Tsunami update letter #3

["Nonviolent Peaceforce" <MelDuncan at NonviolentPeaceforce.org>]

Tsunami update letter #3
(english herein)
en espanol:  http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/spanish/news/Tsunami3.asp

6 January
0600 GMT

My Dear Friends:

Frank Mackay Anim-Appiah of Ghana suffered a heart attack on Thursday.
He is part of the Matara team and was looking after Kathy Orovwigho who
was injured when the tsunami hit.  Both are now in hospital in Colombo
and recovering.  Kathy had veins and ligaments severed.  She will require
rehabilitation.  She is currently learning to use crutches.

The other team members are hard at work in Jaffna, Mutur and
Valaichchenai.  They are facing situations that even the most graphic
adjectives fail to describe.  They are working with courage and
compassion.  Initially, they did what the immediate demands required.
Throughout the past week we have adapted our mandate to deal with the
disaster.

Our primary focus remains nonviolent peacekeeping.  We will not
lose sight of the peace and human rights dimensions of this tragedy.
Our teams have lived and worked in conflicted areas for more than a year.
In Mutur and Valaichchenai, they are the only international organizations
living and working there.

Thus, they are now in a unique position to identify and advocate
aid to unserved areas.  They also are implementing a 'Do No Harm'
approach that emphasizes depoliticization of aid distribution, Sri Lankan
control of the relief and rebuilding process and local capacity building.
They are monitoring and making regular reports on instances of cooperation
as well as conflict.

We were overwhelmed by your generous response to my last letter.   On
Tuesday we wired $99,200 USD directly to Sarvodaya for their grass roots
relief work.   Amid the catastrophe, Sarvodaya founder and president
Ari Ariyaratne sees possibilities, 'This is a very great opportunity
we have where both sides should come together first for relief, then
for rehabilitation, which can be followed by reconciliation.'

There are number of things that you can do including:

    1.  Friday Fast:  The Nonviolent Peaceforce is totally nonreligious.
    Our staff and members practice many different religious and spiritual
    beliefs as well as none at all.  All are welcome.  We invite you
    to join some of our staff, volunteers, field team members, and
    me in fasting all or part of Fridays during the month of January
    in solidarity with the people of South Asia and the Nonviolent
    Peaceforce team in Sri Lanka.  Please invite your friends, family,
    organizations, and faith community to join us.  I know this does
    not fit for everyone but we welcome those who join us.

        a.  If you do fast, please e-mail your name and contact
        information.  I will share your name with our team in Sri Lanka.

        b.  Consider donating the amount that you would have spent to:

        The Nonviolent Peaceforce for our work in Sri Lanka:
        http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/english/help/donation2.asp

        Sarvodaya for their relief work in Sri Lanka:
        http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/english/help/donateToSarvodaya.asp

        And/or

        Nonviolence International for their work in Aceh:
        http://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/

    2.  Recruits needed for Team 2 to Sri Lanka: We are seeking candidates
    for a second team in Sri Lanka.  Please find the application
    form as well as other relevant information on the website at:
    http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/english/srilanka/FTMAppForm.asp

    Minimum term of service is two years. English fluency is a
    requirement.  Applications will be accepted until 16 January 2005.

    3.  Send short notes to Kathy, Frank and the rest of the Nonviolent
    Peaceforce team care of:  Across at nonviolentpeaceforce.org

    4.  Please circulate this letter to your friends and associates and
    post on your web site.

Your response during the past week has truly demonstrated that we are
part of a beloved community.  We all deeply appreciate it.

Love,
Mel

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