In the video we meet an Occupy Sandy Relief organizer, Diego Ibañez, and
learn more about the group's incredible efforts in the Rockaways area.
The efforts of Occupy Sandy Relief, part of Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement, continue in the Rockaways.
In the interview, Ibañez talks about how the group is organizing
themselves and that they have recently moved into the premises of a
business that lost everything to the hurricane. While the owner is
devastated, as he only started the business a few days before the
hurricane struck, he is more than happy to help with rescue and
rehabilitation efforts. Ibañez explains that while some of the volunteers had experience with
Hurricane Katrina, for the most part the members of Occupy Sandy Relief
are thankful for their experiences in Zucotti Park, which set them up
perfectly for organizing, community building, helping and feeding a
crowd of people affected by the storm. He compared the situation to that of the Chilean students, who were not
taken seriously when protesting, but how those students helped during
the earthquake in Chile, because they had the infrastructure in place,
just as OWS does right now. At 7 pm every evening, they have a community meeting with local
residents, in an effort to establish a place for people to go for more
than just their basic needs. Ibañez says how many local residents are
becoming organizers themselves and are becoming committed to helping in
their neighborhood.
He says that many have said that it is so sad that they have waited
until a moment like this to actually create a community and become
involved with each other.
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/336619#ixzz2BuSlsjzh
In the wake of devastation by Superstorm Sandy, OWS is getting involved,
using its grassroots strength to help those affected and to organize
relief efforts.
With around 750,000 New Yorkers without power, large areas of New York
City remain under water and at least 18 people have been killed.
The OWS
volunteers started in the Lower East side and have been moving through
New York's five boroughs with members of international environmental
organization 350.org and recovers.org, a disaster aid group.
OWS is using the social media to coordinate its efforts, with the help
of local churches and city agencies. Anyone wishing to get involved
should tweet using the hashtag #SandyVolunteer. If you need help,
tweet using the hashtag #SandyAid.
There is also a Facebook page to help coordinate efforts as well as a Twitter page.
Volunteers are also out on the streets, giving aid where possible and
finding those in need, and passing the information on to Recovers.org. OWS is calling for people with "experience in or tools for medical and
psychological services, electrician work, plumbing, construction,
financial or legal services, debris and tree removal, childcare,
transportation, senior services or language skills," who can sign up at
one of three sites in the Red Hook in Brooklyn, Astoria in Queens and
in the Lower East Side in Manhattan.
A pay portal
has been set up for anyone wishing to make financial donations in the
recovery efforts. Also drop off points have been established throughout
Brooklyn, where people can donate food, water, flashlights, batteries,
candles and other necessities.
Drop off points are as follows:
Red Hook - Red Hook Initiative, 767 Hicks St
Park Slope - Residence, 258 15th St, apt #2
Sunset Park - St. Jacobi Church, 5406 4th Ave
Williamsburg - Residence, 75 Powers St. #2, 11211
Bedstuy - Residence, 136 Jefferson Ave, apt 2 11216
Harlem - Residence, 47 Saint Nicholas Avenue #4d, btw 112 and 113
In other response news, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office has suggested the NYC Service
be employed, which is a government initiative coordinating volunteer
efforts on a year-round basis.
Bloomberg wrote on Twitter, "We've seen
an enormous outpouring of support from people who want to volunteer
& contribute." Volunteers will be notified once opportunities
become available.
Bloomberg also praised New York City's first responders, for their "heroic efforts to protect New Yorkers" during the storm.
"I can’t say enough about the extraordinary work of our first responders
at the FDNY and NYPD, EMS, hospital workers, and more," he said.
In his speech, Bloomberg says that it will take some
time to get things back "on the path to recovery." He admits it could
take up to five days to have the city's transportation system running
again. He also quoted Governor Andrew Cuomo as saying, "It was as bad
as anything I have experienced in New York."
