World Vision assessing damages, preparing to respond to Chile Earthquake
World Vision is preparing to respond to the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Chile, working with its regional offices to transport emergency relief supplies and getting ready to send more staff to support the relief response.
The Christian relief and development organization’s first relief flight, in coordination with the Bolivian air force, is tentatively planned to depart for Chile later today – with relief supplies like tarps, blankets, plastic sheeting, and collapsible water containers for survivors. Airport closures in Chile are forcing delays in the plane’s departure.
“It happened in the middle of the night. Everyone was sleeping, and there was no time to escape. Many houses are destroyed; even large buildings have collapsed,” said Mariela Chavarriga, Emergency Advisor with World Vision in Chile. “Main roads have been destroyed and communication is very difficult. We are trying to connect with our regional offices but all the phone lines are down.”
World Vision has worked in Chile for 30 years and has more than 100 staff in the country, many living and working in areas close to the quake epicenter. The aid group has worked extensively in the south of Concepcion, the city that has been hardest hit by the earthquake, as well as in the capital of Santiago.
“This quake will not be like the one in Haiti,” said Steve Matthews of World Vision’s global rapid response team. Matthews and other top relief experts are coordinating early plans for World Vision’s response in Chile from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where the aid group continues to respond to the massive quake in Haiti last month.
“Haiti was concentrated and that led to the challenge of tons of aid and hundreds of aid workers being sent into a small zone. This quake off the Chilean coast has potential to reach remote areas and thus it will be extremely difficult to assess the number of deaths and amount of damage, but we can expect that children and families will have taken the brunt of it. World Vision has the experience to know what survivors will need in the opening moments. Blankets, tarps, plastic sheeting and clean water will be the priorities,” Matthews continued.
World Vision is also concerned about the possible tsunami that is reportedly heading for the region and as far as Asia as a result of Chile’s quakes. The agency’s disaster response teams are contacting offices across the region to alert them for the possibility of a major tsunami.
Chile is prone to large earthquakes. After the 7.7 quake in northern Chile in November 2007, World Vision was one of the first responders in the area and set up a Child-Friendly Space — a safe and secure place for children to recover from their trauma — to serve the needs of the quake’s youngest survivors.
Since 1980, World Vision Chile has been implementing development projects reaching about 100,000 children and adults within the country’s poorest, most marginalized communities, including a focus on education and microfinance opportunities for poor entrepreneurs.
DC strives to set world record as gay marriage legalization nears
Massive Wedding Planned to Marry Hundreds of Same Sex Couples
The largest gay weddingin history is scheduled for Saturday, March 20th in Washington, DC. Up to 400 couples will exchange vows breaking the current Guinness World Record. The celebration is part of an all-day series of events called Our Time Has Come, a title chosen to signify the long road that many couples have traveled to marriage. Events slated for March 20 include a large group ceremony, individual private ceremonies and a gala-style reception. All portions are scheduled at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, an ornately gilded historic venue on Constitution Avenue, the event is being hosted by GLBT Wedding Services.
Mike Wilkinson, Director of Wedding Services for Event Emissary, is one of the planners producing the mega-event. “The GLBT community has always found strength in numbers when it comes to advocating for equality,” Wilkinson said. “Now we can finally stand together to affirm our love and have it recognized legally by the District of Columbia.”
Even though the event is big, the concept is being carefully designed so that the experience is special for every couple involved. The reception is open to friends and family to celebrate alongside the newlyweds. “Every aspect is being planned with sensitivity to the GLBT audience that will be attending,” Wilkinson said.
Drew Parker and his partner Dalin Holyoak are one of the many couples getting married at the event. “Our relationship and our lives could not wait for our marriage to be ‘legal’ in DC, but we are both excited and relieved that our marriage will finally be recognized in the city we call home. We signed up to be part of the mass ceremony as soon as we could.”
The centerpiece of the festivities will be the group ceremony titled Standing Proud Together. The non-denominational, contemporary service will be led in a manner that will solidify the unions of long-term partners as well as to commemorate the marriages of those who are more recently engaged. A limited number of smaller private ceremonies are also available.
A reception will follow in the evening after the ceremonies. Newlyweds are encouraged to invite friends and family to take part in celebration with music, a buffet, premium open bar and various types of wedding cakes.
“We celebrated our personal vows nearly two years ago, but we know the importance of this day to our status as fully equal citizens of the District of Columbia,” Parker said. “We are so thankful for the people that sacrificed to make this day a reality, and can only hope that one day the entire nation will follow.”
The entire event is contingent on the legalization of same-sex marriage, which is expected early next week . The organizers are working with Destination DC, the official convention and tourism corporation for the District, to help out-of-town couples with travel arrangements.
Once the law is official, couples can then apply for their marriage licenses. There is usually a three-day waiting period, but due to high volume, it may take longer. Wilkinson said that his team will work with couples to make sure they receive their licenses on time. “We’re not going to do anything if it’s not official. We’ve waited too long for that.”
Source: GLBT Wedding Services