Is it time to talk about HAITI yet?

[Pink]

I've been pretty up my own butt lately. And to be fair, we all have times like these. However, sometimes we need something to jar us into realizing that it's not all about ourselves. Now, i know some of you are probably oversaturated with this event, but the need never goes away. There's probably no point in teling any of you how damaged, how lacking and how needy the country of Haiti was before this entire endeavor. And there's hopefully no need to explain that the good, concientious efforts of nations and peoples more fortunate can indeed change Haiti for the better.

With that piece said, what are WE going to do about it?

Most of us here on the Keep aren't rich---we don't have a lot of funds or influence to throw around. But that doesn't mean that we can't do ANYTHING. Throwing money at a problem isn't always the best solution, so if that's not what you want to do, then understandable. However, it would be unwise to rule out donations completely. Still, when we're using a site that sometimes struggles to pay its bills, then we can't be unreasonable and see donating as the only option.
So, the purpose of this thread is to try to come up with a plan and brainstorm for those of us who might be interested, but not know how to help. If you don't want to help---then fine. Go read DMD's story or tell Shane what to do in Shadowrun. It's fine---that's what this place is for. But, for those of us who want to do a little more, please, please, please spend a little time here and think of how you can help

The American Red Cross is the best place for me personally, but that's because I don't have a lot of money to give. So, I'm giving myself a bit to straighten out, get my iron levels up and then donate blood. Others here can do the same. Ever wanted to know your blood type? Maybe you can sucker them into finding out. Also---others here with O+ blood---don't you feel COMPELLED to see that it gets stuck in someone else? I mean hell, we're useful. Kinda cool, huh?


Otherwise---people like Lit, Banana, Poppin, KB, Elijah---I know you all must have your own things going on, but maybe we should consider what we can do to help artistically. If we need to find sponsors, cool---if we need to take it out of here, promote it---get our school bodies involved, then fine. There's ALWAYS something we can do.

Donating time and energy into volunteer work would also be fun. I would be willing to do a bit of a group thing---give off incentives like full commissions if people want to donate so much time to volunteer organizations.

Whatever you can do, please help. If you have any ideas as to how we can make it more worthwhile for people who want to help or other ways we can be creative about helping, then PLEASE reply. We've got a broad userbase here and there's no reason why we can't creatively think of a way to do something.


Best of wishes, guys.

[Soja]

My church is personally invested in a community in Haiti. We had helped build a chapel and just finished building a school, but guess what happened to both of those.

[Nunquam]

It is a good thread. The only thing I would suggest is that perhaps someone go to a good bank or get intouch with a relief group. Get the address or website of where donations, either money, goods ect can be sent for Haiti.

[Ytts]

My church is personally invested in a community in Haiti. We had helped build a chapel and just finished building a school, but guess what happened to both of those.

Did they actually fall down? If so, when the chapel was built, was it built to code as though it was being built in the states? I'm really interested in hearing accounts about that. Earthquakes of greater magnitude have passed through developed locations with far less fatal results, and the expectations for construction in Haiti I have understood to be exceptionally lax.

Having a solid account that illustrates a fixable problem in Haiti would give anyone who wants to pressure our politicians into pushing for better building guidelines a big hand.

[LiteracyScaresMe]

Otherwise---people like Lit, Banana, Poppin, KB, Elijah---I know you all must have your own things going on, but maybe we should consider what we can do to help artistically. If we need to find sponsors, cool---if we need to take it out of here, promote it---get our school bodies involved, then fine. There's ALWAYS something we can do.

I wonder if we could do artists' cards or postcards or something of that nature and auction them off somewhere/somehow and donate the money to an organization that sends it to Haiti. Or if we could find an artistic community that does things like that to begin with. I'm sure there's bound to be one.

[Vivi]

Did they actually fall down? If so, when the chapel was built, was it built to code as though it was being built in the states? I'm really interested in hearing accounts about that. Earthquakes of greater magnitude have passed through developed locations with far less fatal results, and the expectations for construction in Haiti I have understood to be exceptionally lax.

Having a solid account that illustrates a fixable problem in Haiti would give anyone who wants to pressure our politicians into pushing for better building guidelines a big hand.

Even if it was, I'd personally be wondering about factors such as proximity to other buildings. Wouldn't matter much if it was built to code if two other buildings fell right on top of it.

[Soja]

Both buildings that we funded were destroyed. Nothing left but the foundation.

I don't know about how close they were built to American code, but many volunteers who were contractors and builders from our community did go to Haiti specifically to oversee those developments. They were an investment to everyone involved, so obviously we would have wanted them to last. I'm sure that local contractors would have built to the standard they were used to knowing what lax standards would result in.

[Pink]

Thanks for replying, everyone.


I LOVE the art-card ideas. Anyone else?

[Familiar]

Been giving up my tips to the Salvation Army donation can for the past two weeks at work.

My art sucks anyway.

[Ytts]

Thanks for the reply, Soja.

[Lugh]

I urge everyone to give any amount - even the poorest of us is considerably better off than your average Haitian at this moment. Even five bucks is something.

It's kind of sad that it takes these kind of disasters to make us think of other regions of the world, but I guess that's just how it is.

[Pink]

And Lugh's right.

With that being said, how can we do something art-wise to get this fired up?

Again, I want you guys to keep thinking about this. I was listening to someone today tell of an account of how when approaching the capital city, you can smell it. Not see---not hear, but smell. There are so many dead and uncared for dead that there is an ever-present stench. It never gets better, and you never get used to it.

That thought alone made me rather...well, I can't describe how that made me feel. In fact, I can't put it into words, nor can I fully understand the depth of that sort of despair.


