Haiti still in need 6 months after earthquake
Posted - 7/19/2010 at 8:37AM by Naomi Pescovitz
TUCSON - Six months since the earthquake in Haiti, Tucson-based aid organization World Care says there has been a decrease in donations.
Describing it as "donor fatigue," they say donations have dropped since the first two months since the disaster.
Both World Care and Tucson doctors who recently volunteered in Haiti say the Haitian people still need our help.
"Do what you can. In my capacity, I gave medical care," Dr. John Hettiarachchy says.
Hettiarachchy spent a week volunteering in Haiti and came back on the Fourth of July. The video he captured there shows what the Haitian people still face, six months after the quake.
In Tucson, Hettiarachchy is an anesthesiologist. In Haiti he found he would have to put all his medical training to use, caring for a nine-year-old girl hit by a bus.
"They did not have an intensive care physician available so I functioned in that capacity," Hettiarachchy says.
"Over the course of a week, I was able to get her off the breathing machine, and discharged from the ICU with her family."
Dr. Luis Esparza volunteered in Haiti right after the earthquake. He went back a few weeks later.
"The air wasn't quite as bad but in terms of buildings and just organization it was still hopeless," Esparza says.
Esparza says now that it has been several months, the public should know Haiti still needs support.
"You don't ever hear about it anymore and the need there is still, it's so great that most people have no idea how bad the situation is there," Esparza says.
If you want to help in Haiti, World Care says they need hygiene supplies. Or you can make a monetary donation. World Care is located at 3538 East Ellington Place, Tucson, AZ 85713.
kvoa
20.7.10
Daniel Lanois recovers from near-fatal accident
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 | 4:40 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Surveying the damage inflicted by a motorcycle accident last month — his collarbone and pelvis fractured, six ribs broken and a still-worrisome amount of internal bleeding — Daniel Lanois cannot help but think of how lucky he is.
The crash that brought his summer to a screeching halt could have been much worse.
"Hey man, I'm lucky to be alive," Lanois told The Canadian Press on Tuesday in a telephone interview from California, where he's recuperating.
"It could have been spinal. Luckily, I was wearing a full-face helmet. It could have been a head injury. It could have been anything.
"I almost died."
Hit singer, songwriter and music producer Daniel Lanois, seen in an undated photo, says he's lucky to be alive after his motorcycle accident in Los Angeles in June. (Canadian Press)
'Old school accident'
The accident occurred on the first weekend of June in the scenic Silverlake enclave of Los Angeles. Lanois, 58, was riding his dazzling BMW HP2 Megamoto — a two-cylinder Supermoto with a sleek blue frame and white tank. He was en route to the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood, eager to hear a new band that had come highly recommended from a friend (he can no longer remember the act's name).
He was driving straight when somebody in front of him turned to abruptly pull into a corner store. Lanois sensed an impending collision and acted swiftly.
"I realized I was going to hit him, so I swerved to miss him," he recalled. "I missed him, but then I hit a static box on the sidewalk. It was like a little telephone box, and I smashed into that.
"That's it. I blacked out. When I came to, I was looking at the sky, and just people trying to help me. And somebody called 911, and that was it. They hauled me away.
"It was just an unfortunate accident. Old-school accident. Nothing crazy high-speed or anything. Just 35 miles an hour."
Lanois was then sequestered in intensive care in a California hospital for three weeks. Upon returning home, he was tended to by nurses, day and night.
'It's been kind of overwhelming and very sweet to receive so much attention.'
—Daniel Lanois
He wasn't able to walk, so with his bed parked in the foyer of his L.A. home, his assistant set up some rings — "like gymnastics," he notes with a laugh — to allow him to pull himself out of bed.
"The night nurse was quite impressed with that display," he says with another laugh.
Indeed, the unfailingly friendly Lanois is surprisingly sanguine about the life-threatening incident. The Quebec-born, Hamilton-raised producer chuckles often when recounting the details of the past month, whether marvelling at the way broken bones can fuse back together or kidding about soliciting sympathy for his condition.
"I'm using the Ray Charles technique," he joked, "which is [to] act more blind when the girls come 'round."
Lengthy road to recovery
But Lanois is still in the thick of a long recovery. He's most concerned about the amount of internal bleeding he may have suffered in the accident.
"The real problem is lots of bleeding around the lung," he said. "It has to be drained and monitored. A broken bone is not so bad, but internal bleeding is not so good.
