dZi - Handmade Designs for a Fair Trade World

TIBET EARTHQUAKE SUPPORT GROUPS

As you may have heard, Tibetans in the the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province of China are now suffering from the devastating results of a 6.9 earthquake that just occurred on Wednesday, April 14.

So far the death toll is at least 400 people, including scores of school children and teachers. More than ten thousand people were injured and most of the homes had been flattened. Yushu county has a population of about 100,000 people, and many of them are herders and farmers.

The area is at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the nights are bitterly cold and many are not able to have adequate shelter. Conditions are miserable, and because the area is remote, relief efforts will be hard pressed to arrive quickly.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
We have researched the following list of leading non-governmental, Tibet-focused, development organizations that are now networking on the ground to deliver relief as quickly as possible. We urge you to investigate the website of each one for yourself and make a contribution of support.

PLATEAU PERSEPCTIVES (Canadian based) http://www.plateauperspectives.org
This organization has created a central site for relief activity reports: http://www.yushuearthquakerelief.com
Mission:
Plateau Perspectives is an international organization that helps local communities and government leaders find long-term solutions to promote more sustainable livelihoods, to improve people's quality of life and to protect the natural environment in the Tibetan Plateau region of China.

Current Aid Agenda:
"Right now, PP is the only organization that's been welcomed by the FAO to come down to Yushu, so we're trying to coordinate with other folks to get supplies and medical personnel ready to go as soon as the OK is given. We're sending a small team down in a few hours, but hopefully more will be able to head down in the next few days." [http://yushuearthquakerelief.com/ is the most complete website so far and may be the only foreign NGO with official approval to operate in the area - RB�

TIBETAN VILLAGE PROJECT (US-based) http://www.TibetanVillageProject.org
Mission:
A non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Tibet. The organization was founded in 2001.

Current Aid Agenda:
�Chris Jones of Columbia University and members of Tibetan Village Project are on their way from Chengdu to Xining to help coordinate local NGO�s response and relief efforts. They are working with volunteers and local NGOs led by Snowland Service Group (SSG) a Yushu Based NGO. A website will be up soon where you can learn more about what people in Yushu need and how you can help.

MACHIK (US-based) http://www.machik.org
Mission:
Founded on a core commitment to the ideals of service and engagement, Machik works to develop new opportunities for education and training, as well as supporting initiatives that advance innovative and solutions-oriented approaches to the challenges of community revitalization and sustainability

Current Aid Agenda:
�Machik is networked with Tibetans who have years of experience serving local community needs in the Jyekundo and surrounding areas. Machik is creating a safe mechanism for delivering funds directly to those who are best able to reach those most in need.We assure you that all funds donated through "Machik Earthquake Relief" will go directly to assisting the people of Jyekundo and the devastated communities. Over the past 48 hours, the Machik Earthquake Relief Appeal has raised over 13,000 USD.

HIMALAYAN CONCENSUS (Beijing Based) http://www.himalayanconsensus.org
Mission:
The Himalayan Consensus is a new paradigm for sustainable economic development that seeks practical community-based solutions, draws upon values indigenous to the Himalayan region, and emphasizes ethnic identity and economic empowerment.

Current Aid Agenda:
�Himalayan Consensus�s Yushu (clinic) has managed to escape the Yushu earthquake with minimal damage and our team is working around the clock to provide medical care and basic supplies to those most in need of assistance.