You are completely right, Sylain. In fact there is a web site 'somewhere' that tells you about the charity and what percentage of donations actually go for the charity and how much goes for administration expenses (?).
How's all?
Nancy
WARNING; For every one in the northern Antilles (Caribbean)
Such a sad thing that happened in Haiti. I can still very clearly remember the 2000 floods we had here. thousands and thousands of people were killed, it was terrible. we also helped with rescue efforts with the Nazarene and Wesleyan Churches. a lot of doctor volunteered from the States, and we used to pick them up from the airport and take them to the rescue center. Natural disasters are so unpredictable, thats what makes them scary.
isaac
Scary is right, Isaac. It is the one thing mankind has no control over. When the earth opens up, the quality of the buildings is of little consequence. Tsunamis wipe everything in their path. Hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires destroy everything in their paths. No where to hide.
Christi
As most of you know, I am a Realtor. Just after we closed on a sale with one of my clients, he told me of his intention of going for a week or two in Haiti. He missed his family over there. He was caught in the earthquake. They were in a 2nd story apartment when the earth sharted shaking and the building collapsed under them. Luckily, they were not hurt (what unbelievable luck) and noone in this family was hurt. He was just flown back a few days ago. It must have been horrible.
Sadly, I became aware long ago that some of these charitable foundations live high off the hog on the money that is entrusted to them. I am always curious about the administration fees they skim off the top before actually getting to work. Even harder to figure out - nearly impossible, in fact - is to find out how much of what percentage of the leftover funds are actually lost through various partners on the way to where the help is intended. In other words: How much of every dollar actually reaches the needy? It's enough to give you a bad case of hives just thinking about it.
Take care, all.
Sylvain.
After our trip to the Gulf coast of Mississippi this past Fall, I wonder where all that money for Katrina went. Certainly not evident there. I personally dont trust The Red Cross as far as I could throw them.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has a private park on Haiti, a delightful and secluded property called Labadee. They are very concerned with the plight of the earthquake's victims. They are currently collecting funds on board all their ships for Food For The Poor. I trust Royal Caribbean with my stock portfolio. I trust them with my life every time I sail with them. I also trust them in their choice of charitable organization. My donation is already made and I will gladly give again if they are still collecting during my February cruise.
What more can we do? They don't need parkas, mittens or boots. We have quite a few of those to give away that we`ll never wear again, either because they don't fit any more (the tropical air shrunk them, I guess) or we won't have an occasion to use them again (Lord willing).
Take care, all.
Sylvain.
Good Morning Everyone
First off Thank You for all your well wishes and good thoughts.
It has really been bad here (more political then volcanic). I am no longer allowed into my home which has me very upset. The explosion on the 8th caused Isles Bay to be locked down. I was at my house when it happened. I saw it long before the warning siren went off so I did not get a chance to cross. But I drove high up the mountain (to a friends house) and was perfectly safe. Waited until the police let me know it was safe to cross. The pyroclastic flow came within a mile of my house. No damage just a lot of ash.
It was after I came a cross the Belham that the stress started. They locked down Isles Bay after we crossed and did not tell anyone. I found out later that night from a friend. My family is the only full time residents in Isles Bay and the Authorities did not let us know what they were doing.
Since this happened on friday and we had daytime entry, that is the day I took everything over to be washed and dried. I left in a hurry so I did not grab anything and my 3 poodles were in my house. We had to leave them over there because where we were stay I could not have them with me. We showed up Saturday morning and they were not going to let us back in. My daughter only had her pj's or her school uniform and me and DH had clothes that we had been wearing for 2 days plus my dogs were over there. The authorities had the choice let me in or I find my own way in, period. Needless to say they let us in for an hour to get clothes and our animals but nothing else. We had another couple of hours to go a few days later to to get all the food out of the fridge and freezer and get some more clothes. All my stuff is still over there, my furniture rest of our clothes etc. I have been trying to get back in but have had no luck. Now they are talking about shutting Isles Bay down for good. Which means I lose my home. I will not get to go back until the volcano goes back to sleep.
We have a place to live for the time being. The house did not have a phone nor internet hook up so that took some time. Spent the first few days clean ash (about the only NORMAL thing in my life right now LOL). The friend that owns the house only comes in once a year and the house is being re done. But I am thankful for him allowing us to live here because he has said we do not have to worry about moving out until we get back in our house. He is such a good soul.
How am I holding up? Not very well I am afraid. Since my DH fall in July has left his health not so good the stress from this situation is causing him some problems and I am very concerned about him, plus one of my poodles is blind and putting him in a new place is cause me to be concerned about him (he is depressed and not eating very well). The government is telling us nothing and not answering any question nor helping anyone in any way. My nerves are shot, I am tired and cranky, and no way to vent my anger. All my gardening stuff and all my plants are still at my house, this house has nothing and no gardens. I am sure all my plants are dead, they have not been taken care of nor watered. It is too depressing to think about it.
But I am taking it one day at a time, thinking beyond that makes me cry. I go to the police station every day and ask if I can go over and one day they will say yes (even if it is for only a few hours).
Thanks for letting me vent, sorry it was so long. I will keep everyone posted (now that I have internet. I am posting some pictures from the event on Jan. 8th. they were taken from my house., right before I realized how bad it was and me & the dogs started heading up the mountain.