Internationally celebrated music producer and singer-songwriter Daniel Lanois, seen posing with his star at the Canada's Walk of Fame gala in 2005, has already returned to work following his motorcycle accident, with a new Neil Young album set for release. (Tobin Grimshaw/Canadian Press)
"The main concern is my lung capacity. Because I think it's currently restricted by bruising around the lung, and there might be some dried blood laying in the bottom of the cavity there. So my lung is kind of bumping up against this big scab and scar tissue. So that's the concern, really.
"And I'm going to know better after I do a scan in a couple weeks."
There are signs of progress, too. Lanois regained his mobility 10 days ago, and he's hopeful that his broken bones will heal.
"I think the bones are going to be OK," he said. "I might look a little crooked, because the collarbone didn't mend straight, and neither did the ribs, so it's all a little cockeyed.
"But as long as I'm wearing my costume, you might not notice."
Lanois has been riding motorcycles since he was 16, and said this was his first accident. When asked whether he would ever ride again, he responded with a chuckle: "Well, I'm not going to ride this season."
He was more serious, however, about an outpouring of support from fans that lifted his spirits during a difficult recovery process.
"It's been kind of overwhelming and very sweet to receive so much attention," he said.
And of course, that attention hasn't only been flowing from fans. Lanois, who has won Grammy Awards for his collaborations with U2, Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris, has received an outpouring of support from his peers as well.
Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant sent Lanois text messages lightly chiding him for his chosen mode of transportation ("You don't have to be on a motorcycle to get lucky," Plant told him) while Lanois said he also commiserated with Bono, who was recovering from emergency back surgery.
Already back to work
The accident did threaten to derail a typically busy year for the tireless Lanois. He had to postpone the debut release from his group Black Dub (it's now coming in early November, he said) as well as a planned tour, which he now hopes to complete next summer. For now, he says he still must avoid air travel.
Still, the accident didn't keep from him resuming work on Neil Young's latest album, which Lanois says is "fantastic."
"We followed a simple philosophy: it's a solo record," he said of the latest work from the legendary Toronto-born rocker, which Lanois says will be out in late fall.
"So it does not have a band, but it's rocking. And he's really come in with the songs, they're terrific. I dare say it might be some of his best work in some time. We've really hit the motherlode.
"I've worked with Neil over the years in small doses … but we had never done something together from scratch. So let me put it this way: there's an automatic communication system that exists between two Canadian dogs. It's been a lot of fun, and we're very dedicated, and I think I finally met my match."
Lanois sounds relieved to be back to work. In fact, he resumed work on Young's record almost immediately upon returning home from intensive care. Never one to waste much time, Lanois certainly isn't going to start now.
"I've always tried to make every minute count," he said. "But maybe that thought applies more now than it did before."
Daniel Lanois, seen second from right, has received an outpouring of support since the accident from his fans and peers, including U2 (from left, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Bono and Larry Mullen, far right). (Reed Saxon/Associated Press)
cbc.ca
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 20, 2010 | 4:40 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Surveying the damage inflicted by a motorcycle accident last month — his collarbone and pelvis fractured, six ribs broken and a still-worrisome amount of internal bleeding — Daniel Lanois cannot help but think of how lucky he is.
The crash that brought his summer to a screeching halt could have been much worse.
"Hey man, I'm lucky to be alive," Lanois told The Canadian Press on Tuesday in a telephone interview from California, where he's recuperating.
"It could have been spinal. Luckily, I was wearing a full-face helmet. It could have been a head injury. It could have been anything.
"I almost died."
Hit singer, songwriter and music producer Daniel Lanois, seen in an undated photo, says he's lucky to be alive after his motorcycle accident in Los Angeles in June. (Canadian Press)
'Old school accident'
The accident occurred on the first weekend of June in the scenic Silverlake enclave of Los Angeles. Lanois, 58, was riding his dazzling BMW HP2 Megamoto — a two-cylinder Supermoto with a sleek blue frame and white tank. He was en route to the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood, eager to hear a new band that had come highly recommended from a friend (he can no longer remember the act's name).
He was driving straight when somebody in front of him turned to abruptly pull into a corner store. Lanois sensed an impending collision and acted swiftly.
"I realized I was going to hit him, so I swerved to miss him," he recalled. "I missed him, but then I hit a static box on the sidewalk. It was like a little telephone box, and I smashed into that.
"That's it. I blacked out. When I came to, I was looking at the sky, and just people trying to help me. And somebody called 911, and that was it. They hauled me away.
"It was just an unfortunate accident. Old-school accident. Nothing crazy high-speed or anything. Just 35 miles an hour."
