Daily Archives: 01/15/2010

(Community Matters) President Obama and Vice President Biden launch a campaign to recover every dime loaned and otherwise advanced to the financial services industry – nice. more information at http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/banks?source=20100115_ia_test

Even the Financial Times agrees

Vodpod videos no longer available.

(Community Matters) It’s been a fast last 36 hours.  Since yesterday morning a group of us have been in constant contact by email, brainstorming what’s going on in Haiti and what we can do to help.  With Austin Ventures and quickly joined by a group of close friends, we’ve just launched a High-Tech HelpHaiti Fund.  We’ve raised commitments for $600,000 in funding which will be used to match individual donations.  Employees of high-tech companies, supporters and our friends in Austin can contribute at http://www.GiveToAustin.org/HelpHaiti and your contributions will be matched.

Contributors to the match funds include Austin Ventures, Philip & Donna Berber, Isabel & Dave Welland, MFI Foundation (Lynn & Tommie Meredith), the Garber Family (Ross & Laurie), Silicon Labs and the Entrepreneurs Foundation (plus Steven & Eugene, admittedly at a much more modest level).  Philip Berber, the founder (along with Donna Berber) of Glimmer of Hope Foundation is serving with many of us on the grants committee.  He’s been on the phone with several organizations with people on the ground, already doing search & rescue work.  In light of existing circumstances and even before match monies are received, we’ve wired $250,000 to Concern Worldwide US and Partners in Health.

Philip forwarded the following statements:

Having spoken to people directly in touch with the situation in Haiti, I’m told the first stage is “Save the Living and Bury the Dead”. The airport is partially open and communications are difficult. “You can’t just pick up the phone” I was told. There will be many stages and phases to this relief and rehabilitation effort, and many international and domestic organizations will be engaged in the relief efforts.

The first stage started two days ago and over the next 48 –72 hours people will live or die  depending on whether they get immediate medical disaster relief and treatment. Two such groups already on the ground are Partners in Health (PIH), Paul Farmers group who have been in Haiti for years, and Doctors without Borders (Medicine Sans Frontier – MSF) who have already deployed medics and inflatable hospitals in Port au Prince. Military medical personal from overseas will also be actively engaged.

The second stage will be short and medium term humanitarian aid and relief – such as water, food, shelter, health clinics and medical supplies. The plan would be for a large number of major international and indigenous NGOs to coordinate their efforts, which will be challenging yet necessary – and will start will planning and coordination meetings this week in Port au Prince.

People can help at this stage by sending money – so that the necessary items can be purchased and delivered to the people in need on the front lines urgently. Some organizations are able to deliver food and medical items, yet this is currently logistically more challenging.