SAFE PASSING 101

SAFE PASSING 101

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

DESPERATION in the PHILIPPINES


Disaster strikes regularly in a variety of ways .
Whether Earthquake , Fire , Sunami or Wind Storms , people find themselves at the mercy of the elements . Many Countries have Volunteer Organisations that are prepared to swing into action once the danger has been recognised .Even though the destroyed area has their own " Volunteer Organisations " , many of those people will be searching for their family and relatives thus not contributing to their community as effectively as needed ?

Many countries have volunteer Organisations that have disparate purposes , created in earlier emergencies . The UK has about 16 Major organisations , such as OXFAM , but , the nature of the Philippines Disaster has seen them combine under an " Umbrella Organisation " , namely D E C ! Today SKY News are at the Bicester Warehouse in Bicester , near Oxford . This is a warehouse that i have worked at  , more than a decade ago , assisting in the work , needed to prepare the the consignments that are held in readiness for the next Major Disaster . Today 16 tons of Water , Food and other Relief Supplies will be sent to the Disater Zone . The replacement cost of these supplies are reported to be GBP200k . Oxfam run a chain of " Charity Shops " , where you can find " Used Clothes and Household Goods " , as well as some New Products that appeal to the " impulse buyer ". THe income from these Shops is only part of their income , so they must rely on Donations from Major Appeals as well as ongoing commitments by those that choose to donate from salary or their Bank Account by regular remittance . Most of these scheduled payments allow Tax Relief to be paid direct to the Charity .

6m
, In my name and on behalf of the people of ,I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the people of the

Caritas , the Catholic Organisation , also acts promptly , throughout the world , to assist in Disaster Relief . Today , i spoke with their Innsbruck Office , as i had wished to suggest an idea , that i thought useful in helping some of the survivors . My proposal will be a longer term project that i hope will assist people on the ground restore their " broken bikes " , rather than toss them in the rubbish . Immediately , Caritas needs people to open their Purse Strings , since Cash can buy in other parts of Asia , ALL thee Relief Supplies and Clothing , that so many are willing to part with in the effort to assist . Clothes and Blankets are needed , BUT,  they will need Transport and then they will need sorting for size and distribution . Tedious Chores that can be dealt with a little further down the track .  Four days of little food and water will determine Peoples'priorities ! Currently the devastated areas are suffering from access being difficult if not impossible , due to fallen palm trees and Storm debris of every kind . Remote areas appear to be ONLY accessable by Helicopter .

This brings me to a point of personal frustration . Helicopters are a scarce resource , they can only work so many hours , before needing downtime for maintainance . Helicopters can only carry so much , yet i am continously seeing Major News Networks , using these scarce resources to " swan around " seeking THEIR OWN EXCLUSIVE perspective/story "! Each time they need 2 or 3 people to do the report , that is about 80kg each , say 200kg of RELIEF SUPPLIES , not delivered , because " the face " wants to appear on YOUR SCREEN ! Do i care if i see the same story repeated on 15 or 20 separate News Channels ?  NO I Don't ! Especially when it is the choice of carrying 200kg of Food & Water to those in NEED !  Just think about the fact that 200kg of supplies , that could help thousands went UNDELIVERED !  CNN , Aljazeera , BBC World , SKYnews ,RTnews , France 24 ,CCTV , CNBC , to name just a few of the networks i can access , are ALL SAYING THE SAME THING ! The Philippines People are in Desparate NEED of HELP !

Yesterday i saw on TV , the US Marines arrive at an airport , Tacloban in the Philippines , in the background , we saw a Forklift truck unloaded , whilst the Interview was being shown . Later in the day we heard that the Airport was closed at nightfall ! No electricity ! OOPS ! Who would have thought about Electricity ? Certainly not the Marines ! RESULT , Airport closed through the Night , as there were NO runway lights . Not the Marines fault , BUT , should they not have access to at least portable Genies ?  Those that choose to go back to earlier Blog Posts of Mine will have seen , my take on the Haiti Disaster !

 Later i will post the links to the posts where i suggested PREPAREDNESS for DISASTER !

