Haiti Earthquake - How You Can Help

[Melody]

Sometimes we need to be reminded that we have no concept of what 'bad' really is. The people of Haiti struggle daily, and then they're slammed with horrific natural disasters on top of it all. May none of us ever know what it feels like to claw through rubble trying to find our children. My thoughts and prayers are with them today.


The Red Cross is responding to a powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010. The earthquake has caused buildings to collapse and wide-spread damage throughout Port au Prince.

Red Cross response was immediate. Local volunteers continue to support evacuation activities and provide much needed shelter, clean water and medical support. The Canadian Red Cross has contributed $200,000 from its International Disaster Relief Fund and Canadian aid workers are on standby to be deployed to Haiti if needed.

Canadians are encouraged to support Red Cross relief efforts by making a financial donation to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Earthquake fund. Donations can be made online at www.redcross.ca/donatenow (http://www.redcross.ca/donatenow) , by calling toll free 1-800-418-1111 or at any Red Cross office.

For more information or to arrange an interview:
Canadian Red Cross media line
613-740-1994

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Canadian Save The Children is Working on the Ground in Haiti (http://www.savethechildren.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=693&Itemid=415&lang=en)

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Unicef Gears Up For Relief Efforts (http://www.unicef.org/media/media_52421.html)

[Namor]

Many of you have probably seen the devastation of this area on different media outlets.

I often see images that the "public" doesn't, and with the magnitude of this quake, coupled with a poor infrastructure this place is a real mess.

PLEASE help out if you can.

[GaryofMontreal]

I want to add my support to what Namor has posted - we're raising money in our school and making donations to the Red Cross and to other legitimate international aid and relief organizations. A few bucks from each of us may not do much, but a few bucks from each of millions of us may. These people are in desperate need of help.

[Melody]

I cancelled my newspaper subscription. I think it was ridiculously disrespectful for The Province newspaper to publish a picture of deceased people in the street with the white sheet partially exposing them, including the faces of two of them. They described them as partially covered corpses. I'm betting their ear still hurts from the verbal tuning I gave them too. What the h*ll are they thinking?! We don't need to see that to know people died. These are REAL people, not some characters in a TV drama. They're someone's brother, son, father.... can you imagine seeing that if you were a relative? I'm absolutely livid about it. At the very least, they could have had the decency to blur their faces. I have never been so sickened by the media.

Sorry, I had to get that out of my system. Please help in any way that you can, these people have suffered enough without having to worry about food.

[GaryofMontreal]

In our school of 1500, we're organizing a 'hats for haiti" day, where every student who makes a donation to the Red Cross can wear the hat of their choice to class all day. I'm hoping it'll raise a few grand. Wish us luck - today's the day.

[CACAdmin]

:thumbup: Hope it's a huge success.

[Namor]

That's great to hear Gary. :thumbup:

Melody,

Speaking as someone who has spent a quarter century not only in the newspaper business, but more directly in the editing of photos,
I'm VERY shocked they didn't at least blur the faces.

You were right to let them know your feelings.

*Edit*

I feel I should add to what I've said here, as it is somewhat of a blanket statement.
I don't mean to imply that the paper at which I work for hasn't run unsettling images, nor do I chose what runs.**
It can be a fine line between what should be shown, at what can be deemed as to graphic. It disturbs me when the later is done for sensationalism. I do feel that in some cases it may be unavoidable, and can thankfully say that's only happened a couple of times in my years there. It's always upsetting when we have to add a graphic content warning. So far I think our editorial dept. has done a pretty fair job during this crisis.

** I have on rare occasions chosen or suggested a certain pic.
Tonight was one of them, and after a short, civil debate, a picture I felt was insensitive was changed for an entirely different one.
To be honest, I probably would have just done what I normally do with them and gone about my business, had I not read of Melody's concerns. That post really hit home for me, and perhaps many in not only the media, but society as a whole, sometimes get desensitized to matters that should never be.

[GaryofMontreal]

So the school was able to raise $4500 on the event, in the first two hours. There's still more trickling in. The organizers were hoping for a thousand and dreaming of being able to give two. The kids came through.

[Namor]

Gary, that's fantastic! Kudos to those kids.:Applaud:

[CACAdmin]

:Applaud:That's awesome, Gary. And the kids have learned a lesson in how much can be raised to help with just a little from each of them. :Smile:

[Melody]

I am totally in awe of how Canadians have come through for Haiti. Kudos to your school and the kids Gary.

