20-01-2010, 06:41 PM
When I was asked in a different forum whether, since the nation was being demonized one way or another, whether we should help them, I answered:
"Of course we should help them. They are human beings in a culture and setting which is in extremis. But we need to do it without ulterior motive.
Here are several ideas that go in that direction:
1) The end of the book by Richard Strozzi Heckler called "In Search of the Warrior Spirit: Teaching Awareness Disciplines ot the Green Berets" posits the use of military resources for humanitarian purposes. Specifically, he spoke of National Guard units. As you well know, National Guard units are ideally suited, fitted and have been used for that purpose widely until they have become the only tool available for expanded, endless war. One extension of that idea is the pre-packaging and pre-positioning of resources. The literature of humanitarian response is rich, wide and available. As an extension of that idea, this nation's initial and immediate response might have been, if we had pre-packaged, pre-trained and pre-positioned a response, the airdrop of trained medics with first aid gear, communications equipment, etc. to act as early organizers, pathfinders if you will for the incoming field hospitals and other resources. Such units do exist within the Marine Corps (I knew one of the trainers) to respond world-wide in situations in which CBRNE incidents (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) occur at major US installations, embassies, etc.
2) I've published a paper through the International Association of Emergency Managers on how communities, political entities, and other organizations can use the Internet as a tool for self-organization, virtual "exercises" and simulations, etc. The paper was, at one time at least, used as a reading assignment in a FEMA class that discusses the politics of emergency management and the Hamiltonian versus Jeffersonian approach. (Earlier papers were used to create the learning game called "Incident Commander" developed by BreakAway Games. I've also written papers on situational awareness and tactical decision-making in disaster settings and a regional mass casualty incident management plan.)
3) John Robb, former USAF pilot in special operations at http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/, notes someone who "details the efforts to build a permaculture relief corps to help with disasters like the Haitian earthquake. Basically the idea of leaving people economically improved after a disaster is pretty cool (as opposed to our current razor/razor blade model). For example: Building sewage systems, composting toilets, compost and recyclying centers, rocket and solar stoves, temporary shelters (perma-yurts), water catchment and filtering, and plant nurseries. Rocket and solar stoves are key because the major ecological problem in Haiti which causes huge hardships from many angles is deforestation for fuel. Solar stoves use no wood and rocket stoves, which can be made out of old cans and pipes laying around, use almost no fuel and can cook with twigs." See http://punkrockpermaculture.com/2010/01/13...e-permaculture/ ...
4) There are organizations that offer Third World cultures "micro-enterprise grants".
The essential issue in terms of the stance of this country towards any Third World country is whether it will be fodder for the exploitative capitalism imposed downward or whether it will foster growth from self-determination. My paper on coalescing community disaster response is an example of a bottom-up approach when, in this country, emergency management is a top-down approach and clearly has agendas of its own in terms of its response. The first response to any disaster must arise from within the community; they know the needs, available resources, threats, and social networks which will be mobilized, and they need to do their own planning in terms of resource positioning, preparedness, communications, tactics and strategy because, by definition, they will be left alone for the first little while.
The American Red Cross years ago published a graphic on disaster zones... essentially, concentric circles of impact area, filter area, and response areas. Both locals and responders need to be taught how to visualize time/space relationships; how to understand the chronological phases of threat, warning, impact, inventory, rescue, remedy and recovery; and how to use qualitative and quantitative thresholds to determine appropriate response. In this case, it's "send everything and anything you have", but not always.
"Of course we should help them. They are human beings in a culture and setting which is in extremis. But we need to do it without ulterior motive.
Here are several ideas that go in that direction:
1) The end of the book by Richard Strozzi Heckler called "In Search of the Warrior Spirit: Teaching Awareness Disciplines ot the Green Berets" posits the use of military resources for humanitarian purposes. Specifically, he spoke of National Guard units. As you well know, National Guard units are ideally suited, fitted and have been used for that purpose widely until they have become the only tool available for expanded, endless war. One extension of that idea is the pre-packaging and pre-positioning of resources. The literature of humanitarian response is rich, wide and available. As an extension of that idea, this nation's initial and immediate response might have been, if we had pre-packaged, pre-trained and pre-positioned a response, the airdrop of trained medics with first aid gear, communications equipment, etc. to act as early organizers, pathfinders if you will for the incoming field hospitals and other resources. Such units do exist within the Marine Corps (I knew one of the trainers) to respond world-wide in situations in which CBRNE incidents (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) occur at major US installations, embassies, etc.
2) I've published a paper through the International Association of Emergency Managers on how communities, political entities, and other organizations can use the Internet as a tool for self-organization, virtual "exercises" and simulations, etc. The paper was, at one time at least, used as a reading assignment in a FEMA class that discusses the politics of emergency management and the Hamiltonian versus Jeffersonian approach. (Earlier papers were used to create the learning game called "Incident Commander" developed by BreakAway Games. I've also written papers on situational awareness and tactical decision-making in disaster settings and a regional mass casualty incident management plan.)
3) John Robb, former USAF pilot in special operations at http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/, notes someone who "details the efforts to build a permaculture relief corps to help with disasters like the Haitian earthquake. Basically the idea of leaving people economically improved after a disaster is pretty cool (as opposed to our current razor/razor blade model). For example: Building sewage systems, composting toilets, compost and recyclying centers, rocket and solar stoves, temporary shelters (perma-yurts), water catchment and filtering, and plant nurseries. Rocket and solar stoves are key because the major ecological problem in Haiti which causes huge hardships from many angles is deforestation for fuel. Solar stoves use no wood and rocket stoves, which can be made out of old cans and pipes laying around, use almost no fuel and can cook with twigs." See http://punkrockpermaculture.com/2010/01/13...e-permaculture/ ...
4) There are organizations that offer Third World cultures "micro-enterprise grants".
The essential issue in terms of the stance of this country towards any Third World country is whether it will be fodder for the exploitative capitalism imposed downward or whether it will foster growth from self-determination. My paper on coalescing community disaster response is an example of a bottom-up approach when, in this country, emergency management is a top-down approach and clearly has agendas of its own in terms of its response. The first response to any disaster must arise from within the community; they know the needs, available resources, threats, and social networks which will be mobilized, and they need to do their own planning in terms of resource positioning, preparedness, communications, tactics and strategy because, by definition, they will be left alone for the first little while.
The American Red Cross years ago published a graphic on disaster zones... essentially, concentric circles of impact area, filter area, and response areas. Both locals and responders need to be taught how to visualize time/space relationships; how to understand the chronological phases of threat, warning, impact, inventory, rescue, remedy and recovery; and how to use qualitative and quantitative thresholds to determine appropriate response. In this case, it's "send everything and anything you have", but not always.
"Where is the intersection between the world's deep hunger and your deep gladness?"