Please remember the other projects of the World Dreams Peace Bridge
 

The Aid for Traumatized Children Project for the Children of Iraq

Assistance to Niger

The Peace Train

Remember the thousands of pets and other animals displaced and injured by the storm. Give generously to your local SPCA or Humane Society

For assistance with post traumatic nightmares the Nightmare Hotline is available.

Related dreams can be posted to the Bulletin Board at the International Association for the Study of Dreams

or here at the World Dreams Peace Bridge

Dreams from the Hurricane and for World Peace submitted to the site here
 

The World Dreams Peace Bridge invites you to join our monthly DaFuMu Dreaming for Peace.  Join us on the 15th of September when we will focus our dreams on solutions to the current crises.

BREAKING NEWS

October 5, 2005

From Slidell, Louisiana

Just a quick update.....we got home to discover downed trees everywhere and the house buying for our youngest son (the son with learning disabilities adopted from ...) in Slidell under 6 feet of water.  It was three miles from Lake Ponchartrain, high above sea level, but there was a boat and dead fish in the back yard, so the storm surge had to have been horrific.  Because this neighborhood had never flooded since it was built (even in category 4 storms) we had no flood insurance.  That translates to we will be involved in pay-as-you-go repairs!  This whole neighborhood, as much of the town, was devastated and looks like a war zone.  FEMA's focus seems to be on New Orleans, so Slidell seems to be forgotten. 

Still, it's time to do like Americans have always done in times of trouble--help others.  We are now sharing what we have with a family who lost their lakefront New Orleans home, their vacation home in Waveland (her home when they met and married) and all their income producing properties.  They are thankful they have each other left.  After all is said and done, that's what this disaster is about:  people thankful for the lives of ones they love, and realizing that in reaching out to help one another we are blessed!

... We're thankful for our volunteer stints with Habitat--we're now trained for the repairs ahead!

Hugs,
Annette



From Cincinnati, Ohio

Jody says: "It becomes so much more vivid when we know people personally.
I visited one of my refugee families today. Kids are having awful nightmares as is Deb, the core of the family.

"But, the little ones are starting school, and they're beginning to get settled."

She has also been receiving reports from her friend Marian who writes

From Louisiana

What women want in flooded Pointe-aux-Chenes......or Lower Montegut or Chauvin or Petit Caillou or Grand Caillou or Dulac or Theriot or Lower Bayou Dularge or Isle Jean Charles....  ("Do you all have things we need?")

a broom, a bucket and a  mop: I've got three inches of mud in my house  
bottled water -- you  have ice, too?!  
baby diapers: do you know  anywhere I could get some?  
Clorox: thanks: I know you  can only give me half a bottle now:  Do you think you'll be getting  more later?  
a hoe -- I don't have one,  and I'm scared of the snakes we keep finding in my house, now that  the water's gone down.  Do you know anywhere I could get one?  
help for Ms Brunet: She's  alone and I'm afraid she's going to have a heart attack
A different wish list for her neighbor, further up the bayou, therefore further along in getting her house back in order:

spray for the red ants and  roaches that are in the house now because of the flood  
Lysol  concentrate: I can't get the stink out of clothes  
rat poison -- I'm afraid rats  got into the attic and they'll chew through the electrical wire, and then my  house is going to burn down like what happened with my mama's house in  Chauvin  
baking soda for the  refrigerator that smells like rotten shrimp  
anything that could get the  smell out of the house: We tore out the walls up to where the water went, but  the house still stinks  
news: What are they saying  about that new storm in the Gulf?  Where is it supposed to  hit?  Mexico?  Yeah -- that's what they said in the beginning about  Rita..........

And a day later....more

THE WORLD DREAMS PEACE BRIDGE

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CAMPAIGN FOR HURRICANE RELIEF

Ever since Hurricane Katrina moved toward the Gulf Coast of the United States, members of The World Dreams Peace Bridge have been working, first to insure that group members living in areas affected by the storm were safe, and second to create a network of People to People responses to storm refugees being moved into areas where Peace Bridge members reside.

Now we invite you to participate with us in this gathering of friends. Through our dreams, prayers, intentions and financial assistance we can make a difference to many.

As you can see from the comments section of this page, Peace Bridge members living in areas of the world other than the United States have difficulty understanding why the Federal Government has not asked for assistance from other countries. If you live in a country other than the United States, this is a way you can help. Encourage your friends to send aid as well, since there are so many who have been devastated by this gigantic storm.

In areas where refugees from Hurricane Katrina have been relocated, Peace Bridge members will assure that whatever donations you send here can be put directly to use as quickly as possible.

