Helping fisherfolks in Sri Lanka and Indonesia

[Jaime Baquero]

To all the readers.

Many hundreds of fisherfolks collecting fish for the marine aquarium trade are among the victims of the disaster in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Would be a good thing to happen if together we collect some donations to be sent in the near future to families of some of them. Reef.org could be the organizer of such initiative. Dr. Elizabeth Wood could be the contact person to reach the families of fisherfolks in Sri Lanka.

I think that we, as the hobbyists community, should do something to help.

Just an idea.

Best regards

Jaime Baquero

 

[dizzy]

Jaime,
I think that is a wonderful idea. Perhaps some of the stores can set up collection jars. I think a lot of people would want to help if they could be certain the money would go direct to the needy and not be sucked up by the people doing the charity work for themselves.
Mitch

 

[aquatic ian]

and not be sucked up by the people doing the charity work for themselves.
Mitch

common sence tells me that the infrastructure to tackle such a project is huge
....charities cant and dont run on kind thoughts and best wishes ....they need cash like the rest of us


well some one has to feed their familys too


I dont mean to be critical but the charities on the ground.... and able to get on the ground quickly really need our money now
.....and yes some of it is actually to pay their staff and transport and replenish stock they use


cheers ian

 

[naesco]

Can someone make arrangements to ship the netting donated by hobbyists which is sitting in a warehouse in the Philippines if it is suitable?

 

[dizzy]

I dont mean to be critical but the charities on the ground.... and able to get on the ground quickly really need our money now
.....and yes some of it is actually to pay their staff and transport and replenish stock they use
cheers ian

A lot of money is being thrown at the problem by various countries around the world. There are already reports of disbursement problems in some countries, similar to the events in Somalia that led to the infamous "Black Hawk Down" incident. Tragedy seems to bring out the best and the worst in people. Many charities in this country keep over 90% of the money they collect for "administrative costs" and their CEOs draw obscene salaries. Scandals at United Way were well documented and nearly ruined that organization for awhile. Some of the people collecting for "Feed the Children" in Nashville got caught stealing from the donations a few years back. Even the news shows warn us about people who set set up scams or price gouging during times of tragedy. So it would seem to me that when it comes to making sure that most of the money that generous people give gets to the people they intend it for, not all charities are created equal.
Mitch

 

[Jaime Baquero]

Jaime,
I think that is a wonderful idea. Perhaps some of the stores can set up collection jars. I think a lot of people would want to help if they could be certain the money would go direct to the needy and not be sucked up by the people doing the charity work for themselves.
Mitch

Mitch,
A while ago hobbyists contributed to collect some money to buy nets. Those nets were bought and sent to the Philippines. No one "got" any of the collected money.

Wayne, right now is not a matter of getting nets, the reason is only one...the collectors are gone.

There are serious and honest people that would like to help the collectors. As I mentioned before Dr. Elizabeth Wood or someone who has worked directly with collectors could be the contact person delivering the collected funds directly to the collectors' families.

 

[dizzy]

Jaime,
I know that there are lots of good decent people working for good causes. There are also scam artists and crooks. Here is a few recommendations from RPI:

"Hello - I am sure you are all quite overwhelmed and dismayed over the tragic news in SE Asia. I have visited many of the areas impacted by this disaster and am having trouble reaching some friends. I'm really struggling to accept the gravity of this tragedy and the reality that some of these magical places are, in a moment, simply gone.

Besides the tremendous human loss from this disaster, there is great concern for the survival of the already stressed coral reefs of Thailand and the Maldives. Besides the immediate damage caused by the amazing force of the tsunami, there is concern that the coastal water quality will be poor for some time, adding to the decline of the reefs there. Expectedly, little information is coming out on the status of coral reefs in the area. I have included some articles of interest below and the RPI website will be updated with articles as we find them. Please feel free to forward me any articles you come across that are not yet on the site. Here are the ones we've come across for now:

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory ... /story.htm
("Coral Reefs May Take Years to Recover from Tsunami")

http://www.globalsecurity.org/eye/andaman-maldives.htm
("Indian Ocean Tsunami Imagery Male International Airport Republic of Maldives" - good info about the geography of the Maldives and the impact of the tsunami)

http://www.scidev.net/news/index.cfm?fu ... language=1
("Mangrove forests can reduce impact of tsunamis")

