Beverly Bell: Disaster Aid or Aid Disaster? - Haitian's Thoughts on Foreign Assistance

Beverly Bell: Disaster Aid or Aid Disaster? - Haitian's Thoughts on Foreign Assistance: "The international community (here referring to nations and international organizations) has pledged or given $9.9 billion in relief and reconstruction aid to Haiti, since the earthquake on January 12, 2010. Citizens and non-profit agencies of foreign countries have provided billions more. The aid is many times the size of Haiti's annual budget, which was $1.97 billion for the 2009-10 fiscal year.[1]"

Where do you send your donation for an oil spill? | TriCities

Where do you send your donation for an oil spill? | TriCities: "Another disaster, another wave of charities and volunteers trying to help make things right.

This time, however, charities aren’t dealing with something straightforward and terrible like an unavoidable hurricane or earthquake. This time, it’s an oil spill, an entirely man-made problem destroying the environment of the Gulf and the livelihoods of those who rely on it."

BBC News - Bill Gates offers $10m fund for mobile banking in Haiti

BBC News - Bill Gates offers $10m fund for mobile banking in Haiti: "Alongside the billions of pounds worth of aid being pumped into rebuilding Haiti, a new project aims to give Haitians control over their own cash.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has created a $10m (�7m) fund for mobile banking services in the country."

Call to improve Asia-Pacific relief coordination - �Latest news around the world and developments close to home - MSN Malaysia News

Call to improve Asia-Pacific relief coordination - �Latest news around the world and developments close to home - MSN Malaysia News: "Call to improve Asia-Pacific relief coordination

Asia-Pacific nations should adopt a more coordinated response to relief operations in the disaster-prone area, top regional officials said at a security conference on Sunday."

Albert Lea Tribune | How does Red Cross respond to international disasters?

Albert Lea Tribune | How does Red Cross respond to international disasters?: "The recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti have brought a lot of attention to the international side of American Red Cross disaster responses. Here is some information on what the Red Cross does, and what is being done in those countries."

How You Can Help Wildlife Impacted by the BP Oil Spill - National Wildlife Federation

How You Can Help Wildlife Impacted by the BP Oil Spill - National Wildlife Federation: "The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico caused by the April 20, 2010 explosion of an offshore oil rig has put local economies, wildlife and the Gulf's delicate coastal ecosystem at risk. This could be one of the worst environmental disasters in our nation's history. Our immediate task is clear: all resources of British Petroleum, federal and state government and even the U.S. military must be deployed to cap the well, contain the spill and minimize the damage to one of our nation's crown jewels: the Mississippi Delta."

Philanthropic Response to Gulf Oil Disaster: Is It Enough? | onPhilanthropy

Philanthropic Response to Gulf Oil Disaster: Is It Enough? | onPhilanthropy: "While the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues amidst growing anger at British Petroleum – and the Federal government’s inability to force a resolution to the disaster – nonprofit organizations have shifted into action for the longer term, raising money they say will help real people affected by the spill. Yet the response, at least to date, is nothing like the level of previous disasters."

The Associated Press: Red Cross: Haiti struggling 4 months after quake

The Associated Press: Red Cross: Haiti struggling 4 months after quake: "GENEVA — Haiti is still struggling to provide homes, sanitation and basic health care to hundreds of thousands affected by the earthquake four months ago, the country's top Red Cross official said Thursday.

The Caribbean nation was ill-prepared for the devastating temblor that hit the island Jan. 12, killing up to 300,000 people and leaving many more wounded and homeless, the president of the Haitian Red Cross Society said."

PND - News - Aid Groups in Haiti Criticized for Not Spending Fast Enough

PND - News - Aid Groups in Haiti Criticized for Not Spending Fast Enough: "Aid Groups in Haiti Criticized for Not Spending Fast Enough

Although billions of dollars have been donated to charities involved in relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti, more than 1.5 million Haitians remain homeless four months after the quake struck, raising questions about why the money isn't being spent faster, CBS News reports."

Volunteer info for Gulf oil spill - Greenpeace USA Blog

Volunteer info for Gulf oil spill - Greenpeace USA Blog: "UPDATE: It's extremely important at this point that we do everything we can to prevent the next oil spill from ever happening. Take action now to tell Congress: No drilling, no coal, clean energy now! And if you want to do even more, check out this post I put up over on our Grassroots Blog to find toolkits for holding rallies in your community, writing letters to the editor of your local paper, and more: Want to help prevent the next
catastrophic oil spill?"

$1.1-Billion Donated for Haiti Relief - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

$1.1-Billion Donated for Haiti Relief - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "Nearly four months after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, donors have contributed more than $1.1-billion to support relief efforts.

Donors gave approximately $66-million of that total in response to a star-studded telethon that was broadcast on major television networks in January. Organizers awarded $35-million in grants on February 5."

News outlets play pivotal role when disaster strikes | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

News outlets play pivotal role when disaster strikes | tennessean.com | The Tennessean: "As Tennesseans begin the monumental recovery from record flood damage, it seems appropriate that we take a moment to recognize the pivotal lifeline role played by local radio and television broadcasters to keep residents safe and informed over the last several days."

Wyclef Jean aims to keep Haiti earthquake relief at forefront - USATODAY.com

Wyclef Jean aims to keep Haiti earthquake relief at forefront - USATODAY.com: "Award-winning musician Wyclef Jean fears that people are suffering a bit of Haiti fatigue and putting the needs of earthquake victims in the backs of their minds more than three months after the quake.

Jean is starting new relief initiatives, including housing aid and amputee rehabilitation, and says more needs to be done."

SKNVibes.com News: Red Cross donates over US$60 000 to Haiti earthquake relief

SKNVibes.com News: Red Cross donates over US$60 000 to Haiti earthquake relief: "BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Kitts Red Cross (SKRC) has donated over US$60 000 to the Haitian relief effort, following the devastating January 12 earthquake that left 230 000 dead and some one million homeless.

According to the President of the SKRC, Dr. Reginald O’Loughlin, the organisation filed the requisite information with the International Red Cross Society (IRCS) earlier this month and the funds are expected to be transferred by the end of next week."

Philadelphia Catholics donate $1.8 million to Haitian quake relief efforts :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Philadelphia Catholics donate $1.8 million to Haitian quake relief efforts :: Catholic News Agency (CNA): "Philadelphia, Pa., May 5, 2010 / 07:55 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Justin Rigali presented a check for over $1.8 million to the president of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) on Wednesday for aid efforts for earthquake victims in Haiti. He declared the gift an expression of “very beautiful and profound love.”

The Archbishop of Philadelphia presented the check to CRS president Ken Hackett at Incarnation of Our Lord Parish in the Olney section of Philadelphia."

Springdale students begin humanitarian group

Springdale students begin humanitarian group: "Khiree is one of 20 students in Flowers' Student Humanitarian Organization, which three of the students founded in January in response to the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti."

"British Petroleum (BP) and state and local government entities contacted The Salvation Army this weekend for our help in supporting thousands of volunteers who are responding to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. As the oil approaches the Mississippi and Louisiana coasts, The Salvation Army deployed teams to Ocean Springs, Mississippi and Venice, Louisiana to handout water to the throngs of individuals who are participating in the clean-up efforts.

The Salvation Army is continuing discussions with involved governments and BP to find additional ways to support the clean-up efforts.

Be sure to follow The Salvation Army’s Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi Division’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, which they are frequently updating with volunteer information and news of their latest efforts. You can also find more information at their website www.salvationarmyalm.org"

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."