16th Nov.2013

AS promised links to my Haiti Posts and a few of my comments :

www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com/Haitirevisited 

  " Earlier this week I stated that the Paratroopers could parachute into the situation, well they arrived in comfort on Saturday but in the interim we were treated to a spectacularly difficult scene of discord "

www.parrabuddy.blogspot.com/Haiti :

  " WHY I a civilian has to ask the question “ if 3500 Paratroops are mobilised ,WHY is it they have not parachuted into the Haiti disaster Area and delivered aid , whether First Aid or rounding up the transport to move people?

3500 paratroops trained to jump into any environment , 60+hrs after the disaster still not in Haiti?"


Yesterday it was revealed that the SS George Washington , in company with 5 support ships , would depart Hong Kong for deployment in the Philippines . With Helicopters as part of the Fleet requirements on a daily basis , there will be a tremendous boost to those suffering deprivationn due to the Storms aftermath . Had the Pentagon thought to have a " Disaster Capability / Response Cache " onboard , then Canvas , Water desalination equipment , generators , as well as food and Water would be available for landing as fast as the Helicopters could be turned around . 24 hr capability should be possible from a floating city ?

CNN reports that the Mayor of a Village/Town biked from his place to the regional City , to report the Disaster that his people were enduring . The Roads were closed to vehicles , so he demonstrated initiative and carried the bike around road blockages .

Bikes will be part of the problem solving means of transport , for so many people in the next months . So many vehicles are shown , destroyed , upside down and displaced in the News , but even undamaged , they are of little use until the roads are opened once again .

My proposal to Caritas was to act as a conduit to receive in the Philippines , bike parts . Most Cyclists will have in their garage a variety of Parts , taken from their best bikes , as they upgraded , then put aside for future use ? I am like others , i rarely throw out parts , knowing that early replacement can save embarassment when i am at the Giro d'Italia or the Tour de France . My parts alone , will be of use to NOONE ! However if they are combined with those from other Race Cyclists , Suburban Cyclists , Cycling Clubs , Bike Shops , then they will add up to a useful supply of parts that can be forwarded to a Philippine receiving point . Caritas appealing to their Parishners and Media in Each Province in Austria could collect a sizable amount of parts , that either Austrian Air or a Freight forwarder could despatch to Manila , where local volunteers , could having created a Website , fill the needs of individuals that need parts to put their broken bikes back on the road . This plan obviously relies on bike savvy volunteers , at each end of the supply chain . No point sending from manila a front derailleur , when it was a rear that was needed ?

Building up the damaged bikes will need volunteers , some will be shop owners , whose premises and stock will have been destroyed , others will be unemployed people , wishing to learn new skills . Perhaps some will be on the US Fleet and will enjoy offering their help in their spare time ashore ? Each year " Fatcyclist.com " runs Hundred miles of nowhere to raise funds for the LiveSTRONG Charity , i recall that some participants were afloat on an Aircraft Carrier , maybe on the SS George Washington , there are bike enthusiasts with the tools to join in ?

On the way home from my ride from Schwaz , i stopped off at an International Conglomerate , who are very active in local charity work . I proposed they think on this scheme , since they have their OWN CYcling Club . In addition , i suggested they speak with their corporate HQ and ask that they consider donation of some Heavy Equipment . Big Ask that , but , unless the proposal goes forward , who else will think of this ?

With my visibility on this Blog , Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn , i can only propose ideas . By myself i can only contribute dollars & less than useful equipment , BUT , in tandem with those that read this , possibly there are ways to help others !

HELP ME to HELP OTHERS !


Some Tweets :

14m
More than 2 million people need food aid, the gov said. Nearly 300,000 of them are pregnant women or new mothers.


35m
U.S. Sends Aircraft Carrier to Bolster Relief Efforts

  1. 3h
    UNICEF has 70 staff on ground (with more on way) & has begun to reach survivors in Tacloban, Ormoc and Rozax cities.
    Expand
  2. 3h
    I know you have a mobile. And you can afford a pint. So no excuse: text UNICEF to 70123 to give £3 to help children in

3h
: Australians can donate to the Red Cross appeal by visiting the website

3h
2m jobs destroyed after , $12bn loss to economy ht

12m
Listening to this morning on the ground in the and my heart is broken. Praying for God's deliverance and provision.

1m
Check out this map of the that details damage done by & how we are responding w/ relief efforts:

  1. 9m
    Miss. sympathizes w/the . "The hour of greatest need comes to the Philippines:" via :

25m
RT : Army foils attempted ambush on troops transporting relief goods: LEGAZPI CITY,...

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