I have received phone calls and e-mails asking where best to make donations to help out the millions left homeless, orphaned and struggling to survive. RPI is recommending two programs that we've researched and are confident precious donations will be best utilized:

Greengrants to Match Donations to Tsunami Relief Effort (GreenGrants is a very well established and successful organization working in the affected areas and will match donations up to $5,000)
http://greengrants.org/pressreleases.php?news_id=29

Save the Children Asia Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Fund (they have been working in these areas for years and are renowned for their low overhead ensuring that your donation gets to those that need it most - the children who are so vulnerable right now)
http://www.savethechildren.org/radio_as ... D=&NewsID=

Thank you and best wishes for a happy and safe 2005.
Drew
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drew Weiner
Director
Reef Protection International
300 Broadway, Suite 28
San Francisco, CA 94133
ph: 415-699-2091
fax: 415-788-7324
[email protected]
http://www.reefprotect.org
*a project of Earth Island Institute*

PS I should add that I believe Larry Jones is a fine man and overall Feed the Children is a good organization despite the scum buckets in Nashville that got caught with their hand in the cookie jar a few years back.
Mitch

 

[dizzy]

Jaime,
It appears I am not alone in my skepticism. An MSNBC TV poll that popped up on my browser asks the question: Are you worried that most of the money collected won't get tot he people who need it most. Out of 6542 responses so far a whopping 86% answered yes that they are worried it won't get to the needy.
Mitch

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3080261/

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Are you worried donations won't get to Tsunami victims who need it most? * 7533 responses


Yes
86% No
14%

Thank you for voting. Click to send us an e-mail to share your thoughts. Plus, see past voting results.


Tune in to MSNBC. This is not a scientifically valid survey. Click to learn more.

Check out a new Question of the Day, everyday, at 10 a.m. ET.

 

[PeterIMA]

Jaime,

I agree with your concerns that there is a need to help the fishermen affected by the tsunami. However, right now the help they need is for food, water, shelter, and medications. The larger aid organizations are mobilizing to provide this help. We can help by sending our donations to those organizations best prepared toprovide immediate help (e.g., UNICEF, RED CROSS, and other groups tied to the United Nations).

On a longer term, I agree that NGOs that are focused on coral reef conservation and working with small-scale fishermen can play a part (e.g., TNC, WRI, WWF, IMA, EASI, RPI, CORL, MAC).

I suggest that the concerned NGOs and industry groups (e.g. PIJAC, OFI, AMDA) should meet to develop a common strategy. Perhaps, they can obtain funding for a joint coordinated effort. A proposal could be prepared and funding obtained (probably from the World Bank or other large funding agencies) for a long- term effort to help the fishing communities to rebuild their villages, and get re-established both with the live aquarium fish and live food fish trades. Other initiatives could be developed for commercial fishermen and for mariculture and freshwater aquaculture. There is a need to re-establish the fisheries, but this also would be a good opportunity to help restructure bt providing alternative livelihoods to reduce the number of fishermen fishing on already overfished fish stocks.

Based my past experience with small NGOs (like IMA and OVI), I doubt that the funding will come through fund raising targeted at the stores or manufacturers associated with the aquarium trade.

PS-Wayne, the netting provided by hobbyists through Mary Middlebrook (in a warehouse in the Philippines) will be used in up-coming progams by the East Asian Seas Initiative (EASI) once funding to support net-training in Indonesia and the Philippines is finalized. That funding does not come from the aquarium trade.

Peter Rubec
East Asian Seas Initiative

 

[dizzy]

Here are a few places you can send your donations to:


MSNBC.com
fact file How to help

The following are accepting donations for aid they or affiliates will provide to those affected by the deadly tsunami in Asia.
If you are looking for information on a U.S. citizen feared missing, contact the U.S. State Department at 888-407-4747, or, from overseas, at 317-472-2328.

