 New
life after the tsunami |
Issue 132 |
There is an Indonesian saying: "They are many, they
are one" which means that we are all part of one community. The
Acehnese live this and it makes them selfless and concerned for others - truly
inspiring." Paul
Sharman - An Australian Worker in Aceh.
Over the past few weeks we have seen many images of the destruction caused by Cyclone Larry in Cairns and surrounding areas. Homes, crops, shops, schools - many places and forms of livelihood have been destroyed. Quite extraordinarily, no lives were reported to have been lost.
We have seen both the state and federal governments respond, an emergency response team established and hundreds of SES, army personnel and other workers arrive in Innisfail and surrounding areas to assist in the clean-up and plans for re-building.
We have seen communities around Australia reaching out to offer assistance in the way of food, clothing and other goods.
We have also seen the human spirit within the people in Innisfail and surrounding areas triumph over great adversity.
Sadly, there have been many natural disasters all over the world over the past few years.
On December 26, 2004, a catastrophic event occurred that has forever changed our world. A magnitude nine earthquake struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra, leaving in its wake a path of destruction, death and devastation. A tsunami, which is a tidal wave induced by an earthquake, sent a wall of water more than eight metres high and moving at a speed of over 300 kilometres per hour. Our television sets replayed the horrific scenes as people were swept away, hotel rooms were flooded and trees were uprooted from the ground.
Yet, despite these scenes that left many feeling lost and disillusioned, there were also many stories of triumph. A child found alive floating on a mattress, a mother who had to let go of her young son's hand in order to save her other child only to be reunited with both of her children again. The stories are many and are testimony to the power of the human spirit.
Susan Fountain, author of Education for Development, claims that no matter where we live, we are all linked to other parts of the planet. In our increasingly global society, places, events, issues and people are connected in a complex and delicately balanced web of relationships.
The world is a dynamic place - never constant, always changing. The world is also a fragile place as we have witnessed through the devastation caused by many natural disasters. People cannot always immediately help themselves following a disaster because at times the task seems far too arduous to begin, let alone complete. This is why we all have a responsibility to act when we see people in need. In our globalised world we are not prevented from assisting people because of the tyranny of distance. We all know about human rights and demand the best for ourselves, so we should demand the best for others as well.
It was because of our shared humanity and a desire to stand in solidarity with those affected by the tsunami that Australians and indeed people from all around the world responded so generously. As Fr John Noronha, Director of Caritas India commented at the recent commemorative service to mark the first year anniversary of the tsunami: " The superwave of Caritas' compassion surpassed the tsunami waves."
This week's Project Compassion story focuses on Khairunisa, her
family and others in her village who are rebuilding their lives after
the tsunami. To read her story go to:
www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion/
lentenStories6_secondary.htm
NB. Caritas Australia is not accepting donations to assist those affected by Cyclone Larry. St Vincent de Paul is the agency best placed to respond to such an emergency within Australia.
Creative and Practical Arts (CAPA)
1) Go to www.caritas.org.au/tsunami/
photogallery/ and
view the 24 photographs. Select ones that have a message that appeals
to you. Print them out and make a collage using the pictures and key
slogans or catch phrases. The topic of the collage should be "One
year on and the human spirit continues to shine".
Mathematics
1) Go to www.caritas.org.au/tsunami/faqs/ and
read about how the funds raised during the tsunami have and will
continue to be distributed.
a) Construct a table showing the contribution of Caritas Australia
in each of the phases:
- emergency
- medium term
- long-term
b) Construct a pie graph to show the distribution of money over the three phases
c) Why is it important to have phases of aid and development when responding to disasters? Hint: Go to:www.caritas.org.au/emergencies/asiaEarthquake/
secondary_resource/secondary_05.pdf
Religious Education
1) Disasters and emergencies are occurring all the time around the world. Go to www.caritas.org.au/emergencies/index.htm and read about some of the recent emergencies that Caritas are providing aid for. These include:
Select one of the disasters or emergencies and create a prayer service focusing on the people affected. Include prayers for their specific needs, a Gospel reading and a pledge for solidarity with our global brothers and sisters.
2) Go to www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion/
lentenStories6_secondary.htm and
read about four year old Khairunisa and her family who live in Pucok
Leung village in Meulaboh on the west coast of Aceh.
-
What does Khairunisa's name mean?
-
How did the 'cash for work' program assist the local people in Pucok Leung village?
-
Why would living in baraks be difficult?
-
Psycho-social support for those affected by the tsunami is essential. Why is counselling so important in Aceh after the tsunami?
3) Go to http://www.caritas.org.au/tsunami/
casestudies/aceh.shtml and
read about Paul Sharman.
- Why do you think he decided to assist in Aceh?
- What has he helped to achieve since arriving in Indonesia?
- How have the Acehnese people helped Paul?
- What does the Indonesian saying "They are many, they are one" mean? How are the Acehnese living this saying on a daily basis?
English
1) Flooding in Bolivia and Brazil has caused huge loss of life and livelihood. Write a series of diary entries imagining that you survived the floods and were left to clean up the mess and devastation left behind. You may refer to the web addresses below:
www.crs.org/our_work/where_we_work/overseas/
latin_america_and_the_caribbean/bolivia/flooding.cfm
www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=
17587&Cr=Bolivia&Cr1=
www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200312/
s1016237.htm
2) It is now over one year after the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004. Go to http://www.caritas.org.au/tsunami/overview/and read about how Caritas Australia is helping to rebuild communities.
