[Chapter-delegates] FW: Condolences from Indonesia

Sun Sep 4 17:18:06 PDT 2005

Irwan and All,

Thanks so much I will pass the word along.  The South Central ISOC Chapter
is working with Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio in efforts to
coordinate resources for the survivors.  I will forward on updates and ask
you to help where you can.  I don't have any specifics needs technology wise
to date as we are handling them as they come in but we might...I will let
the group know.

Let me know where and to whom to paste information and I will get you guys
added to the network....

There is a link for people's blogs that was started the other day....
Thanks to the guys at typepad and Rebecca for getting this together...

http://rconversation.blogs.com/rconversation/2005/09/after_you_donat.html

Here are the missing person's databases to circulate...

http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/
  Yesterday, there were over 8000 on the
list. Today there are over 22000.  This is but one example of why we are
putting computers in the Astrodome and other refugee sites.

Will 

-----Original Message-----
From: digitaldivide-bounces at milhouse.edc.org
[mailto:digitaldivide-bounces at milhouse.edc.org] On Behalf Of Andy Carvin
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2005 9:54 PM
To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group
Subject: [DDN] Red Cross missing persons database - eight names and
counting

I managed to track down the Red Cross database for listing missing
persons. It's the same system that was used during the tsunami, but
they've adapted it for Katrina. It's based with the International
Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), not the American Red Cross.

For all intents and purposes, no one is using it.

http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/katrina/people

When I looked at it, there were literally _eight_ names in the database.

Compare that to the thousands of names being collected - and distributed
via RSS - through sites like NOLA.com and neworleans.craigslist.org.

So many people were expecting the Red Cross to step up to the plate for
missing persons. For the moment, they haven't - and time is short.

thoroughly disappointed,
ac

--
-----------------------------------
Andy Carvin
Program Director
EDC Center for Media & Community
acarvin @ edc . org
http://www.digitaldivide.net
http://www.tsunami-info.org
Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com

Lastly, correspondence from the front lines with our Houston brothers....

Will Reed wrote:

Technology For All(TFA) is working with its community and corporate
partners to set up a Community Technology Center (CTC) at Houston's 
Astrodome, which will soon be home for 25,000 evacuees from the New 
Orleans Superdome.  We are pleased to have the opportunity to help in 
this way and have made an initial commitment to install a 40 station 
CTC. We expect we will need to expand that, but want to move quickly 
with what we can do and then assess the additional need. TFA also 
anticipates working with public leaders and officials to assist in the 
deployment of a Wireless Mesh Network in the Astrodome. Those details 
are under discussion. Pam Gardner (Pam.Gardner at techforall.org
713.454.6415) on our staff is coordinating volunteer efforts to set up 
the CTC and then provide programming assistance. TFA will need 
additional computers (Pentium 4 or faster), software, volunteers, $'s 
and organizational capacity to pull this off. Thanks in advance for 
your assistance. As more details are worked out we will pass them

along.

As of late last night, the Astrodome was full and evacuees were being
diverted to other sites. We have an internal TFA meeting this morning to
update everyone working on the Astrodome Community Technology Center
(CTC) project.  The minor change in plans is that we now expect to be
working on the development of CTCs at shelters and staging areas across
the city in addition to the Astrodome. 

In speaking late yesterday to our contact in the mayor's office, it is
estimated that at least 100,000 persons will be scattered across the
city in multiple long term shelters including the Astrodome, empty
buildings, churches, and other sites. Helping to connect these folks to
the outside world will extend beyond this emergency situation, because
we expect many of these evacuees to stay as permanent residents in the
area. Many of them are the poorest of the poor and will need additional
assistance, training, support etc.   Schools are accepting new students.
Yesterday, for instance, my wife's school received 30 new students and
they were over capacity before that.  Many new students across the
region could benefit from CTCs that provide after school programs near
shelters and schools. Creating opportunities for digital stories of this
ordeal could be both a cathartic and a learning experience for victims
of Katrina. Using these computers for job training and searches will
also be important. This is just the beginning.

The existing and rapidly expanding Houston CTC community will be asked
to step up to the plate to prepare for the opportunity/challenge.   We
have had enough equipment, software, and connectivity donated for the
initial installation at the dome, but we are going to need much more.
Once all our donors have signed off (some have asked for anonymity), I
will provide a summary of their donations. Thank you to each of you and
your corporations/organizations who have already signed up to help.

Your help is needed. We now know we need additional equipment,
connectivity, software, volunteers, and of course $'s. I will put a list
of equipment needs on our blog at  http://texasctcs.blogspot.com/
<http://texasctcs.blogspot.com/>  . 
Cash contributions can be made online at www.techforall.org or by check
to the address below. 

Will 

William S. Reed
President/CEO
TECHNOLOGY FOR ALL(r)/Technology For All-Houston 2220 Broadway |
Houston, TX 77012
Tel: 713.454.6400 | Direct: 713.454.6411 | Fax: 713.454.6454 
e-mail: Will.Reed @ techforall.org    website:

http://www.techforall.org

<http://www.techforall.org/>
BLOG:  http://texasctcs.blogspot.com/  TFA-Wireless
http://www.techforall.org/tfa_wireless.html
"We Empower Communities"

-----Original Message-----
From: Irwan Effendi [mailto:hero_tsai at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 8:49 AM
To: mtodd at isoc-la.org; Anne Shroeder - Internet Society;
slater at billslater.com; gbooker at acm.org; dean.mccall at nvision2020.com;
marty at burack.nu; Fred Baker; James M Galvin; David McAuley; Gene Gaines
Subject: Condolences from Indonesia

To the people of the United States

We share your loss and grieve over the disaster in New Orleans.
As it is still fresh in our memory what happened earlier in Aceh, we
understand what kind of sadness and sorrow you are going through, therefore
if there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to let us
know.
We suggest that all of us must work to find preventive solutions so that in
the future, tragedies such as these can be avoided.

On behalf of Indonesian members

Irwan Effendi - secretary