Monthly Archives: September 2005
Missing in Action
| 9/9/2005 | Posted by Patti under General |
Was just nicely on a roll the first few days of September when I got knocked flat (literally) by what is now emerging as a bout of bronchitis. I haven’t had a bout in about two years which was really good.
This stuff sucks big time when you’re trying to run a business. Thank God that I’m linked to a larger entity that gives a damn. Read the rest of this entry »
First Bus Into Houston
| 9/5/2005 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
The first bus to arrive at the Astrodome in Houston was piloted by 18 year old Jabber Gibson. He took control of the school bus in New Orleans, filled it with about 100 other people and drove straight to Houston. The youngster and his charges were eventually allowed in but it wasn’t a warm welcome. He could find himself facing criminal charges. You know, I really hate to jump on the race card in this situation but if that had been a white lad he would have been a hero, instead the black lad could face charges? Who decides what is commandeering for the public safety and what is looting?
A View From A New Orleans Resident
| 9/5/2005 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
Thanks to Boing Boing I’ve come across these entries from Left Turn, an online social justice mag. The two entries both are written by Jordan Flaherty. “Notes From Inside New Orleans” was written Sept 3rd just after the author had been evacuated. Read the rest of this entry »
Red Cross Roots
| 9/3/2005 | Posted by Patti under General |
I was listening to CFRB as I always do when I’m driving, on my way into the office in Oshawa today. Usually on Saturday morning I hear a segment called “The Rest of the Story”. This morning, I listened to a segment about Jean Henry Dunant, born in Geneva in 1828 into a rich affluent family which placed a lot of emphasis on being religious, humanitarian, and civic-minded. Henry entered the work world apprenticing as a business leader.
Around 1860, having served his commercial apprenticeship and ready to get out on his own, Henry developed a scheme to exploit a large tract of land. In order to do so he needed water rights granted by Emporer Napoleon III who happened to be busy fighting the Austrians, trying to drive them out of Italy. Henry decided to take his request directly to the Emporer, catching up to him near the northern Italian town of Solferino where a battle was just about to take place.
The experience of witnessing and then participating in the aftermath of that battle became a pivotal experience for Henry. In 1862 he published a piece called Un Souvenir de Solférino [A Memory of Solferino].
The piece had three parts:
the battle the aftermath a plan
The plan was that the nations of the world should form societies to carry out humnitarian efforts during and after battles and disasters. The societies should encourage volunteers and train them how to render this aid. In 1863 the Geneva Society for Public Welfare struck a committee, including Dunant, to explore putting the plan into effect. Their deliberations formed the base for what we now know as the Red Cross Society.
Dunant poured his money and time into travelling and speaking to promote this plan. By 1864 representatives of world nations convened in Geneva to discuss Dunant’s proposals. From this conference emerged the first Geneva Convention signed on August 22, 1864, agreeing to guarantee neutrality to sanitary personnel, to expedite supplies for their use, and to adopt a special identifying emblem – in virtually all instances a red cross on a field of white.
Dunant continued to focus on promoting his plan over the next several years. His business interests were neglected and those he entrusted to manage them, mismanaged them. His business went bankrupt, his access to society in Geneva evaporated with his business and he sank to the level of the homeless. Moving around the country his health took a hit and he eventually found a place to settle in a hospice in Heiden in 1892. It seemed he had disappeared from world view.
In 1901 the founder of the Red Cross received the first Nobel Peace prize for peace, along with it came a $20,000 award. Dunant never used the funds, when he died in 1910, he willed the funds to those who cared for him, the hospice and other charitable causes. There wasn’t a funeral ceremony, no mourners nor funeral cortege — at his request.
As I write this Red Cross workers from around the world are converging on the American Gulf Coast to care for the homeless of hurricane Katrina.
Finally!!
| 9/2/2005 | Posted by Patti under Canadian News |
Finally, after internal and external pressure has been brought to bear, some real help has started arriving in Katrina stricken New Orleans. The troops are moving as swiftly as possible, days late, to move the thousands of people stranded in unbelievable conditions.
I took some down time today to do some computer work and flipped on CNN for a few hours. I rarely watch that newsfeed, generally preferring more Canadian news but this is an American story. Watching the feeds became very similar to watching the feeds after 9/11, watching sends you on an emotional rollercoaster but somehow you can’t just hit the button and turn it off. Something inside keeps you watching and praying that those left living will manage to get out of there to safety.
That the government of what is reportedly the richest country on earth can take SO LONG to get tangible assistance into the stricken area is unbelievable. You know, the destruction covers an area roughly the size of Great Britain, that is a huge. It is understandable that a day, even two, of confusion of where to start and where and how to send resources first. The task is as huge as the area hit.
Bush finally broke away from his vacation, and flew low over the area in Air Force One. You know, I don’t give a damn what rules and protocals for triggering assistance may be in place or need to be followed. When something of this magnitude happens, one look from the commander-in-chief should have been all he needed to know that massive federal resources were needed and NOW. His royal like fly past should have taken place immediately after the storm. No one in even a reasonably right state of mind would expect that a category 5 hurricane didn’t kick the shit out of the areas it hit.
Fight about the rules, state and local rights and constitutionality later…. when people are safe and recovery is underway.
Some of the international offers are being accepted … at last. An Urban Search & Rescue Team from Vancouver are already in the area, I understand they are in one of the outlying parishes and were the first help of any kind to arrive. Hate to mention it folks… but Vancouver is on our WEST coast and the storm area is on the east coast. Why were they first? Canadian Red Cross workers left CFB Trenton aboard military aircraft today, final preparations are underway in Halifax to send 3 ships, 1000 personnel and a Coast Guard ship to the area, another 40 personnel are being sent from Pacific command to assist with diving operations. Brig-General Hillier ordered the preparations to start earlier this week.
Fires are burning in the city of New Orleans which is extremely dangerous. They started in an industrial area early this morning. Now they have started burning in some of the residential areas. The homes there are old, largely wooden and very close together. Fire crews can’t reach them through the flooded and dangerous streets. All they can do is watch helplessly and hope that they will burn themselves out.
A New High
| 9/2/2005 | Posted by Patti under Site News |
Just checking this site’s stats for August. I had 929 visitors last month. That is the most visitors this blog has ever had. I know for some, that would be one day but hey… you can’t grow until you creep a bit.
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