Action Against Hunger
247 West 37th Street, Suite 1201
New York, NY 10018
212-967-7800
www.aah-usa.org
ADRA International
Asia Tsunami Crisis Fund
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
800-424-2372
www.adra.org
Air Serv International
6583 Merchant Place, Suite 100
Warrenton, VA 20187
www.airserv.org
American Friends Service Committee
American Friends Service Committee
1501 Cherry Street
Philadelphia, PA
215-241-7060
www.afsc.org

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
JDC: South Asia Tsunami Relief
Box 321
847A Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-885-0867
www.jdc.org

American Jewish World Service
45 West 36th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10018
800-889-7146
www.ajws.org
American Red Cross
International Response Fund
PO Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013
800-HELP-NOW
www.redcross.org
AmeriCares
88 Hamilton Ave.
Stamford, CT 06902
800-486-4357
www.americares.org
Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT)
Tsunami Fund
6810 Tilden Lane
Rockville, MD 20852
301-984-0217
www.amurt.net
ARMDI, Israeli Red Cross
Tsunami Emergency Fund
888 7th Ave.
Suite #403
New York, NY 10106
866-632-2763

Baptist World Aid
Asia Tidal Waves
405 North Washington St.
Falls Church, VA 22046
703-790-8980
www.bwanet.org/bwaid
B’nai B’rith International
B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Fund
2020 K. St. NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
212-490-3290
www.bnaibrith.org
Brother’s Brother Foundation
1200 Galveston Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
412-321-3160
www.brothersbrother.org
CARE
151 Ellis Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30303-2440
800-521-CARE
www.care.org
Catholic Relief Services
209 West Fayette St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
877-HELP-CRS
www.catholicrelief.org
Christian Children’s Fund
Child Alert Fund
PO Box 26484
Richmond, VA 23261
800-776-6767
www.christianchildrensfund.org
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
South Asia Earthquake
2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI, 49560
800-55-CRWRC
www.crwrc.org
Church World Service
PO Box 968
Elkhart, IN 46515
800-297-1516
www.churchworldservice.org
Concern Worldwide, US
104 East 40th Street, Suite 903
New York, NY 10016
212-557-8000
www.concernusa.org
Direct Relief International
27 South La Patera Lane
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
805-964-4767
www.directrelief.org
Food for the Hungry
Asia Quake Relief
1224 E. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85034
800-2-HUNGERS
www.fh.org
Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres
PO Box 2247
New York, NY 10116-2247
888-392-0392
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Episcopal Relief and Development
South Asia Relief Fund
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(800) 334-7626
www.er-d.org
Habitat for Humanity International
Asia Tsunami Response Fund
121 Habitat St
Americus, GA 31709
229-924-6935
www.habitat.org
Heart to Heart International
401 S. Clairborne
Suite 302
Olathe, KS 66062
888-800-4327
www.hearttoheart.org
International Aid
17011 W. Hickory
Spring Lake, MI 49456
800-968-7490
www.internationalaid.org
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
PO Box 372
CH-1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland
41-22-730-4222
www.ifrc.org
International Medical Corps
Tsunami Emergency Response
1919 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90404-1950
800-481-4462
www.imcworldwide.org
International Orthodox Christian Charities
PO Box 630225
Baltimore, MD 21263-0225
877-803-4622
www.iocc.org
International Relief Teams
Asia Earthquake/Floods
3547 Camino Del Rio South, Suite C
San Diego, CA 92108
619-284-7979
www.IRTeams.org
International Rescue Committee
PO Box 5058
Hagerstown, MD 21741-9874
877-REFUGEE or 733-8433
www.theIRC.org
Latter-Day Saint Charities
Welfare Services Emergency Response
50 East North Temple Street, Room 701
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84150-6800
801-240-3544
http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation
Lutheran World Relief
South Asia Tsunami
700 Light St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-230-2700
www.lwr.org
MAP International
PO Box 215000
Brunswick, GA 3121-5000
800-225-8550
www.map.org
Mercy Corps
Southeast Asia Earthquake
Dept. W
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208
800-852-2100
www.mercycorps.org
Northwest Medical Teams
PO Box 10
Portland, OR 97207-0010
503-624-1000
www.nwmedicalteams.org
Operation USA
8320 Melrose Avenue, Ste. 200
Los Angles, CA 90069
800-678-7255
www.opusa.org
Oxfam America
Asia Earthquake Fund
P.O. Box 1211
Albert Lea, MN 56007-1211
800-77-Oxfam
http://www.oxfamamerica.org
Plan USA
Asia Disaster
155 Plan Way
Warwick, RI 02886
800-556-7918
www.planusa.org
Project Concern International
Asia Tsunamis Press List
5151 Murphy Canyon Road Suite 320
San Diego, CA 92123
858-279-9690
www.projectconcern.org
Project HOPE
Asia Tsunami Response
255 Carter Hall Lane
Millwood, VA 22646
800-544-4673
www.projecthope.org
Relief International
1575 Westwood Blvd.,
Suite 201,
Los Angeles, CA 90024
800-573-3332
310-478-1200
www.ri.org
Save the Children
Asia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
800-728-3843
www.savethechildren.org
SAWSO (Salvation Army World Service Office)
South Asia Relief Fund
615 Slaters Lane
Alexandria, VA, 22313
800-SAL-ARMY
Stop Hunger Now
SE Asia crisis
2501 Clark Ave, Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27607
888-501-8440
www.stophungernow.org
UMCOR
Advance #274305, South Asia Emergency
475 Riverside Drive
Room 330
New York, NY 10115
212-870-3815
www.umcor.org
United Way International
United Way South Asia Response Fund
c/o United Way International
701 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA, 22314, USA
703-519-0092, x113 (For stock gifts or bank wire transfer only)
www.national.unitedway.org/tsunamiresponse/
US Fund for UNICEF
333 East 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
800-4-UNICEF
www.unicefusa.org
World Concern
19303 Fremont Ave. N
Seattle, WA 98133
800-755-5022
www.worldconcern.org
World Emergency Relief
2270-D Camino Vida Roble
Carlsbad, CA 92009
760-930-8001
www.worldemergencyrelief.org
World Hope International
Asia Relief
P.O. Box 96338
Washington DC 20090
888-466-4673
www.worldhope.org
World Relief
SE Asia Earthquake/Tsunamis
7 E. Baltimore St.
Baltimore, MD 21202
443-451-1900
www.worldrelief.org
World Vision
PO Box 70288
Tacoma, Washington 98481-0288
888-56-CHILD
www.worldvision.org

