OUR TSUNAMI OF COMPASSION AND CONCERN

A NEW YEAR’S EVE DISCUSSION

CHARITIES TO SUPPPORT

I know that I swore up and down that I was taking the week off but the Tsunami rocked my world too, however from a distance. Having made a film in the Indonesian island of Sumatra, I was especially shocked by the damage and death there and in nearby Aceh. I can understand why media outlets might feel more comfortable reporting from a seaside resort in Thailand, but, yo, half the dead and casualties are in Indonesia.

The United In Diversity organization in Indonesia is accepting tax deductible donations to channel funds to groups on the ground. I know these people and respect them:

Bank of New York
ABA#021000018
Reference Acc: #8900337281
Circle Trust Company–NSCC, DDA Give 2Asia

MOVING THE MEDIA

I believe our world’s media outlets can take a more pro-active lead not just as a bearer of bad news but as a tool of mobilization. Hence the MediaChannel’s SOS TUSNAMI — UNITED MEDIA APPEAL IDEA post.

MediaChannel and Media for Democracy members are responding, as are some media outlets. Can we do more? We have to. Calling on the media collectively and individually to do more is a start. They have tremendous power.

In a few hours, here in New York anyway, thousands will do the Times Square thing, cheering out the old year and welcoming the new. I am not sure how people in the disaster region will feel about the spectacle this year. Couldn’t it be toned down? On the other hand, anything that speeds the end of this terrible year may be welcome. I would jump around if I thought it would help.

Responses are still coming in to our appeal for a media appeal. As you will read, its like a mini tsunami of e-mails. (Join the dialogue: e-mail dissector@mediachannel.org.) Here’s what some of you are saying:

THREE CHEERS

S Ferdinand:

“Three cheers for giving Big Media’s conscience a nudge, that is, if they have not completely silenced it. I’m beginning to have hopes when I tune in to independent news outlets which are unafraid to “tell it as it is”.”

Jane Pratt:

“From your base in NYC, would you be able to contact the UN and media people there? If they are on board, I can certainly help contact media folks that I know, as well as some of the groups (like Sarvodaya in Sri Lanka) that launched immediate relief efforts.

I note that the Move On folks have already set up an on-line donation and petition campaign.

FROM AUSTRALIA

Greg Tingle writes:

“Your media appeal for the Asian tsunami makes sense.

Here’s my little effort @Asian earthquake and tsunami resources:
http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/tsunami.html
http://www.mediaman.com.au/profiles/coastal.html

“I have actually been to Thailand — Phi Phi Island, Phuket and Patong, and it’s an early feeling knowing you have been standing, dining and such in places that are no longer what they were. I met my ex wife in a Thai restaurant on Sydney’s northern beaches some 12 years ago, and we had holidays in Thailand half a dozen times. Susie is in Thailand with my daughter at the moment, and thank God they are in Bangkok, and not in the coastal region. By the way, the question of an existence of God has come up for discussion again, and no doubt there are arguments on both sides.”

RADIO DAILY NEWS IS HELPING

Larry Shannon, Publisher, RadioDailyNews.com, TalkRadioDailyNews.com:

“Good idea. I’ve lifted a few lines from your comments and put them in the RDN CENTRAL section at www.radiodailynews.com along with your e-mail link and a link to the full text. I hope it brings a few e-mails your way.”

Susan Oehler in Ashville NC:

“I have been doing my own appeals to friends, family and co-workers… with the message:

“FOR A $100 DOLLARS YOU CAN SAVE A LIFE!”

“And they have been giving! Because, literally, a hundred dollars worth of food, water, medicine will keep these people alive. I have discovered some blogs from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia. Very interesting to read.

“Keep blogging about the tsunami relief. This event is unprecedented in our lifetimes, and will be the worst natural disaster we ever see. (some man-made ones may be worse, however) I predict 250,000+ dead from the original tsunami, and probably twice that in the after effects. Some people are just going to die because they give up, sadly.”

