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Grassroots Aid for Earthquake Struck Communities
He mihi nui ki a koutou
He mihi aroha hoki ki nga tangata katoa e noho ana ii Ootautahi.
As I process the shocking news of the huge 7.2 strength earthquake that hit the city of my birth on Saturday, I am reminded of the Common Ground collective, which was on the ground helping people in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina before the government inspectors had even arrived to survey the damage. John Key has proved he is more organised (or at least more PR savvy) than the Bush regime, and TVNZ reports that he has already flown down for a rubberneck, as a "sign of solidarity". However, despite the eternal vigilence of our smiling Chairman, I wonder if there are any ways that an organised grassroots response from activists could follow the Common Ground example in the shaken city?
Many of us have survival skills we don't even think of as being relevant to a disaster situation. Years of camping, occupations, organising hui, focalising gatherings, and volunteering at festivals have taught us how to keep people sheltered, warm, and fed in less than ideal conditions. Many of us have first aid knowledge, and other healing skills. We're also used to organising ourselves in a peer-to-peer fashion; gathering rapidly in response to unexpected events; evaluating what needs to be done; and helping everyone present identify what part they can play.
I am currently in Ootepoti, but I intend to make my way north on Thursday. If anyone is part of a radical response to the earthquake, or wants to be, please make contact:
http://www.disintermedia.net.nz/strype
Nau te raurau, naku te raurau, ka ora ai te iwi
Naku noa
Danyl Strype
http://www.facebook.com/event
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=111867635538916&index=1
earthquake response
Hi,
This grassroots response is already happening. In Lyttelton Lyttelton Time Bank has now been running for three years involving many people in the community with sharing skills and caring for each other.
When the earthquake struck the time bank swung into gear.
The time bank communication system provided regular updates through email, helped all in the community who needed it, provided baking, drop in spaces, phone support, checked on the elderly and even sent volunteers to help with Civil Defence community shelters in Christchurch. The time bank initiative and the ongoing community building of its host organisation Project Lyttelton, proves that empowered connected communities have a resilience and capacity to respond to community needs in a way that is fast, effective, organised and loving.
It is wonderful that this has been recognised by Tariana Turia in the attached press release and I hope that this sort of community self empowerment is able to start thinking shifts in the funding area and social service delivery.
For more information on time banking see www.lyttelton.net.nz or www.timebanks.org
Hon Tariana Turia
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
Tuesday 7 September 2010; 3.15pm
Release
Community and Voluntary Sector Minister, Tariana Turia, has expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the volunteers, friends and families who have so willingly expressed the hand of manaakitanga in supporting the communities of Otautahi.
“People throughout Canterbury have shown when the going gets tough, the tough get going – putting aside their anxieties and fear, to give their time, skills and energies to others” said Mrs Turia.
“It has been wonderful to see the way people have stepped up to the mark, in their own way. Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu has set up their facebook page to provide the space for whanau to send messages of support; youth groups have also used Facebook to get mobilised – setting up work teams to clear the streets of silt and rubble”.
“And of course the amazing contribution of volunteers in formally organised groupings such as Civil Defence Centres, the Welfare Centres, and the Red Cross has been seen in the long hours of dedicated efforts”.
Mrs Turia was particularly enthusiastic about the local time-banking scheme in Lyttelton. Ten percent of Lytteltonians have signed up to the challenge of checking on the elderly, providing drinking water, helping the Fire Brigade and creating that necessary central space for people to come together.
“Time Banking is a wonderful concept that grows self-help by trading skills in a community. Members of a Time Bank share their skills with other members within the community and are given time credits for the work they do. They can then "cash-in" the credits they gain to get the services and support they need”.
“This is a great example of community resilience and the generosity of spirit that helps everyone to get through the trauma of events as they have unfolded, in the wake of the Otautahi earthquake” said Mrs Turia.
Helen Leahy
Senior Ministerial Advisor
Acting Chief of Staff, Maori Party
Telephone: (04) 817-9170
Facsimile: (04) 817-6526
Cell: 021-881-031