Group items tagged

t's been one month to the day since mother earth's voice vibrated through the capital of Haiti, and humanity banded together to muster support in the face of this boundary breaking natural disaster. As the chaos slowly settles, concerns are now arising about whether donations are reaching those for whom its intended. Cell phone companies have experienced backlash from costumers demanding that Haiti donation text message fees be waived. Financial institutions had a similar push back with online donation fees. The prominent aid site YELE HAITI came under scrutiny for their past handling of funds. E-mails circulated asking that donations not be made to the American Red Cross, citing previous glitches in Hurricane Katrina relief.

While most young professionals spend their days holed up in cubicles, Jared Talarski, 29, has made a career captaining a schooner and lending a hand to those in need. He spoke with YPNation about his sailing career and recent relief voyage to Haiti on the Liberty Schooner.

A group of young professionals gathered last Thursday at a bar in New Canaan, Conn., to raise money for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

"Anyone in the development world has heard the mantra, 'there is no such thing as a natural disaster.' Yes, earthquakes are outside the realm of human control, but vulnerability and resilience are not. In a recent article, Oxfam America, which is currently responding in Haiti, writes that recovery from this earthquake will be "especially [hard for] a nation saddled with deep poverty and minimal infrastructure.""

When disaster strikes, global citizens are moved to act. But how can one make a difference for those affected by a catastrophe as devastating as this week's earthquake in Haiti? Where does one even start?

I was living here in Manila during Typhoon Ketsana (September 2009) and was impressed by how Facebook and Twitter quickly became the most reliable and most-used sources for information. "The evacuation center in Mandaluyong needs diapers"; "Volunteers meet at Ateneo, 6am"; "Can someone in Marikina check on Maria Navarro and family? Haven't heard from her yet. Address: …"; "I am collecting food, does anyone have a truck?"