Often a natural disaster or humanitarian crisis makes headlines for a while but then the media coverage disappears long before the needs have been met. Special efforts by some NBA players are helping an aid organization keep assistance going to the tsunami victims, to Katrina recovery efforts, and to the Darfur crisis.
Thanks to
Ira Newble (formerly of the Cavs, now with the Lakers), a great humanitarian aid organization is gaining recognition. Ira was effected by what he saw occurring in Darfur, and when he became aware of Aid Still Required, he enlisted the support of several other NBA players to do Public Service Announcements.
Ira Newble and
Kobe Bryant (Lakers),
Steve Nash (Suns), and
LeBron James (Caveliers) are among the NBA players supporting this effort;
Tracy McGrady (Rockets) has pledged to assist in building sister schools through Aid Still Required. After I investigated the organization, I am fully supporting their efforts.
FROM THEIR WEBSITE www.aidstillrequired.org:
Aid Still Required (ASR) is a non-profit, humanitarian movement focused on rebuilding communities through sustainable solutions in the aftermath of natural disasters and human crises.
We believe everyone, everywhere, is entitled to live in dignity, safety and health. We view post-crisis situations as opportunities to do just that. By approaching restoration on an ecologically-friendly basis and utilizing a region's native environment, Aid Still Required 'builds back better' and builds back green.
Darfur
Aid Still Required is focusing on two areas for Darfur: The first is to continually bring the conflict to the awareness of the American people through public service announcements (PSAs) and internet outreach.
Second, we are raising funds for environmentally-friendly projects to assist the Darfuri people. Darfur has been ravaged by a 20-year drought, leaving much of the area an arid wasteland. The drought is so pervasive, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon believes the Darfur conflict is primarily due to it. Two projects we are working with relate directly to this phenomenon:
The Solar Cooker Project: (now) To prevent the risks to women who leave refugee camps to gather wood and straw for cooking, two solar powered cooking units and pots and utensils are provided per family.
Sister Schools Program (future): Building schools within the refugee camps.
The Reforestation Project (future): Since 80% of the Darfur population is dependent on agriculture for subsistence and much of Darfur has high potential for arable land, restored forests and ample water would provide a solid and necessary foundation for the refugees to rebuild their lives when they return home.
Tsunami
Although the December 26, 2004 tsunami has long since left the headlines, the disaster remains very real today for the hundreds of thousands in the region who still have no permanent homes or work. Without more help, many of these people will live out their lives as refugees. One of the forgotten tragedies of the tsunami is the destruction of the coral reefs and water tables in many areas, which has
incapacitated the local fishing industry, a major source of income for the area, and derailed family farming. ASR is researching organic means of re-establishing the reefs and water tables in these areas as well as exploring various partnership opportunities involving green building, early warning systems and health programs for the region.
Katrina
Aid Still Required is partnering with other NGOs such as 'Global Green,' 'Make It Right' and 'Common Ground Relief' to build affordable and sustainable homes and schools in the 9th Ward of New Orleans and restore the wetlands. The dense housing of the 9th Ward has been mostly dismantled since Katrina and provides a clear landscape to rebuild with structures that will endure and promote health
for its residents as well as for the area. New homes will be occupied by the end of summer 2008.
END OF WEBSITE TEXT
I had concerns about the Solar Cooker Project so I emailed Aid Still Required. If peacekeepers are being shot at, how is ASR getting the Solar Cooker supplies into the Darfus refugee camps and, since woman and children are being attacked and raped if they leave the camps to gather firewood, are those same women and children attacked within the camp to steal the solar cooking equipment they
receive? The director of the project, Rachel Andres, sent me the answer and gave me permission to reproduce it on any website on which I post. Here is her response:
"Your email to Aid Still Required was forward to me.
I am, Director of the Solar Cooker Project (SCP), of Jewish World Watch (JWW). JWW is a California-based not for profit organization, in coalition with 57 synagogues working to mobilize their schools, members and the community to combat genocide and other atrocities around the world. As part of the JWW's mission to provide Refugee Relief, the Solar Cooker Project focuses on the safety of women and girls. As you may already know attacks on women and girls, are well documented, as they take the risk of rape and battery, just to get firewood.
The SCP has implemented a comprehensive solar cooking program in the Iridimi refugee camp, with a population of 17,500, in eastern Chad. The project has since expanded to the neighboring camp of Touloum with a population of 22,000 refugees. The project with the assistance of the Chad-based NGO Tchad Solaire, has established a solar cooker assembly plant, trained refugees to work in the plant, and developed outreach teams of refugee women to teach others in the use of the cookers. With the aid and generous contributions of people around the
world we are looking to expand into a third camp, Oure Cassoni, with a refugee population of 30,000.
We too were concerned about getting the materials into the camp safely. We send in the raw materials from Europe and the women are then paid to manufacture the cookers so there is an economic development piece to this project as well. The woman have made 15,000 in the Iridimi camp and around 10,000 in the Touloum camp. We have not heard of violence against the women in the camp over the cookers but maybe because we provide to every family.
We are always seeking support of individuals like you, eager to help in whichever way they can to further our cause. I hope I was able to address of your concerns.
Please refer to our website www.jewishworldwatch.org and www.solarcookerproject.org for further details of our project and find the many ways you will be able to help.
Warmly,
Rachel Andres"
In a second email from Rachel, she said:
"Also, please go to our website to see more info including our fact sheet on the project!
Thanks so much.
Rachel"
I would invite you to investigate the projects, think and/or pray about participation, and act if you feel so led.
Our athletes are making positive contributions to our world, and those who are doing so deserve a spotlight. We already know every problem an athlete is associated with--now let's give it up for the good guys. Support our athletes and support their causes for a better world.
Ira Newble, thanks for bringing this to the attention of the public!