SHAME THEM

Ingrid Barnett:

“I think you have a wonderful idea here. But with big media being so self-serving and bottom line hungry, how one goes about action is beyond me. Somehow they need to be shamed into action, just like our vacationing president had to be shamed. Keep up the good work. ”

FROM FINLAND

Aleta Armstrong:

“That’s a good idea! I don’t know what the response has been from the US concerning donations and help, that would be good to know. Here in Finland everybody has responded to the appeals for aid and already 3 million € has been collected, and we are a small country with only a population of 5 million. Towns have cancelled new year fireworks and will donate to the fund instead as tomorrow is a day of mourning. There are hundreds of Finns still missing and hope is running out. This disaster has touched us all and we have to all respond, those countries in South Asia affected need our help so they can rebuild their lives.”

LET’S DO IT

Sue Marcus from Washington State:

“Let’s do it! I have never before felt so helpless or useless as I have this week, seeing what has happened (and will happen) to those poor people! Gathering everyone together for one concerted effort to help is what America needs - a reminder that we are all members of the human family and can respond to others’ tragedies. And the American media might just possibly feel so good about making it happen that they’ll realize what they’ve been missing by doing nothing but money-grubbing and not helping to make our society better. I will do anything I can to get this going.”

Dori Smith has some ideas:

“One idea is to call for volunteers for building brigades to replace housing for people. A chain building supply store could be asked to participate. I’m sure there will be no shortage of ideas.

“I like your idea of creating boxes to put out at stores. Maybe they could have a common theme design of a wave or something that will become representative of the fund drive to save the lives of the most vulnerable victims… the kids. One third of the victims were children according to Unicef. Here are the stories about aid drives I could come up with and that I would feel comfortable supporting.
http://tinyurl.com/44szr
www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=iuI1LdP0G&b=276341
www.unicef.org/

“Better yet, how about an international multi-media telethon designed to monopolize mainstream media byways and airwaves with a concerted appeal for aid.” –What about asking Link TV and FSTV to coordinate this? I’ll help in any way I can.

Seen this hideous article about Bush in Texas on vacation during the Tsunami aid coordinating efforts?
www.villagevoice.com/blogs/bushbeat/

FROM SRI LANKA

The Dambadeniiya Development Foundation (www.ddfnet.org), which is a non profit organization involve in community development, has set up 5 aid /service providing centers to facilitate the need of the victims.

“We hereby humbly request your generous helping hand in providing cash/inkind material such as feeding bottles, thermoflasks, first aid kits, kitchen utensils, water filters and purification kits, tents, emergency lamps, long life food items, baby foods and field level sterilizing equipments.”

BROOKLYN IN THE HOUSE

Linda Greco:

“We’ve met a couple of times. Once at the media reform conference in Wisconsin and once at the Greg Palast event at Cooper Union. I work for Brooklyn Community Access Television (BCAT). We have proposed to the Red Cross doing a live, one hour television program on 1//11/05 from 9pm-10pm on BCAT to raise money for the relief efforts in Asia. Once the Red Cross confirms their participation on that date, the goal is to get the public access stations in the other boroughs to sign on and carry this program simultaneously on their channel via an interconnect feed that exists between the boroughs. I sincerely hope this will materialize. This is a much smaller scale than what you propose but it is a start. I am definitely in favor of your proposal. What do I have to do to sign on?”

THE APPEAL CAN WORK: CHICAGO RADIO SHOWS US HOW

Steve Robinson, Manager of WFMT and the WFMT Radio Network:

“A friend just sent me your email appeal to the nation’s media. Your idea is a good one, but I think one way to get the job done is to do it city by city. Here’s what one little old classical music station in Chicago is doing. Since this article appeared in today’s Chicago Sun-Times, virtually every radio and TV station in Chicago is come on board. This includes nearly ALL stations owned by the conglomerates. Wednesday in Chicago is going to be a wild day.

“Broadcasters team up to assist tsunami relief

“In an unprecedented and spontaneous show of unity, Chicago broadcasters are joining forces to aid the relief effort for victims of the catastrophic tsunami.

“Starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday and running throughout the day, radio and television stations will air public service announcements urging listeners and viewers to donate money to the American Red Cross/Chicago by calling a designated 800 number. Many also will air news stories and special programming related to the fund-raiser and provide online links from their Web sites.

“The idea of a daylong cooperative media event began with Steve Robinson, senior vice president of WFMT-FM (98.7).

“Within hours of placing the calls, virtually every Chicago station called back to say: ‘Count us in,’ ” Robinson said. “The response has been truly overwhelming. As people will see on Wednesday, our collective power to perform a community service is going to be enormous.”

“As of midweek, participating TV stations include WLS-Channel 7, WGN-Channel 9 and WTTW-Channel 11. Others are expected to join.

Radio stations onboard so far include WFMT, WGN-AM (720), WGCI-FM (107.5), WVAZ-FM (102.7), WNUA-FM (95.5), WLIT-FM (93.9), WKSC-FM (103.5), WGRB-AM (1390), WRLL-AM (1690), WTMX-FM (101.9), WILV-FM (100.3), WDRV-FM (97.1), WUSN-FM (99.5), WXRT-FM (93.1), WBBM-FM (96.3), WKQX-FM (101.1), WLUP-FM (97.9), WLS-AM (890), WZZN-FM (94.7) and WMVP-AM (1000).

EMEMBER IRAQ

Peggy Tibbetts writes:

“Your heartfelt plea to the media to “contribute their own capital — airtime, column inches, webspace and billboards — to a coordinated high impact effort to raise tens of millions to aid the region” is genuine and I applaud you.

“However at this time of sorrow for the horrendous loss and suffering of hundreds of thousands of beautiful human beings, my thoughts also turn to the loss and suffering of the Iraqi people — more than 100,000 Iraqi victims of a senseless war brought on by US aggression. For this the media bears an enormous responsibility, even more than for the suffering in and around the Indian Ocean. As far as I know the media did not participate in this natural disaster.

“However in Iraq it is a different story. And the media has fallen far short of their responsibility there. The media not only did not investigate the lies of the Bush administration, they picked up the drumbeat and broadcast the lies to the American people and the rest of the world.

“When millions, in the US and worldwide, marched in opposition to the war before the first bomb was ever dropped, they ignored us. They refuse to show the coffins of American soldiers, they lie about American casualties, they never show military families whose lives have been destroyed by this unjust war. But even this is dwarfed by the silence of the media to the suffering, devastation, and havoc that the US is wreaking upon the Iraqi people. They are silent as the US continues to annihilate an entire civilization.

“I have just spent the past 20 months of the Iraq war researching and writing a book about it. I am utterly devastated by the truth as I have come to know it to be. I have searched and found the photos and stories of horrible personal loss and suffering that continues still to this day, seemingly without end — women and children, toddlers and infants, blown apart by bombs and missiles, burned alive by napalm, entire families violently obliterated. And for the Iraqi survivors there is only heartache, grief, more suffering through days and nights of endless terror.

“The media has more than the power to raise of tens of millions of dollars in aid. They have the power to end war. That they have chosen not to is by far the greatest human tragedy of all time.”

FROM A REPUBLICAN NAMED DON:

“I agree in principle. After all, I am a Republican and have moral feelings, real ones, not the bullshit liberal variety i.e., the real liberals are on the barricades.

“However, you are asking the media, who is discredited as a result of their new role of entertainment, i.e.. emotion, rather than news, to do something noble?

“Since the TV news media went 24/7 coverage, they have had to struggle to maintain listenership and since there is not enough real news for 224.7, they have to ‘invent’. this means they grasp at anything and put their slant on whatever they come up with. They are thus so into the emotional business. to do so, they have to slant sand spin, hence the loss of credibility.

“They have gotten away from balanced news, into their own personal agendas.

“Plus, the public does not want to see continuous coverage of unpleasant news. They will tire and turn away form the continuing coverage you suggest. People are fickle, esp. the US public.

“I want to see NEWS. I don’t want to see real life, and TV does not show it except when and where it suits their biases.

“I will do my part to help the victims, but don’t try and jam it down my throat. You will have to do that with the Democrats and others less spiritually developed.”

