One of the amazing things to me about the internet is how it can make the world such a small place. When I look at my visitor statistics, I am surprised and gratified to see people visiting my blog from so many places: North and South America, Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East… and Australia.
It’s those Australian visitors who are most on my mind these days. The news coverage of the fires in Victoria has shocked and appalled me, and the idea that some of the fires seem to have been deliberately set simply boggles my mind.
Since it’s not practical for me to grab my passport, fly to Oz and pitch in with the relief efforts on the ground, I started looking around for other ways I could help. Not surprisingly, I found that others in the blogosphere are far far ahead of me.
The photos that Knitabulous posted today made me cry, and made me realize that I needed to write this post.
Bells wrote a lovely and touching post here with a link to the Australian Red Cross.
Caffeine Faerie posted a link to Wildlife Victoria, which has lost two shelters in the fires and says that donations are desperately needed. She also mentioned that she’s joined the Ravelry group Packages Down Under and is knitting blanket squares for them.
Serendipity has begun a fundraising effort for the Australian Red Cross, and she’s even offering prizes for contributors. Details on this post, and a current tally and update on donated prizes can be found here.
Krafty Kuka has gathered all kinds of information on her blog. Cash donations, blood donations, Etsy shops, handcrafting efforts; you name it, she’s tracked it down.
So, here’s where the “Appeal” comes in: I know that times are tough for a lot of us right now, what with that whole world-wide economic crisis and all, but I’m asking you to do what you can. Donate money if you can afford it, donate blood, knit a square for a blanket, purchase something from a participating Etsy vendor, do something else I haven’t thought of.
Commenters who let me know what they’re doing to help will be entered into a random list generator (see Bells, I’m a geek all the time), and three people will receive sock yarn from my ridiculous stash. Just tell me what your favorite color is, I'll ship anywhere in the world. Contest will run until 18 February 2009, at 1 pm PST.
To my Australian readers: You’re all in my heart and my thoughts. Stay safe.
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8 comments:
I've thought a lot of America during this time - how we all felt/responded to Katrina. I don't feel I did enough and I'm sorry for that now.
This time I'm giving as much money as I can. I just feel like nothing I need/want right now really matters as much as helping as much as I can.
Even though I wouldn't want to be a resident there for anything, I wish I lived close enough to give actual, physical help.
I love you! (for being so generous) I'll put on the old thinking cap. :chin on hand:
Thank you so much for caring and for posting about this, and for doing your bit too. I've donated to the Red Cross and am planning on knitting socks for the bushfire volunteers - like Bells, I'm not close enough to physically help so figured this was the best way to help.
I cried in front of the tv the other night when I watched the news and they covered the fires in Australia. I'm not very good at donating money when catastrophies strike (I am, however, a member of Greenpeace and Amnesty to which I donate money every month...), but this time something got to me and I made a donation to the Red Cross.
And Geeky, you have readers from Northern Europe too! ;)
Thanks so much for a really well summarised post. I hate feeling helpless in situations like this, so really, like the others, doing what I can, and how I can.
So it's stash busting with all the bits and bobs I have around, and donating to the red cross (through the bushfire appeal on etsy), widelife victoria - and getting stuff to the rspca as well.
But you're awesome. Thanks again for all those links.
I had already donated for Serendipity earlier when I read your post. It is wonderful for you to compile all these links.
Thank you.
It is so heartwarming to see the caring response to the Australian bushfire disaster from our overseas friends. We live so far away, it would be very easy to think 'out of sight, out of mind', but there are so many wonderful human beings in this world. Thank heavens for you all. I've donated to the Red Cross as money is the greatest need right now. Just wish I could do more.
I agree that the internet makes us all feel closer together - thanks for posting this.
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