Global Links recovers medical equipment, furnishings, surgical supplies and other surplus from hospitals for shipment to medical centers and clinics overseas. I volunteer with this organization here in Pittsburgh. They announced their relief response to Hurricane Gustav a few days ago. There are thousands of people in our own country struggling with hurricane devastation right now, but it is necessary to realize that there are many, many more in dire need of assistance in developing nations in Central America and elsewhere.
From the news release:
Global Links has announced an immediate need for financial support from institutions and individuals to assist the organization in delivering critical medical supplies to Cuba in the wake of Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike. Global Links, a medical relief organization based in Pittsburgh, is coordinating a strategic response to help medical facilities that were affected when both storms passed over the island. Global Links is working the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization to respond to this disaster.
As the strongest hurricane to affect Cuba in decades, Gustav displaced thousands of Cuban people, destroyed nearly 100,000 homes and gravely damaged hospitals and clinics throughout the island. Hurricane Ike, which hit Cuba just days after Gustav with 100 mph winds, has exacerbated an already dire situation. As such, Cuban health institutions are in desperate need of supplies and equipment in order to maintain care for the population. If this need is not met, the lives of thousands of Cuban people will be put at risk.
Complicating an already dire situation, the U.S. blockade of Cuba makes it difficult to ship critically needed humanitarian aid to the island country, and also prevents relatives from sending money and care packages to family members on the island. Global Links, however, is uniquely situated to provide medical relief to Cuban health facilities, being one of only a handful of U.S. organizations that holds a federal license to do so, and because Global Links has fostered strong relationships with Cuban medical institutions since 1994, the beginning of the Global Links Aid Program to Cuba.
Johnny Cash - Sunday Morning Coming Down
‘Cause there’s something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone.
And there’s nothing short a’ dying
That’s half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleeping city sidewalk
And Sunday morning coming down.(via bellevoitceque)
The Walkmen - The Rat
“A beachfront Gilchrist, Texas, home stood among debris on the Gulf of Mexico coast Sunday after Hurricane Ike hit the area.” (via: wsj.com)
A little bit of this and that.
I seldom log into Facebook and Myspace, but I tried today—in order to muster enough courage to edit my profile and delete certain things—but grew anxious and irritable and signed out once again.
