China Denies TR’s Request; TR Chicago to Stand Down
You can view the letter submitted to the Chinese Embassy here:
Team Rubicon cannot deploy to China without the expressed written permission of the Chinese government. Team Rubicon Chicago is ready to deploy; however, without an official endorsement, TR Chicago is too likely to encounter major government resistance in entering the affected areas. Team Rubicon thanks the Chinese government for considering our offer for aid, and respects its decision that the current disaster, with only 400 reported casualties, does not warrant our involvement.
To Jake and all involved, I am truly saddened that the Chinese are unable to realize the benefits they would have had from your skills. I honor you for your willingness to offer your assistance, as well as your necessary caution in trying to work with that country. The loss is theirs, both in the help you could have brought to their people, as well as the benefits for international relations.
Thank you for your readiness to be there, for everyone.
Yes, the loss will be theirs. But I must say that their response is not surprising.
Diane, you are one of loudest cheerleaders, I love seeing posts from you.
You win the Team Spirit Award.
Thanks, Zack, but you guys are MY heroes. You’re doing what I – and I suspect many others – wish we had the training to do.
I have a problem with people who make blanket statements such as “its their loss” I think China knows best about their emergency situational needs, just as TR can help in some situations, in others they can get in the way of those people on the ground who have more local experience and have the ability to communicate within the culture. TR knows it has limits, and those were highlighted in Chile. Does TR really need the “heroe comes to the rescue” mentality, I don’t think so. This is called service, and there are many U.S. citizens who have been doing this work internationally for decades. In order for TR to be sustainable they need to link their talents in such a way that they can help other international organizations be more effective. Being a lone wolf in disaster relief, is not time or cost effective. Unless this is just a hobby, TR needs to evolve, whatever happens- I have enjoyed TR’s passion for service and problem solving.
TW makes some great points and our future depends on TR educating international relief organizations and foreign governments of our capabilities and then partnering with them.
The Chinese are more than capable of assessing their emergency needs. Even though we didn’t deploy, this experience allowed us to introduce ourselves to Chinese officials in the United States. Should another large disaster happen in China, we will be able to offer aid without them feeling blindsided by an NGO they had never heard about before.
William,
You make a great point. It is my experience that building relationships with foreign governments/entities is the most crucial. The most compelling thing that I see about TR from the outside is that everyone is a volunteer – no one is pulling a big NGO salary. I believe that the transparency of TR’s motives will win the day with many organizations/governing bodies over time.
It is true that many people have been doing heroic work for a long time and go largely unheralded. But there is always room for more good deeds and I think it’s great that you guys came back from war and wanted to use those skills acquired toward corporal works of mercy.
I am sure there will be many opportunites for TR to lend a critical helping hand in the future. In fact, I’m counting on it.
Is it me or, are we having a major earthquake season?
@OldSoldier54 I know right? I live in California and I tell my husband that we have to be ready for ours. I felt the one in Baja. That could have been it, but… I’m still planning on another.
A day or so before the one in China there was a very small one in Virginia, near the border with West Virginia. We didn’t feel it here – I live in the same area as Mark Hayward – but heard about it on the news. Never thought I’d hear about earthquakes on the east coast. Wonder if the volcano erupting in Iceland is part of what’s going on with the earth. Tetonic plates shifting, volcano kind of releasing pressure. I’m 63 and don’t remember so many earthquakes so close together in my lifetime.
Jake, William, and other board members: back during the Haiti emergency, when there were many folks trying to find air transport for follow-up teams, I mentioned a group that has been doing this type work for years……and very effectively. It may be that my post got lost in the back and forth dialogue that many of us were having at the time.
Or, you guys did see my suggestion and decided for good reasons, not to follow up on it upon your return from Haiti. I can certainly understand how this could happen.
But thought I would put this info into the “suggestion box” again, in case you really did miss it.
I gave a link to Samaritan’s Purse:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
They are involved with many disaster relief efforts, both here in the US and all over the world. I remember reading about how the team organized after the Haiti earthquake: they have a team who goes in to access the damage and determine where they can be of most help. (Similar to the type “front team’” you envisioned for your group, I believe).
As I mentioned at the time, they are a large organization, but one that is able to move quickly, because they have the experience, the equipment, and the funds to do it.
I just found the link to the newspaper article I sent before:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Samaritans_Purse_Today/post/haiti_response_in_the_news/
Under the heading, “They Get Going Fast”, it explains how they get geared up to meet the crisis. “With news of a natural disaster, Samaritan’s Purse springs into action like a military unit, complete with muscular-sounding acronyms: The IMT (Incident Management Team) directs operations from a “war room” in Boone, dispatching DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) members to the scene and transporting – by plane, boat, and convoy – the equipment and supplies they’ll need “in the field.”
I am not suggesting you join in with this group; rather that you might want to get in touch with them to see what you can learn from them.
Your approach is unique. And you make a huge difference. But one can always learn from others.
I know they have worked in China in the past, helping with the earthquake that happened right after the Olympics. (They do have churches or missions in the country.) An example here that because of their contacts, they may be able to pave the road for you in certain instances.
Just a thought…..putting it out there for you to look at or disregard. No feelings hurt on my part, I assure you!
Team Rubicon will always be first on my list to contribute to when disasters occur and you prepare to get on the road!!! (or plane!).
Betty Rose
Betty, do you have a personal contact for someone at Samaritan’s Purse?
Jake, I DO NOT have a personal contact there. So sorry!
I just looked at their website again, and see that they also had a presence in Chile during the aftermath of the earthquake.
Am linking to info about where they have other offices set up: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Who_We_Are/Worldwide_Offices/
I would suggest you just call the office in Boone, NC. They could put you in touch with the group responsible for “early response”.
I was looking around the site, and put Haiti in the search window….they are still there!!! After working in the clinics all day, a team of medics then go to outlying children’s orphanages to treat them.
Looks like there are also work opportunities with Samaritan’s Purse. I found that even they were advertising for certain type positions to be filled for the Haiti effort, as well as other missions/projects around the world.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Employment_Listings/International_Positions/
There is so much info on that site….it would take a while to navigate it to realize what all they do….
They have a page where you can send an inquiry, and says it will be answered within 10 days……
….but your best bet is to just call Boone, I would think!
Keep up the good work, and have fun in Chicago! Surely Blackfive (or his many buds) can help identify a bar owner or owners to help with the fundraiser!
TR is evolving, discovering itself. This iterative process is natural of any organization, as they generally start out small. William and Jake have anticipated these kind of growing pains and this discussion most useful in the TR evolution.
TR was born of maverick individuals. The leadership has done a good job in sterring it away from becoming renegade in nature. Perhaps it would be useful define the types of disasters and countries in within which TR could most successfully operate?
Might we have some sort of rank order list? I am sure that Peru would have a much different rank order than Sweden, for example. We could then build an algorithym that would assist us in taking decisions, making the process not only more efficient, but effective.
EPD
Dolhun, makes an interesting point!
Nicaragua for example is second to Haiti in poverty and prone to large natural disasters! I run a business and do development work in Nicaragua, I could provide TR with on ground support including housing and supplies, I own four land rovers. I also have a network of local contacts and organizations from Honduras to Costa Rica. You could make basic contigency plans for the poorest countries. Most of Central America is at risk for volcanoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tidal waves. Contact me if you need more info.