- Write a speech to be delivered to the Australian Government informing politicians of the work that Caritas has done in assisting people to rebuild their lives after the disaster.
3) Go to www.caritas.org.au/tsunami/casestudies/
jewellers.shtml and
read about Sudath's story.
- How was Sudath affected by the tsunami
- How were Sudath and his family initially helped by the Sri Lankan Government?
- Who is Tamara? How did she try to re-establish her livelihood?
- How did Caritas Australia assist the jewellery makers?
- How does the co-operative work?
- How does the revolving loan system work? Who benefits?
4) MDG 1 looks at eradicating extreme poverty and hunger. Go to www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/mdgs/
index_frameset.html to
read about how this is being achieved. How does assisting with the
call for help after natural disasters help us to achieve this goal?
secondary_resource/secondary_05.pdf
Science
1) Natural disasters occur throughout the world in many areas for many reasons.
- Obtain a map of the world and identify the major tectonic plates.
- Read the article at unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/
documents/APCITY/UNPAN009855.pdf - Why are volcanoes so prevalent in this area?
- What is the cost of the damage due to these volcanoes?
- Read PAGASA's responsibilities at the bottom of page 3. Why is it so important to ensure that these responsibilities are met?
- Define the following terms:
- Seismograph
- Seismogram
- Lava
- Typhoon
- Tsunami
2) Go to www.nationalgeographic.com/forcesofnature/
interactive/index.html?section=e and
read about earthquakes. After you have read the information, select
the magnitude and bedrock and see the damage caused.
- What conditions set off the biggest earthquake?
- Why do you think this is so?
- What bedrock would you be most comfortable to build on if you were responsible for developing a new housing estate on the coastline?
3) Go to AusAID's site www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/
globaled/go/pid/1619 and
read about the tsunami that occurred on December 26 2004.
- Which group of people were the hardest hot by the tsunami?
- How could more advanced warning systems have helped reduce the huge loss of life?
4) Go to www.tsunamiassist.gov.au/fact_sheets.htm. Why do you think the government is keen to assist people who survived the tsunami?
5) Go to www.caritas.org.au/tsunami/reports/AfterTheTsunami.pdf and read about life in Aceh after the tsunami. Look at the last page of the report and explain the diagram.
Health
1) MDG 1 aims to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
-
Design a simple diet that contains food high in nutrients that can be easily accessible and appealing to children.
-
Discuss whether such a diet could be implemented in Aceh. What factors need to be considered - for example consultation with the people; working with the people empowering the people to help themselves work towards a sustainable way of life; cultural considerations; etc, Other factors?
HSIE/SOSE
1) Go to: news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060320/
ap_on_re_au_an/australia_cyclone and
read about Cyclone Larry. What lessons were learnt from Hurricane
Katrina in New Orleans that were applied in Australia in the lead
up to and after Cyclone Larry?
2) Go to www.cafod.org.uk/news_and_events/
features/working_in_aceh and
read about the need for peace in Aceh.
-
Why is there a need for peace in Aceh?
-
How could the devastation of the tsunami help achieve peace in this troubled region?
-
List ten ways that people in conflict can work as a community to achieve a common goal.
Economics
1) Go to www.caritas.org.au/tsunami/
casestudies/womensstory.shtml and
read about the Indian women who received a plastic crate and set of scales
to replace the ones damaged in the tsunami.
- How could these simple pieces of equipment assist the women in starting up their own fish selling enterprises?
- Imagine you were one of these women. Design a business plan identifying ways to maximise income while keeping expenditure down.
- How could the fish enterprises assist the community in the coming years?
Civics
Go to www.unicef.org/indonesia/media_3248.html and view the slide show. Use this as stimulus material to prompt a discussion about "Building back more than was lost". Discuss the need for modern and appropriate buildings to house people, educate children, and provide healthcare.
Some people believe that the houses destroyed in the tsunami in Aceh and the surrounds were so badly damaged because of their close proximity to the coast. What will some of the implications be if there are laws governing the rebuilding of these houses?
1) Sometimes disasters which lead to loss of life and rebuilding of
communities leave people feeling helpless. Go to
www.eclac.cl/publicaciones/Mexico/2/
LCMEXL672/L672-Serie%2035%20-%
20Parte%201.pdf and
read about the tsunami in Asia and disaster assessment missions which
people are sent on in order to assist those affected by disasters.
2) Go
to www.un.org/Pubs/CyberSchoolBus/
mdgs/index.html and
read about the Millennium Development Goals.
3) Email the Millennium Campaign at: info@millenniumcampaign.org and you will be put on their contact list and receive updates on how you can help eradicate extreme poverty.
4) Go to www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion/
lentenStories6.htm and
read about Aceh and the progress after the tsunami.
5) Go to www.caritas.org.au/tsunami/reports/
AfterTheTsunami.pdf and
see how Caritas is assisting in rebuilding communities, restoring lives,
and renewing hope in Aceh after the tsunami.