Lanois was then sequestered in intensive care in a California hospital for three weeks. Upon returning home, he was tended to by nurses, day and night.
'It's been kind of overwhelming and very sweet to receive so much attention.'
—Daniel Lanois
He wasn't able to walk, so with his bed parked in the foyer of his L.A. home, his assistant set up some rings — "like gymnastics," he notes with a laugh — to allow him to pull himself out of bed.
"The night nurse was quite impressed with that display," he says with another laugh.
Indeed, the unfailingly friendly Lanois is surprisingly sanguine about the life-threatening incident. The Quebec-born, Hamilton-raised producer chuckles often when recounting the details of the past month, whether marvelling at the way broken bones can fuse back together or kidding about soliciting sympathy for his condition.
"I'm using the Ray Charles technique," he joked, "which is [to] act more blind when the girls come 'round."
Lengthy road to recovery
But Lanois is still in the thick of a long recovery. He's most concerned about the amount of internal bleeding he may have suffered in the accident.
"The real problem is lots of bleeding around the lung," he said. "It has to be drained and monitored. A broken bone is not so bad, but internal bleeding is not so good.
Internationally celebrated music producer and singer-songwriter Daniel Lanois, seen posing with his star at the Canada's Walk of Fame gala in 2005, has already returned to work following his motorcycle accident, with a new Neil Young album set for release. (Tobin Grimshaw/Canadian Press)
"The main concern is my lung capacity. Because I think it's currently restricted by bruising around the lung, and there might be some dried blood laying in the bottom of the cavity there. So my lung is kind of bumping up against this big scab and scar tissue. So that's the concern, really.
"And I'm going to know better after I do a scan in a couple weeks."
There are signs of progress, too. Lanois regained his mobility 10 days ago, and he's hopeful that his broken bones will heal.
"I think the bones are going to be OK," he said. "I might look a little crooked, because the collarbone didn't mend straight, and neither did the ribs, so it's all a little cockeyed.
"But as long as I'm wearing my costume, you might not notice."
Lanois has been riding motorcycles since he was 16, and said this was his first accident. When asked whether he would ever ride again, he responded with a chuckle: "Well, I'm not going to ride this season."
He was more serious, however, about an outpouring of support from fans that lifted his spirits during a difficult recovery process.
"It's been kind of overwhelming and very sweet to receive so much attention," he said.
And of course, that attention hasn't only been flowing from fans. Lanois, who has won Grammy Awards for his collaborations with U2, Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris, has received an outpouring of support from his peers as well.
Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant sent Lanois text messages lightly chiding him for his chosen mode of transportation ("You don't have to be on a motorcycle to get lucky," Plant told him) while Lanois said he also commiserated with Bono, who was recovering from emergency back surgery.
Already back to work
The accident did threaten to derail a typically busy year for the tireless Lanois. He had to postpone the debut release from his group Black Dub (it's now coming in early November, he said) as well as a planned tour, which he now hopes to complete next summer. For now, he says he still must avoid air travel.
Still, the accident didn't keep from him resuming work on Neil Young's latest album, which Lanois says is "fantastic."
"We followed a simple philosophy: it's a solo record," he said of the latest work from the legendary Toronto-born rocker, which Lanois says will be out in late fall.
"So it does not have a band, but it's rocking. And he's really come in with the songs, they're terrific. I dare say it might be some of his best work in some time. We've really hit the motherlode.
"I've worked with Neil over the years in small doses … but we had never done something together from scratch. So let me put it this way: there's an automatic communication system that exists between two Canadian dogs. It's been a lot of fun, and we're very dedicated, and I think I finally met my match."
Lanois sounds relieved to be back to work. In fact, he resumed work on Young's record almost immediately upon returning home from intensive care. Never one to waste much time, Lanois certainly isn't going to start now.
"I've always tried to make every minute count," he said. "But maybe that thought applies more now than it did before."
Daniel Lanois, seen second from right, has received an outpouring of support since the accident from his fans and peers, including U2 (from left, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Bono and Larry Mullen, far right). (Reed Saxon/Associated Press)
cbc.ca
4.7.10
Exclusive: Bono writing music for Brave?
June 28, 2010
New information suggests that U2 frontman Bono is writing music —possibly an original song— for a future Pixar feature, most likely Brave (in theatres June 15, 2012).
Bono may be working with U2's guitarist The Edge, with whom he's collaborated on previous non-band projects.
I won't be discussing sources for this story and, of course, it couldn't be further from being officially confirmed. But it does seem reasonably solid at this point.
