Please Help - Red Cross Tsunami Appeal

[alison boler]

We have all watched in horror over the last few days at the terrible scenes unfolding in areas of the world which we have often visited as tourists and divers. There is little that we can do for the many thousands who have lost their lives, but we can help to rebuild the homes and businesses of the many more thousands who have survived but been left homeless and destitute. The people of the Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands have often welcomed us - as divers - into their communities. Please remember that welcome now and help them if you can by donating to the Red Cross Appeal.
Thanks
Allie

[Nigel Coote]

We have all watched in horror over the last few days at the terrible scenes unfolding in areas of the world which we have often visited as tourists and divers. There is little that we can do for the many thousands who have lost their lives, but we can help to rebuild the homes and businesses of the many more thousands who have survived but been left homeless and destitute. The people of the Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands have often welcomed us - as divers - into their communities. Please remember that welcome now and help them if you can by donating to the Red Cross Appeal.
Thanks

Allie
You beat me on appeal. i was thinking about starting some sort of appeal that to collect money and then forward to main appeal agencies.
I ws thinking that if we could find a way to get members of BSAC and over agencies to donate the cost of an air fill say ?2.50/?3 each or more if able then this would go a long way to helping those poor people. Perhaps each club could collect this money from each of its members on club night. people tend to dig into thier pockets if they see others doing the same.
What ever happens we need to help.

Nigel.
Allie

[alison boler]

Nigel
That's a great idea! Like you - and so many people - I look around at how much we have, especially in the aftermath of Christmas and a visit to the sales, and I feel the need to do something to help. Giving some money is about all we can do right now but it is so needed.

Thanks for a superb idea which perhaps HQ could take up?

Allie

[allan j bretherton]

Nigel
That's a great idea! Like you - and so many people - I look around at how much we have, especially in the aftermath of Christmas and a visit to the sales, and I feel the need to do something to help. Giving some money is about all we can do right now but it is so needed.

Thanks for a superb idea which perhaps HQ could take up?

Allie

Hi Allie / Nigel,

Excellent idea, I've already sent my donation but perhaps council could make a decision on behalf of all our members and make a good BSAC donation. Its clear that money is needed now

Allan

[Jeanne]

Hi everyone,

NOW is the time to donate if you have not already done it! Do it online, and quickly. I have already donated online to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva. Or use the UK no. or website for www.dec.org.uk for the coordinated Charities fund in the UK.

Link below for the International Red Cross/Red Crescent

I feel all should try individually to do this as a first stab, as a coordinated collected approach from the membership is a good idea, but could take precious time to organise. Perhaps this could be used as a second installment to donate to the cause, as goodness knows, it won't be put right overnight, such is the catastrophic scale of this event, and sadly, people tend to think of the crisis time, and not the aftermath.

Jeanne

[allan j bretherton]

Hi Jeanne,

Fully agree; they need money now and future long term help. In addition to all the good charities that you've mentioned there's also a very good BBC help line that takes donations over the phone on 08706060900 and its quick

Allan

Hi everyone,

NOW is the time to donate if you have not already done it! Do it online, and quickly. I have already donated online to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva. Or use the UK no. or website for www.dec.org.uk for the coordinated Charities fund in the UK.

Link below for the International Red Cross/Red Crescent

I feel all should try individually to do this as a first stab, as a coordinated collected approach from the membership is a good idea, but could take precious time to organise. Perhaps this could be used as a second installment to donate to the cause, as goodness knows, it won't be put right overnight, such is the catastrophic scale of this event, and sadly, people tend to think of the crisis time, and not the aftermath.

Jeanne

[Nigel Coote]

Hi All
Fully agree with all comments. When I came up with te idea of donnate a air fill I was and still am unsure of how quick it could be up and running. Like the idea of it being a second wave of funding as this give the chance to get all dive agencies involved PADI, SAA, NAUI etc. If this can go to council for consideration would be more than willing to put my not before known fund raising skills to work perhaps with the help of over like mined divers. the fund almost has a name 'Donate the cost of an air fill'.
Waiting in the wings
Nigel.


