Ravi Philemon
The Haiti earthquake is probably one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the Americas. Over 100,000 people are feared dead. What may be even worse is that over 3 million are in need of immediate aid.
The 42nd President of the United States of America and the United Nations’ Special Envoy to Haiti Mr Bill Clinton writes, “We must care for the injured, take care of the dead, and sustain those who are homeless, jobless and hungry”.
Death can be seen everywhere in the capital of Haiti – Port-au-Prince. It is heart-wrenching to see bodies of little children laid in piles next to the ruins of their collapsed school; to see people roaming the street in a daze with blood covering their faces.
“Parliament has collapsed. The tax office has collapsed. Schools have collapsed. Hospitals have collapsed,” cries President of Hait, Rene Preval, while pleading for emergency aid to help his country cope with the most devastating earthquake to hit the Caribbean in over 200 years. It struck with a 7.0 magnitude, and was followed by aftershocks registering as high as 5.9 on the richter scale.
Haiti is one of the most impoverished countries in the Caribbean, due to the lack of natural resources, among other things.
This is a chance for Singapore and Singaporeans to rise up and reach out to our fellow human-beings – the Haitians, even though we live thousands of miles apart. We are after all a globalised city and what happens in Haiti, should affect us all here as well.
—–
This is a time for the government of Singapore to stand with the leaders of the global community to do what we can towards the relief of this natural disaster. It is strange that for more than 24 hours after the incident, neither the Singapore President, nor the Prime Minister, nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore has issued any message of condolence and support for the affected nation. Does this apathy exist because Haiti is too far away from Singapore geographically?
The private corporations should play their roles as responsible global citizens by pledging aid to the people of Haiti. “What we need in the first few days is to enable the humanitarian workers to do their jobs, to go in and do rescue and recovery… and that take cash”, says Caryl Stem, the President and CEO of US Fund for UNICEF, in urging corporations to support relief efforts by making cash donations.
Postings on the Channel News Asia forum suggest that some Singaporeans are already wanting to give towards disaster relief in Haiti, but they do not know where or to whom they can contribute to.
The Online Citizen called the Singapore Red Cross to see if they are organising any efforts for Haiti disaster relief. A spokesperson for Singapore Red Cross said that they are not coordinating any disaster relief at the moment for Haiti, but that if any individual or private corporations want to make any donations, they should send a cheque to, ‘Singapore Red Cross Society’ (designate the cheque in the back for Haiti earthquake relief) and mail it to 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486.
It is about time the people, the government and the private corporations in Singapore stopped speaking of the natural disaster in Haiti as a news item, and start sympathising deeply and stand in solidarity with the people in Haiti.
We are all citizens of this world after all!
HELP keep the voice of TOC alive!
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My heart goes to the people of Haiti.
I will contribute.
The French are responsible for this result, 20years ago the French test nuclear bomb in the South Pacific Ocean, 7 times test , collapse the Ocean Floor. This is a side effect which occur now. Times witness it.
The Singapore govt has little or no economic benefit to be gained with Haiti – this probably explains its apparent apathy.
What about Mercy Relief?
I went to red cross international website wish make a very small donate to haiti.
but they only accept us dollar euros..etc no sg dollar.
then i went to sg red cross website.
there is no place for us to donate to haiti.
hope sg red cross can let singaporean donate to haiti and we can pay the donation in sg dollars.
is this the same country where the majority faith slaughtered the minority clans/aith?
yes or no will do
it the tears of Heaven……..
beware doomsday is near and zombies are on the rise…….
and you all merely think it just a hollywoods blockbusters movies with so many sequenes….
[i]commentator on January 14th, 2010 7.58 pm The Singapore govt has little or no economic benefit to be gained with Haiti – this probably explains its apparent apathy. [/i]
bet with you..even lee kuanyew do not know how to pronouced the capital names as well and our prince his royal highness havn’t have a clue the exact location or the former international lanuage that were used decades ago…
Mon coeur et mes douleurs vont aux pauvres citoyens du Haïti peuvent Dieu avoir la pitié sur toi et mes prières va à tous ceux qui ont péri en cela des désastres
I just donated via Google’s Support Disaster Relief. Dun wait for Red Cross SG le la, take forever… I support Google, always one of the fastest to co-ordinate and get things done:
http://www.google.com/relief/haitiearthquake/#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-sk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=haitian%20donation
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20100114/tap-772-president-nathan-conveys-sympath-231650b.html
SINGAPORE : President SR Nathan has written to Haitian President Rene Preval to convey his sympathies to the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday.
