[GSBN] Shelter Box and Rotary (was PAKSBAB Shake Table Tests)

[martin hammer]

Thanks very much John.  I was unaware of the Shelter Box organization and
their impressive work getting temporary shelter and other supplies to people
suffering from disasters all over the world.

I'm familiar with the Baluchistan province earthquake last year in Pakistan,
but PAKSBAB, with its limited resources, has not initiated work there.  Only
in the area affected by the 2005 earthquake, in the Northwest Frontier
Province.

Darcey and I certainly see the PAKSBAB houses as excellent permanent shelter
to replace any of the different types of temporary shelters that immediately
follow disasters.  At least in areas where the materials are available and
the climate is conducive to straw bale.  And particularly in developing
regions that are seismically active.

I'm not sure how PAKSBAB might benefit by collaborating with Rotary and/or
Shelter Box (and vice versa), but it's worth exploring.  I'll try to discuss
this with Darcey.  In the meantime, if you could inform Rotary of PAKSAB's
work (the website is a good place to start), they might have some initial
ideas themselves.

Thanks very much for the thoughts, and your continued great work with
Rotary.

Martin


On 4/4/09 3:24 PM, "John Glassford" <jacksflat at gmail.com> wrote:

> G ' day Martin and Darcey
> 
> Thanks for the information Martin, great work all round, and I look
> forward to the write up.
> 
> I am very interested in this work wearing my Rotary hat.  Those who
> may be interested a chap from Cornwall, a Rotarian, Tom Henderson,
> developed the Shelter Box concept:
> 
> http://www.shelterbox.org
> 
> Shelter Box is now Rotary's most successful programme behind Polio
> eradication world wide.  So Shelter Box is doing wonderful work for
> disaster areas including the recent Victorian bush fires where 150
> Shelter Boxes were sent by Rotary, including one from my club.
> 
> I have always wondered what might follow Shelter Box and now Darcey
> and the team in Nevada have come up with the answer:
> 
> http://www.shelterbox.org/news_index.htm  (scroll down to the Pakistan
> earthquakes"
> 
> "Friday 31st October -2008  PAKISTAN: ShelterBox is responding to a
> request for assistance after an earthquake hit Pakistan on Wednesday.
> A ShelterBox Response Team departed for Pakistan yesterday to
> distribute an initial 200 boxes. More boxes are likely to follow. The
> 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Ziarat valley in the southwestern
> province of Baluchistan just before dawn, causing landslides and
> reportedly killing more than 200 people........................."
> 
> I note that PAKSBAB is a non-for profit organisation and relies on
> donations for it's existence.
> 
> http://www.paksbab.org/funding.php
> 
> I am prepared to get the PAKSBAB information out to Rotary as best I
> can if you feel that Darcey and the organisation would benefit.  I
> will contact Shelter Box to see what their thoughts are on what comes
> after shelter boxes.
> 
> Kind regards
> The Straw Wolf
> Huff 'n' Puff Constructions
> http://www.glassford.com.au
> 61 2 6927 6027
> In Australia (02) 6927 6027