To our readers
It's a month, almost to the hour, since this blog started posting, and we've been overwhelmed by the response from you, our readers, from the aid organisations we have been trying to help, and the support from the blog world and the press.
It reassures us that we have, in our small way, been able to help. Yet we also know there's a lot more that needs to be done.
We're also dealing with the fact that much as we want to help, we do have families and careers we've put aside, things we have responsibilities towards, lives of our own to live.
To help us focus our energies better in the more limited time we all have to give to this effort, we'd like to ask you what we can continue to give you, how we can keep helping, what kind of information you want.
Please use the comments section of this post to tell us.
(And if i may put in a small personal note to the team: it's been an honour to work with all of you on this. The experience has changed my life in so many ways, touched me in places i thought were long dead. Thank you.
Love and respect,
peter)
It reassures us that we have, in our small way, been able to help. Yet we also know there's a lot more that needs to be done.
We're also dealing with the fact that much as we want to help, we do have families and careers we've put aside, things we have responsibilities towards, lives of our own to live.
To help us focus our energies better in the more limited time we all have to give to this effort, we'd like to ask you what we can continue to give you, how we can keep helping, what kind of information you want.
Please use the comments section of this post to tell us.
(And if i may put in a small personal note to the team: it's been an honour to work with all of you on this. The experience has changed my life in so many ways, touched me in places i thought were long dead. Thank you.
Love and respect,
peter)
zigzackly at 3:04:00 am |
I think the work you have done has been wonderful! This is the only tsunami blog I check every day because it is a central place where you can get information from many different sources. As far as suggestions for the future go, try to stick to actual information regarding volunteers, requests for aid, progress reports, etc. I don't think it is really necessary to post news reports regarding politics, religion, or other controversial matters.
I have been very reliant on this blog for all-round news of the tsunami aftermath, I always come here first thing every morinig to check what's new; and becaue of it am more equipped to go out to Sri Lanka as I am doing in April to help. I applaud all of you on this site who have worked so hard and contributed so much. You have made a real difference to many people - please don't give up now!!! Any news that tells of the practical details - new issues, health, different responses - encouraging stories of hope - these all help us both be better equipped to know how ot help, and encouraged. Thank you so much for all your work. Be encouraged!
Peter - This blog is a shining example of how everyday people CAN make a HUGE difference when they work together. You will never know the full ripple effect of your efforts -the money that was raised, the posting that motivated someone to start a project, to volunteer, to donate...the people you helped reunite, the child whose school was rebuilt because someone saw a posting here. I have to tell you it motivated me with our site. So continue the good work...Post the appeals, the news, the situation reports. Our best role as virtual relief workers I think is to build bridges between needs and wants, and that is exactly what you are doing.
Sukanti Iyne-Husain
Thanks Peter. Its been a great journey with this blog. We may have made a small contribution but have traversed many miles together. I warmly reciprocate your sentiments. Regards, Vijaya.
As time goes on and the immediate aftermath of the tsunami recedes, I think it's important for this blog to present the context in which the tsunamis happened or to ensure that people are made aware of other resources that are doing so. Some context will cause rancor (for example, how to understand the long-term trends that led to the massive death toll, how to understand the ongoing wars in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the effect of the digital divide on the death toll, etc.). I think it's important to do nonetheless in the coming days, months, years.
Peter,
The emergency is pretty much over, true, but the rebuilding process has just begun. We need SEA EAT to help regulate the process in South Asia. There are a LOT of funds in the sub continent, and no one really has a good idea of where it's going. We need the free media (mostly blogs IMHO) to keep a track on this. I know I haven't been posting much at all to SEA EAT, but I will be soon. Been sorting out some work related issues.
This blog helped no end in the tsunami relief effort. And it still continues to do so.
I am a youth basketball coach and we have a lot of old uniforms (shorts, jerseys, t-shirts, etc.) that we are looking to donate. Would these items be helpful to anyone SE Asia, or should I look to donate them to inner-city kids here in the States? If they would be helpful in SE Asia, where could I get more info on how to donate and to who? (As a side note, I was in Thailand during the Tsunami. My family was in Krabi (near Phuket) for the first few days of our trip but went up North on Sunday to attend Church. We feel very blessed.)
I work at a school in a small town in England and I feel helpless as to how I can help. I don't want the children to get upset by continually focussing on the tragedy but I also know that they would love to do something. Can you advise me?