ByWordofMouthBiz

Katrina Recovery - Raw Material

              Raw Material:

material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing (n).

Raw materials include things like cotton, grains, ore, and oil that we take from or grow in the earth. We turn these materials into products like clothing, rugs, bread, cars and gas. They are the products that feed our economy. I would like to shift this definition a bit and make it a verb, a word of action. In Hurricane Katrina evacuation centers across many states sit a manpower force charged to do something. For days, they have been frustrated, ignored, shamed and shuffled about by one government group after another. They have no where to go, little to do and are wondering about tomorrow.

These people, too, are “raw material.” Their spirits may be broken but inside is are dynamos ready to take off. They are raw, untapped and willing. Why not tap into this force and use it in the recovery program?

Don’t go to contractors in Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta to set up another government contract. Why not go to this force of "raw material", those who have a stake in the recovery work, a stake in their family, a purpose for the future? We have an unprecedented opportunity to capture this energy source and turn it into a remarkable force for good.

For the most part, these people don’t need to be given jobs at Wal-Mart or Taco Bell. They need to become part of the solution, part of the recovery from Katrina and part of their own recovery. This is part of restoring their human dignity, their mental frame of mind and the future of the Gulf Coast.

I have lived in Texas, Mississippi and Florida and have witnessed the spirit of the people living there. They love their part of the world, their friends and neighbors and greet visitors with a smile. Why can’t we, as a nation, support them in restoring their heart and soul along with new clothing, water and dollars.

We hear about people breaking in to stores to "steal" food, diapers and water. Let us step back for a moment and think of basic human needs. These people are desperate to feed their children, their families and themselves. I would bet that many of these "thieves" would have been happy to have left a chit or an IOU, saying, “I will pay you with time, labor or money when I have a way to make it again or can get it from my bank account.”

So I propose that we harness this "raw material" to rebuild their city with lots of creative new ideas for a greater and better tomorrow.

When this happens, their homes and neighborhoods will be lush not only in vegetation but most importantly in human spirit.

© 2005 Sue Trumpfheller, Laguna Hills CA

Katrina Recovery

I wrote the following letter to the editor of ODE Magazine in reference to this article

www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4147&l=en

As I have watched and read over the past few day the priority that comes to me is restoring human dignity.  This letter was my first attempt to speak up, speak out and maybe make a big difference in many peoples lives. I may be an idealist but someone has to give this situation a new think. The old ways of recovery will be too slow for thousands displaced by Katrina..  If you read my post from yesterday you will see some of my background.
I really enjoy this magazine too.  Sue
Go to Ode's website, Click here!

My reply to this article is posted at the end.

Dear Jurriaan Kamp

Editor-in-Chief of Ode Magazine

www.odemagazine.com

RE: Bernard Lietaer-"a new kind of money"

We are at a place of crisis management. Thousands upon thousand of people with no place to go and nothing to do. It is like a time bomb waiting to go off as they sit on cots in sometimes healthy and other times filthy situations. Some have little or no food, water or diapers for the babies, others no change of clothes or sanitary facilities. They have no homes or jobs and wonder about their future. As the frustrations builds and boredom sets in, the fuse is getting shorter not longer.

I read your article "Money should work for us, not the other way around" Sept 2005, as I watched the recovery operations in the Gulf Coast. The Red Cross is set up to give things away (maybe) yet we have a huge population of idle humans wondering how they can restore just a small portion of their dignity. I can guarantee this dignity will not come from more sitting around and expecting a hand out.

Just as the mayor of Curitiba, Brazil set up the garbage recovery system in shanty town in exchange for bus tokens or the airlines set up "the frequent flyer miles" so too could an agency set up a complementary monetary system in a city or community to aid in recovery.

Why not ask Bernard Lietaer to assist a city as a model of recovery. This is the perfect situation to set up the complementary system. If I was mayor of any city, large or small I would jump at the chance. Why not take restoration into your own hands as FEMA could take weeks maybe months to show up on their door step.

Communities could adopt communities in this recovery operation, people could work on the honor system, oh my mind is spinning with opportunities and possibilities of how small groups helping small groups could really change the course of history. It certainly would change the lives of all participating members.

I quote from your article here. "A monetary system driven by interest payments also blocks progress toward a sustainable economy. Amen to that and this is a perfect example of how this could block recovery. "The environment is a time problem," Lietaer says. "A company like Shell undoubtedly has a better idea of the next century’s energy needs than any government. But within the current monetary system we cannot entrust Shell with the future. Shell has to make a profit today. A government bears the responsibility for the future of the society." and for the future health and well being of a huge segment of our country at this time - what a wonderful opportunity to shift from the welfare mentality

"What else are frequent flyer miles besides a currency issued by an airline?" Lietaer asks. "Initially they were mainly meant to commit customers to a certain airline, but over time you could use them to buy groceries in the supermarket, book hotel rooms and pay your phone bill. And you can earn miles without even flying."

This is a wonderful example of what and how people are already programed to think and could shift into a complementary system more quickly.

I send you this in hopes you can influence Bernard Lietaer and help a nation in need of leadership. It is obvious we are lacking something somewhere and I don’t like to point fingers. I have always been amazed at how slowly some people make decisions in crisis situations. This is when intuition and gut responses are far better a decision tool than pondering all the possibilities. Even if "wrong" in the long run something is better than nothing. It appears all this "reading the Patriot Act and FEMA rules" is adding fuel to the fire. They may even be pondering their political future, God forbid.

I have taught classes in self reliance and survival for years. You can read my blog post on creating a quick emergency kit at http://www.discoveryiv.typepad.com/bwom. I will post this letter there as well and add a link to your article. I have an outline for a book, about what to prepare and how to take care of yourself, as I mentioned in the blog.

Keep up the good work. I have written about your magazine in my newsletter several times and quoted the articles as well. Ode is a joy to read, share and stimulate intelligent conversations.

Sue Trumpfheller

http://www.discoveryiv.typepad.com

for my newsletters

PS. I wrote a comment on this article on your web site and don’t know if it will be posted.

Passion...Passion Pulls

________________ I bring you Steve's NL because it is this topic ... Passion
It is Passion that spreads the news. It is the theme for this site -- BY Word of Mouth As you build a business, market a product or market yourself it is what sparks your forward movement.
Zealotry is in my experience what turns me off.  What is your opinion?  sue
Colors are my addition
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...S T E V E ' S....3  -  M I N U T E....C O A C H I N G
Steve Straus - Coach  Subscribers: 1225+  Readers: 2450+  16MAR05 __________________________________________________________
Today's Topic - DISTINCTION: Passion vs. Zealotry (Distinctions are subtleties of language that, when gotten, cause a shift in a belief, behavior, value or attitude.)
Ah, Passion! Passion drives. Passion pulls.
It is an effusive energy which enrolls and gathers others.  (attraction)
Passion creates.
Passion tries, fails, and tries again.
Passion! You can feel good just in the word.

On the other hand, what of zealotry? A zealot is someone who is a fanatic, closed to the ideas and input of others.
A zealot knows the "truth" and demands that you agree with him or her.
They are typically dogmatic in their thinking, un-open to change.
Someone who is passionate can have a similar, all- consuming energy, but they differ from the zealot because passion is engaging, ultimately it's joyous, whereas zealotry can be grim and judgmental.

Coaching Point: Have you decided to avoid zealots and develop your passion?

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO A FRIEND. Thanks. Copyright 2005 Steve Straus.
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