Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Kashmir quake : Influencing the roles of the Indian and Pakistani government
This is an appeal for your volunteering time over the next few days and weeks, the time committment reducing over time. I am sending it to you with the hope that you will be able to contribute to this effort. If you wont be able to be part of the team, please do let me know, no offence taken. :-)
BACKGROUND
As the extent of damage from the earthquake in Kashmir is unfolding, both AID and Asha's coordinating bodies are assessing the contacts and connections we have within the communities, looking at how the organizations should respond to the situation. This is an appeal for an initiative that cuts across both organizations, and will hopefully spread across other orgs too.
In Kashmir, as has come to be expected of them, the babus on both sides are dragging their feet on many fronts. Given that the entire area that has experienced the brunt of the earthquake is a militarized zone, and has been so for the past few decades, the strength and capacity of civil society institutions are highly weekend - both by the caues for the militarization, and as an effect of it. So if the intent and energy of relief efforts are to translated effectively to succor for the affected communities, the two establishments have to cooperate and work together.
As Lalita Ramdas has said, "This is truly a moment for all of us who are engaged in the larger movement for Peace in the region, to use every means at our disposal, to place this as highest priority, to put the pressure on our governments jointly and powerfully - to stop playing games and to seriously come to grips with doing what is needed. This might mean - teams of us who are in the capitals of both countries, to immediately seek appointments with the top people - with a common message and request - based as far as possible on accurate information from the ground - where there are enough and more to provide the inputs."
TASKS ON HAND
Towards this end, please consider contributing a few hours over the next few days towards one of the following tasks.
1. Collecting information on what exactly are the stands of the governments
2. Researching information (as realistic as possible) about the extent of damage in particular areas
3. Formulating a statement on what it is that we want the governments to do
4. Drafting an appeal for a signature campaign
5. Drafting the script for telephonic conversations with officials
6. Preparing a list of offices and officials that these efforts should be directed towards
7. Preparing a press release
8. Contacting other civil society organizations and gathering support for the effort
9. Last, but by no means the least, coordinating the effort
TIME ESTIMATE
In my estimation, we will need a team of 4 to 5 (atleast) volunteers working 4 to 5 hours each over tonight and tomorrow. After the initial push, we can scale back to an hour or so each, or even pass on the baton (hopefully).
LAST SENTENCE
Please do reply at the earliest as time is a critical factor. And if you feel that I have missed something, please do add to the list.
+ dwiji.
Minneapolis.
As the extent of damage from the earthquake in Kashmir is unfolding, both AID and Asha's coordinating bodies are assessing the contacts and connections we have within the communities, looking at how the organizations should respond to the situation. This is an appeal for an initiative that cuts across both organizations, and will hopefully spread across other orgs too.
In Kashmir, as has come to be expected of them, the babus on both sides are dragging their feet on many fronts. Given that the entire area that has experienced the brunt of the earthquake is a militarized zone, and has been so for the past few decades, the strength and capacity of civil society institutions are highly weekend - both by the caues for the militarization, and as an effect of it. So if the intent and energy of relief efforts are to translated effectively to succor for the affected communities, the two establishments have to cooperate and work together.
As Lalita Ramdas has said, "This is truly a moment for all of us who are engaged in the larger movement for Peace in the region, to use every means at our disposal, to place this as highest priority, to put the pressure on our governments jointly and powerfully - to stop playing games and to seriously come to grips with doing what is needed. This might mean - teams of us who are in the capitals of both countries, to immediately seek appointments with the top people - with a common message and request - based as far as possible on accurate information from the ground - where there are enough and more to provide the inputs."
TASKS ON HAND
Towards this end, please consider contributing a few hours over the next few days towards one of the following tasks.
1. Collecting information on what exactly are the stands of the governments
2. Researching information (as realistic as possible) about the extent of damage in particular areas
3. Formulating a statement on what it is that we want the governments to do
4. Drafting an appeal for a signature campaign
5. Drafting the script for telephonic conversations with officials
6. Preparing a list of offices and officials that these efforts should be directed towards
7. Preparing a press release
8. Contacting other civil society organizations and gathering support for the effort
9. Last, but by no means the least, coordinating the effort
TIME ESTIMATE
In my estimation, we will need a team of 4 to 5 (atleast) volunteers working 4 to 5 hours each over tonight and tomorrow. After the initial push, we can scale back to an hour or so each, or even pass on the baton (hopefully).
LAST SENTENCE
Please do reply at the earliest as time is a critical factor. And if you feel that I have missed something, please do add to the list.
+ dwiji.
Minneapolis.