You can also use the communication link below to send us messages. Jump directly to donation/communication section
Read the Dreams Submitted Already

From Austin, Texas Peace Bridge Member Liz says:

They are flying plane loads of people from Houston to Austin as we speak.. They are filling up the Austin Convention Center and the Palmer Event Center - both are downtown.

She quotes the a local news station, which reports: "Thousands of hurricane evacuees arrived by plane Saturday morning at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Many arrived empty-handed, having lost everything in the hurricane, ready to start their new lives.

"Emergency workers from a dozen agencies greeted every planeload of evacuees with cold drinks, snacks and medical care. Those who needed help were ushered to nearby tents and ambulances. Evacuees spent only a few minutes at the airport before buses whisked them away to the Austin Convention Center, their first step on the long road to recovery.

"In preparation for the arrival, hundreds of cars dropped off donations of beds, cots, sleeping bags, pillows and blankets. Many of the basic necessities are available inside the center. Evacuees are getting medical care, showers, food and drinks. The sick and injured are being taken to Brackenridge Hospital and then onto the Palmer Events Center, where doctors are on standby. The parking garage underneath the helipad is now an extended emergency care area. There are 72 military-style stretchers, medicines, medical equipment and decontamination showers. Doctors say most of the patients they've seen since then have had only minor injuries, but a few of them did have to be admitted."

Liz, who went out immediately with her two boys to buy supplies for the storm, commented: "It breaks my heart. When I was shopping, I saw this thing and that thing and didn't know WHAT is best to buy.. felt so torn inside about it... I had to step back and take a deep breath. They will need help ongoing... but I think about the babies, the mothers, the children.. everyone. I think about the babies, children, women and men in Iraq at the same time... and all the world. I don't know much else to say than that. I will do my best to help."

Additionally, several members of Liz's family live in Houston, Texas where the first of the evacuees were housed. One of her relatives, a volunteer fireman told us:

My old church, Sagemont Baptist http://www.sagemontchurch.org  is -very- good about disaster relief. During the bad floods here in 2002, they repaired almost all of the damaged homes in southeast Houston (I believe it was in the thousands) whether they were members or not... They're currently putting a medical team together to go there, as well as taking donations and putting together a list of open homes for people coming here.
-g

In Cincinnati, Ohio, another destination for hurricane refugees, Jody reports:
 

Dear Friends,

Please pass this clearinghouse help info on to your networks. More to follow. I attended a meeting of Cincinnati City Council with the Mayor of Cincinnati presiding. Big citizen attendance. Many resolutions of help were passed and best, plans for coordinated strategies to receive people in Cincinnati are underway. Additionally, we are sending 20 buses arranged by Vice Mayor Alicia Reese who also proposed that Cincinnati become a sister city to New Orleans which enlists us in a long term relationship with this city. We already have a lot of refugees from the disaster in our city and a plane load of 100 due to arrive tonight.

There will be a Hurricane Disaster coordinator established in Cincinnati for our services, which will be increasingly called upon in coming days as cities further north but in a path from the disaster area will be receiving many more refugees.
There are more details which will be forthcoming and I’ll try to network them, please pass them on to your lists.

The United Way through Margaret Hulbert’s suggestion will offer their information and referral 24/7 hotliine for housing coordination as well as for other services in Cincinnati. The deputy city manager, Scott Stiles, presented a thoughtful and comprehensive administrative plan for relief which had been requested by the mayor. This was affirmed unanimously by Council. Close coordination of United Way, Red Cross, Community Action Agency and other service agencies is already occurring here. Scott Stiles was appointed the contact person for the city until a Hurricane Disaster Coordinator is selected and named.

This emergency session of City Council was called by Councilmembers Laketa Cole, David Crowley, and John Cranley with all the rest of council pitching in. I felt proud of our city’s action and all the outpouring of support from our city.

Pass this on and let’s encourage every city to make some response as a city. This may be one of the most valuable ways we can build solidarity and prevent further ruptures in our suffering country.

Jody Grundy

From Dallas, Texas Valley, one of the founders of the Crawford Peace House:
 

The City of Dallas is housing many of the overflow refugees from Houston. Reunion arena has become a shelter to house people. Many volunteer organizations and churches are stepping up and many people are hosting people in their homes.

Many people from New Orleans met at the Crawford Peace House in August to join Cindy Sheean's "Camp Casey" outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch. Prior to the hurricane, The New Democracy Rising group in New Orleans was organizing a Peace Train to travel to Washington D.C. for the Peace March at the end of September. Jeremy, who dreamed the idea of the World Dreams Peace Train planned to travel on the Peace Train. A September 3 message from the New Democracy Rising message board reads:

We are here, CAMP CASEY is alive, the food is cooking, and we are handing out supplies to the citizens of the community.

We need help.