A while back, a Pixarian or two let it slip on Twitter that Bono had been to the studio in Emeryville. Didn't think too much of it at the time and so can't recall exactly when this was. I'm sure it was within the past year.
Those tweets are nowhere to be found now, so if you remember when it was —what month— please let me know.
In February, former Pixar CFO Ali Rowghani, who at the time was leaving the studio to become CFO of Twitter, tweeted about Bono's visit as his "Pixar memory #5".
Yours truly is a huge U2 fan. They made a stop in Toronto last September on their U2 360° Tour and I was blown away by the show —they're one of the biggest acts on the planet right now. Very disappointed when it was announced last month that the next leg of the tour would be postponed until next year due to Bono suffering a herniated disc in his spine.
So, what's your take on Bono/U2 doing a song for a Pixar movie? "Beautiful Day"? Or will you feel "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of"?
pixarblog
June 28, 2010
New information suggests that U2 frontman Bono is writing music —possibly an original song— for a future Pixar feature, most likely Brave (in theatres June 15, 2012).
Bono may be working with U2's guitarist The Edge, with whom he's collaborated on previous non-band projects.
I won't be discussing sources for this story and, of course, it couldn't be further from being officially confirmed. But it does seem reasonably solid at this point.
A while back, a Pixarian or two let it slip on Twitter that Bono had been to the studio in Emeryville. Didn't think too much of it at the time and so can't recall exactly when this was. I'm sure it was within the past year.
Those tweets are nowhere to be found now, so if you remember when it was —what month— please let me know.
In February, former Pixar CFO Ali Rowghani, who at the time was leaving the studio to become CFO of Twitter, tweeted about Bono's visit as his "Pixar memory #5".
Yours truly is a huge U2 fan. They made a stop in Toronto last September on their U2 360° Tour and I was blown away by the show —they're one of the biggest acts on the planet right now. Very disappointed when it was announced last month that the next leg of the tour would be postponed until next year due to Bono suffering a herniated disc in his spine.
So, what's your take on Bono/U2 doing a song for a Pixar movie? "Beautiful Day"? Or will you feel "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of"?
pixarblog
28.6.10
UN chief sends SOS on poverty, climate, Haiti
By John Heilprin
Associated Press Writer / June 28, 2010
UNITED NATIONS—Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cautioned rich nations Monday upon his return from the G-20 summit in Toronto against balancing their budget shortfalls "on the backs of the world's poorest people."
The U.N. chief's appeal to step up efforts on poverty, climate aid, Haitian recovery and other development followed the weekend summit where the Group of 20 rich and developing nations backed a vow by rich nations to slash budget deficits in half by 2013.
Ban insisted that more, not less, world aid was needed because of the global financial crisis.
Specifically, he called on rich nations to make "concrete progress" in grappling with rising temperatures from greenhouse gases. He said they must honor their commitments at the Copenhagen climate summit last December to provide $30 billion by 2012 in "fast-start" aid for developing nations to deal with climate change.
"We are all concerned about rising budget deficits and public debt. But we cannot balance budgets on the backs of the world's poorest people. We cannot abandon our commitment to the most vulnerable," he told reporters at U.N. headquarters. "That is the message I delivered in Toronto, loud and clear."
Ban praised the summit's declaration to keep a strong focus on long-term efforts to reduce poverty and narrow the development gap between rich and poor.
He said he urged the summit to invest more in U.N. efforts to create jobs, promote agriculture, build public health systems and shift to clean energy sources.
"I am encouraged that in all these areas, leaders showed a growing unity of purpose. But of course, we must do more," he said, adding that he was "especially encouraged by the strong expressions of support" for the U.N.'s anti-poverty goals and summit planned for September.
He said G-20 leaders must "narrow their differences" on financial approaches before their next summit in Seoul in October.
Asked about Haiti's earthquake recovery effort, he acknowledged that very little of the $5.3 billion pledged in Haitian aid has actually been delivered. So far it's been less than 1 percent -- just $40 million from Brazil.
"I'm aware of the current situation of delivering aid to many needy people in Haiti. I'm concerned that this delivery of aid program has not been moving as expeditiously as we had planned," Ban said. "We will try to expedite this process."
But he said the commission co-chaired by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Haiti's Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive "have moved the most vulnerable group of people to safer places," but worry that with the rainy season more people will have to be resettled soon.