In his letter, Mr Nathan said he is confident that under the Haitian president’s leadership and the assistance of the international community, Haiti will recover from this catastrophic event.
Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said in support of the international community’s humanitarian relief efforts for Haiti, the Singapore government will make a contribution of US$50,000 through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. — CNA /ls
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20100114/tap-730-singapore-red-cross-channel-dona-231650b.html
SINGAPORE : The Singapore Red Cross (SRC) said it will channel any donations made to help the quake victims in Haiti to the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
This will help the IFRC with their immediate relief efforts.
However the Singapore Red Cross said it will not be launching a public appeal here as several appeals have been made to Singaporeans to help survivors of disasters in the region.
SRC said it does not want to cause “donor fatigue”.
Nonetheless it will channel any donations made to the IFRC emergency appeal fund for Earthquake Haiti.
For logistical considerations, the Singapore Red Cross said it will not be accepting any donations—in—kind such as clothes or food. — CNA /ls
http://www.redcross.org.sg/Singapore-Red-Cross-assists-IFRC-in-channeling-donations-for-their-immediate-relief-operations-to-Earthquake-Haiti.phtml
Why red cross only.World Vision is the best organization to channel your hard-earned money to help the haiti people faster and less operational cost,as it has already existing volunteers in Haiti right now.When the Tsunami struck ACEH,
Indonesia 4 yrs ago,the were one first NGO to be there to do the relief work.I give my
100% recommendation to all who want to donate.
Charity begins at home. But then I am what I am.
“The Singapore Government will make a contribution of US$50,000 through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs”.
A paltry sum indeed, given that it could afford to lose millions through bad investments. Shameful, shameful.
Malumalu, how much did you spend on yourself today, and how much did you donate?
//“The Singapore Government will make a contribution of US$50,000 through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs”.
A paltry sum indeed, given that it could afford to lose millions through bad investments. Shameful, shameful. //
Their losses through GIC and TH amount to $US BILLIONS, not millions.
Sinkapoor, being a 1st world, Swiss-standard, unique, golden age country donates 50,000 miserable dollars each time there is a disaster, no matter how big or small, no matter how many have died, no matter how many victims are in need of food, water, clothing, shelter and all the necessities to survive. What a cold, calculating and insensitive bunch they are to do what they are doing.
I wish someone from UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs would just tell them to “STUFF IT!”
Ah Cow I agree with you. At first I look at the news and saw that Thailand donated 20K. I thought to myself WTF. Then I saw our great country toss 50K in Haiti’s direction. KNN I felt so ashamed. We have one of the top 4 GDPs in the world (as measured by IMF and World Bank) and yet our giving is like that of a 4th world country.
I am not OCHA, but I say STUFF IT!!!
US$50,000/- donations, for about 100,000 deaths and perhaps
3 millions displaced!! …………” What a disgrace to the people of
Sinkapoor”!!!!!!!
Did I hear somebody say, ” that’s peanuts “!!
S$50,000 for a disaster that’s nearly kill as many people as Tsunami 2004. This is really pathetic and disgraceful.
Don’t donate to the Singapore red cross. The bureaucracy to channel the money onwards will take time. Instead, donate online to the aid and charities agency now helping out directly in Haiti. That’s a dozen organisation listed on cnn website.
I’m too ashamed to call myself Singaporean.
From now on I’ll just say I’m an FT.
No point bashing the government.. its not constructive in the least sense of the word. They probably got more things on their hands to be worried about.
On the other hand, we should do something individually.. because, i believe if you think $50,000 is too little, it suggests that you can do something more. Otherwise, it is just all talk and no action…
Besides.. on the collective note, a little each would amount to much! :D
2) Political SalesMaN on January 14th, 2010 7.20 pm
The French are responsible for this result, 20years ago the French test nuclear bomb in the South Pacific Ocean, 7 times test , collapse the Ocean Floor. This is a side effect which occur now. Times witness it.
