JOHN OSLER'S UPBEAT Admin

Oct 2, 20177 min read

STANDING UP

RECOVERY

I am recovering from a dramatic event. Out of nowhere my body was suddenly shut down by an allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock. Fortunately there will be no permanent physical damage. I was brought back to life by the efforts of strangers. I now will have to recover from the experience. How I recover will be up to me.

I can choose to restore my life to where I was before my setback or take advantage of being given a new start. Some people feel that they are given this choice at the start of every new day.

Today many Americans are faced with digging out after the recent hurricanes in Texas, Florida and now the Islands.. Others around the world have had their lives changed by sudden events. My hometown, Detroit, is in recovery with much of the city leveled by neglect and still awaiting a promised renaissance.

I believe that all those awaiting recovery would choose that their communities not only be restored but improved to a better condition than before, with greater protection from future catastrophes. This is renewal; the replacing or repair of something that is worn out, run-down, or broken.

RENEWAL

In her paper on Disaster Recovery and Community Renewal, Mary C. Comerio, University of California, Berkeley started with:

“How we understand and measure success in disaster recovery establishes the policy platform for how governments prepare for future events. In the past two decades, observers have recognized that the return to pre-event conditions is often unworkable—not only because the pre-event conditions were hazardous, but also because the disaster has created a new normal, requiring new ways of thinking and planning. Disaster recovery means more than restoring physical infrastructure and reconstructing housing and commercial buildings. Recovery is now linked to the concepts of resilience and community renewal, with social, economic, institutional, infrastructural, ecological, and community dimensions.”

Renewal would allow communities to start over with the knowledge we have today and avoid replicating systems that have failed.

AMERICA HAS BEEN ASKED TO CHOOSE TO INVEST WISELY TO BOTH RESTORE AND RENEW

Following World War 2, much of the world was left devastated. In Europe and the Pacific cities were leveled.

The recovery was guided by some wise decisions that honored traditional construction techniques which utilized skilled local craftsmen while looking ahead in planning a livable future environment. With the help of the Marshal Plan the victims of war lived a better life than before the destruction. The American people were willing to invest in this recovery because it was the right thing to do, because we could and because it was in our best long term interest to have a stable world. Our former enemies and allies were left with no debt and resentment and have remained at peace ever since. This has turned out to be a good investment of our tax dollars. We covered our debts and the nation thrived along with the beneficiaries of our generosity.

SOMETIMES IT IS WISE TO INVEST IN RENEWAL

Renewal will usually cost more, yet we can expect to save money in the long term and avoid a repeat of massive destruction.

In her paper on Disaster Recovery and Community Renewal, Mary C. Comerio, University of California, Berkeley started with:

Renewal would allow communities to start over with the knowledge we have today, and avoid replicating systems that have failed.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE ASKED TO HELP PAY FOR THE INVESTMENT IN RESTORATION AND RENEWAL

This is a hard one today when problems and costs are regularly kicked down the road to future generations.

The economic lift of managing Puerto Rico’s recovery is hard to overstate. The cost of making repairs in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which inflicted most of its damage on Texas and Louisiana, is estimated to be somewhere between $70 billion and $180 billion.

IHS, a research and analytics firm, estimates the cost of rebuilding from Maria to be between $40 billion and $80 billion in Puerto Rico. But that’s a very early estimate, and damage to the island continues to unfold. And while Harvey’s damage might amount to more in dollars, the devastation of Hurricane Maria was concentrated in Puerto Rico, which had already sustained at least $1 billion worth of damage during Hurricane Irma. That means that Maria likely inflicted far more damage per capita.

RECENT HEADLINES SPEAK TO THE URGENCY FOR TAKING ACTION IN PUERTO RICO

The name rolls off the tongue and ends on an upbeat syllable. It is a lot of fun to say. The only thing better would be to get to know a Puerto Rican and hear your friend say the words.

Puerto Rico is an island inhabited by three and a half million United States citizens who are in immediate danger, owing to the havoc wrought by Hurricane Maria. The storm made landfall on the commonwealth more than a week ago as a Category 4 hurricane and swept the island from end to end, destroying fields of crops and ripping the facades off apartment buildings. Relief workers have just now started to reach some towns in the interior. Initial aid will eventually bring back basic systems to provide power, food, water and communication. It will take a lot more work to make the Island safe and livable.

