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Message from WACS President
Gissur Gudmundsson 2nd Message
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
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ICELANDThis message is dedicated to all the volunteers that are working hard in the disaster areas of Myanmar and in the Sichuan region of China.
Reykjavik, June 10th, 2008
On the 29th of May, at 15:45, a strong earthquake of 6.3 shook us up a little in Iceland. Many buildings were damaged in a town 50 kilometres outside our capital city but, thankfully, only a few people suffered minor injuries. This was a serious reminder to us that the reality that the people of Myanmar and Sichuan in China are living could happen to any of us.
In the last weeks, I have received many emails, pictures and information from these regions and I must say that it was sometimes emotionally overpowering to see such devastation. And it’s not over.
Victims of the Earthquake in Sichuan region of China
According to OXFAM International, natural disasters happen 4 times more often now then 20 years ago. The number of people affected by disasters each year has increased about 70 percent compared to the previous decade to about 254 million a year between 1995 and 2004. PER YEAR!
As said by Jeremy Hobbs, the Executive Director of Oxfam International, “Action is needed now to prepare for more disasters otherwise humanitarian assistance will be overwhelmed and recent advances in human development will go into reverse." I think it’s obvious that we need to do something.
Myanmar Chefs Association (MCA) Rice donations
After the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004, the WACS Board set up the WACS Disaster Relief Fund which we have used to support colleagues in major disaster areas like the Katrina Hurricane in New Orleans and others around the world.
We need to take action now to build up on this initiative and create a disaster management plan so we can be ready before disasters hit and we can effectively help support and rebuild after they have struck.
At our next Board meeting in mid-July, in Johannesburg, South Africa, we will be discussing this question to try to come up with ideas. Some of these could include a partnership with an important humanitarian organisation such as the Red Cross/ Red Crescent who already have disaster management plans or starting a ‘Chefs without Borders’; a network of chefs that can go to major disaster sites when they happen and help support the victims by cooking for them or by helping in any other way they can.
MCA members with bags of rice to be delivered to the victims
In the meantime, I want to give a special mention and applause to Chef Oliver Soe Thet, President of the Myanmar Chefs Association as well as all of its members. Our colleagues in the Myanmar Chefs Association have coordinated such successful and extraordinary efforts in the worst hit areas of Myanmar. With your donations, they have been able to provide over 76 tons of rice as well as clean water and clothing for the victims of the cyclone. They also helped rebuild houses for those who had lost theirs. I also want to thank John Sloane, WACS Continental Director for Asia, as well as all the presidents and members of the Asian WACS Continental Area.
I also want to thank all of you, the members of WACS, for all the support you have given to our friends and colleagues in need in Myanmar and China.
Finally, I want everyone to remember in prayer our friends and colleagues who have lost friends or family in these tragedies as well as for all the innocent victims of such disasters. And let’s not forget to show each other support and friendship. Life is so precious and our time on earth is really short. We should use it well and do our best to make family, friends and colleagues, and even strangers happy.
If you would like to contribute and make donations to the WACS Disaster Fund and help us prepare for the next time, you can make a contribution to our account, which is at:
Credit Suisse
P.O. Box 1058
CH-6002 Lucerne / Switzerland
Account No. 4463-225836- 82
IBAN: CH35 0483 5022 5836 8200 0
SWIFT ADRESS; CRESCHZZ80A
Make sure to mention it is for the Disaster Relief Fund.
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