Again I’m facing the same burning question that asked half a year ago when I was working on Indigi-Net – Looking at ways that travelers can serve as the extension of the network and participate in local initiatives. In my exploration last year, I found that it was extremely difficult to find information on causes and where one could help out while traveling. A lot of the “charity” organizations request a big sum of money from people who want to travel to a location and help out locally. I was hoping to find a way to use technology (web+mobile phones) to devise a grassroots method for this exchange to happen.
So I’m heading out to Mexico for thanksgiving break with a group of friends. We’ll be in Tulum for a couple of days, but have a few days to venture inland into Yucatan, and possibly Chiapas / Tabasco. I am sure there are so many things we could bring along with us and leave there: medicine and clothes. It wouldn’t take much for me to fill up part of my bag with some extra clothing and pills. If all ten of us (going to Mexico) do that, we can essentially have quite a large package of extremely useful items. The big question is WHERE do we bring this to? I’m browsing online, looking for information, but as expected, its either in Spanish, or non-existent!
** UPDATE **
Through a flickr account I found a link to someone who might be able to provide me with useful information. In his blog, Root Coffee, there’s a lot of information coming from his relatives in villahermosa.
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The wikipedia entry with lots of information.
Here is a link to a youtube video report on what’s happening in the region.
An enormous humanitarian crisis continues to unfold south of the border. Since the beginning of November, the state of Tabasco, Mexico has been hit by widespread flooding due to steady rains – currently, more than 80% of the state is completely flooded, leaving thousands homeless.
Recent reports from the Red Cross indicate:
- The evacuation phase of the operation has ceased
- Over 1 million people have been affected in Tasbsco and neighboring state, Chiapas
- Mexican officials estimate it will be another two to three weeks before water levels recede
- An estimated 70 percent of Tabasco’s capital city, Villahermosa, remains under water
- An estimated 80,000 people remain in 365 official and unofficial shelters
- The flood has resulted in widespread destruction of homes, building, infrastructure, agricultural crops and livestock.
(source: shalomrav)
And here is HJ’s in-depth article from Global Voices, including translations from local Mexican blogs.