Ban was departing later Monday on his third trip to Africa this month. It will include stops in Gabon to address its parliament and in Congo to express "solidarity" for its 50th independence celebration.
boston.com
By John Heilprin
Associated Press Writer / June 28, 2010
UNITED NATIONS—Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cautioned rich nations Monday upon his return from the G-20 summit in Toronto against balancing their budget shortfalls "on the backs of the world's poorest people."
The U.N. chief's appeal to step up efforts on poverty, climate aid, Haitian recovery and other development followed the weekend summit where the Group of 20 rich and developing nations backed a vow by rich nations to slash budget deficits in half by 2013.
Ban insisted that more, not less, world aid was needed because of the global financial crisis.
Specifically, he called on rich nations to make "concrete progress" in grappling with rising temperatures from greenhouse gases. He said they must honor their commitments at the Copenhagen climate summit last December to provide $30 billion by 2012 in "fast-start" aid for developing nations to deal with climate change.
"We are all concerned about rising budget deficits and public debt. But we cannot balance budgets on the backs of the world's poorest people. We cannot abandon our commitment to the most vulnerable," he told reporters at U.N. headquarters. "That is the message I delivered in Toronto, loud and clear."
Ban praised the summit's declaration to keep a strong focus on long-term efforts to reduce poverty and narrow the development gap between rich and poor.
He said he urged the summit to invest more in U.N. efforts to create jobs, promote agriculture, build public health systems and shift to clean energy sources.
"I am encouraged that in all these areas, leaders showed a growing unity of purpose. But of course, we must do more," he said, adding that he was "especially encouraged by the strong expressions of support" for the U.N.'s anti-poverty goals and summit planned for September.
He said G-20 leaders must "narrow their differences" on financial approaches before their next summit in Seoul in October.
Asked about Haiti's earthquake recovery effort, he acknowledged that very little of the $5.3 billion pledged in Haitian aid has actually been delivered. So far it's been less than 1 percent -- just $40 million from Brazil.
"I'm aware of the current situation of delivering aid to many needy people in Haiti. I'm concerned that this delivery of aid program has not been moving as expeditiously as we had planned," Ban said. "We will try to expedite this process."
But he said the commission co-chaired by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Haiti's Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive "have moved the most vulnerable group of people to safer places," but worry that with the rainy season more people will have to be resettled soon.
Ban was departing later Monday on his third trip to Africa this month. It will include stops in Gabon to address its parliament and in Congo to express "solidarity" for its 50th independence celebration.
boston.com
27.6.10
Baker: Haiti still needs donations, help
The Rev. Paul Baker of Evergreen United Methodist Church, Wahpeton, flew near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on a mission trip. Here, he stands in front of the Eglise Methodist D'Olivier church.
A Wahpeton church leader recently returned from a week-long trip assisting Haiti residents rebuild their lives.
At the end of May, the Rev. Paul Baker of Evergreen United Methodist Church flew to Fond Deux, an area 50 miles west of Port-au-Prince, to help construct the foundation of a church. According to his Web site, rebuilding the church will be essential for the community.
"It may be used as a community shelter during tropical storms and hurricanes," he wrote.
The Rev. Paul Baker of Evergreen United Methodist Church, Wahpeton, flew near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on a mission trip. Here, he stands in front of the Eglise Methodist D'Olivier church. photo submitted
As a disaster relief coordinator on behalf of Dakotas United Methodist Church, Baker accompanied eight other church leaders from across the nation to help out and hold a health clinic at the site. He was asked to go on the annual trip because of his experience with natural disasters.
The trip was intended to introduce mission trip leaders to Haiti so they could go back and take others, said Baker, a first-time visitor to the country.
"Hopefully, it will just continue to multiply," he said.
It's been five months since the earthquake struck the Caribbean nation, which killed more than 200,000. Residents everywhere are still living in tents for fear of aftershocks, even if their home wasn't damaged by the earthquake.
"They'll go into the houses in the daytime, but they're afraid to stay there overnight, so tents are everywhere," he said.
As residents continue to rebuild in one of the poorest countries in the world, their progress is considerably slow without heavy equipment. Half of the machines at Fond Deux - Baker saw five total in the week he was there - were provided by the United Nations. Essentially they're trying to do it with picks and shovels, he said.
"You look at all these houses and buildings that are flat and you wonder if somebody died there," he said. "It was a sad experience. But it was also just exhilarating meeting the people and seeing how much hope they had. Their faith is extremely strong."
Last year, Baker helped coordinate the Dakotas United Methodist Church response to the 2009 flood. He also coordinated relief efforts for the city of Dickinson, which suffered from housing loss after tornadoes battered the area.
