And it had to be about an event so paralyzing as to have affected all the countries of the world. Seven days ago I despatched the following text to The Age newspaper in Melbourne,
Victoria, Australia for those whom read this post and are out of towners. It follows:
The benefit of 20/20 hindsight is a wondrous thing. But honestly people, to put a cap on how appalled my family and I are not only at the sheer severity and scope of this disaster, also the naked callousness of our Western "system" and it's abject failure to see anything as more pressing and urgent than the collection of money! Not to mention the inability of these university-invented, computer-modelled "World-best-practices" to expand and adapt as required to cope with this monumental crushing of so, so many innocent and loving souls. Most of whom would have counted their famillies as their greatest and only wealth.
What is most needed is for one person in control of this disaster to think outside the confines of their narrow political view, cut all the red tape and realise that the most important rescource we all have is our Citizenry. Volunteers!!
We've failed the test, and it's time for the thinkers that have held sway, control.....power if you like, to stand aside and let the doers have a go. If this mess is worth anything at all to us on a humanity level it's only to demonstrate that the dollar driven system we all labour under is bereft of any compassion, care or concern for those that need it's help the most. The system is happy to exploit these people in the pursuit of profits not due them. But when the same system is needed for all it's rescources, skills and capabilities to avert a second humanitarian disaster.......namely the recovery and repatriation and care of injured and able-bodied survivors and avoiding the threat of disease soon to follow, lets fire up all the technology we have and make it work for us for a change instead of us being slaved to technology. My partner and I made fruitless round-a-bouts of phonecalls to aid agencies offering ourselves as volunteers to go .....well anywhere where we can be used in the effort. Finally on day 2 Ms B. got in contact with an aid agency rep and was told that we would not be needed unless we have a qualification that they could use. From the time we heard the first reports of this disaster it was obvious even with our seemingly limited intellect that this "event" as the boffins call tragedies such as this, was and is HUGE. Our reply surely should and could have been enormous and immediate. Instead we chose to count how much was left in the kitty after Christmas.
This needs us ALL involved to put right....not just the 'Aid Industry' whom clearly are overwhelmed and no-one will stand up, swallow the bitter pill and admit they can't cope and ask the people to help......not with money but with their hearts, minds and their strong backs. Let's form volunteers into working parties similar to the land army of WW2 and despatch people to all corners using airforce and appropriated-by-Government commercial airliners. Think about it folks......it can be done. Sadly it should have been done from hour 1. Any doctor will tell you whether injury or disease, ACTION taken in the first 12-24 hours means the patient has a much greater chance of survival rather than waiting 48 or 36 hours to find out how sick the patient really is........or whether we have enough MONEY to even start thinking about treating the casualty. I want to see our Government instead of pledging cash, passing legislation banning the making of profits in the relief of this disaster. Unfortunately all the worlds finished food and transportable water stores are in the hands of the corporate cartels....hence the extreme tardiness of the despatch of aid and supply missions. Pass emergency laws, get the supplies out of their homes in billion dollar, state-of-the-art warehouses, onto trucks and to ports, airports and rail links for transport and delivery to the obliterated sites by the combined world armed services, under U.N. direction. The rest of the world can deliver as much machinery as they can spare and volunteer hearts-on-the-ground to labour for those who just can't do it for themselves. How tacky and insignificant do the oil wars of recent history seem now?
Caring is not rocket science, it does'nt require a degree or a doctorate to feel. Huge miracles can be performed by lots of little people that just simply believe in the true non-religeous, non-racial meaning of Christmas. As I write this on New Years Day I'm forced to reflect on Christmas Day just gone and the irreplaceable time spent with my family, I must also think hard on the plight of millions of people facing 2005 with no home, no family and no-one anywhere that really gives a damn about whether they live or die. Paul Keating will call this "the guilt trip we had to have". My guilt runs hand in hand with frustration and despair. I hope also there are many others in Australia and abroad that feel the same. Forget the money, who cares about the cost? Lets just get it done and give all the affected souls some hope. Show them that we care, don't tell them how much we care, from a TV studio. If you can add ideas or help get things rolling by volunteering to do anything at all....No Qualifications Required.
Name, address and phone number supplied.
the Boell-Heard family
124 Langton St. Jacana
Victoria 3047
03 9309-8436
email: gpracer125@optusnet.com.au
If you can help get something arranged for a proper rescue bid for these people.....let's just find out who we all are......those of us that care enough to offer something greater in value than our money.....We need to let someone know this offer is out there, to co-ordinate efforts and organise support and rescources.
Help, all ideas needed but first off I need to be able to make contact with ANYONE from politics that has the WILL to help.....not hinder as we've been doing.
Leave a post if you can help
Geoff.
