Vote for Volunteer Boston on BestofBlogs.com

While we know you're busy reading about the cyclones, tornadoes, and earthquakes, take a little time out of your day to vote for the Volunteer Boston blog as the "Best of Hobby Blogs" on the BestofBlogs.com website.

We are the only non-profit blog on this list. This is your chance to show the world that volunteering is important, and the humanitarian and community issues we discuss here are not only informative, but interesting. And funny. And serious.

We need your help to win. It just takes one click, you don't even have to register.

Thanks in advance!

We want to have as many ribbons as this little guy.

Related Posts: Non-Profit: We join the 21st century

Photo courtesy of Crimson Flame Wolf.

Earthquake in China - How it's different than in the past

Recently, it seems as though I just keep writing about natural disasters. Cyclones and massive flooding in Myanmar, tornadoes in the Midwestern USA, and now the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in central China.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake is no laughing matter. Once when I was in college we had a minor earthquake - I think it was under a magnitude of 3.0, but it was still unsettling. I can't imagine what such a large earthquake would feel like. Reports from people 150 kilometers from the epicenter say it felt like a rolling and shaking, but that sounds too tame. "Rolling and shaking" is what disco dancers used to do; an earthquake has terrible destructive power that far outweighs the impact of the groovy fashions and moves of the disco era.

Over 5,000 people are reported dead in just one county in central China, with more deaths expected to be reported as this area of China has over 78 million residents (Source: BBC). The quake struck at around 2:30 PM, when kids were still in school and people were still at work. Apparently 900 children are trapped in their collapsed school. Can you imagine anything so terrifying as being trapped?

The only positive thing about this event is the Chinese government's reaction. In the past, it shut down access and tried desperately to control the flow of information within China and to the rest of the world. I suppose the government wanted to make sure a positive spin was put on the event, or more specifically, on their reaction to the event.

However, this time it's different. The Chinese government is very quickly disseminating information, and reacting to the event. The media (well, the BBC, which is where I first heard of the quake) is taken aback, in a good way, at the ease with which information has come forth. With information comes the ability to help. This contrasts starkly with Myanmar's response to the cyclones, though aid is slowly trickling in.

I think the reason China is being more forthright about the earthquake is the upcoming Olympics in Beijing. The country is already under a microscope for the way it's handling the Tibet issue. The last thing they need is further condemnation for their mishandling of a natural disaster. So, if the world wanted to influence Chinese politics by giving them the Olympic hosting responsibilities, I would say they have succeeded... at least in this small way.

If you would like to help victims of the earthquake in China, consider the following organizations:

• Red Cross - Provides disaster relief
• Mercy Corps - Works within "disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds"
• China Tomorrow Education Foundation - Builds schools in rural China to ensure education for all
• Alpha Communities - Works with people and communities to realize potential, initiate change, and create opportunities in rural China and Mongolia

Related Posts: Chinese Earthquake: How to help; Global Volunteering; Myanmar Cyclones and What you can do to help; Tornadoes, Cyclones, and Disaster Relief, Oh My! ; An Olympic Debate

Photo courtesy of CNN.com and Getty Images.

Tornadoes, Cyclones, and Disaster Relief, Oh My!

Tornadoes struck Oklahoma, Missouri, and Georgia on Saturday. Twenty one people have been confirmed dead, and the tornadoes left devastation in their paths. Small towns across the midwest, many of which were already suffering economically, now have to mount an enormous recovery effort.

Thank goodness, though, our government and our strong network of non-profits are able to provide aid to those families in need. Yes, sometimes the response is imperfect or severely lacking (Hurricane Katrina, anyone?), but some is better than none.

Many people in Myanmar are still waiting for disaster relief, ten days out from when the cyclones struck and massive flooding occurred.

Did I say many? I meant most. The military junta in control of the country has insisted on distributing all aid, and are preventing most donated supplies from even entering the country. Slowly, though, the government is letting in air shipments of supplies and distributing it themselves (and taking credit for it). Unfortunately a boat bearing Red Cross supplies intended for victims living in the Irawaddy Delta hit a tree in the flood waters and sank, leaving even more families without food and fresh water.

Many disaster relief experts talk about the "ten day mark," which is when we can expect to see another wave of deaths due to the lack of clean water, food, and shelter. Today is the tenth day since the cyclones in Burma, and we can only expect the news to get worse.

Still, even in the face of all this death and suffering, the Myanmar government will still not let trained disaster relief staff into the country to help their people, nor will it let in all the supplies that the world is willing to give!

If you wish to help victims of the recent tornadoes in the US or the cyclones in Myanmar, please consider donating to the Red Cross. You can specify where your donation will be used.

A section of the Irawaddy Delta, which has been completely flooded.

Related Posts: Global Volunteering; Myanmar Cyclones and what you can do to help

Photo of US tornado courtesy of the Associated Press.
Photo of flooded Myanman courtesy of Doctors Without Borders.

Videos from OYFP's First Charity Concert are here!

Well, I finally got around to posting some videos of the rock groups who performed at OYFP's First Charity Concert that rocked Boston on April 10th, 2008! Check this talent out:

Glenn Michael


The Powers That Be


Stop by our site to see what we're planning for you in the next few weeks!

Over and out.

Non-Profit Auctions and Raffles

One of the things On Your Feet Project struggles with is the conflict between raising awareness of our non-profit partners among young professionals, and raising money for our partners. We try to keep our events low cost or free in order to get more people in the door. That way more of our target audience will become aware of the charities, and perhaps in the future volunteer their time or donate significant funds.

However, Seth Godin raises an interesting point with his post on "Marketing the charity auction." The idea is to get people to pay MORE than what the object (or event, in our case) is worth, versus trying to get a bargain. While I agree with his point, I wonder how exactly you get people to do that.

I suppose people are willing to spend more if they believe in the non-profit, or in the non-profit's cause. In our case, our young professional audience often times is not even aware of the non-profit, and/or are not willing to pony up major cash (more than $25) no matter the cause.

I think OYFP is in the business of convincing people to care, or showing them why they should care, kind of like those TV commercials with the faces of foreign children in poverty. "It only takes $1 a day..."

Instead of using kids' faces to guilt people into charity work, we try to convince our young professionals audience that volunteering can be fun, that it can be good for your career, and that giving will make you happier.

I won't lie - it's a hard sell. OYFP is committed to the cause, though. Hopefully, though, in the long run our work will lead to more people giving more. I can hope so, anyway.

Related Posts: We Rocked, Words for Sale?, Adventures in Recruiting

Pangea Day

Pangea =The theoretical landmass that existed when all continents were joined, from about 300 to 200 million years ago.
- dictionary.com

Pangea Day = a global event held on May 10, 2008, in hopes to bring the world together through film. The details: 4 hours, 24 films, broadcasted worldwide in seven languages which can be seen at approximately 14:00 (2:00pm) Boston time. If so desired you can even see it on your mobile phone.

The films selected to participate in the Pangea Day were chosen based on their ability "To inspire, transform, and allow us see the world through another person's eyes". There will even be live music and inspirational speakers! Click here to see the trailer for the event.

So where can you go see it in Boston? Simmons College is hosting an event to the public this Saturday from 2:00pm - 6:00pm at the Linda K. Paresky Conference Center. You can also view it online, or even on your mobile phone.

The event is going to be watched by millions of people worldwide, shouldn't you be one of them?

Photo courtesy of EdwardOlive.