Hello, folks. No doubt everyone is keeping close tabs on the tragedy in Haiti, wherever you are on this big chunk of planet. That’s kind of how things feel to me during times like this… small. Kind of like we humans are all just temporarily hitching a ride here on Earth. And there’s not much we can do to stop its inevitable demise, geologically speaking. At the very least we know that the sun is going to vaporize Big Blue in about five billion years. No, we can’t control anything that the Earth decides to throw our way — humans can only prepare, put systems in place and act.
Sadly, Haiti was ravaged by hurricanes, political upheaval, poverty and insurrection before the earthquake ever hit. This created a country without much of an ability to act on its own behalf. Enter fellow man (and woman) and the three perfect words — Doctors Without Borders. The international medical aid organization has been on the scene since 1971, providing emergency relief and ongoing medical care to more than 60 countries “whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters.”
That pretty much says it all. They’re an amazing organization, and won the Nobel Prize for their efforts in 1999. I think the only reason they haven’t won it every year since 1971 is because they aren’t allowed to. These doctors, nurses and aid workers at DWB know no color, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation. They treat humans in need. Pretty simple.
Doctors Without Borders is firmly entrenched in a chaotic, dangerous mess of a disaster scene in Haiti. If you’re thinking about how you can help, this is a good place to start. They always need the support of private donors, but can use it now more than ever. There’s a page on their Web site where you can donate money that goes directly to the medical care of the people of Haiti.
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