Or what the american evanglist Mr Pat Robertson called it ‘deal with the devil’ and the earthquake is their punishment.
NIce way of kick people when they are down.
Not everyone agrees with the above comments by Mr Pat Robertson.
There are many christian organisations both big and small helping in Haiti now or raising funds. Definitely more than the Singapore government donation.
I’m sure churches in Singapore and around the world will also be reminded to pray for and donate funds to Haiti.
Some of the organisations that i know are helping haiti now are:
(this list is not exhaustive, there are also others that i did not search).
Operation Blessing – http://www.ob.org/haitiprojects/index.asp
Samaritan’s Purse – http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
Salvation Army – http://www.salvationarmy.org/
World vision – http://www.worldvision.org/
Compassion – http://www.compassion.com/
Mission of Hope – http://www.mohhaiti.org/content
etc…
New Creation Church has committed to give US$30,000 to relief efforts in the wake of the Haiti earthquake.
I think City Harvest is sending a medical missions team there.
Not everyone agrees with Mr Pat Robertson.
Many Christian organisations are also helping out in Haiti.
New Creation has sent donations and City Harvest are sending medical teams.
35) Kenz on January 19th, 2010 10.20 pm
I did not say only christian groups are making all the effort : )
I believe Pat Robertson is entitled to his own views.
I donated through compassion.com
Hi everyone
You can help support Unicef’s relief work in Haiti through this link.
http://www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=9fLEJSOALpE&b=1023561
Thanks.
Andrew
Glad that you DONT think Pat’s view should be accepted.
Just to set the record straight, why Haiti is plagued with poverty.
Contrary to what some might say ‘pact with the devil’ scenario.
For example, Haiti’s political unrest and economic poverty has largely been due to both U.S. and European intervention. In 1791, Toussaint L’Ouverture led a slave rebellion defeating Napoleon’s army winning Haiti’s its independence in 1804. Fearful that the Haitian revolution might inspire enslaved Africans in other parts of the world to rebel, bringing an end to slavery worldwide, US Congress banned trade with Haiti joining French and Spanish boycotts. These embargoes crippled Haiti’s economy to this day.
The quake is resulted due to Haiti, sitting on the fault line between 2 large tectonic plates.
So i would urge the likes of Pat, or others that might want to follow his footstep.
Offer aid, but minus the made up story just to advance their agenda.
Peace.
i think we nid more than money.. haiti needs manpower, relief workers, doctors and surgeon!!! argh.. too bad im totally not one…..
It is indeed very sad.
This could be a reason why it was reported in “Russia Today” television recently, on the implementation of regulations on missionaries works.
I still remember the tsunamis, and how the missionaries were exploiting those affected.
Now we are seeing the effects in Haiti including the Philippines.
Those who have watched Dr Fu Manchu movies, would know some of his verses:
“You got no brain,
You cannot think,
You do what I command you to do !”
Hmmmm i think there’s no end to what suffering the Haitians need to be put through.
Just when they are trying to survive the catastrophe, there are those that would take advantage of the situations. (by that i mean the so called Christians)
Trafficking children in the midst of the disaster. Appalling!!!
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/31/haiti.border.arrests/index.html
2nerd – Feb 1, 2010 19:25
I still remember the tsunamis, and how the missionaries were exploiting those affected.
Now we are seeing the effects in Haiti including the Philippines.
- I believe the Christians have helped those countries affected by the tsunami and are still helping them now. Exploited is a strong word. Nobody can force you to accept anything.
Those who have watched Dr Fu Manchu movies, would know some of his verses:
“You got no brain, You cannot think, You do what I command you to do !”
- Sounds like the PAP.
Andrew,
in exchange for food/shelter and other necessity, people in those situations are almost willing to do almost anything.
That brings back the point, help / aid effort is good. Dont cheapen it by trying to do missionary works at the same time.