THE NEED FOR HELP IS IMMEDIATE AND HOW WE GO ABOUT THE RECOVERY IS CRITICAL

JAZZ AND THE ISLANDS

Jazz has been said to be the musical language that expresses the fundamental rhythms of human life. Jazz has many roots including the tribal drums so familiar to Afro-Americans, gospel, ragtime and blues,

Many hold that jazz was born in New Orleans in the 1890’s and subsequently traveled up the Mississippi River to Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit.. As a southern port city, New Orleans was exposed to the sounds of the Caribbean. All the elements were present for the development of new music at the turn of the 20th century.

The easy sway of the Caribbean and African poly rhythms showed up in ragtime and early New Orleans jazz.

By the 1930’s jazz artists in the United States such as Duke Ellington, were becoming interested in new Latin music imports like the rumba and began incorporating them into our jazz. Music absorbs good ideas and just gets better and better.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO SAY THANKS FOR THE MUSIC?

Here are some ways that you can help

The region needs immediate and long-term help. Here is a list of groups collecting donations to provide relief compiled by Niraj Chokshi of the New York Times.

Local Charities

These are just a few local organizations that have vowed to help in recovery efforts. As discussed in detail below, it’s important to do your research before giving to any charity.

Unidos, by the Hispanic Federation A coalition of elected officials in New York and Puerto Rico joined the Hispanic Federation, a Latino nonprofit, to launch this relief fund for Puerto Ricans affected by Maria. Proceeds will go to community and civic organizations in Puerto Rico, the group said.

Dominica Hurricane Relief Fund The government of Dominica is collecting donations through JustGiving, a crowdfunding website. The money will go toward temporary roofing, blankets and non-perishable foods.

Fund for the Virgin Islands The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, a nonprofit, is collecting donations through this fund, which will be used “both to support short-term relief efforts and to enhance the well-being of future generations.”

GoFundMe The crowdfunding website maintains a list of campaigns, many of them local, collecting donations for victims of the storm. Donors can give to a campaign or directly to GoFundMe, which will then distribute the money to the campaigns.

Unidos por Puerto Rico This initiative, from Beatriz Rosselló, the first lady of Puerto Rico, enlists private sector help in providing aid to those affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Donations are accepted through a variety of means, including PayPal.

National and Global Charities

Each group below has earned the top rating, four stars, from Charity Navigator, which grades charities based on transparency and financial health.

All Hands Volunteers All Hands works with local volunteers and groups to respond to natural disasters. With Hurricanes Harvey and Maria, it is focusing its efforts on the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Our help is needed in the islands, so that’s where we’ll be,” said Erik Dyson, the group’s chief executive.

AmeriCares The relief and development organization, which provides health services to those in need, said that it was working with officials in Puerto Rico to stock emergency shelters with medical supplies. Earlier in the week, it had airlifted $1.8 million worth of medicine and supplies to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Catholic Relief Services Donations to the faith-based group will help to provide shelter, water, tarps, tents, kitchen kits and other supplies to families affected by the storm, it said.

Convoy of Hope Another faith-based initiative, Convoy of Hope provides food, water and emergency supplies to those in need throughout the world.

Direct Relief Direct Relief reported that it was working with local authorities to deliver a shipment of medicine and medical supplies to islands in the region. It also said it was working to provide insulin to 120 displaced dialysis patients.

G lobalGiving This crowdfunding website connects donors to nonprofits and companies around the world. Donations will be spent first on the immediate needs of victims and then on longer-term recovery efforts “run by local, vetted organizations,” according to the website.

International Medical Corps The group has been working with local authorities to provide emergency care after Hurricane Irma and said it had moved medical supplies into place ahead of Hurricane Maria.

One America Appeal All five living former presidents have united to raise money for One America Appeal, a fund administered by the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library Foundation. Donations will be distributed to a variety of funds aimed at helping storm victims in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Texas and Florida. Those groups include two listed above: Unidos por Puerto Rico and the Fund for the Virgin Islands.

Do Your Research

It’s important to research charities to fully understand how they might — or might not — spend your money. Charity Navigator is a good resource.

MAKING AN APPEAL

Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama appeared in a video and asked Americans to respond to the devastation wrought by the hurricanes

“It is really catastrophic.. what is happening in Puerto Rico” President Donald Trump

Music and words do have the ability to heal but sometimes they aren’t enough. We all can help.

John Osler

COMING THIS WEEK TO THE DIRTY DOG

October 4 – October 7

DAVE BENNETT

Instead of watching the evening news, maybe you should catch Dave Bennett at the Dirty Dog this week. Dave will help to restore your hope and renew your spirit.

Maybe we should bottle Dave’s energy and hand it out as an elixir at the door as you leave.