http://mchristoff.com Blogging for Burma Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:38:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The plight of those devastated by Cyclone Nargis seems worse that ever.  The AP released some stunning facts about the current situation in a recent article: A survey of families in 291 villages showed that 55 percent have less than one day of food left and no stocks to fall back ... http://mchristoff.com/2008/08/plight-worse-for-survivors-worse-than-thought/ Doctor's Without Borders (MSF), the non-profit that I'm supporting with this blog series, posted their latest update on the great work they've done in Myanmar a few weeks ago (sorry for my lateness on this one). In addition to an in-depth report on the help MSF is providing with mental ... http://mchristoff.com/2008/07/msf-delivers-results-in-myanmar/ The UN just released a statement saying that it's seeking $300 million more to support the relief efforts in Myanmar.  "60,000 children were at risk of acute malnutrition," according to U.N. humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes. Furthermore: .. the cyclone had destroyed 42 percent of Myanmar's food stocks and 55 percent ... http://mchristoff.com/2008/07/60000-children-at-risk-of-malnurition-says-the-un/ A few people have asked over the past couple of weeks if the funds donated to Doctors Without Borders will be earmarked specifically for the relief effort in Myanmar. I'm happy to report that I received confirmation before the holiday this weekend that all funds donated via my firstgiving page ... http://mchristoff.com/2008/07/funds-earmarked/ [...] a great number more suffered far worse conditions and had nothing left but the clothes on their backs. Some did not even have that: the storm blew them off while they clung to trees for survival as the cyclone tore away their homes and their families. via eFoodAlert http://mchristoff.com/2008/07/eyewitness-report/ I grew up in New Jersey, a place where there isn't much darkness. Growing up in an environment where it's hard to escape the constant glow of street lights, car lights, and backlights, I've always tried to make it a point to get away to places where it actually gets ... http://mchristoff.com/2008/06/darkness/ A short, but important post. The relief effort in Myanmar is in desperate need: The United Nations warned Friday that it will be forced to ground helicopters that have been ferrying critical aid to Myanmar's cyclone survivors unless the international community urgently provides more funding. -A Recent AP Article Although, apparently this quote ... http://mchristoff.com/2008/06/un-issues-urgent-plea/ Not even one week into the fundraising effort and there's already been a wonderful response. $975 has been donated so far, and I'd like to thank everyone who took a moment to help. A special thanks goes out to Rohun Gholkar for writing up a great post and making a ... http://mchristoff.com/2008/06/thanks/ The following is a quote from a Bloomberg article that came out yesterday: An international appeal to aid 2.4 million survivors of last month's cyclone disaster in Myanmar is only 40 percent funded, the United Nations said The tsunami in South Asia four years ago managed to raise $7 billion from around ... http://mchristoff.com/2008/06/relief-effort-drastically-short-of-aid/ Since Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar last month, I am reminded daily of the country that left an indelible impression on a twenty-two year old me. Today I'm rechristening my personal blog with the first post of a series I'm calling "Blogging for Burma". My purpose is threefold: Context - I spent ... http://mchristoff.com/2008/06/blogging-for-burma/