Gulf of Mexico oil spill: Once again, US military gets the call - CSMonitor.com

Gulf of Mexico oil spill: Once again, US military gets the call - CSMonitor.com: "The Gulf of Mexico oil spill once again puts the US military in the role of white knight, as it provides assistance in the cleanup and state officials look to it to pay the bill."

As Gulf of Mexico oil spill hits land, residents decry response - CSMonitor.com

As Gulf of Mexico oil spill hits land, residents decry response - CSMonitor.com: "People in New Orleans and Louisiana have seen what I would label two tremendous disaster-response failures in five years, and it's like déjà vu all over again,' says Steven Picou, a sociologist at the University of South Alabama in Mobile who has studied the social effects of both the Exxon Valdez disaster and hurricane Katrina.' It adds to the perception that our government and agencies don't care,' he says, 'and that mistrust trickles down so now you don't trust BP, you don't trust the Coast Guard, you don't trust what people are telling you, and you don't even trust your neighbors or even your family.'"

Reuters AlertNet - Myanmar: Two years after cyclone Nargis - Malteser International: Ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country

Reuters AlertNet - Myanmar: Two years after cyclone Nargis - Malteser International: Ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of the country: "ologne. 'The majority of the people are still struggling for daily survival. A lot of them do not yet have a solid source of income', reports Sandra Harlass, Senior Desk Officer Myanmar of Malteser International, the relief service of the Order of Malta for worldwide humanitarian aid. 'The present situation cannot be compared to the life and income situation before cyclone Nargis hit the country on 2 Mai 2008. To give an example: At the moment, no one can afford to buy drinking water.' Therefore, at request of the government and the affected population Malteser International distributes purified drinking water by boats to areas with acute water shortage in the dry seasons."

Volunteerism Law Gets Off to Slow Start - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Volunteerism Law Gets Off to Slow Start - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Volunteerism Law Gets Off to Slow Start

A year after President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, little of the money set aside to create volunteer opportunities nationwide has been distributed, says National Public Radio."

See the country, at 35 mph driving a backhoe | Local News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

See the country, at 35 mph driving a backhoe | Local News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California: "Neil Smith won't win the Nobel Peace Prize for driving a backhoe across the United States to raise money for the Haiti earthquake relief fund.

But Smith and his compatriots will have tales of Lewis & Clark-like perseverance and the heartfelt sincerity of donors to pass on to their friends and families back in Georgia, where they started."

Bill Clinton focuses efforts on Haiti's higher education - USATODAY.com

Bill Clinton focuses efforts on Haiti's higher education - USATODAY.com: "CORAL GABLES, Fla. — As he prepares to help oversee $5 billion in reconstruction spending in Haiti, former president Bill Clinton paints a challenging but hopeful picture. There's much to do: Haitians displaced by the magnitude-7 earthquake in January need sturdy housing, nutritious food and clean water, to name the basics."

What the International Community Can Do For Haiti | UN Dispatch

What the International Community Can Do For Haiti | UN Dispatch: "just returned from a visit to Haiti as part of a Congressional delegation to observe the earthquake relief effort and meet with officials from the UN mission, MINUSTAH, and the US Embassy. Despite the renewed awareness of Haiti’s problems, accounts in the press still seem to point to the earthquake as the source of the country’s present woes. But one can quickly see that it is a country that is as much stricken by poverty and instability as it is earthquake-stricken. Indeed, the earthquake destroyed what was already a precarious economic and political situation, albeit one that was on the path to rebuilding."

China TV show raises $440m

China TV show raises $440m: "BEIJING - A CHINESE television charity show on Tuesday evening raised 2.175 billion yuan ($440 million) to help victims of last week's earthquake in remote Qinghai province, state media reported."

8-year-old violinist, Brianna Kahane, uses talent to save music school in Haiti

8-year-old violinist, Brianna Kahane, uses talent to save music school in Haiti: "The young musician decided she needed to do something to help. She had performed several times in the past for charity, and so decided to hold a benefit concert in Florida for Joseph after visiting him in the hospital.

In addition to money, Brianna hopes to collect instruments and other materials to help him rebuild his school through her Web site, briannakahane.com."

Hong Kong volunteer worker gives his life to charity CCTV-International

Hong Kong volunteer worker gives his life to charity CCTV-International: "The strong earthquake, which happened in Yushu County, Qinghai Province on April 14, buried Wong, who at the time was doing volunteer work in the area, in the ruins. When the heavy news came out, it moved the entire nation. On April 15, the people of Lanzhou, who had been tightly bound to Wong, held a 'Mourning Wong Fu-wing, a Hong Kong Volunteer' gathering beside the Yangtze River."