Hi Jeanne,

Fully agree; they need money now and future long term help. In addition to all the good charities that you've mentioned there's also a very good BBC help line that takes donations over the phone on 08706060900 and its quick

Allan

:=Hi everyone,
:=
:=NOW is the time to donate if you have not already done it! Do it online, and quickly. I have already donated online to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva. Or use the UK no. or website for www.dec.org.uk for the coordinated Charities fund in the UK.
:=
:=Link below for the International Red Cross/Red Crescent
:=
:=I feel all should try individually to do this as a first stab, as a coordinated collected approach from the membership is a good idea, but could take precious time to organise. Perhaps this could be used as a second installment to donate to the cause, as goodness knows, it won't be put right overnight, such is the catastrophic scale of this event, and sadly, people tend to think of the crisis time, and not the aftermath.
:=
:=Jeanne

[allan j bretherton]

Hi Nigel,

You've got my support

Allan

Hi All
Fully agree with all comments. When I came up with te idea of donnate a air fill I was and still am unsure of how quick it could be up and running. Like the idea of it being a second wave of funding as this give the chance to get all dive agencies involved PADI, SAA, NAUI etc. If this can go to council for consideration would be more than willing to put my not before known fund raising skills to work perhaps with the help of over like mined divers. the fund almost has a name 'Donate the cost of an air fill'.
Waiting in the wings
Nigel.


:=Hi Jeanne,
:=
:=Fully agree; they need money now and future long term help. In addition to all the good charities that you've mentioned there's also a very good BBC help line that takes donations over the phone on 08706060900 and its quick
:=
:=Allan
:=
:=:=Hi everyone,
:=:=
:=:=NOW is the time to donate if you have not already done it! Do it online, and quickly. I have already donated online to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva. Or use the UK no. or website for www.dec.org.uk for the coordinated Charities fund in the UK.
:=:=
:=:=Link below for the International Red Cross/Red Crescent
:=:=
:=:=I feel all should try individually to do this as a first stab, as a coordinated collected approach from the membership is a good idea, but could take precious time to organise. Perhaps this could be used as a second installment to donate to the cause, as goodness knows, it won't be put right overnight, such is the catastrophic scale of this event, and sadly, people tend to think of the crisis time, and not the aftermath.
:=:=
:=:=Jeanne

[vice-chairman]

As time moves on the enormity of the situation in Asia is becoming clearer and the immense scale of the disaster hard to comprehend.

Following many suggestions on how we can help and much discussion on among council members we feel that the following actions are most appropriate:
?h BSAC Council would encourage our members to make a personal donation to the Disaster Fund as they see fit by following the links on our website front page <a href="http://www.dec.org.uk/" >http://www.dec.org.uk/</a> or by phoning 0870 60 60 900. The reason for this is that the international agencies have an infrastructure in place and individuals may also have personal preferences about where their donations are best directed.
?h BSAC will continue to contact our overseas members, branches and schools in the region and offer them our support for the medium and long term. We feel that in this way we can help to re-build what has been lost and we as divers know what we can work best for these branches and members
By way of an update I have copied in below some local information obtained by Deric Ellerby:

"Some good news, five Singapore members diving from Phuket have survived OK, a ship we have used for a number of events and frequently used by our Singapore members and Jack Ingle was in Penang but has also survived and is helping in rescue operations there and our new school in the Andamans run by Sasikumar Attoor has survived without injuries to staff or customers. Our regional development officer, NI Les Skelton is also in the Andamans just now and is OK. I have heard that our Penang branch has lost their clubhouse and equipment, but no loss of life reported.

... our main Phuket school SEAL, has suffered no loss of life, their liveaboards are all OK and the water stopped 1 metre from their shop and the recompression chamber. An ex-BSAC school was nearly as lucky, no loss of life, boats OK but shop destroyed. Current information from the Andamans is that no inbound tourism is permitted."

Marcus Allen BSAC Vice Chairman, on behalf of BSAC Council

[Dave Covey]

Our regional development officer, NI Les Skelton is also in the Andamans just now and is OK.


That's great news! I'll pass this around Samui/Koh Tao as several people were worried about him.

Re donations; see link......

[jade7]

We have all watched in horror over the last few days at the terrible scenes unfolding in areas of the world which we have often visited as tourists and divers. There is little that we can do for the many thousands who have lost their lives, but we can help to rebuild the homes and businesses of the many more thousands who have survived but been left homeless and destitute. The people of the Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, the Andaman Islands have often welcomed us - as divers - into their communities. Please remember that welcome now and help them if you can by donating to the Red Cross Appeal.
Thanks
Allie



the latest aid figures can be got here. people around the world have been donating.
<a href="http://www.nationmaster.com/cat/Disasters" >http://www.nationmaster.com/cat/Disasters</a>