FROM A SEASIDE COMMUNITY

Bill Worthington, from Truro MA on Cape Cod:

“Danny, that’s great humane thinking. But - I don’t own a store, much less a public office or a network. When the appeal is made, I’ll give. Meanwhile, I’ll probably give what I think I can to Oxfam.

“As I learn more, I’ll probably find that some more is available. Keep doing so much!”

LETS E-MAIL THE NETWORKS

B.A Rosenberg:

“What you need to do is set some way that all of us can deluge the bigshots with e-mail in support of the telethon. Can you do that? Something that will simultaneously go out to all the networks.”

SOMALIA NEEDS HELP TOO

AfricaEd writes:

“I am wondering why Somalia is being ignored by the International community? If the President can have 40 million dollars spent for his inauguration why can’t more money, aid and assistance be provided to the countries that need it regardless of their color or religion? I applaud the UN for putting together at least 500 million dollars to get the program up and running.

“We sure as hell spend a lot of money in a country that did not have anything to do with the US, and secondly we are going to try Saddam and I wonder on what grounds?

“The media has failed to do its job and have a telethon to raise more money to assist those people who need and deserve it. Seems as though disaster always strikes the poor who are in dire need!”

I WILL GO THERE IF NECESSARY

Wendy Schulte:

“Yes I’ll be glad to help where I can, even going there if necessary.

Karen Schweiker:

“Thank you for contacting MediaChannel members with your plea. Please give us the names of the most influential “haves”, so us ordinary human beings can contact them for relief donations towards this horrific disaster. It boggles the mind how so many haves have so much, yet lower middle class Americans support these kinds of grass roots efforts. I know my husband and I try desperately to help others with the little that we have–mainly our Rescue Mission in Phoenix, AZ and other related charities. America is so underestimated in the world and blamed for so much, yet our people continually take the helm with aid packages and efforts to help others with little or no recognition for doing so. The whole world aid thing has been going on for so long, for years and years, and America has ALWAYS been there.

“Again, thank you for your contact, and please let members know who to contact.”

Richard Fitzhugh: “Good ideas, keep it up!”

Billie Brewer of San Antonio Tx: “Would like to give $100.00 to some organization that will use it to help people and not stuff their coffers”

Mrs Dolly Bernau: “I believe by having a Telethon on TV, would give every American the chance to help those in need right now. It is the most awful thing that has touched every American’s heart.and would be a way to let the people affected by this awful disaster, know that American’s care very much”

WE NEED HELP HERE

Richard Marquez, a grassroots Chicano activist in San Francisco’s Mission District:

“I only wish you’d do an analysis of the social and racial tsunamis hitting communities of color in the USA, and ask for a mass appeal from the media to provide an SOS for us here at home in the belly of the beast. I support solidarity with my brothers and sisters devastated by the disaster in southeast Asia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka — people of color, of course, but for us here at home, devastation is crippling, drowning and killing our future prospects — not to mention, the disproportionate number of Latino and African American men dying in Iraq.”

PASS THE HAT AT THE SUPERBOWL

Clara Coen:

“I think it is a great idea, and I am grateful that you pointed out that this puts 9/11 into perspective ( as horrible and as upsetting that was). I would love to sign on, but I am leaving the country in a few days…I have already donated to some relief organizations. If your effort continues after I get back (end of January) i would be happy to participate. Thanks,

PS: as long as you are thinking “big” how about passing the hat at the Superbowl?”

Jan writes:

“I cannot imagine any sane person not being willing to donate, etc etc, to that incredible disaster. I, for one, never dreamed that a tsunami had such power to devastate every thing and every person in its path.

“What we here (safe and sound) need are specific places or organizations to contribute what we can to the survivors right now, and later to the needs of rebuilding housing which is pretty much a shambles. Is the Red Cross on the scene? Doctors Without Borders? Unicef?

“If we don’t know, we can’t help”

FROM CANADA

Carole Walker from Toronto.

