Thursday, September 27, 2018

Puerto Rico, USVI, Dominica, and other small nations globally is it the same?



‘Inept’ Puerto Rican government ‘riddled with corruption’: CEO








Jorge Rodriguez, 49, is the Harvard-educated CEO of PACIV, an international engineering firm based in Puerto Rico that works with the medical and pharmaceutical sectors. The Puerto Rican-born engineer says he has dispatched 50 engineers to help FEMA rehabilitate the devastated island — a commonwealth of the United States — after Hurricane Maria. He refuses to work with the local government, which he called inept and riddled with corruption.

For the last 30 years, the Puerto Rican government has been completely inept at handling regular societal needs, so I just don’t see it functioning in a crisis like this one. Even before the hurricane hit, water and power systems were already broken. And our $118 billion debt crisis is a result of government corruption and mismanagement.

The governor Ricardo Rossello has little experience. He’s 36 and never really held a job and never dealt with a budget. His entire administration is totally inexperienced and they have no clue how to handle a crisis of this magnitude.

For instance, shortly after the hurricane hit, the government imposed a curfew from 6 pm to 6 am and then changed it. Now, it’s 7 pm to 5 am, and makes no sense. The curfew has prevented fuel trucks from transporting their loads. These trucks should have been allowed to run for 24 hours to address our needs, but they have been stalled, and so we have massive lines at gas stations and severe shortages of diesel at our hospitals and supermarkets.
I’m really tired of Puerto Rican government officials blaming the federal government for their woes and for not acting fast enough to help people on the island. Last week I had three federal agents in my office and I was so embarrassed; I went out of my way to apologize to them for the attitude of my government and what they have been saying about the US response. When the hurricane hit we had experts from FEMA from all over the US on the ground and I was really proud of their quick response. The first responders and FEMA have all been outstanding in this crisis, and should be supported.
I have 50 engineers that I have sent out pro bono to help local companies get back on their feet. This includes getting people gasoline and cash, and helping them connect to others that can assist with repairs without delays.
I won’t allow my people to work with the local government.
I have a message for the U.S. Congress: Watch out what relief funds you approve and let our local government handle. Don’t let the Puerto Rican government play the victim and fool you. They have no clue what they are doing, and I worry that they will mishandle anything that comes their way.
They don’t need another aircraft carrier. They need experienced people to run a proper disaster command center.

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Press Release. Fighting for the Gullah/Geechee Environment Globally. 9/23/2018

Give to the Gullah\Geechee Nation:  
In February of 2018, in one month over $1-billion dollars of revenue were generated for one movie that portrayed fiction that became a call to action for many.  
The Gullah\Geechee Nation is our reality.
To our art, business, music, Hip Hop community, sports, and other professional individuals and organizations.
Give to reality,
Give to the need,
Give to the survival of our culture and heritage.
Give to the Gullah\Geechee Nation our culture and heritage.

                                                                               CDS.  CEO BEMA International



***PRESS RELEASE***

CONTACT:    Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition    GullGeeCo@aol.com    (843)838-1171

Fighting for the Gullah/Geechee Environment Globally



(23 September 2018, St. Helena Island, SC, Gullah/Geechee Nation) Queen Quet, Chieftess of the Gullah/Geechee Nation (www.QueenQuet.com) initiated the "Save the Sea Islands" annual tour over  two decades ago.  In that period of time, she has taken the Gullah/Geechee story to national and international platforms including numerous United Nations events, UNESCO, and most recently to the Global Climate Action Summit.   During the latter, she received a standing ovation for delivering this riveting presentation about climate action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7ZLI8kpD_I&t=52s

Queen Quet delivered the keynote address for the "Rise for Jobs, Climate, and Justice Rally" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD-LHMp5k0s&t=3s) in Columbia, SC before she departed to be with world leaders at the Global Climate Action Summit.   She returned with the intention of bringing the global message of how to work to protect the Carolina environment against climate change back to that city as well.   However, the Carolinas Resilience Conference at which she is schedule to lead a session had to be postponed due to Hurricane Florence.  Queen Quet then used that time to lead her organization, the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition in coordinating storm recovery and emergency management efforts for the Gullah/Geechee Nation.  Her knowledge of environmental issues and links with national and global partners including the Black Emergency Managers Association International immediately led to a people coming together to gather resources for and to get assistance to coastal areas in a more equitable fashion than is normally the case in times of crisis.  She will be leading additional emergency preparedness trainings throughout the Gullah/Geechee Nation as part of the recovery efforts for those effected by the hurricane and subsequent flooding and for the rest of the Nation due to the fact that the hurricane season has not ended. Thousands of people are supporting this initiative via https://www.gofundme.com/GullahGeecheeStorm and https://secure.actblue.com/donate/schurricanerelief .