"People tend to forget within a few weeks or months after the disaster is over that it takes years to recover," he said. "It's so important to keep our eyes and ears open, even though it's out of the media. The disaster is still going on in people's lives."
Baker, who intends on returning to Haiti this winter, said he encourages others to donate.
"Any donations to a charity working in Haiti would be more than appreciated," he said. "I think it's important to go over there, too, to let them know you care if for no other reason."
wahpetondailynews
The Rev. Paul Baker of Evergreen United Methodist Church, Wahpeton, flew near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on a mission trip. Here, he stands in front of the Eglise Methodist D'Olivier church.
A Wahpeton church leader recently returned from a week-long trip assisting Haiti residents rebuild their lives.
At the end of May, the Rev. Paul Baker of Evergreen United Methodist Church flew to Fond Deux, an area 50 miles west of Port-au-Prince, to help construct the foundation of a church. According to his Web site, rebuilding the church will be essential for the community.
"It may be used as a community shelter during tropical storms and hurricanes," he wrote.
The Rev. Paul Baker of Evergreen United Methodist Church, Wahpeton, flew near Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on a mission trip. Here, he stands in front of the Eglise Methodist D'Olivier church. photo submitted
As a disaster relief coordinator on behalf of Dakotas United Methodist Church, Baker accompanied eight other church leaders from across the nation to help out and hold a health clinic at the site. He was asked to go on the annual trip because of his experience with natural disasters.
The trip was intended to introduce mission trip leaders to Haiti so they could go back and take others, said Baker, a first-time visitor to the country.
"Hopefully, it will just continue to multiply," he said.
It's been five months since the earthquake struck the Caribbean nation, which killed more than 200,000. Residents everywhere are still living in tents for fear of aftershocks, even if their home wasn't damaged by the earthquake.
"They'll go into the houses in the daytime, but they're afraid to stay there overnight, so tents are everywhere," he said.
As residents continue to rebuild in one of the poorest countries in the world, their progress is considerably slow without heavy equipment. Half of the machines at Fond Deux - Baker saw five total in the week he was there - were provided by the United Nations. Essentially they're trying to do it with picks and shovels, he said.
"You look at all these houses and buildings that are flat and you wonder if somebody died there," he said. "It was a sad experience. But it was also just exhilarating meeting the people and seeing how much hope they had. Their faith is extremely strong."
Last year, Baker helped coordinate the Dakotas United Methodist Church response to the 2009 flood. He also coordinated relief efforts for the city of Dickinson, which suffered from housing loss after tornadoes battered the area.
"People tend to forget within a few weeks or months after the disaster is over that it takes years to recover," he said. "It's so important to keep our eyes and ears open, even though it's out of the media. The disaster is still going on in people's lives."
Baker, who intends on returning to Haiti this winter, said he encourages others to donate.
"Any donations to a charity working in Haiti would be more than appreciated," he said. "I think it's important to go over there, too, to let them know you care if for no other reason."
wahpetondailynews
26.6.10
Rebuilding Haiti
July 21, 2010
Gail Martin - Independent Editor
Marilyn McIlroy wants to help the people of Haiti rebuild.
McIlroy, who works with Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada World Partners/Global Initiatives, was in Haiti on the day of the fateful earthquake on Jan. 12. She was there as part of a medical mission team that claimed the life of Alma-area resident Yvonne Martin.
Since then, McIlroy has returned to Haiti once, in a “scouting mission” to determine how best to house the internally displaced people (IDPs) of Haiti.
It was April, three months after the earthquake, and Port-au-Prince was still like a war zone.
McIlroy said that Wall’s Guest House, the building in which Yvonne Martin lost her life, was still a pile of rubble. It’s only been in the last month or so that the rubble has been taken away, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow.
During her trip, McIlroy connected with the villages that Martin’s team had intended to visit, and attended a memorial service in her honour.
“I had mixed feelings when I went,” said McIlroy. “But I had to go.”
Many of those who had expected Martin’s arrival mourned her passing, said McIlroy. In fact, at the time of the earthquake, villagers who were expecting the medical team tried desperately to get in touch with McIlroy and Martin, and feared the worst when they could not reach them.
They turned out to be right.
For McIlroy, returning to Haiti not only helped her with her own mourning and sense of loss, but also helped the Haitians who knew and loved Martin.
It was still tremendously difficult.
Smelling the cement dust that is still in the air, for instance, would bring back memories of the moments after the earthquake, said McIlroy.
