Cyclone Pam -Vanuatu We Care. Please HELP!

[ozboy2014]

Hi Guys,
I know this is probably a bit off topic considering we are on bitcointalk forum however I guess as the saying goes.. if you don't ask..you don't get..

I am appealing to all you guys here (and hopefully through your network) to generously donate (or what you can afford) towards the rebuilding of Vanuatu after the recent tropical cyclone Pam devastation.

I have set up a StartJOIN crowd funding page (link below). All funds raised (less fees) will be donate to a reputable, Vanuatu based non-governmental organization (NGO) who is currently assisting with the rebuilding process. Please help to raise awareness though sharing/RT even if you are unable to assist financially. Let's work together and show the world what we can do as a crypto community! Thanks.

My aim here is to raise as much funds as I possibly can and to donate this directly to
Cyclone Pam - Vanuatu We Care project on StartJOIN @StartJOIN https://t.co/YozmOTqwFD
please Share/Retweet #VanuatuWeCare

@ozboy2014

Photo: courtesy of wsj.com  http://www.wsj.com/articles/cyclone-pam-tears-through-vanuatu-1426394173

[ozboy2014]

We are looking at organising a fundrasing concert here in couple weeks and also looking at a container to take all the donations across. Your help is greatly appreciated. Please help us reach our goal. There is no ceiling as to how much you can donate however I believe that StartJOIN will refund the funds raised if goal/target is not reached by end date.

I understand StartJOIN has an option to donate using BTC as well. Any amount at all. Thank you.

https://www.startjoin.com/cyclonepam2015

[ozboy2014]

Please give what you can. No matter how small. It will mean the world to these people. Help us spread the words by sharing/retweet if you have an account. Thank you.

https://twitter.com/Ozboy2014/status/577688941056278528

To keep the page on top. Please list your donation(s) here if you wish. All backers will be acknowledged and listed on our facebook page.

[ozboy2014]

We have just been advised that approximately 70% (not 50% as originally thought) of the population is affected/displaced...

[ozboy2014]

We've reached 20% of our target! 80% to go! Thank you very much for all your support to date!

A fundraising concert is being organised for the end of the month.  https://www.facebook.com/pages/VEGaid-Concert-for-Vanuatu/747520502012595

[ozboy2014]

Help us reaching our goal for Vanuatu by donate here:

https://www.startjoin.com/cyclonepam2015

If you are in Victoria, Australia (especially East Gippsland) Join us!  Benefit Concert: http://vegaid.org/

[BADecker]

From http://www.coastalwatch.com/surfing/14092/18-photos-of-cyclone-pam-delivering-groomed-perfection-for-new-zealand-and-dave-rastovich:

...

I saw one local surfer pull in and ride so deep with his hands brushing the roof. He came flying out and held his head in hands. "That was the barrel of my life," he told me with wild eyes. "The barrel of my life."

Walking back through the carpark on dark the chatter was at fever pitch as more stories of "barrels of my life" came out along with broken boards, leashes and bodies. Pam had delivered.

Thank-you, Pam.

[ozboy2014]

Thank you for your support to date! Please help us reach (if not exceed) our target. Your donations will go towards helping Ni-vanuatu rebuilding their shattered lives back home!

Donation: https://www.startjoin.com/cyclonepam2015

For those of you who are local to East Gippsland, Victoria Australia, we have put together a fundraising/benefit concert on Sunday, 29th March 2015 in Bairnsdale VIC. Please join us for a family friendly fun event:

Event: VEGAid - Vanuatu East Gippsland Aid Campaign

Date: Sunday, 29th March 2015 (2:00PM-6:00PM

Site: www.vegaid.org

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/VEGaid-Concert-for-Vanuatu/747520502012595

Hope to see you there and thank you again for your support!

[Vod]

You know, simply rebuilding is not sufficient.

With global warming, these storms are going to become more common and more severe.

The government needs to start building cement homes, as they were the only ones that withstood the storm.

Otherwise, these relief efforts are just throwing good money after bad.   

[ozboy2014]

You know, simply rebuilding is not sufficient.

With global warming, these storms are going to become more common and more severe.

The government needs to start building cement homes, as they were the only ones that withstood the storm.

Otherwise, these relief efforts are just throwing good money after bad.  

Agreed. BUT we have to start somewhere. At the moment, food and water are the two main priorities and these will run out soon. The funds raised (this and the upcoming concert) will be given to a reputable NGO eg. the Red Cross or Save the Children who are currently on the ground there. I guess I am closer to these people as we bring them in to work in Australia on a seasonal basis. Many of these people are subsistence farmers who have relied on the money earned to build better houses, educate their children etc.. The cyclone has pretty much wiped out everything they have built over the last 3/4 years...  

[ozboy2014]

We have raised approximately AUD$ 17K for the Red Cross in Vanuatu. Thank you all who have donated/participated in the fundraising concert.

http://www.gofundme.com/vegaid   https://www.facebook.com/pages/VEGaid-Concert-for-Vanuatu/747520502012595


Still needing to reach the 1K with https://www.startjoin.com/cyclonepam2015

Please help us to get over the line. All your donations will go to the Red Cross in Vanuatu. Thanks in advance!

[ozboy2014]

We have raised $AUD 17,834.32 from the concert https://www.facebook.com/pages/VEGaid-Concert-for-Vanuatu/747520502012595 ( http://vegaid.org/ )

All participants were/are volunteers. This fund as well as the one on StartJOIN ( https://www.startjoin.com/cyclonepam2015 ) will be transferred to Red Cross Australia account.


We are  nearly there! Help us reach our goal! Thank you in advance! https://www.startjoin.com/cyclonepam2015



Picture courtesy of america.aljazeera.com

[ozboy2014]

We have reached our target! Thank you all for your donations. Of the $$ raised $435 were in USD and the balance in Startcoins (approx 16,340 coins) which equated to around $542.90 British pounds at the time of conversion (17/4/2015). What I have done:

Converted the USD and British pounds into AUD equivalent using Google. I have decided to absorb all the StartJOIN fees/Paypal charges.

• $435.00 USD = $559.32 AUD (rate $1 USD =$1.29 AUD)
• $542.90 Pounds = $1,039.81 AUD (rate $1 POUND=$1.92 AUD)
• Total AUD : $559.32 + $1039.81 = $1,599.71

I have deposited $1,600.00 AUD into VEGaid account which has also raised $17,834.32 AUD. These combined amounts will be deposited into the Australian Red Cross fund for Vanuatu Cyclone Pam.

I will post the acknowledgement certificate form the Red Cross as soon as I have it. Thank you again for your kind donations. 
   

[ozboy2014]

Well done and thank you to all who have donated and assisted with the VEGAid - Vanuatu East Gippsland Appeal! We have raised AUD$21K!