A bit like shipping solar powered bibles to Haiti when they needed the most, food and other aids.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/19/2796032.htm
Kenz – Feb 1, 2010 19:32
Just when they are trying to survive the catastrophe, there are those that would take advantage of the situations. (by that i mean the so called Christians)
Trafficking children in the midst of the disaster. Appalling!!!
–
http://www.rebelnews.org/politics/americas/181378-us-citizens-say-they-didnt-abduct-haitian-children
they were trying to move the children from the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince to temporary shelters in the Dominican Republic. They say the children are from an orphanage that was damaged, and they were moving them to another facility.
A senior US official with direct knowledge of the case sided with the group, saying there was no indication of child trafficking.
The Baptist group planned to take 100 kids by bus to a 45-room hotel in Cabarete, a beach resort in the Dominican Republic, that they were converting into an orphanage,
the group’s spokeswoman, Laura Silsby, told AP at the judicial police headquarters in the capital, where they were being held pending a Monday hearing before a judge.
No charges have yet been filed against the group.
Kenz – Feb 1, 2010 20:27
in exchange for food/shelter and other necessity, people in those situations are almost willing to do almost anything.
- People can rob and kill for food aid etc, how many will believe and be a long term believer. Handouts can’t change a person.
That brings back the point, help / aid effort is good. Don’t cheapen it by trying to do missionary works at the same time.
- I don’t think what they are doing is cheap. Try to spend some money to fly there to help.
A bit like shipping solar powered bibles to Haiti when they needed the most, food and other aids.
– They are Christians already in Haiti. Maybe you don’t need a religion, but they might.
http://www.faithcomesbyhearing.com/more-relief-groups-request-solar-powered-audio-bibles-haiti
More Relief Groups Request Solar-Powered Audio Bibles for Haiti
“Many pastors and priests have died in the earthquake,” said a Haitian ministry leader.
“People are taking refuge in the churches that are still standing, seeking comfort. People are suffering and asking for God’s help. The need for the Bible is more urgent than we imagined,” he said.
Faith Comes By Hearing, a non-profit Bible ministry, is coming alongside disaster relief services, churches and ministries to provide these solar-powered Audio Bibles to minister emotional and spiritual healing to those who have lost and suffered so much.
Andrew ….
It might help your case if the some of ‘orphans’ didn’t not proclaim they still have family,
while offering their phone numbers, or wanting to go to their relatives?
(please read the whole broadcast in CNN).
And who is this senior US government official? (your article from a fundie christian website hardly add credibility) this i get from reading the science section of Rebelnews.
This came about just after Haiti government worried about child trafficking, as it gets difficult to account for missing children.
Honestly i don’t know how to answer your 2nd comment.
(bewildered to say the least, but will give it a go)
Put together Pat Robertson’s speech couple with those audio bibles.
Hey hey hey , you have got a god fearing sermon to be deliver to a mass of hungry , homeless , injured people (in exchange for their renewed ‘faith’). Nice.
Kenz – Feb 1, 2010 21:38
It might help your case if the some of ‘orphans’ didn’t not proclaim they still have family, while offering their phone numbers, or wanting to go to their relatives? (please read the whole broadcast in CNN).
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/31/haiti.border.arrests/index.html
- In the interview at 2:10sec the girl’s mother agreed to handover her only daughter to the americans, as she believed her child will be schooled and be well cared for.
–
I believe that they will be held accountable for their actions.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61048020100201?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
the judge would decide whether the Americans would be tried in Haiti or if they should be sent home to the United States for trial because of the damage inflicted on the courts and staff of the Haitian judicial system by the quake.
Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, who has cited reports of child trafficking and even human organ trafficking since the quake, has called the arrested Americans “kidnappers.” But he has acknowledged the possibility they were misguided but acting in good faith to help the children.
–
Whether they believe in Pat Robertson, the bibles or voodoo is up to them. Whether they find their faith, renew their faith or give up their faith is up to them. If they are hungry, homeless or injured there are also christians willing to help them. They don’t have to exchange anything. Eternal life is free.
Andrew
I can understand your need to defend these missionaries.
But fundamentally the haitian laws are disregarded in their ‘humanitarian’ efforts.
Furthermore there are so much doubt.
1. They dont have any paperwork.
“They really didn’t have any paperwork … I did not understand that that would really be required,” the leader of the arrested group, Laura Silsby, told CNN.