“I had a heaviness in my chest, and my heart would beat rapidly,” said McIlroy.
Still, it was good to have the chance to return to Haiti and say a formal goodbye to her friend and colleague.
“It was a lovely memorial,” said McIlroy.
The second part of McIlroy’s visit, however, was designed to find ways to help Haitians recover from the earthquake. First and foremost, they need housing.
McIlroy said that when you reach the rural areas of Haiti, you can’t necessarily see the impact of the earthquake. Many of those who have left Port-au-Prince have moved to the rural areas. Some are living with relatives, while others have been taken in by various organizations. A few are in tents — a difficult place to be, considering the sweltering heat that is the norm in Haiti.
And all of these IDPs are living in crowded, difficult conditions, and many do not have any means of income.
EMCC hopes to help change that, by building pre-fab homes that will offer a permanent solution to the housing crisis — rather than “temporary” dwellings that are still being proposed by many aid agencies.
“It’s been six months,” said McIlroy. “Why are we looking at temporary housing, when these people need permanent housing?”
The houses that EMCC are proposing would be made of structural insulated panels that can be initially made in Canada, and shipped to Haiti, where they will be assembled. The total cost is $8,000 per home, compared to $2,500 for an average temporary structure. These houses are hurricane and earthquake-resistant, and are expected to last up to 30 years.
They also have an added advantage — they aren’t made of concrete.
“At this point, Haitians aren’t too keen at living in cement houses,” said McIlroy.
During her April visit, McIlroy checked with EMCC’s Haitian partners, to see if Haitians would be willing to live in these houses. She received approval, and the project is now at the next stage.
This week, four pre-fab houses will be shipped to Haiti, as prototypes that will be built as examples.
If EMCC is able to partner with other agencies working in Haiti, they hope to eventually build more than 1,000 homes in this manner, using local contractors in the construction of the homes. If the project is a success, they hope to eventually have a factory set up in Haiti, giving more employment to local workers.
McIlroy said that all of this work will be based on the premise that they are coming alongside the Haitian people — and not “helping” in any paternalistic role.
“We are working with them, not ‘supervising,’” said McIlroy. “It has to be something they want.”
For more information on the Homes for Haiti project, contact Lou Geense at EMCC Global Initiatives, at lgeense@emcc.ca, or by phone at 519-894-9800.
elmiraindependent
July 21, 2010
Gail Martin - Independent Editor
Marilyn McIlroy wants to help the people of Haiti rebuild.
McIlroy, who works with Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada World Partners/Global Initiatives, was in Haiti on the day of the fateful earthquake on Jan. 12. She was there as part of a medical mission team that claimed the life of Alma-area resident Yvonne Martin.
Since then, McIlroy has returned to Haiti once, in a “scouting mission” to determine how best to house the internally displaced people (IDPs) of Haiti.
It was April, three months after the earthquake, and Port-au-Prince was still like a war zone.
McIlroy said that Wall’s Guest House, the building in which Yvonne Martin lost her life, was still a pile of rubble. It’s only been in the last month or so that the rubble has been taken away, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow.
During her trip, McIlroy connected with the villages that Martin’s team had intended to visit, and attended a memorial service in her honour.
“I had mixed feelings when I went,” said McIlroy. “But I had to go.”
Many of those who had expected Martin’s arrival mourned her passing, said McIlroy. In fact, at the time of the earthquake, villagers who were expecting the medical team tried desperately to get in touch with McIlroy and Martin, and feared the worst when they could not reach them.
They turned out to be right.
For McIlroy, returning to Haiti not only helped her with her own mourning and sense of loss, but also helped the Haitians who knew and loved Martin.
It was still tremendously difficult.
Smelling the cement dust that is still in the air, for instance, would bring back memories of the moments after the earthquake, said McIlroy.
“I had a heaviness in my chest, and my heart would beat rapidly,” said McIlroy.
Still, it was good to have the chance to return to Haiti and say a formal goodbye to her friend and colleague.
“It was a lovely memorial,” said McIlroy.
The second part of McIlroy’s visit, however, was designed to find ways to help Haitians recover from the earthquake. First and foremost, they need housing.
McIlroy said that when you reach the rural areas of Haiti, you can’t necessarily see the impact of the earthquake. Many of those who have left Port-au-Prince have moved to the rural areas. Some are living with relatives, while others have been taken in by various organizations. A few are in tents — a difficult place to be, considering the sweltering heat that is the norm in Haiti.
And all of these IDPs are living in crowded, difficult conditions, and many do not have any means of income.