“You have my vote — I’ve already made my contribution to UNICEF. Hope many others can be convinced of the worthiness of the cause.”

Steve Krysak:

“I agree completely with you in regarding “SOS TSUNAMI”.

“Your words really got to me, made me think. The media needs to respnod to this as a whole. Covering everything. As you said, a United Media Appeal.

“There needs to be one place for donations, accessible everywhere. In our malls, schools and places of work.

“Although I am just a 15 year old kid in rural Ontario, I feel that something must be done. If there is any efforts that help is needed on, just e-mail me and I’ll do anything that I can.”

GOOD IDEA, BUT RESPONSIBLE REPORTING IS NEEDED TOO

Jim Skillington writes: “Interesting and compelling appeal, Danny.

“But as one who covers disasters day in and day out, my worry is that like 9/11, millions of dollars will be raised without any idea how the donations will be used or even if the organizations receiving the funds will use the money for this — or any disaster for that matter.

“What I wish the media would do is become more responsible in reporting how people can help. For example, on Tuesday the Washington Post was listing two responding “nonprofits” that had been incorporated the day before by well-meaning people who had no established connections with any of the organizations already on the ground in the affected area. (See our story: www.disasternews.net/news/news.php?articleid=2523)

“Suggesting one fund, all to be given to the UN, like FEMA aid in this country, may mean segments of the populations affected will not receive any aid. The UN is currently soliciting donations on its Web site from the public for UNICEF (children) and UNHCR (refugees).

“It may prove more effective to give money to organizations like Church World Service that have had long-term relationships with relief agencies in the affected countries. Many of these organizations also send nearly all of their donation dollars to the specific disaster — that’s not true of all of the nonprofits collecting money in this disaster. A large percentage of donor dollars in some organizations go to administrative costs — the news media needs to be asking how much will actually get to survivors.

“And, BTW, there’s still plenty of need in Florida and people without furnaces or hot water heaters in Western PA and WV thanks to the fall hurricanes. There’s been much said about the billions in US government aid allotted for Florida, but alot of that money has gone to rebuild infrastructure instead of reaching the survivors.

It’s going to be a long-term project to help the areas impacted by the Tsunami. I worry that without responsible reporting, much of the money raised will not be available for the long-term.”

ITS POLITICS, STUPID

Sue Campbell writes from Montana:

“The Tsunami Tidal wave, an act of nature, has brought about horrible destruction, death, and suffering. It seems to have killed and injured almost as many people as have been killed and injured by the incompetent misdeeds of the savage terrorist bush gang. The world has not lifted a finger to help the Iraqis who for the past several years have endured the bombs, death, destruction, pain, torture, captivity, sickness, perpetrated by the bush gang. Why do you think the world cares any more about the folks subject to the Tsunami than the world cares about the Iraqi people??

“At least nobody is supporting what the Tsunami did. The real tragedy of 2004 is that almost half of American voters appear to have voted for the destruction caused by the savage terrorist bush gang. Perhaps those same people enjoy watching the loss of lives, the destruction and suffering in the Indian Ocean area. Perhaps they are feeling badly that nature appears to be able to cause more death, destruction, and suffering, than they are able to cause.

“What if the bush gang exploits this terrible tragedy to kill the remaining Iraqi people and freely loot the oil resource, while the International press is looking the other way?? We can’t do anything about nature. We should be able to take control of thugs and terrorists in our midst.”

BANDWITH AVAILABLE

Steve Starr:

“We can help with zeroing out bandwidth costs. Go to http://dijjer.org.

“Open source, large file solution.

“Free.”

NOT THE UN PLEASE

Paul Harrington:
“Not the UN, please. Any outfit but not that screwed up bunch.”

Marylyn Russell:

“Yes… It is very important to have a central cog in the wheel of organizations. I am supportive of your idea of a united media info “cog.”"

BEWARE SCAMS

Matthew Shelley:

“One of the things I have started to see already is appeals and sites on the internet from groups I have never heard of.
www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/catid/38/cpid/227.htm

“One might guess that a fair number of these are scams and I think it’s important to stress to people that they should thoroughly investigate any “charity” that is asking for money. Activities of any that are even remotely questionable should be widely disemminated so that they can be inspected under the microscope of public scrutiny.

