EXCO Newsletter Vol. 1 No. 5 Dec 2004, Tsunami Edition 1
From SI Exco News
Contents |
Servas EXCO Newsletter
- President Geoff Maltby, -----------------Vice President Bibendra Pradhananga
- General Secretary Honora Clemens, ---------------------Treasurer Omer Ozkan
- Peace Secretary Gary Sealey, ----Host List Coordinator Claudio Pacchiega
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- Volume I, No. 5
- December 29, 2004
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- EXCO has decided to send daily newsletters during the Tsunami crisis.
- Our goal is to keep our total membership informed about the condition of our member countries who have been devastated by the recent disaster.
- We need to hear the stories of our people so we can learn how to help them.
- If you have such information, please send it to me. I will disperse it to our entire organization.
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Below is OUR CORRESPONDENCE re: THE TSUNAMI DISASTER
- WHAT CAN WE DO?
- WHAT WE DID.
- WHAT WE HEARD-----Please be sure to read the letters we have received.
- ---------------------------------They are at the bottom. Don't miss them.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
- Call/write to Area Coordinator and past Development Committee, and seek advice on following:
- Request personal stories of Servas members on their loss/survival/ suggestions for help - send these to Western papers (there are very few personal stories in the media, so far) and to international aid agencies?
- Also e.g. would it be practical for Servas National Secretaries and Area Coordinators in Asia to invite direct assistance for emergency relief and reconstruction?
- Ask what else can Servas International do, to assist now and over the recovery period? E.g. ask Northern and Western NS to consider direct assistance projects?
- Gary Sealey
- SI Peace Secretary
Dear Gary,
- We can start with an urgent e-mail and call NS of the Area!
- Ask all NS to help and support the S.Asia
- I know, warm words are most important for such cases,
After earthquake (+disaster) and terror attacks it is so important for Servas to be helpful.
- Claudio Pacchiega
- Host List Coordinator
Hello
- I see we are all of one mind in our desire to help our member countries who have been devastated by natural forces.
- As soon as we have some specific things to do to help them, please send the list to me. I'll put together a quick Newsletter to send all National Secs. and ACs.
- Gary, I'll help you with personal letters to newspapers if you like. Let me know anything else I can do to help.
- I don't know about our rights under a federation, but it seems to me there will be a need for money. Could we put out a call for donations sent to our Treasurer who would hold the funds in a separate account? They could possibly be dispersed by the Development Fund Committee.
- 1500 members X $100.00 each = $150,000 It's a nice goal toward which to aim. I know some can send nothing, but maybe some could send more. : )
- Honora Clemens
- generalsecretary@servas.org
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WHAT WE DID
Emails sent to each country affected by the Tsunami
We at Exco wish to express our deepest sympathy to the residents of all our member countries who live in the path of the terrible disaster that occured over the weekend when thousands of people on the coastline and islands were killed and injured by the tidal waves caused by the earthquake off Indonesia.
Whilst Servas International is not able to save those affected by such an emergency as this - is there anything we can offer to assist? Maybe the passing of updated information to other Servas groups?
If there is anything at all that we at Servas International can possibly do, then please let us know. In peace and friendship
- Geoff Maltby
- President - Servas International
Emails sent to each Peace Secretary
- I am writing to you in your capacity in Servas, either as a Peace Secretary, SI UN Observer or as someone known to be concerned with Peace and Development.
- As you know, there has been a shocking disaster across the coastlines of Asia. Given the wide distribution of this big loss, I am seeking your advice and support on next steps which Servas International might take, to respond. Understand my own capacity is limited while I am returning home from holiday travels. Please do not wait, but please let us know, if you see ways which you, or your National Group, or other Groups with which you are affiliated, or your elected government representatives can take to help. The dreadful effects of this catastrophe will be felt a long time and the people will need help for the future as well as now.
- We are keenly aware that there are others, beyond the South Asian shores and even locally who also need help; can we learn to work together through this tragedy and perhaps we can help others, and also assist in prevention? Also I am not suggesting SI has the capacity to save afflicted people on an emergency basis; however, could we usefully express concern; collect and relay information to Northern and Western leaders and media and to the rest of Servas; point out to relief agencies that Servas has a network of concerned people. Your views and actions are urgent and welcome.
