Sidr and What we can do from abroad
As the news has started to trickle down from the southern part of Bangladesh, things are not looking very good. The loss of life, although limited compared to the past two big cyclones, the damages to property and people’s livelihood. Sometimes you have to wonder why our country can never get a break. Yet, we fight on and move ahead. This time it may not be so easy for the millions of people in Southern Bangladesh. Spare a thought for the villagers we rehabilitated in Annadaprasad in Bhola. God knows where are they now.
Please pull in your resources to the best you can to donate and mobilize public opinion.
* I will host a page in DP with links to various organizations raising funds from Sidr.
* You can also send your check to Drishtipat, added benefit will be that, if you have corporate matching, program, the donation will double. This is time to pull in your resources.
* You can help by mass publicizing and also alerting people in the western media. It is important to alert the world media as much as possible because that will bring in the aid and international response. Dia from Drishtipat NY is helping CNN reporter to get to the affected. Thanks Dia.
* Red Cross will be on top my list until more credible deshi organizations come with strong organizing power come on board with their plan.
* If you work in a corporation, tell your colleagues, see if there is a matching donation program at your company to double your donation.
* If you are a student, see if you work with your student association to plan a fund raising.
* Look for ways to contribute through your Bangladesh association and local embassy
* become a member of the facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7136857143&ref=mf
* Update your activity in this thread and encourage others
Take a look at these pics
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/specials/interactives/_international/bangladesh_cyclone/index.html?SITE=YAHOO&SECTION=HOME
Donation link thanks to Nadia…
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
https://secure.ga4.org/01/bangladesh_cyclone_1107
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
http://donate.ifrc.org/?navid=02_02
http://www.ifrc.org/Docs/N ews/07/07111602/index.asp