CANADIAN TELETHON - FRIDAY NIGHT!


TORONTO - A lineup of top Canadian talent has signed up to take part Friday in this country's multi-network TV benefit for Haiti, including Celine Dion, James Cameron, Michael J. Fox and the Tragically Hip.

CBC, CTV and Global Television will air "Canada for Haiti" at 7 p.m. ET and PT, and it will also be streamed online at the networks' websites and broadcast on CBC Radio Two.

Dozens of A-list Canadian names have been announced as supporters of the show, which was quickly organized by staff from competing networks. The commercial-free program will be hosted by Global's Cheryl Hickey, CTV's Ben Mulroney and CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos.

Film stars who will appear include Jason Reitman, Ryan Reynolds, William Shatner, Rachelle Lefevre, Joshua Jackson, Eugene Levy, Norman Jewison, Tom Jackson and Will Arnett.

TV personalities Brent Butt, Hugh Dillon, Mike Holmes, Rick Mercer, Alex Trebek, Sandra Oh and Pamela Anderson are on board.

Musicians Justin Bieber, Nelly Furtado, Sarah McLachlan, Barenaked Ladies, Simple Plan, David Foster, Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida and Measha Brueggergosman have signed on.

K'naan and the Tragically Hip will perform.

Humanitarian Craig Kielburger and star athletes Wayne Gretzky and Steve Nash will participate, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean will have special messages for Canadians.

"As the relief efforts move from rescue ... to reconstruction, there's going to be so much more need and that's one of the reasons that we've all come together," said Mulroney.

Stroumboulopoulos said it wasn't hard getting celebrities to give their time to the project.

"One of the things about this country is we have a long history of giving and a long history of trying to come together," he said. "It's part of (our) identity."

Donations collected during the broadcast will go to a number of non-profit organizations including the Canadian Red Cross Society, Care Canada, Free the Children, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Quebec, Plan Canada, Save the Children Canada, UNICEF Canada and World Vision Canada.

All the donations will be split evenly between the charities, said World Vision Canada president Dave Toycen, who urged Canadians to give Haitians hope.

"I've been involved in disaster work for over 30 years and this is one of the worst I've ever (seen)," said Toycen, who just returned after spending six days in Haiti.

One of the lasting experiences he had was meeting a woman who insisted that Toycen take her young son, because she feared he had no chance of a good life in Haiti.

"That's what this special is about in a way. First, it's to answer that call to give help, but it's also to prove to that mother: you don't have to give your child away in order for your child to have a future," he said.

The U.S. benefit "Hope for Haiti Now" will air immediately after the Canadian benefit.

The two-hour special - on CBC, CTV, Global, MTV, MuchMusic and National Geographic Channel - will be hosted by George Clooney and include performances by the likes of Beyonce, Madonna, Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Coldplay and Taylor Swift.

Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow plan to perform a song together, as will Bono, the Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna.

Canadians can donate by visiting www.CanadaForHaiti.com (http://www.CanadaForHaiti.com), dialling 1-877-51-HAITI or texting AID to 45678.

News Release from ©The Canadian Press, 2010 (http://www.thecanadianpress.com/)

[Pamelajo]

Our home is collecting from staff and family members. Hopefully we can raise a nice sized donation.

[CACAdmin]

That's wonderful, Pam. And regardless of how much you manage to raise, every little bit helps. :yes:

[Namor]

every little bit helps. :yes:

:yes:

In a tough financial year, I was happy to see the Sporting Christmas fund reach an all time high of $107,633.
Every dollar does count, and please make sure it's to an official charity. Within 24hrs. of this disaster, scammers were praying upon good souls.:frown:

http://yourmoney.ca/debt/ContentPosting?newsitemid=3a7d269b-a94f-4ac3-8596-b1db726f9a76&feedname=50_PLUS&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=False

I look forward to tonights broadcast, but wish Hugh Dillon was performing with the Headstones, and not as an actor.
Also will be anticipating the Tragically Hip, one of my faves.

[Pamelajo]

I am looking forward to seeing Keith Urban.

[Melody]

The Canadian telethon for Haiti raised an estimated $2.5 million in an hour!:Applaud:

"That's what this special is about in a way. First, it's to answer that call to give help, but it's also to prove to that mother: you don't have to give your child away in order for your child to have a future," he said.

We are unable to even fathom that kind of desperation. :no:

[Pamelajo]

That is great, I was listening to the news after to see if they said how much. I hope enough funds are raised and continue to be raised so that they can rebuild and thrive after all these years.