- Gary Sealey
- SI Peace Secretary
- peacesecretary@servas.org
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WHAT WE HEARD
RESPONSES
Dear Siriporn, I have just been told that a Brazilian Servas member lost his daughter and grandson in Thailand. They were at the island of Phi Phi, and had gone out for a walk by the beach, and then the tsumani caught them. I can imagine how hard it must be for everyone to be there.... Kind regards,
- Roberto Borenstein
- Area Coordinator -
- South America and Servas Brazil member
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Dear Roberto, Thanks very much for your kind thoughts. It's the first time for Thailand and all Thai people. It's very hard for us to face disaster of this magnitude, but people from all walks of life are joining hands to contribute something to help alleviate this catastrophe.
Thanks again and Best Wishes for the Coming New Year. Best regards,
- Siriporn Srithong
- Area Coordinator -
- South East Asia and Servas Thailand member
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- To our Servas friends in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and other affected countries.
Our hearts and minds go out to the family and friends who lost their loved ones in this disaster. We are still shoked as the death toll rises and TV shows the remains of the tragegy. In the name of the Servas community in South America, I want to express our solidarity and remind you that you have friends all over the world who care about you. Sincerely,
- Roberto Borenstein
- South America Area Coordinator
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On behalf of us all in Servas India kindly accept our most grateful thanks for your kind felicitations. Ramesh Sharma is away on relief work in Tamilnadu after our earthquake tragedy. After I return to Delhi around 16 January I'll write to you in detail. With kind regards & wishing you a very happy new year
- Gurdev Pannu
- Chairman - Servas India
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Dear Geoff Maltby – SI President,
A SUGGESTION FROM SOMEONE AT THE LOCATION
Thank you very much for your kind and sympathetic e-mail. It is a very very sad and tragic situation. So far the only known figures indicate that over 25,000 people are dead and over a million are homeless and have become destitutes. Our Servas host at Matara – in Southern Sri Lanka reported on 28th December alone he was able to bury 721 dead bodies. Figures on 29th December are not reported so far. Thousands of volunteers are searching dead bodies. Many tourists are dead or missing. Two Servas members from Germany who wish to come and stay with us today cannot be contacted. They were at a tourist resort at Trincomalee in the eastern cost. We are trying our best to collect relief items such as clothes etc. to be sent to affected areas.
For Servas I have a suggestion. We must also get together at International level and do some thing to all the countries affected. It should be long standing work such as “ homes for victims of tidal waves victims” in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Please discuss this with Exco. Funds could be raised individually or get from donor agencies in respective countries and send to Servas groups in those countries. In Sri Lanka we are strong enough to handle such a project or programme as we have the man power officials and very strong members who are respected by the general public. Thanking you for your sympathies and expression of good wishes at a time like this which we have never experienced in Sri Lanka. I live in Kandy, the hill capital nearly 100 KM from the sea cost and we are not affected, but many of our friends who were on holidays in beach hotels and in a wild life sanctuary in the South have died.
With Best wishes.
- M.B. Adikaram
Area Coordinator - South West Asia ________________________________________________________________________________________________ The President - Servas International Respected Mr. Geoff Maltby,
First of all I would like to say sorry for replying late, because I was very busy in urgent post conference work and Tsunami disaster relief work.
I am grateful to you and lot of thanks for your cooperation. Without S.I. cooperation changes were not possible in Servas India. So all credit goes to you and Exco. All Exco members supported and encouraged us. I hope you and Exco cooperation will be continue in future also. Today I have arranged some cloths & food material to the needy persons of more effected area in Tamilnadu state. It’s a first time I am going to effected area for help to the three thousand peoples.
- One thousand Sari (5 meter cloth for women) for one thousand women
- One thousand lungi ( 2meter cloth for man) for one thousand men
- One thousand blankets for one thousand family
- One thousand cloths for one thousand children
- One thousand T shirt for one thousand men
- Ten thousand Kilos of rice for one thousand family
On 31st December about 10.00 am, I and three volunteers are leaving with above material . About 450 km distance from here (BANGALORE). It’s a 12 hours journey .
I think Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand are more effected, so please send or arrange help to above country. You are also worry because this is a part of our duty.
Again thanks to you and all Exco members .
- With Regards
- Your servas friend
- Dr. Ramesh Sharma
- National Secretary - Servas India
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- Please send us your stories.
- Please send us your needs.
- We want to help you.
- Honora Clemens
- generalsecretary@servas.org
