An opportunity has come forward for the Canadian Communications and Relief Project to send two folks to Haiti for an initial feasibility study and to do what we can in order to hopefully help alleviate even a small portion of the suffering experienced in the month since the earthquake hit.
Geoffrey Young and Liam O Doherty are hoping to arrive in Haiti on Sunday, Feb 14, 2010. As well as arranging for accommodations and various other logistical concerns, we have compiled a considerable list of grassroots organizations working on the ground in Haiti in disaster relief, recovery, rebuilding and development into the future. Our plans for our meagre 7-10 day trip is to make contact with as many of these organizations as possible, whether they be schools, old folks homes, clinics, community organizations, orphanages etc…. in order to discern their level of determination to rebuild as well as their needs in doing so. These organizations will then be put in contact with similar individuals and organizations in order to receive direct support.
So much of the relief dollar related to any given disaster goes to administration and organizational costs leaving surprisingly little impact for the often staggering amount of donations pledged to a given disaster. By building direct grassroots support networks we feel that this can be remedied. We feel strongly that local capacity, knowledge and experience needs to be at the root of rebuilding of Haiti if the reconstruction is to achieve a stable, sustainable outcome.
With security concerns being of such immediate priority in disaster situations, it is not surprising that the largest institutions such as governments, militaries and bilateral relief agencies can become alienated from the local population. Our research indicates this to be the case currently in Haiti. We hope to be able to help to improve, and in some cases, open lines of communication and support between the affected community and large relief organizations in order to help bring relief resources to bear more directly on populations in need.
Finally, we aim to try to counteract the diminutions of the media cyclerelated the Haiti earthquake. As time passes from the actual event itself, media attention has waned. Despite this the humanitarian situation remains dire. By accessing independent media outlets, and providing direct reportage and information to as many outlets as possible, we hope to be able to provide part of the beginning of an ongoing reconstruction narrative which will continue long into the future.
Monday, February 15, 2010
CCRP PERSONEL CHANGES
The CCRP is expanding and is undertaking earthquake relief work in Haiti. In doing so we have expanded personnel and taken on new partners.
David Eisbrenner – Acquisitions and Public Relations. David sits on the board of regents at the University of Winnipeg. He is the Vice President Advocate of the University of Winnipeg Students association as well as a long time community radio producer and journalist. David will be working on acquisitions and domestically based support for our initial work in Haiti as well as dealing with media inquiries.
Alexander Braun – Web design and communications support. Sasha is a master web designer and a pioneer in Internet development as well as an artist, designer, activist and much more. Having designed things ranging from the first commercial Internet radio station to one of the Dee Dee Ramones’ last album, Sasha is overseeing web presence related to CCRP.
Liam O’Doherty is accompanying Geoffrey Young in Haiti. Liam has a background in environmental and community organizing, theatrical improvisation and social technology. He is currently studying communication theory at the University of Toronto while working as online community animator with TakingITGlobal,an online youth network. He recently led an international youth delegation to the COP15 Climate Change negotiations in Copenhagen.
Sallie Ann Glassman is now serving as a logistics consultant to CCRP. From Wikipedia : author, artist and New Orleans, Louisiana personality who has appeared in numerous national newspapers and electronic media broadcasts. Glassman has lectured extensively and has received international television, radio and magazine coverage, including a front page article in the New York Times and a feature on World News Tonight. She has received mention in other publications including Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, National Geographic and the Washington Post. Born in Maine and of Jewish-Ukrainian heritage, Glassman has been practicing Vodou in New Orleans since 1977 and is one of few White Americans to have been ordained via the traditional Haitian initiation.
Canada Haiti Action Network- The Winnipeg chapter of CHAN has been active for years in providing solidarity support to the people of Haiti. Members and associates have been instrumental in providing the connection for the logistical arrangements necessary to undertake our work in Haiti. University of Winnipeg Haiti Task Force- was a body formed at and by the University of Winnipeg to respond, in some way to the recent Haitian Earthquake. It is comprised of University alumni, faculty, administration and students who are attempting to form an effective University driven response to the recent disaster.
David Eisbrenner – Acquisitions and Public Relations. David sits on the board of regents at the University of Winnipeg. He is the Vice President Advocate of the University of Winnipeg Students association as well as a long time community radio producer and journalist. David will be working on acquisitions and domestically based support for our initial work in Haiti as well as dealing with media inquiries.
Alexander Braun – Web design and communications support. Sasha is a master web designer and a pioneer in Internet development as well as an artist, designer, activist and much more. Having designed things ranging from the first commercial Internet radio station to one of the Dee Dee Ramones’ last album, Sasha is overseeing web presence related to CCRP.
Liam O’Doherty is accompanying Geoffrey Young in Haiti. Liam has a background in environmental and community organizing, theatrical improvisation and social technology. He is currently studying communication theory at the University of Toronto while working as online community animator with TakingITGlobal,an online youth network. He recently led an international youth delegation to the COP15 Climate Change negotiations in Copenhagen.
Sallie Ann Glassman is now serving as a logistics consultant to CCRP. From Wikipedia : author, artist and New Orleans, Louisiana personality who has appeared in numerous national newspapers and electronic media broadcasts. Glassman has lectured extensively and has received international television, radio and magazine coverage, including a front page article in the New York Times and a feature on World News Tonight. She has received mention in other publications including Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, National Geographic and the Washington Post. Born in Maine and of Jewish-Ukrainian heritage, Glassman has been practicing Vodou in New Orleans since 1977 and is one of few White Americans to have been ordained via the traditional Haitian initiation.
Canada Haiti Action Network- The Winnipeg chapter of CHAN has been active for years in providing solidarity support to the people of Haiti. Members and associates have been instrumental in providing the connection for the logistical arrangements necessary to undertake our work in Haiti. University of Winnipeg Haiti Task Force- was a body formed at and by the University of Winnipeg to respond, in some way to the recent Haitian Earthquake. It is comprised of University alumni, faculty, administration and students who are attempting to form an effective University driven response to the recent disaster.
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