“It is important for us to get the story out widely and to be generous, it is also important that we make sure the help is properly allocated to do the maximum amount of good. There are even some legitimate charities that have expense ratios that are way too high. ”

RESOURCE: TO CHECK CHARITIES

Charity Watch - The mission categories below list charities which get high grades from AIP for putting 75% or more towards program cost while generally spending $25 or less to raise $100. These groups also receive an “open book” credit from AIP for willingly sending the financial documents we request.

www.charitywatch.org/toprated.html

THE PERSONAL OVER THE POLITICAL

Anna Taylor:

“Political note: major media run silver lining personal STORIES. The POLITICAL silver lining (have a whole essay on this just waiting to be typed) is that Bush’s tinhorn savagery in Iraq and war on terrorism is dwarfed, and made to look stupid and, bad as it is, un-grand . . .”

Eric:

“I totally agree with you. The wealthy should help pay . bush already admitted he does’nt know where the money is coming from, so we already know he’s going to renage. these people need a lot of help.”

Jes: “How can I support you in getting this together??? It’s a fantastic idea.”

Ruth Rader:

“Yeah, I think it’s a great idea, Danny. Count me in. What do you want me to do?

“I will put a mention of your email in my blog (http://ruthiessky.blogspot.com). My blog is brand new.

Did you notice that both Yahoo and Google put a link to organizations that are accepting donations on their respective home page?

“Pretty cool, I think.

“Especially Google who have employees working in India.”

PR COMPANY WANTS TO HELP

“Danny and crew …. Cheers to Media Channel for calling on the troops to exercise their power in a more direct way: aimed at the money holders and money changers.

“As a media relations consultancy for global NGO Church World Service, we’ve all been going through the usual sweat scene to gain maximum media exposure for our client’s part in the international response to a crisis almost too large to grasp– feeling that we’ve all got less than a week before most media are on to other game.

“Thank you for including us and CWS in this call to action.

“How can we as PR folk help? Call the best people at our own, local Boston and New York media and beg their participation? Ask them to interview major corporate leaders in their markets as to what they intend to do to support Bush’s pledges?

“Let us know.

“PS: I believe we met in the Boston misty days of yore. You’re a master of significant re-invention.”

RE INDONESIA

John Miller:

“US.-based groups with a long record of experience in the region today called on the Indonesian government to not let politics override the needs of people in tsunami-stricken Aceh. The groups include the East Timor Action Network (ETAN), International Labor Rights Fund (ILRF) and Nonviolence International (NI). Contact information for experts on the region available for interview is listed at the end of this advisory.

“‘Delays by the Indonesian government in allowing international access to Aceh may have needlessly cost precious lives. The government’s apparent opening of Aceh must continue. The government must cut through its bureaucratic red tape so aid can get through as quickly as possible. International and Indonesian organizations must have unrestricted access to Aceh. International media must be free to report on conditions and relief efforts. Strict limits on internationals’ time in Aceh must be lifted,’ said Michael Beer of NI.

“‘Politics must not be allowed to override the needs of the Acehnese people in this tragic time,’ he added.”

SHAME ON YOU

Neb Conner:

“To the US media: Why aren’t you taking the lead in publicizing the great need that was caused by the Tsunami? Why aren’t you using your power to help the people who were injured by this great storm?

“I am retired and living on a fixed income, but because of a request from one of the websites I visit, I made a contribution.

Shame on you if you do nothing more than report the events as if the rest of the world, and especially the citizens of the US can’t be more generous than we have been.”

John Cristman from Spokane WA:

“I don’t know that the big media can be made truly responsive to this disaster. In the hours after the initial reports, CNN devoted full coverage to the story but was the only 24 hour news channel to do so. FOX News continued for several hours with its regularly scheduled wrap-up of recycled 2004 top stories while MSNBC continued its National Geographic Explorer program.