[fishclubgirl]

Just made my donation!! Had a "bad" week but it so pales in comparison to what these people are going through. I made my donation through the cbc website so that the government will match my funds. My thought and prayers are for these people!!

[Melody]

That is great, I was listening to the news after to see if they said how much. I hope enough funds are raised and continue to be raised so that they can rebuild and thrive after all these years.

It is still climbing - over 7 million the last I heard. The lines have remained open so it it keeps going up!

We benefit from group efforts too - it brings any group together for a common cause and improves the atmosphere in general.

[Pamelajo]

It is still climbing - over 7 million the last I heard. The lines have remained open so it it keeps going up!

We benefit from group efforts too - it brings any group together for a common cause and improves the atmosphere in general.
Awesome!!!!!

[fishykisses]

Remember if you donate to the 1-877-51-HAITI, the federal government will match your donation up to February 12th!

[Melody]

Yes indeed, thanks for mentioning it!

[fishclubgirl]

The calgary aquarium society is taking donations to be auctioned off. Details at www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com (http://www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com) Anybody else want to get their clubs involved or send me stuff to get to the auction, let me know!!

[Namor]

We have to keep in mind this is going to take many years for them to rebuild.

It was nice to see networks put advertising and their differences aside for a greater good on Friday night, and I found the all the artists music VERY inspiring.

[fishclubgirl]

We're charging 5 dollars for our "bumps"" with all of it going to the Red Cross.

[Melody]

The pictures aren't graphic, but one particular situation may be too disturbing for some.

Animal Groups In Haiti To Control Rabies, Protect Livestock (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/23/animal-groups-in-haiti-to_n_434343.html)

The total impact of this disaster is painful to even contemplate.

[fishclubgirl]

Please see my LF driftwood thread and see how our hobby can help!!

[Melody]

Plants on driftwood is a good idea for a club fundraiser, I'm sure lots of people will use it for their own fundraisers. Local stores would probably kick in for events too.

There's some great fundraising ideas around and some are popping up in Google specifically for Haiti. This blog (http://www.blogher.com/helping-haiti-places-donate-creative-fundraising-ideas-and-being-smart-donor) has a nice collection, for starters.

[CACAdmin]

Remember if you donate to the 1-877-51-HAITI, the federal government will match your donation up to February 12th!
Just a reminder about the Feb 12th deadline for the Federal Government matching donations. Here's the CIDA page (http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/acdi-cida/ACDI-CIDA.nsf/eng/ANN-114115719-MVV)for more information on how this works and which charities are eligible for the matching funds.

[Melody]

It's going to take a long time to get them back to as close as they were to on their feet. I hope people work it into their donation budget for a long time. There's always a wave of support when something like this happens and then people forget.

The animals are suffering horribly. SPCA International sent someone in to evaluate. (http://www.spcai.org/about-us/in-the-news/item/375-earthquake-in-haiti-animal-response-report.html) Unfortunately but necessarily, humans have to be the main focus. It would seem that euthanization would be the kindest thing at this point.

[Melody]

Speaking of long term, Oxfam is campaigning to cancel Haiti's debt. There's a petition to sign here. (http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=142&ea.campaign.id=5499)

[sass]

We've made one donation and will make more in the coming months, since this rebuild will take years. Our son inlaw is in Haiti at the moment for possibly 6 months.

[Namor]

A 25th anniversary re-make of "We are the World" will be premiering tonight during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Following the broadcast, fans will be able to download the song and view footage from the making of the video. Proceeds will be going to the Haitian relief effort.
Further info. can be found at (world25.org)

[CACAdmin]

Today is the last day for which the federal government will match contributions. So if you're intending to donate, your donation will be worth twice as much if you do it today!

[OldMan]

In the US I have not seen the government step in, but the company that I work for has said they will match the first several hundred thousand of employee contributions. I made them pay up on that offer, along with a lot of my co-workers. So far they are out almost $180,000 US.

[Melody]

That's fantastic!:thumbup:

I read a good point about helping the animals in Haiti too. People (including me) are somewhat uncomfortable or downright against focusing on animals there when there are so many people in need. The article (I think it was the ASPCA) mentioned that by helping the animals we ARE helping the people. The dogs are rabid, starving, forming packs and attacking the humans. Many are given rabies shots or are humanely euthanized, etc. I hadn't thought of that angle, but it makes perfect sense.

I don't even want to think about what's going to happen with hurricane season approaching and most of these people still living under plastic.