Government response to tsunami disaster
We need to start preparing ourselves to be supportive in the long
run, long after the news media has gone on to other stories.
The salt of the sea has not only ruined drinking water in Indonesia,
Sumatra, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Somalia, Kenya, and various islands, but it
has also ruined the land. Fishers will be able to fish again, but farmers
will not be able to farm their lands for, it's said, at least 10 years. So,
new work needs to be developed, and mechanisms found for affordable feeding
of people.
In addition, all the careful identification of the location of landmines
that has been done in past years must be done again - the mines have been
moved and the identifiers, of course, also moved.
And we need to remember those 'causes' that have fallen under the radar due
to the coverage of the tsunami destruction - the many thousands dying of
thirst and starvation in Darfur, the thousands more dying of AIDS in Africa;
refugees from many, many countries.
My hope is that this recent outpouring of generosity will be the beginning
of a change in our relationship to the world in which we lucky Canadians
live and that the help we offer now to the people of the Indian Ocean will
occur elsewhere as well. I also hope - and trust - that people will remember
to continue to support charity work here in Canada.
-- Brenda Berck
Vancouver, BC
E-mail us your thoughts today at help@charityvillage.com.