EMCC hopes to help change that, by building pre-fab homes that will offer a permanent solution to the housing crisis — rather than “temporary” dwellings that are still being proposed by many aid agencies.
“It’s been six months,” said McIlroy. “Why are we looking at temporary housing, when these people need permanent housing?”
The houses that EMCC are proposing would be made of structural insulated panels that can be initially made in Canada, and shipped to Haiti, where they will be assembled. The total cost is $8,000 per home, compared to $2,500 for an average temporary structure. These houses are hurricane and earthquake-resistant, and are expected to last up to 30 years.
They also have an added advantage — they aren’t made of concrete.
“At this point, Haitians aren’t too keen at living in cement houses,” said McIlroy.
During her April visit, McIlroy checked with EMCC’s Haitian partners, to see if Haitians would be willing to live in these houses. She received approval, and the project is now at the next stage.
This week, four pre-fab houses will be shipped to Haiti, as prototypes that will be built as examples.
If EMCC is able to partner with other agencies working in Haiti, they hope to eventually build more than 1,000 homes in this manner, using local contractors in the construction of the homes. If the project is a success, they hope to eventually have a factory set up in Haiti, giving more employment to local workers.
McIlroy said that all of this work will be based on the premise that they are coming alongside the Haitian people — and not “helping” in any paternalistic role.
“We are working with them, not ‘supervising,’” said McIlroy. “It has to be something they want.”
For more information on the Homes for Haiti project, contact Lou Geense at EMCC Global Initiatives, at lgeense@emcc.ca, or by phone at 519-894-9800.
elmiraindependent
25.6.10
Bono to return to stage in weeks - McGuinness
By Aoife Anderson
Wednesday June 23 2010
FIGHTING FIT: Bono is expected to shortly be back on stage for U2's world tou
BONO will be back on stage in a matter of weeks despite his recent emergency surgery, according to U2's manager Paul McGuinness.
The Irish rocker (50) was operated on after becoming temporarily paralysed -- forcing the band to cancel the start of the US leg of their 360° Tour and their headline slot at Glastonbury.
An optimistic McGuinness told the Diary: "He's making a full recovery. The doctors told me he's going to be fine. It was serious surgery but we expect him to make a full recovery. He's pretty fit."
McGuinness said there was no reason to believe the tour's massive stage production had anything to do with the singer's injury.
"It's a big stage to run around, but no," he said. "I'll be very relieved when I see him running around the stage again. The European leg of the tour starts in Turin on August 6 and that has not been postponed.
"Rescheduling the American leg is quite difficult because it is an outdoor show; we can't do it in the winter because it's the northern hemisphere.
"So what we're doing now is trying to seek availability of the buildings that we had already pretty much sold-out, so we're getting availabilities and routing a coherent tour for next summer in the US and Canada. We've nearly done it so I hope we'll be able to announce that shortly."
McGuinness insisted the rest of the band hasn't been enjoying an impromptu holiday while Bono recovers.
"No not really, they're doing some work and planning to do some recording. It never stops really," he said.
- Aoife Anderson
herald
By Aoife Anderson
Wednesday June 23 2010
FIGHTING FIT: Bono is expected to shortly be back on stage for U2's world tou
BONO will be back on stage in a matter of weeks despite his recent emergency surgery, according to U2's manager Paul McGuinness.
The Irish rocker (50) was operated on after becoming temporarily paralysed -- forcing the band to cancel the start of the US leg of their 360° Tour and their headline slot at Glastonbury.
An optimistic McGuinness told the Diary: "He's making a full recovery. The doctors told me he's going to be fine. It was serious surgery but we expect him to make a full recovery. He's pretty fit."
McGuinness said there was no reason to believe the tour's massive stage production had anything to do with the singer's injury.
"It's a big stage to run around, but no," he said. "I'll be very relieved when I see him running around the stage again. The European leg of the tour starts in Turin on August 6 and that has not been postponed.
"Rescheduling the American leg is quite difficult because it is an outdoor show; we can't do it in the winter because it's the northern hemisphere.
"So what we're doing now is trying to seek availability of the buildings that we had already pretty much sold-out, so we're getting availabilities and routing a coherent tour for next summer in the US and Canada. We've nearly done it so I hope we'll be able to announce that shortly."
McGuinness insisted the rest of the band hasn't been enjoying an impromptu holiday while Bono recovers.
"No not really, they're doing some work and planning to do some recording. It never stops really," he said.
- Aoife Anderson
herald
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