Louisiana Activist Network and the VFP Chapter 116 are the only ones here in Covington.

We are in the Same Camp, Different Ditch, 96 degrees today.

The ditch is at:Reverend Peter Atkins Park in Covington. Corner of 28th and Tyler in Covington. LouisianaWhere we can take mail: 124 E 14th Street, Covington, LA 70433 The Mendocino, CA Chapter (#116) of Veterans for Peace ( www.vfproadtrips.org ) has joined the Louisiana Activist Network on the corner of Tyler and 28thStreet in Covington, LA where we have opened up a soup kitchen and medicalstation in a public park.

THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT HERE! THE LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD IS NOT HERE. ONLY WE ARE HERE AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE IN DISTRESS.

We need, immediately, the following:

WATER, WATER, WATER
ice chests with ice
baby supplies (diapers, formula, ointments)
low fat powdered milk
canned foods
fresh fruit
gasoline
additional generators
shelter
flash lights
portable toilets

We, the veterans and activists of Camp Casey are here to stay. Financial donations are useless under these circumstances.

This is anarchy.

We need basic supplies ASAP!

And from Florida, Janice sent an e-mail:

"For those of you who do not know anyone who lives in the devastated areas or Mississippi or Louisiana, I am forwarding this to you. Jean Wanta is a human angel and sweet friend of mine. She always gets right in the middle of a crisis to help make a difference... This will be an ongoing project of helping families who now have absolutely nothing. Many of these people lived in the most southern tip of Louisiana, owned a marina that is now completely submerged with only treetops showing above the waterline. This land may never be reclaimed, so their lives are in utter chaos.

May we all search our hearts and be thankful for the abundance we have in our lives, knowing there is enough for everyone and always has been...."

The message she forwarded from her friend Jean reads:

Thank you so much to those of you who have offered to help us with hurricane relief for the family of my friend and co-worker Denise. If I missed emailing you earlier, all of her family live in La and Mi. Most of the 25-30 families have lost everything. Her only communication with them is through her brother's Nextel radio. They have no power, no water, no phones, no homes, no jobs. Some are in hotels where they are paying for rooms with no power or water, but at least it's a roof. There are no grocery stores open in the area. Great news did come yesterday when her stepdaughter was located and today when an uncle was also found alive. Unfortunately the bodies of 6 friends surfaced yesterday.

Today, Denise's daughter went to the Red Cross for help and was told they could not help her if she had family. We could not believe it! All of the relatives in the area are homeless also. This has only made us more determined to get help to them ourselves.

We are working hard to collect food, water, blankets, clothing of all sizes, shoes, socks, baby diapers, adult diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, antibacterial hand wash, batteries, flashlights, sterno, lighters, can openers, or $$. We plan to start shipping items as early as tomorrow. This will be an ongoing process as we do not have the luxury of having trucks standing by. Denise's brother gave us an address that he and UPS can both reach. Her brother and ex-husband will pick up the supplies and distribute them to family as well as other people in need in Plaquemine Parish.

If there is anything you can do to help, please let me know. You can email me or call my cell phone at 904-219-8748. Thanks for your help. God Bless. Jean Wanta

These are only a few of the stories of the People to People Campaign.

We urge you to become involved, in whatever way you feel you can. Please be assured we are not collecting donations here to siphon funds away from the Red Cross and local charities. Here we are only attempting to facilitate what we are best at...helping people make connections around the world, and building a dream of Peace.

ALL DONATIONS MADE THROUGH THE WORLD DREAMS PEACE BRIDGE ARE FULLY TAX DEDUCTIBLE FOR RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES

Donate immediately through the PayPal link below. Note that the PayPal account is in the name of Peace Bridge moderator, Jean Campbell. Simply note in your PayPal donation to which area you would like your donation to be directed, and she will forward the money there.

Donations can also be made by check. All checks should be made out to

The iMAGE Project
408 Elmhurst Lane
Portsmouth VA 23701

For more on the iMAGE Project connection to the World Dreams Peace Bridge go to www.imageproject.org 

 

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Plush Animals to be Donated:

puppets

Comments From Peace Bridge Members and Supporters Around the World

Liz, Now the refugees  are at your door step.  Have you thought of gathering children to talk and draw dreams? I am reading a book, edited by Stan Krippner, about PTSD work. Just finished one chapter of how rich and effective talking and drawing can be. Why duplicate what rescue people are doing?

May--United States

Dear Jean and all,

I feel deep sympathy and send a tiny sum as a concrete action. Swedish TV stations follow the process and keeps me updated.

I hope the water flows soon back to the Gulf and Missisippi finds its natural path.  Please feel free to use my tiny sum as you like, Jean. I respect your wisdom.

Juhani--Sweden