Source: InterAction via AP

 

[John_Brandt]

The situation is so terrible and complicated that it might be premature to try to direct aid specifically to MO fisherfolk. Donations to general aid organizations is probably the best first step.

Initial assessments of coastal coral reefs and fisheries is very grim. The UN will be initiating a survey of reefs and forests. Erosion is a major concern now. I have knowledge that the MAC operations and personnel were all unharmed.

United Nations to Assess Tsunami Damage to Reefs & Forests

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=61419


Fishing Communities Hurt by Tsunamis

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=61420


Photo from Maldives

 

[Anonymous]

Can someone make arrangements to ship the netting donated by hobbyists which is sitting in a warehouse in the Philippines if it is suitable?

Netting wont do much when Boats, Houses (Huts), Airports, Divers are all gone.

 

[sdcfish]

All,
I have spoken with many suppliers in Srilanka and have all told me of the tragic stories they have heard from their divers and others affected. The aquarium companies have offered their trucks to bring water and supplies to those who have lost everything.
The divers are anxious to get back into the water and start to rebuild their livelihoods and families. So many have been lost and it's like starting all over for most. The companies themselves are offering money to their divers helping them buy new boats and engines.
We have chosen the American Red Cross to give donations to. Others are equally deserving.
Happy new year to all.

 

[JennM]

Can someone make arrangements to ship the netting donated by hobbyists which is sitting in a warehouse in the Philippines if it is suitable?

Wayne, over the last couple of years I've taken offense to many of your posts but I think this one eclipses them all.

Your statement is crass, and ignorant. These people have lost their families, their homes and possessions, their livelihoods and in many cases, their lives. New nets to catch fish is probably the last thing on anybody's mind right now. Not like they can call the Good Hands People to rebuild and replace all that they've lost. Many now will be at the mercy of the good will of relief aid and donations, and it will take many years to rebuild, although I doubt if one would ever recover from such a tragedy.

The scope of the disaster is more than many minds can fathom, my own included. If you cannot offer something tangible that might be of any real assistance, how about at least offering up some good thoughts and prayers to the survivors, that they can get through this and rebuild their lives, and not fall ill to cholera, or dysentary?

Jenn

 

[dizzy]

I was watching the news on MSNBC this morning and they gave the final results of yesterday's unscientific poll. Over 26,000 people responded and could only vote once. 86% of the people who responded are worried that the donations won't get to people who need them most. Let us all hope and pray that they are wrong and that most of the donations will reach those with the greatest need. The road to full recovery will be long and painful and the need to help these people will linger long after the media attention is focused on other events.
Mitch

 

[Jaime Baquero]

Yes, many others are also deserving help from the international community.