Google Offers Satellite Images of Chinese Earthquake

Google Offers Satellite Images of Chinese Earthquake: "The earthquake in Qinghai last Tuesday killed hundreds and injured thousands more, leveling many of the buildings around the city. As with last time, Google is working with GeoEye to provide high resolution satellite images, which you can download and view using Google Earth."

Reuters AlertNet - Direct Relief Commits Up to $100,000 for China Quake Relief

Reuters AlertNet - Direct Relief Commits Up to $100,000 for China Quake Relief: "Direct Relief International has allocated up to $100,000 in cash to support the emergency response in China and Tibet following the earthquake in Qinghai Province April 15. A portion of those funds will finance the travel of three partner groups sending medical and assessment teams into the affected region, including Yushu."

Oxfam Hong Kong assists Chinese earthquake survivors

Oxfam Hong Kong assists Chinese earthquake survivors: "Oxfam Hong Kong has provided its first batch of aid to individuals affected by the Qinghai earthquake.

According to the charity, it has distributed blankets to some 2,000 individuals at a temporary camp in Jiegu, Yushu County."

China quake death toll tops 1,100 - CNN.com

China quake death toll tops 1,100 - CNN.com: "The death toll in the China earthquake now stands at 1,114, relief officials said on Friday as rescuers continued to race against the clock to pull survivors from the rubble."

The Nassau Guardian Online Guide

The Nassau Guardian Online Guide: "Mr. Barry explained to me his first reaction on how he immediately helped Haiti after its recent disaster.

In a subdued tone he said, 'I remember jumping into my jeep and my wife Yvette following in her car and making our first stop at Robin Hood, where I purchased all the cases of water that was on the floor, all of the 20 pound bags of rice, all the baby formula and all of the corn beef that was on the shelves.' 'We then went to Bahamas Food Service, where my friend Audley Aritis met me with his flat bed truck and I purchased one hundred 50 pound bags of black beans and one hundred 50 pound bags of rice.' And with a faint smile he uttered, 'And then we visited Lowe's Pharmacy and purchased medication and medical supplies.' 'God bless the owner of Lowes, Billy, and his doctor for helping me.'"

GlobalGiving.org's Mari Kuraishi on personalized philanthropy driven by natural disasters - Boing Boing

GlobalGiving.org's Mari Kuraishi on personalized philanthropy driven by natural disasters - Boing Boing: "just spoke to Mari Kuraishi, founder of GlobalGiving.org, about how the recent surge in natural disasters has affected donor behavior."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | Nonprofit Newswire | Mississippi: Katrina Volunteers Still at Work

The Nonprofit Quarterly | Nonprofit Newswire | Mississippi: Katrina Volunteers Still at Work: "Nonprofit Newswire | Mississippi: Katrina Volunteers Still at Work
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Rick Cohen

April 12, 2010; USA Today | As public attention to the disaster of Hurricane Katrina has been superseded by other natural and manmade disasters, people may not realize that areas of the Gulf Coast are still in need of reconstruction and redevelopment and people are still living in temporary housing. In Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Lutheran Episcopal Services is still on the job."

Poll: More donated to Haiti than to Chile after quakes - USATODAY.com

Poll: More donated to Haiti than to Chile after quakes - USATODAY.com: "Nearly half of the people responding to a recent USA TODAY/Gallup Poll said the destruction and poverty in Haiti after a massive earthquake Jan. 12 moved them to donate money to the country's relief efforts.

Less than one-third said they made donations to relief in Chile when it was struck by an earthquake a month later."

The Almanac.net

The Almanac.net: "When two fifth-graders heard about the devastating earthquake in Haiti, they knew they wanted to help out.

Cassie Wangler and Jordan Underwood, students at Our Lady of Grace School in Scott Township, came up with an unusual way to contribute to the Haitians. They decided to make homemade soap of various shapes and scents to sell at Our Lady of Grace Church. The money collected was sent to Haiti, along with revenue collected at other school fundraisers."

Princeton University - Ambassador stresses need to build 'new Haiti'

Princeton University - Ambassador stresses need to build 'new Haiti': "Haiti's ambassador to the United States, Raymond Joseph, stressed to a group gathered at Princeton University the need to construct a 'new Haiti' following January's devastating earthquake -- with a focus on decentralization and foreign investment."