“This shows how they really feel about issues that affect the rest of the world. If it is outside of U.S. borders, it is secondary news. The only way to wake these people up is to have a full-scale uprising; a full-scale e-mail campaign directed at them to show our disapproval followed by a boycott of their stations until they begin to become responsive to our needs for real news coverage. How can we develop this sort of strategy? It also obviously needs to be followed up by a similar approach for any upcoming breaking news in the future to be effective. Thanks for your continued vigilance.”

BAD IDEA

Linwood B Jarratt, a fellow blogger:

“I’m a blogger and I do not agree with this. The media is asking for money. People are giving money rapidly and generously to charities. If the media wants to help they can inform the people which charities are better than others at providing aid. I have already asked for donations to go to World Vision from my site. My kids even gave money.

“The UN is a corrupt organization. They cannot be trusted with that kind of money. People should be freely giving and not the governments doing it for us. The U.S. has already given over $35 Million and trying to get more from other budgetary items. Going through the UN would require the government to tax us for it. The government is already providing military, medical, logistical and other aid already. The bulk of the relief money will and should come from private donations and not government forced taxation. It should go to charities that actually do the work and not UN.”

Jennifer Ryan:

“I completely understand your need to get a handle on all this and try and channel it into more manageable conduits, right now the response is almost as crushing and catastrophic as the disaster itself. However, I feel that every individual reacts in a different way and needs to respond in whatever manner seems appropriate at the moment. Part of my personal response is to fire off emails, phone calls etc. to programs like Washington Journal on CSPAN who for three days in a row have allowed their callers (mainly the Bush supporters) to keep on insisting that since foreigners didn’t offer aid to Florida, America is under no obligation to be more generous in their offer to Asia. One caller made a pun on the name of the Indonesian ambassador which included the phonetic phrase `rat’, saying that would be what they would all be eating soon! My aim was to try and get the hosts to be a little more informed and not allow erroneous information to be disseminated without calling it as it is. I don’t have the energy or desire to do the same with such way out of it hosts like Sean Hannity, they make me feel polluted. Democracy in media is also valuable and we have choices. The most important thing is not to let compassion fatigue or donor fatigue set in. That is when we will all need our energy. My way at this very moment is stay tuned to the BBC World News, it seems more manageable to me as a British expat when delivered with an English accent. Whatever gets you through the night. Keep up your good work. A collective good will come out of this, I am sure of that.”

GOOD IDEA

J Salvez:

“If the media can give the GOP air time to promote corporate america’s plead to drain our tax dollars through our politician, then they certainly can spare some resources to help those that have been struck my nature’s fury, not man made. I say mobilize!

Danielle Greene from VA:

“Great idea, involve the U.N. (don’t let Dubya “lead” a coalition — it’ll be another disaster). Count me in!”

Miriam Kurland:

“The billions of dollars that we are spending on the war in Iraq could undoubtedly be much better used to help the people of the countries that were devestated by the giant tidal wave. Not only would stopping the War on Iraq in the interest of using the same money to help those countries be the right thing to do, while the war on Iraq is plain wrong and immoral, but it would reverse the damage to foreign relationships, the hatred of the US worldwide, and the growth of terrorism that have been caused by the corporate hijacking of our country, legalized, supported and openly encouraged by the Bush administration.”

WE ARE DOING TOO MUCH

Kay Don Russell:

“I thank we are doing to much we should take care of our own and the Pre. is doing a goo job and it time to see what is going on and as for the other side thet can kiss my a…”

SMALL MEDIA IS IMPORTANT TOO

Z Mitchell Szczepanczyk writes from Chicago:

“Pushing Big Media to respond to this tsunami is a big deal (I spend a great deal of my spare time pushing Big Media), but we shouldn’t discount the efforts of smaller, more responsive media outlets to offer positive examples that media activists can point to.”

Julian Leuthold

“I would help. What are people doing? What does MediaChannel need specifically?”