Please, everyone. Whatever we can do, let's do it. It doesn't matter how little or how much. If you can, do.
Even if that means just telling someone who is more capable of giving.

[Pink]

It is a good thread. The only thing I would suggest is that perhaps someone go to a good bank or get intouch with a relief group. Get the address or website of where donations, either money, goods ect can be sent for Haiti.

I think that would be really, really cool. I wonder if we can do a tK canned food drive or something. That would be really neat! I'm willing to offer art for those who can donate in this manner. I'll also look into donating clothing.

[Elijah]

I don't know what I could offer artistically, but I have no problem with donating 10 or 20 dollars. I haven't done so yet, and it never really crossed my mind until Lugh brought it up, but it does seem more than sensible.

[OBorg]

If you're in the UK and earn enough to pay tax - check with your chosen charity if they are able to accept covenant donations - if so the Charity can claim back the tax you'd have paid when earning and increase your effective donation by 25-30%..
So you pay £10, the charity can claim an extra £2.50/£3 which the government gives them.

[Hilda]

donate $10 straight from your cell phone via text message. the charge will be on your monthly cell phone statement.

if you donate, take a picture of your confirmation message and post it here.

text HAITI to 90999

[RobertDarklord]

I've donated $20 to the cause, but just doing money seems kinda like doing nothing since I can't draw and I can't exactly go down there myself to do anything.

[Pink]

SWEET RUMS


And it's not, Dark Not at all! Clothes and stuff would be great, but anything is wonderful!!!

[Pink]

Here's an interesting little ditty on how you can give/volunteer your efforts without spending much. Time-consuming, but kind of a neat idea, huh?

http://www.operationsmile.org/living_proof/donor-stories/george-ouellette.html

[Pink]

Another GREAT way to see what's needed and the costs of such

https://store.causecast.org/huffingtonpost/

[Bane]

So have they started eating each other over there yet?

[Pink]

So have they started eating each other over there yet?

Due to the huge volume of human suffering, loss and chaos, this really is not the appropriate place to be making such comments.
I'd like this thread to remain respectful and somewhat sensitive to the situation and cause to resolve it.
However, if you want to make another thread lampooning the situation, then I wouldn't hold it against you. I'm not really opposed to speaking openly, it's just that it would be better if this thread remained directed to helping the victims.
Thanks

[Moondog]

I've been pretty up my own butt lately. And to be fair, we all have times like these. However, sometimes we need something to jar us into realizing that it's not all about ourselves. Now, i know some of you are probably oversaturated with this event, but the need never goes away. There's probably no point in teling any of you how damaged, how lacking and how needy the country of Haiti was before this entire endeavor. And there's hopefully no need to explain that the good, concientious efforts of nations and peoples more fortunate can indeed change Haiti for the better.

With that piece said, what are WE going to do about it?

Most of us here on the Keep aren't rich---we don't have a lot of funds or influence to throw around. But that doesn't mean that we can't do ANYTHING. Throwing money at a problem isn't always the best solution, so if that's not what you want to do, then understandable. However, it would be unwise to rule out donations completely. Still, when we're using a site that sometimes struggles to pay its bills, then we can't be unreasonable and see donating as the only option.
So, the purpose of this thread is to try to come up with a plan and brainstorm for those of us who might be interested, but not know how to help. If you don't want to help---then fine. Go read DMD's story or tell Shane what to do in Shadowrun. It's fine---that's what this place is for. But, for those of us who want to do a little more, please, please, please spend a little time here and think of how you can help

The American Red Cross is the best place for me personally, but that's because I don't have a lot of money to give. So, I'm giving myself a bit to straighten out, get my iron levels up and then donate blood. Others here can do the same. Ever wanted to know your blood type? Maybe you can sucker them into finding out. Also---others here with O+ blood---don't you feel COMPELLED to see that it gets stuck in someone else? I mean hell, we're useful. Kinda cool, huh?


Otherwise---people like Lit, Banana, Poppin, KB, Elijah---I know you all must have your own things going on, but maybe we should consider what we can do to help artistically. If we need to find sponsors, cool---if we need to take it out of here, promote it---get our school bodies involved, then fine. There's ALWAYS something we can do.

Donating time and energy into volunteer work would also be fun. I would be willing to do a bit of a group thing---give off incentives like full commissions if people want to donate so much time to volunteer organizations.

Whatever you can do, please help. If you have any ideas as to how we can make it more worthwhile for people who want to help or other ways we can be creative about helping, then PLEASE reply. We've got a broad userbase here and there's no reason why we can't creatively think of a way to do something.


Best of wishes, guys.

Shadowrun's over and done with. Pay more attention.


ps. Moving boxes full of canned goods in the snow sucks.

[Jason Baane]

resolve it.

Which is in no way achievable by throwing money at a nation that constantly demands the entire planet sink money into it whenever they have a problem. All the while giving nothing in return except providing Russia, Venezuela, and everyone else who doesn't like the Western World something else to blame on the United States: a country that has enough of its own problems - both self-induced and natural - to deal with without bailing out a couple drug lords that were minorly inconvenienced by the quake.

[Moondog]

resolve it.

Which is in no way achievable by throwing money at a nation that constantly demands the entire planet sink money into it whenever they have a problem. All the while giving nothing in return except providing Russia, Venezuela, and everyone else who doesn't like the Western World something else to blame on the United States: a country that has enough of its own problems - both self-induced and natural - to deal with without bailing out a couple drug lords that were minorly inconvenienced by the quake.

Isn't Haiti really France's fault?