his tsunami speech, promised “compassion and generosity” but then he is a liar, as I have seen no compassion from this government.
Forgotten Victims of the Tsunami
After ten years of teaching Geography at USF and ten years of teaching Astronomy at Hillsborough Community College, Professor Aruffo wanted to help other people in the world. He sold his condominium and moved to Thailand to volunteer in the Burmese refugee camps in Thailand - little did he know that his life would take a disastrous direction. A year before the tsunami he moved to Phuket Island, Thailand to live and he volunteered with World Vision International in Phuket.
He was also the director of an environmental organization that he founded, Coral Reef Institute. He assessed and monitored the coral reefs in the Andaman Sea as a volunteer Team Scientist for Reef Check. His favorite volunteer service was teaching Thai children and teachers to speak English. Three months before the tsunami, while on vacation, he was hiking to Base Camp on the side of Mount Everest - in the peak of health and energy. A month before the tsunami his students were on the beach with him involved in an environmental beach clean up. A month later on December 26, 2004, the tsunami struck - on that day, his life took a downward direction.
The tsunami struck and bodies were strewn all over the beaches and people and bodies trapped in basements. Boats were overturned and people were trapped. While most tourist scrambled to leave the tsunami zone after the tsunami, Aruffo stayed for the long clean up and recovery effort. Henry Aruffo is a PADI certified rescue and wreck diver instructor and volunteered to retrieve bodies and stop the oil and gas leaks from overturned boats. He was swimming in the putrid waters of death. Little did he know that these waters might eventually end or shorten his life. Aruffo and his team were involved in over 60 bodies being recovered - many of them young children and babies. A sight he will never forget but hopes to someday.
Within a few days, he was unable to walk from the massive ear infection. Today he has permanent partial loss of hearing in his ears.
He was able to work full time for a year - devoting 50 - 70 hours a week to environmental and social recovery. He was a Tsunami Team Relief Leader for World Vision International - a humanitarian Christian organization devoted to helping people and children in economically disadvantaged countries. Some of his students in his English classes were lost in the tsunami and he devoted his time to helping those that survived.
His second case of Dengue Fever (Break Bone Fever) came 9 months after the tsunami - his bones still ache from the fever. His first case was when he was working in the Burmese refugee camps in Northern Thailand, two years earlier. His eyes sockets and bones all felt like they had been broken and there is no cure. A first case of Dengue fever can be severe but a second case can be fatal and there is no vaccination for Dengue Fever. He thought he was going to die he was in so much pain.
He found out he had contracted hepatitis from being in the putrid, bacteria infected waters as his liver swelled and caused more discomfort. He has not slept a decent night’s sleep since the tsunami - he is seeing a sleep doctor and awaiting a further sleep testing when funds become available. Right after the tsunami, he had violent nightmares about being trapped under the water, diving in a basements searching for survivors. During one rescue attempt, he was forced to disconnect his scuba gear in a flooded basement when it became tangled in the hanging electric wires connected to dead body floating above him, trapped in the same wires. After a while, his body just stopped allowing him to sleep to avoid the having nightmares.
After a year, major depression set in with what his doctors diagnosed as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He continues to this day in a major depression even with medications and treatments. He returned to the states when he started having suicidal thoughts, his depression was so severe. Now, he survives one day at a time.
His eleven “adopted children” at the Tsunami Orphans ‘Happy Home’ in Phuket miss him but he had to return to the USA for medical treatment. To the children and teachers in Phuket, Professor Aruffo was their Champion. His children made a poster and took photos of themselves asking him to get better and come home to Thailand soon. Their sign said “we love you Professor Aruffo, get healthy, please come home, we love you”. While he is attempting recovery here in the USA, he worries that his children have no one to teach them English. He promised he would return soon but his treatments may take up to 48 weeks once treatments begin. He promised his eleven-tsunami orphans that he would help them all speak English and to tutor them so they would all be able to get into university or trade school. He wanted them to have something positive to look forward to, a good life, even though their life had not started good by losing their families to the tsunami disaster.
Now he stays in a small rented apartment in Saint Petersburg, isolated and alone, trying to recover from his two years of tsunami volunteer service in Thailand. He is not half the man he was before the tsunami. He worries about paying his mounting medical bills without insurance. While hurricane, tornado, and flood victims get some assistance from their government - there is no help for a forgotten victim of the tsunami. Now after years of distinguished volunteer service in Thailand, he returned home to Florida sick, tired, abandoned, and seeking any government assistance. In Thailand, he was given a medal for his efforts in the Tsunami Relief Operation. Here in America that medal will not buy his groceries or pay his medical bills. His response from the government was negative - both Florida senators sent form letters, Kathy Castor, his congressperson did not follow up on his requests. President Bush did not even send a form letter. He continues to pay his mounting medical bills. He is unable to work from depression, pain, his brain is confused by the medications he is taking, and his savings are dwindling.
He contacted the American Red Cross and they informed him that they still have not spent over $300,000,000 collected for the tsunami relief fund but that they do not help American victims of the tsunami. He is angry with the America Embassy in Bangkok that did nothing for American survivors while watching the European countries come to the immediate aid and assistance of their citizens.
A month before he departed for Thailand, the USF Alumni Association honored Aruffo with the Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award for his dedication to USF and the world community. He showed true dedication to the world community with his volunteer tsunami service and has demonstrated that he was, indeed, worthy of such an award. Now he is a socially withdrawn with major illnesses and just trying to financially survive back in the expensive USA.
There are probably other stories like this one. Survivors and volunteers of the tsunami are scattered all over the world. Many suffering for their service to humanity - each wondering when the nightmares and the illnesses will end - wondering when the smell of death will get out of their noses - each surviving in their own way. They are the forgotten and ignored victims of the tsunami. Proud to have helped in such a noble cause but now suffering in their own dreams and in pain. They were there when others needed help now they have none when they need help.