The recovery process is going to be long for everyone. In most of developing countries poor fishermen are neglected, they form a "small" percentage of the population and their needs are not considered as important as the needs of other sectors of the population.

Everyone appreciates the response of the international community helping with donations, but it doesn't mean that we as hobbyists can not do something "extra" to try to help that specific sector of the population very often neglected.

This "something extra" could be done during the next six months, what about collecting money to build an school? This is a good opportunity for aquarium hobbyists to help the kids of fish collectors who have disappeared.

Jaime

 

[naesco]

Can someone make arrangements to ship the netting donated by hobbyists which is sitting in a warehouse in the Philippines if it is suitable?

Wayne, over the last couple of years I've taken offense to many of your posts but I think this one eclipses them all.

Your statement is crass, and ignorant. These people have lost their families, their homes and possessions, their livelihoods and in many cases, their lives. New nets to catch fish is probably the last thing on anybody's mind right now. Not like they can call the Good Hands People to rebuild and replace all that they've lost. Many now will be at the mercy of the good will of relief aid and donations, and it will take many years to rebuild, although I doubt if one would ever recover from such a tragedy.

You are getting too much southern sun or does your logic always work that way.
Every nation and most of its citizens have already given by now and there are billions of dollars available for the emergency supplies that are overdue.
IMO as much as they can, the fishers want to get on with their lives and that includes making a living. The netting if suitable and available would have assisted them.
Shame shame on you to post as you did.

The scope of the disaster is more than many minds can fathom, my own included. If you cannot offer something tangible that might be of any real assistance, how about at least offering up some good thoughts and prayers to the survivors, that they can get through this and rebuild their lives, and not fall ill to cholera, or dysentary?

Jenn

 

[JennM]

You are getting too much southern sun or does your logic always work that way.
Every nation and most of its citizens have already given by now and there are billions of dollars available for the emergency supplies that are overdue.
IMO as much as they can, the fishers want to get on with their lives and that includes making a living. The netting if suitable and available would have assisted them.
Shame shame on you to post as you did.

While there is no doubt that money is what is needed to perform the physical clean up, money does not rebuild a shattered life.

I did not know you spoke for the fishermen, Wayne, if you have firsthand information that I'm not privy to, then I guess I'll apologize. The tone of your post *to me* implied that you just wanted to see fishermen back in the water and producing ASAP before all the bodies and debris was cleared away. :roll:

It's more than a week since the disaster, and the most basic help has not even begun to arrive in some of the more remote areas, despite a huge mobilization. I can only speak for myself here, but if it was my family, my home, my life that had been washed away, rushing back to work would be the last thing on my mind at the moment - but hey, what do I know? In the immediate, I'd rather see effort made to provide people with clean water, food and shelter, and remove the dead and debris. Once that situation is in hand, THEN perhaps look ahead to equipping people for work. Whatever resources that might be spent on moving said netting, might be better used on other, more immediate needs. Again, JMHO.

To "Smiley" regarding the locked thread in which you chose to cut and paste my post and ask what good prayer can do - while questioning religious philosophies might be more suited to Sump discussion, I feel compelled to answer simply with this: I don't understand why bad things happen such as this, and I don't think I'm meant to, but I do understand that prayer and/or positive thoughts can be an immense comfort, both to those who offer them, and those who receive them. Without getting into the whys and wherefores, if you don't agree, so be it, but I will continue to keep all those affected in my thoughts and prayers, and while I'm at it, I'll keep you there too.

Jenn

 

[Jaime Baquero]

Hi all,

I understand many of us have contributed with donations to at least one of the many groups collecting money to help people suffering in the disaster areas. I also understand first thing is first thing, water, sanitation and recovery of bodies is priority number one.

I do not know if there is, or will be, a plan from the marine aquarium industry in North America to do something to help. If there is, or will be, a plan, I'd like to know about it to contribute.

I hope the whole marine aquarium industry, including hobbyists, won't ignore what is happening to the families of hundreds of marine ornamental fish collectors who have disappeared,

As I said, now there are more immediate priorities, but we shouldn't wait too long as stakeholders of this industry to get organize and try to do something concrete and oriented to help directly some of the families of the collectors who have disappeared.

Why to wait? Together we can do something now.

cwa46, why are you 8O ?

Smiley, please go with your detritus somewhere else.

 

[Jaime Baquero]

Hello,

Please, your input is important.