Thanks for caring DG friends are the best
Tina
Was getting to close
A view toward the back of my house
Way to close for comfort.
This one is of ash falling, it is so thick it turns pitch dark outside. the ash has metal in it so the flash from the camera reflects off it.
I forgot...I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday. A belated Happy New Year. I am going to start a new tread for this. This one is getting really long and takes a while to load. It will be under Montserrat Volcano Is Still Active.
Take Care
Tina
Tina...there is really nothing i can say other than my heart goes out to you all. So sorry you must battle yet another storm. Good thoughts and best wishes to you. I sincerely hope all works out to your benefit.
Oh Tina, I am so, so sorry that you have had such a dreadful time of it, the pictures you posted are so frightening. Thank goodness for the friend who has lent you his home, and you are all together and have managed to get the dogs out. Your heart must be breaking, and you must all be in shock to say the least. I guess all you can do at the moment is to sit tight and hope for the best. I, too, send good thoughts for you and your family. Please keep us posted when you can.
Jenn
Thanks so much Jean & Jenn. I will keep everyone posted.
Tina
Thank Him above you are all right! You have been in my prayers every night. It's such a shame being unable to inhabit your home. Oh, I feel for you my friend. We'll keep on praying for you.
Keep safe.
Sylvain.
I agree with Sylvain. Have been concerned for you for all these weeks of no word from you. Seems the entire world is erupting at once. They simply must let you in to claim your belongings.
Christi
Oh Tina, I'm so glad you posted I was really starting to worry about you and your family. I see some news here about the eruption and it is never good.
What a terrible situation, I hope that you can get back to your house and retrieve more things and that your exile from home is not too long. Thinking of you.
Glad to hear you are ok!! We were all really starting to get worried. I'm sorry they won't let you in your house. Hopefully one day soon they will let you back in to at least get your stuff.
Tina, you are in my prayers, also.
Does this have anything to do with the earthquake in Haiti...the earth crust shifting? Scary stuff.
Hap
Oh Tina!! i am so thankful to see you post! i was really starting to get worried, but i am glad to hear you are ok. well physically, but not emotionally. i want you to know i am praying for you, and i sincerely hope everything works out for the best. you have to remember, you are welcome to vent anytime, and your whole DG family here is backing you!
take care,
isaac
Thanks everyone for your concerns and especially for your prayers!
I am doing better. A few of the residents that are effected by the evacuation had a meeting with the Authorities. We were able to voice our concerns and ask questions, but more important we got answers. I have an appointment with the MVO and the Director is going to go through everything with me so I can understand the situation better. The Authorities did put a lot of my fears to rest. They are going to try to set up something in the next week so that we can go over (under controlled conditions) to retrieve belongings and secure our homes. This of coarse will depend on what the volcano is doing. Plus, they are going to figure out ways to involve the residents more so we are not left hanging. I felt it was a very productive meeting, we will see if they follow through.
I was able to go over to get a few things I needed now , they gave me 30 minutes, it only took 15min. Got in and got out. I was relieved that we had not gotten to much ash over there and the rains we had cleared the roof (don't have to worry about the roof collapsing). A lot of my plants are looking sad but did not have time to do anything about it. When they let us go over I will take care of them. Some looked beyond hope but some seemed to be doing ok. I did get a chance to move a couple of the worst ones out in the open so that they could get some rain.
I will get through this. You know the old saying..that which does not kill us can only make us stronger. Hopefully the volcano will do what ever it is going to do and get it over with.
Hap..I do not know if this event is related to the other events happening in the Caribbean. It is one of my questions for the MVO Director. This volcanic event has been strange from the beginning. It has been on going for 4 months now. It has never put out this much ash, nor has it been so active on a continuous bases before. Something is different.
I know that Haiti has it a lot worse then we do. Compared to what is happening there we have it easy (so far). I hope everyone keeps Haiti in their thoughts and prayers. They need a lot of help.
Take Care
Tina
You sound so much better, Tina, and that makes me 'Happy"!
The fact that the powers that be are working with you has to give you a lot of relief. Sort of remember that you stated at one point that this was not always the case. It sounds as though you will not lose your home and that is a biggy, for plants can always be replaced or not.
After reading your plight, I have promised my family I will not long lament about my garden being trashed by our frigid weather earlier this month. Things are still dying and such is life. Don't think that I'm going to replace things that are lost.
Prayers will still be coming you way and my heart really goes out to you. How is your DH doing? You certainly have your hands full.
Hap
Tina,
I found this map and it looks as though you are on the eastern end of the plate, so I think it has a possibility of being related. Yes?
http://scienceblogs.com/highlyallochthonous/2010/01/tectonics_of_the_haiti_earthqu.php
edit: Scroll down to the second map.
This message was edited Jan 30, 2010 6:41 AM
Well, 'tis said that Florida is destined to be under water...Dear, oh, dear.
Hap
Glad to hear from you, Tina!!
Natural disasters are scary, and i think Haiti is the worst at the moment. you are all in my prayers!!
take care,
isaac
It is a fact that the earth's crust is unstable and constantly changing/moving. It's good to heed advice. A wrong move could end up disasterous. It must be a difficult task for the authorities trying to second guess the erratic nature of volcanos while dealing with the emotions of people. Stay safe.