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Dire Situation for Mentawai Islanders as SurfAid Launches Earthquake Appeal
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| + Press Release + SurfAid Situation Reports + Slide Show |
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In response to two powerful earthquakes having struck the region of the Mentawai Islands, SurfAid International is currently receiving donations for relief efforts where SurfAid has been and continues to provide humanitarian services.
SurfAid has visited and assessed more than 100 Mentawai villages and launched eight relief boats delivering food, shelter, medical attention, fuel, and building supplies to some of the 30,000 displaced residents. Additional support is needed to continue these efforts. Please support the people of the Mentawai Islands with a contribution to the Mentawai Earthquake Appeal.
+ Donate to the Mentawai Earthquake Appeal
SurfAid's Community-Based Health Programs Take Off
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Malaria Free Mentawai Program Makes Strides
SurfAid International completed Phase 1 and 2 of the Malaria Free Mentawai program with excellent results. All targets were met including the distribution of over 14,000 mosquito nets.
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A NATURAL DISASTER
Indonesia's proximity to the subduction zone and fault line makes it a target for the deadliest earthquakes and tsunamis.
+ Read May Chu's Article Written for OnBoard
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As part of its school based disaster preparedness program, E-Prep staff are distributing comics about tsunami, earthquakes, floods, cyclones and tropical storms and landslides. E-Prep is SurfAid International's community-based disaster risk management program funded by the Australian Government through AusAID.
While the comics have been developed for children, they also include basic information about disasters in the back and are also an important information tool for adults in the community.
SurfAid International and Billabong Launch Global Schools Program
SurfAid International and surf company Billabong launch a unique schools program that will have far-reaching effects around the world - alleviating suffering and death in impoverished communities.
The SurfAid International Billabong Schools Program will provide a dynamic learning opportunity for students, educating them about the geography, economy, culture, health and living conditions of the 70,000 people of the Mentawai Island region, off the coast of West Sumatra, Indonesia.
+ Read the Full Press Release
+ Get Involved
Billabong Girls Raise $25,000 and Experience SurfAid's Work First-Hand
After raising US$25,000 for SurfAid at their Design For Humanity event in Los Angeles in April, a team of Billabong Girls headed out into Indonesia's Mentawai Islands to experience SurfAid's work first-hand.
Keala Kennelly, Rebecca Woods, Silvana Lima and Sanoe Lake, along with team manager Megan Brainard, ventured into one of SurfAid's villages, Malilimok, to witness a Care Group meeting in action and also to visit one of the poorest houses in the village.
New Zealand SurfAid Update
New Zealand has already begun teaching content in schools about global issues such as malaria, poverty and health issues. Because the Mentawai Islands are so remote and difficult to access, surfers and hopefully students find this a really interesting place to investigate. Does their remoteness affect their poverty or health issues? NZ SurfAid employee, Viv Hill and Sam Lynch (previous editor of Piha rescue) went along to investigate the above dilemmas and recorded images on film so schools will soon have a fun and very educational DVD to use – also huge thanks to the NZ Government Global Education Fund for supporting Viv and Sam. We are keen to share resources so schools especially with Surfing culture please contact Viv for latest lessons.
Billabong are also keen to support our schools programme and we look forward to special opportunities for students and teachers with Billabong next year! WATCH THIS SPACE!
Opunake High School has Ken Brown already using resources Viv wrote and said, “The class is really enthused and are keen on fundraising with $250 raised in first week!” Great geography lessons too with tectonic plates, coastal dynamics, sand mining, coral reefs, soil profiles, cultural practices and more – not to mention great surf!
Dr Dave took the NZ team and the Billabong Girls Pro team through Mallilimook village and we witnessed how SurfAid really was making a difference with mothers learning how to improve their hygiene with “MacGiver-like” devices because they have no running water and disease spreads so quickly with contaminated wash bowls. Role models such as the surfing industry make a huge impression on students and great to see how we are the only sporting body with a dedicated charity focus – Surfers can make a very positive difference!
On 10 November 2007, SurfAid International will be turning music into medicine by presenting The SuperSession at the Wellington Town Hall. This time around, SurfAid has joined up with Wellington Free Ambulance, who celebrate 80 years of service in November, to make this a truly local and global event.
This year's line-up is just as superb, with a strong Wellington flavour. The new and elemental sounds of Good Laika, married with the experimental rock trio Thought Creature are just what the doctor ordered! The Constituents will bring a bit of soulful dance to the mix, while Hikoikoi will then mellow it out with some Aotearoa Reggae. Picking the pace back up and bringing together musicians from Wellingtons finest - Fat Freddys Drop, Twinset, The Black Seeds, Phoenix foundation and much more - The Scribes of Ra will knock you out with their swinging syncopation. And if ALL of that wasn't enough, putting some 'tropical funk in your trunk' The Recloose Live Band! Last, but by no means least, returning once again with their effervescence and style The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra will play smatterings of Hawaiian inspired treats and MC the gig! Could it get much better?
For an informal rundown of the event as it unfolds you can visit www.myspace.com/supersessions.
Keep an eye out for ticket sales at Ticketek and Real Groovy and don't miss out on a wicked night of Wellington music, and a chance to help the life saving work of these two great organisations!
The United World College's 24 Hour Swim continues to set the bar for independent fundraisers having been held for the second year and generating over US$56,000 for SurfAid International. In two years, this effort has raised $100,000! Special thanks to everyone involved but especially to Jackson English, the event organizer, and our rock in Singapore.
A big thanks to Billabong, IMG Media and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) for including a 5 minute segment on SurfAid's work in the Mentawai Islands in the television broadcast of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Thanks to the ASP & Quiksilver for playing SurfAid's short commercial during the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks!
Thanks goes out to the ASP & Rip Curl for showing SurfAid's short commercial during the Rip Curl Pro Search 2007 in Arica, Chile.
Thanks to the ASP & Hurley for showing SurfAid's short commercial during the recent ASP Trestles Contest - Presented by Hurley
Wellington Christian Surfers for sending in donation from filmfest held July. Winning entry on YouTube by Victor Huang - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU8IT6FfFk
Percentage Partner Highlight: Tim Baker's HIGH SURF
What do novelist Tim Winton, classical violinist Richard Tognetti, celebrity chef Steve Snow, world-renowned ethicist Peter Singer, motivational speaker Dr John Demartini and Greens politician Ian Cohen have in common? In a word - surfing. Leading surf journalist Tim Baker has profiled the surfing world's most intriguing characters, encountered over twenty years of surf writing, to highlight the life lessons and boundless inspiration to be gained from a lifestyle built around waveriding.
Tim will be donating 1% of royalties from sales of his book to SurfAid International.
+ More Info on HIGH SURF
As Always, Special Thanks to Our Corporate Sponsors:
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