Queen Quet is well aware that storms are only compounding the erosion of the Sea Islands and the coast which is happening due to sea level rise and other impacts of climate change.  How to mitigate and reverse this harm is some of the information that she is presenting in her lectures and workshops during the "Save the Sea Islands World Tour."  The work of the tour is part of the commitment that has been made by the Gullah/Geechee Nation to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Queen Quet will deliver a keynote address at the University of Florida's Chemistry Lab C130 in Gainsville at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 which is free and open to the public.   This histo-musical presentation and interactive dialogue will address how to maintain and sustain cultural heritage in the midst of environmental issues, injustice, and attempted displacement.  The Gullah/Geechee have been faced with all of these issues repeatedly and have managed to continue their existence on the Sea Islands from Jacksonville, NC to Jacksonville, FL.   The audience will be able to not only hear of their success story, but will learn how to respectfully engage with the community and support their efforts to protect their homeland.

After the engagement in Florida, Queen Quet will host an event on historic St. Helena Island, SC to enlighten the Gullah/Geechee community about the toxins caused by environmental dangers including oil drilling (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toxic-chemicals-and-oil-exploration-in-the-gullahgeechee-nation-discussion-tickets-49396723931?aff=ebapi).   She will then depart once again for the United Nations.   Those that want to support her UN journey which will include three more events during 2018 can contribute to that aspect of the "Gullah/Geechee Save the Sea Islands Tour" via this GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/gullahgeechee-queen-quet-goes-toun

Queen Quet says, "Hunnuh mus tek cyare de root fa heal de tree.  Ef hunnuh wan git de tools fa disya, cum fa yeddi de Gullah/Geechee."   Come out and hear the Gullah/Geechee wisdom that she will share.

Webe Gullah/Geechee Anointed Peepol!
Lun mo bout who webe


Volunteers Needed. BEMA Int. Liaison in HQ ARC Disaster Operations Coordination Center

Immediate need for volunteers to represent BEMA International within the HQ American Red Cross (ARC) Disaster Operations Coordination Center (DOCC) as the BEMA Liaison.

Ideal for undergraduate or graduate level college\university students in homeland security & emergency management curricula.

Volunteers would be activated as ARC DOCC is activated.  Possible 24/7 access to their facilities will be provided.

Please contact me directly if interested for basic requirements and understanding of emergency operations center, and knowledge of ARC.

Charles

Charles D. Sharp
Chief Executive Officer
Black Emergency Managers Association 
          International
1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097 
bEMA International 
     









Change without Sacrifice is an Illusion.  Lisa Ellis

Saturday, September 22, 2018

Update #5: Situation Awareness. Gullah Nation response & recovery Hurricane\Storm Florence. Sepember 22, 2018

Response and recovery of the Gullah Nation from hurricane\storm Florence is an ongoing effort from flooding long after the storm has past.

Financially our communities are constantly stressed.  Give whatever and how much as possible.
Ask local buusiness, private industry to  adjust their profit margins and give back to communities in need. Ask local Home Depot, Lowes, Walmarts, and others to contribute.
Corporation, and private industry are not just a part of the community in good times, but when disasters strike.

BEMA International
   ================
Gullah Nation financial Support

@SierraClub fa supportin de @GullahGeechee!



You can donate to our rebuilding fund here:


You can also contribute to the on-going Gullah/Geechee Land Legacy Fund here: https://www.gofundme.com/manage/gullahgeechee-land-legacy-fund


Here is Queen Quet's (Gullah Nation leadership)
    Huffpost article during the storm


Here are some of the articles that have come out so far regarding what the Gullah/Geechee Nation is faced with even after the storms cease:



Tenki Tenki fa hunnuh support!


Thursday, September 20, 2018

September 2018. Hurricane Florence and the Displacement of African-Americans Along the Carolina Coast.


Hurricane Florence and the Displacement of African-Americans Along the Carolina Coast


The places that are most threatened by Hurricane Florence this week, especially along the coast of the Carolinas, were heavily and, in some areas, almost entirely populated and owned by African-Americans a century ago.