APPEAL DIRECTLY FROM ACEH

“Many of you will have heard about the terrible earthquake and tsunami which has devastated Aceh and Northern Sumatra in Indonesia. Indonesian NGOs including WALHI Friends of the Earth Indonesia have established the Indonesian Civil Society Coalition for the Victims of Earthquake and Tsunami to provide aid to the victims. We have set up crisis centers in Jakarta and Medan, North Sumatra.

“SHATTERED COMMUNITIES NEED YOUR HELP! Hundreds of impoverished coastal communities have been destroyed, and a humanitarian disaster can only be averted through a generous international donation response. The Indonesian Civil Society Coalition for the Victims of Earthquake and Tsunami is appealing for donations from members of the public abroad, as well as within Indonesia.

“All funds received by WALHI for the Coalition appeal will be allocated for emergency response as well as the post-emergency phase of rebuilding and restoration of shattered livelihoods. Please note that we can only receive financial donations from abroad for logistical reasons.

“The Medan and Jakarta Crisis Centers collect funds and enlist volunteers in coordination with local organizations. Funds and resources are mobilized by local organizations based in North Sumatera and Aceh. The latest information on our activities and needs, as well as developments on disaster spots will be provided in the form of daily updates in the English website of WALHI-Friends of the Earth Indonesia. Go to http://www.walhi.or.id and click English at top menu.

Please send your donations to:

Name on Account : Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia
Account No. : 3-000026-173
Name of Bank : Citibank
Branch : Menara Citibank
Address : Jln. Metro Pondok Indah Kavling II/BA, No. 1, Jakarta, INDONESIA
Swift Code : CITI IDJX

Steve Drachler:

“Danny: Good timing. Here is a news release from The United Methodist Church that just went out, announcing a full-page ad in next Monday’s USA Today, urging people to prayer and to contribute to the disaster relief efforts underway. It is one church’s effort to support and undergird the effort:”

Danielle guion-swenson, Kapolei, Hawaii, Blue United States of America writes:

“I’m appalled (as usual) the United States GOVERNMENT isn’t doing its share!!! The PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES would do theirs (BUT METHINKS HALF OF THEM AREN’T BRIGHT ENOUGH TO DO something without being told/how…. OOPS, SORRY!!)

“The idea of outlets with donation slips and one place to mail checks is GREAT (and I support the UNITED NATIONS EFFORT)!

“I’m sending a donation to my Amer. Red Cross. How do we encourage/FORCE the MASS MEDIA to DO THEIR JOB!!??? Thanks for all You do!”

ASIAN DISASTER: HOW TO HELP

While we wait for the United Media Appeal, here are other organizations in action now:

“Global aid organizations have launched urgent appeals for donations to help survivors of Sunday’s Indian Ocean earthquake disaster.

More than 100,000 people are confirmed killed by the waves and millions more are homeless.

Many governments and organizations - including the US, Canada, Australia, the EU and the UN — are sending aid.

The UN has warned that supplies are urgently needed to support the survivors and to try and prevent disease which, it says, could double the death toll.

The Disasters Emergency Committee - www.dec.org.uk - is an umbrella group of UK aid organizations - including Action Aid, British Red Cross and Oxfam — working to provide clean water, food and shelter to thousands. To call from the UK, dial 0870 60 60 900.

The United Nations World Food Programme (www.wfp.org) is seeking donations to feed victims of the earthquake.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (www.msf.org) is sending aid workers to the region, focusing on medical care for survivors and displaced people after the rescue operations.

The United Nations Children’s Fund, Unicef (www.unicef.org.uk) is working to meet the “urgent needs of hundreds of thousands of people” affected by the tsunami disaster.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR (www.unhcr.ch) — which has been helping victims of conflicts in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, is delivering relief supplies to tsunami survivors in both countries.

Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org.uk) has already flown a plane out to Sri Lanka carrying plastic sheeting for temporary shelter, tents to run children’s services from and essentials such as clothing and cooking utensils.

Anti-poverty organization Care International (www.care.org) has already provided food for thousands of affected people in Sri Lanka.”

IT GOES ON

I am being inundated.Wow. Our community cares. What a great response. Keep it coming. Write: dissector@mediachannel.org

Happy News Year. Back Monday.
Danny Schechter