2. Some of the orphans are not really ‘orphaned’.
George Willeit of SOS Children’s Villages — who said that Haitian police and the social ministry brought the children to his group — said some of the children have living relatives.
“Some of them for sure are not orphans,” he told CNN. “Immediately after she arrived here, a girl — she might be 9 years old — was crying loudly, ‘I am not an orphan, I do have my parents, please call my parents,’ ” he said.
“And some of the other kids as well, they have their phone numbers, even, with them from their parents,” he said. He said he believes that at least 10 are not orphans.
3. Not everything as it’ seemed.
Many of the children said they are from Fort Jacques, a town about seven miles from Port-au-Prince, according to Bernard-Pierre.
Finally, i am not bashing their efforts. But bear in mind with the chaos amidst the disaster and child trafficking/organ trafficking being reported in Haiti.
Dont you think the rest of the world should or shouldnt be concerned?
(just because they are christian do not means they get diplomatic immunity)
Kenz – Feb 2, 2010 15:53
I did not know about Pat Robertson, this group or the Solar-Powered Audio Bibles until you mentioned them. I’m sure they have and will pay the price for what they have said and done. I do not agree with their methods.
My concern is that I feel you seem to take delight in highlighting their folly, and making it seem illegal to spread their beliefs. I’m concerned about anti-christian feelings and the right to evangelise : )
Andrew
It was illegal in a big way, of trying to move children across national borders without papers.
(despite a catastrophe and perpetrators are christian does not change the facts at all).
Honestly am not anti-christian. just anti fundamentalist / religion fanaticism.
Right to evangelise need to within the law as well. :-)
It is true that there is always the two sides of a coin.
I am pragmatic.
Those who have read histories, would know who were the first batch of missionaries to Haiti or the Philippines.
So this is the fruits of their efforts ?
I remember a priest once said,
“Be wary of false teachings !” (Creator ?).
To date, have not read any evangelists coming forward to exploit this disasters.
No billies ?
Some said God (with a capital “G” not a small “g”) must be angry at those early missionaries ?
So just observe !
Kenz,
We 100% agree with you that these poor and desperate people need all the essentials they can get. Governments and organizations are in a global initiative breaking their backs to get millions upon millions of dollars worth of that aid there.
These audio bibles are being shipped out in small phases (on a space-available basis) along with food, water, medical supplies, etc. We are responding to requests by disaster relief groups, medical teams, native Haitian pastors, etc., they are calling us asking us for these devices. We are doing what we can to that response.
And, how do you proselytize an already predominantly Christian nation? These Bibles don’t have any preaching, teaching, doctrine, denominational nothing on them. It’s just the Bible. People listen then make up their own mind.
Some see this as opportunism, but our organization has been working in Haiti since 1986. We work in 150 other nations with their poor and illiterate too and have responded to other disasters by providing people emotional and spiritual healing through the Word of God.
Kenz – Feb 2, 2010 23:07
It was illegal in a big way, of trying to move children across national borders without papers.
(despite a catastrophe and perpetrators are christian does not change the facts at all).
Honestly am not anti-christian. just anti fundamentalist / religion fanaticism.
Right to evangelise need to within the law as well. :-)
–
I agree that it was illegal, they were carried away with what they were trying to achieve.
I don’t think that they have evangelised anyone.
I just don’t wish that these 2 events overshadow the good that is being done by christians there.
Comment: Jon
….Audio bibles…
So you have a motive for helping others ?
“If you don’t accept the bible, no help” ?
But a priest once said,
“When England and France were at war, which god was better !”
In the present context, you do expect a return when you treat a girl to a meal, don’t you ?
Jon
And, how do you proselytize an already predominantly Christian nation? These Bibles don’t have any preaching, teaching, doctrine, denominational nothing on them. It’s just the Bible. People listen then make up their own mind.
Perhaps after being condemn by that famous american tele-evanglist as devils accomplices, therefore their faith desperately needed to be renewed on top of other neccessities such as food, shelter and safety.
What better time, than when they are desperate for food/aid/shelter.
(and the bibles are just coincidentally there:-)).