While many of these black residents have since moved elsewhere, those in pockets like Princeville, N.C., remain. One of the oldest towns incorporated by African-Americans in the United States, Princeville was devastated by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, but many residents chose to stay, hoping to avoid "another lost colony."

Regina Cobb, 50, and her family have lived in Princeville for generations. "If it floods this time, I think my family is out," she said this week. "This is God's way of saying: 'It's time to do something different.'"

Text Link


Update #4: Situation Awareness. Saving a Culture. Gullah Island Community. September 20, 2018


Fulfill the need.
Updates forwarded as received directly from Gullah Community Leadership.
CDS
Supporting Gullah/Geechee Nation Rebuilding, Restoration, and Storm Preparation

Gullah/Geechee Nation posted: "The northern most region of the Gullah/Geechee Nation has suffered a great deal of damage and loss due to Hurricane Florence and the subsequent flooding that is still on-going.  The leaders of the Gullah/Geechee Nation have been providing disaster and sto"
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Supporting Gullah/Geechee Nation Rebuilding, Restoration, and Storm Preparation

The northern most region of the Gullah/Geechee Nation has suffered a great deal of damage and loss due to Hurricane Florence and the subsequent flooding that is still on-going.  The leaders of the Gullah/Geechee Nation have been providing disaster and storm preparedness information and will increase the workshops and trainings throughout the coast following the return of many Gullah/Geechees to their homes in the Pee Dee River, Grand Strand, and Cape Fear regions.    In the meantime, they are amassing hygiene and household cleaning items, work gloves, work boots, and toiletries to make kits for those in need due to the displacements and disruptions caused by this massive storm.   In order to support the recovery effort, please donate via this link which will provide support to the Gullah/Geechee Angel Network and other non-profit organizations that have mobilized to help the people affected by the storm:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/schurricanerelief

Over one dozen rivers have already overflowed their banks and the waters are still rising.  The City of Wilmington, NC has essentially become an island.  So, the Gullah/Geechees that remain there cannot drive out to get supplies and many there stated that stores had essentially run out of items.   So, the Gullah/Geechee Nation's leaders have been coordinating with the Black Emergency Managers Association International to find ways to bring supplies in via water with the assistance of the Coast Guard and others that have been doing rescues via boat and keeping us updated on what has been happening in the waters.
The Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition is also collaborating with grassroots leaders in North Carolina to get volunteers and supplies into NC.  They have been able to coordinate some supply air drops and they are organizing those who have carpentry and others skills to come in for the restoration when the waters receded and roads reopen as well.
Go to www.tinyurl.com/flodropoff for an up-to-date list on North Carolina triangle donation drop-off locations and hours + supplies directly requested from Eastern NC partners on the ground.
DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATIONS-DURHAM
Main Location: Durham Fruit Company - 305 S Dillard St, Durham, NC 27701
DROP-OFF HOURS:
Monday, Sept 17-Thursday Sept 20 from 10am-5pm
**Volunteers needed here to sort supplies and pick up donations and distribution sites today-Thursday. Fill out this form to sign-up or just SHOW up between the hours of 9:00am-6pm

Durham Food Co-op - 1111 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
DROP-OFF HOURS:
Monday-Friday during open store hours
DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATIONS-RALEIGH
NC A. Philip Randolph Institute - 1408 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh NC 27601
DROP-OFF HOURS:
Sunday-Friday 12pm-4pm
DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATIONS- CHAPEL HILL/CARRBORO
Zog’s Pool Hall - 108 Henderson St (in between Franklin and Rosemary), Chapel Hill
Sunday-Tuesday 3pm-11pm
Steel String Brewery -106 S Greensboro St Carrboro, NC 27510
DROP-OFF HOURS:
Monday-Saturday 4pm-midnight

If anyone is interested in signing up to assist with the supply distribution of items that are coming in to the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition in South Carolina from Florida and coastal Carolina and will be driving to the northern part of the Gullah/Geechee Nation or you have carpentry and landscaping equipment and skills and want to help with restoration, please email GullGeeCo@aol.com.
Continue to pray for the strength, health, and healing of the families and the restoration of our coastal communities.

www.GullahGeechee.net

www.GullahGeecheeAngelNetwork.com

www.GullahGeecheeNation.com


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Charles D. Sharp
Chief Executive Officer
Black Emergency Managers Association
           International
1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097 
bEMA International 
     







“Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.” ¯   David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas

Cooperation, Collaboration, Communication, Coordination, Community engagement, and  Partnering (C5&P)             A 501 (c) 3 organization.




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