Sichuan Yaan Earthquake Relief: CEDAR is working with the local churches in relief operation

Posted on by 施達基金會

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On 28 April, CEDAR, together with Guanghan Church and Yaan Church in Sichuan, delivered the first lot of rice in the quake affected area of Tianquan County. Pastor Yu of Guanghan Church shared with us the relief updates and preliminary need assessment:

On the way to the hardest hit area, I found houses damaged and ruined though not many totally collapsed. Victims temporarily lived in the shelter tents. In the gorgeous points there were helmeted “gatekeepers” kept watching out; bringing out alerts immediately once landslides were noted.

After two-hour’s journey along a hilly road, we finally got to Gong He Village, Lao Chang Township in Tian Quan County. The roads split from a place named Double River Heads to Lu Shan and Bao Xin, the other to Tian Quan. All the trucks carrying the relief materials moved towards Lu Shan, but none got to the direction of Tian Quan.

There are 970 people (265 households) living in the Village. Although the houses collapse was not very serious, most of them were in dilapidated state. All the villagers now are living in the shelter tents. A dozen of people got injured in the quake, one got seriously injured and two death. An old man carrying his grandson shared that it was relatively fortunate that the quake came at 8 o’clock in the morning. It led to less casualties as villagers had already got up.

As it is in a mountainous area, the victims I encountered are much poorer than those I met in 2008 at Wen Chuan earthquake. But the villagers appeared to be very tough notwithstanding their scarcity in resources. May His mercy and blessings reach to them, Amen!

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The team saw many shelter tents along the roadside.

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Ruined house in Gong He Village.

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We distributed the rice to the victims in Gong He village.

A team comprising three CEDAR staff members has arrived at the quake affected area launching for a post-quake need assessment. Besides any immediate relief actions, medium and long-term relief operation plans will be made out. We will keep on sharing on the operation updates, please watch out and join us in the relief operations with your prayers and donation.

Relief Donation

  • Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  • Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  • Visa/ Master Card (Download donation form)
  • Online donation

(Please mark “Sichuan Yaan Quake Relief”)

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Contact Method

Tel>23819627
Fax>23922777
Email>sharing@cedarfund.org
Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong

CEDAR’s Relief and Rehabilitation Work in Past: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief/
CEDAR Approach on Relief and Rehabilitation: http://eng.cedarfund.org/relief-approach/

Collective Bargaining Secures Workers’ Rights

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for the collective bargaining]

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The global economy is no more secure today than it was five years ago. International institutions have failed to regulate greed and prevent the next banking crisis. More than 200 million people will be without work; 40% of them are young people. Almost 75 million people lost their jobs in 2012 alone, and this is expected to increase this year. Increasing numbers of workers are being forced into short-term contracts or the informal economy, with low pay, no benefits and no job security.

International Trade Union Confederation’s (ITUC) latest report provides an analysis of the actions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to weaken collective bargaining. In the last few years, the IMF has utilised its lending programmes, regular reviews of country performance and research activities to attack collective bargaining in Europe. The reforms supported by the IMF are very similar across a range of countries, and this “one size fits all approach” harks back to the much criticised structural adjustment programmes of the 1980s and 1990s. While the statistical evidence shown in the report told us that those countries with strong unions, high collective bargaining coverage and synchronised collective bargaining systems have distinct economic advantages. [ITUC]

Pray for the collective bargaining:

  • Yesterday was the Labour Day. Let us remember the labourers all over the world together. Pray for decent jobs for all and greater equity. Especially for those dock workers in HK, pray that the strike will be ended soon and the workers’ benefits and rights will be improved;
  • Pray that IMF, governments and other organisations stop weakening the collective bargaining. Pray also that more workers can bargain for their rights through this solidarity action.

Lessons from Bangladesh Garment Factory Collapse

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Remember the incident of factory collapse in Bangladesh]

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Bangladesh must strengthen its urban search and rescue capacity, said experts, following the collapse of an eight-story factory building outside Dhaka which has caused over 400 dead. There is a criticism of the authorities’ overall handling of the operation, and the Bangladeshi government’s rejection of international search and rescue offers. More than 2,000 volunteers and local rescue teams rushed to the scene to assist. However, they soon found themselves overwhelmed and ill-equipped. There were no scanners, sniffer dog or even no protective gear (gloves and helmets) for volunteers. Besides, the overall coordination of the operation was criticised. Densely populated Dhaka is indeed at high risk of an earthquake. The incident has revealed the fact that the country is not prepared for a major earthquake. [IRIN]

Remember the incident of factory collapse in Bangladesh:

  • Pray for the victims and their families. May God’s comfort and healing be with them;
  • Pray that the government officials can learn from the lessons and make effective measures to prevent the similar tragedies and respond to the possible disasters in the future.

Farmers’ Cooperative Mobilises Community Development in Gansu

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for the community development in Gansu]

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The Farmers’ cooperative was established last year and started to organise community activities. Some weeks ago, the cooperative coordinated the purchase of the fertilisers for project sites and the neighbouring communities. As a result, not only the farmers can purchase the fertilisers in a cheaper price, the cooperative can also save some money for development fund. Though there were some problems in the process of coordination, the representatives can solve them timely and wisely. Give thanks that the women group has stable production and order for handicrafts. Women could earn a living by producing the Fair Trade handicrafts.

Pray for the community development in Gansu:

  • The cooperative is improving the existing regulations and trying to apply the government loan for development programmes. Pray for the future of the cooperative and pray that it acts as a catalyst which will bring forth the community transformation;
  • Pray that the production skill of the women handicraft group will be further improved and more stable orders and markets will be explored.

Donate Now! Click here.

Other Methods of Payment

  1. Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  2. Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  3. Autopay (only applicable to regular fixed donations), enclosing with a completed Autopay Authorisation Form (Download: WORD or PDF)
  4. Visa/ Master Card

Download Donation Form

Please send a completed Donation Form, enclosing with cheque or pay-in slip, to CEDAR FUND, G.P.O. BOX 3212, HONG KONG.

Donation Form: WORD or PDF

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.

Remember the New Slum Project in India

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for new project]

POVERTY IN ASIA

Partner EFICOR has just started an initiative project in slum in Delhi. There are at least 900 households in which 80% of its populations are Muslims and 20% are Hindus. It aims to adopt a combination of direct service, technical support, advocacy & networking to facilitate community development within three-year project cycle. It will specially focus on right-based gender issues and children-at-risk, and will partner with Child Evangelism Fellowship to provide value education.

Pray for new project:

  • Pray for His guidance to this initiative project. Hindus and Muslims have many conflicts, in general. Pray that EFICOR can be peace-makers to bring shalom to the community;
  • The sexual violence in Delhi is still intense. May Lord use this project to empower women & men to safeguard their family members.

 

Donate Now! Click here.

Other Methods of Payment

  1. Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
  2. Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
  3. Autopay (only applicable to regular fixed donations), enclosing with a completed Autopay Authorisation Form (Download: WORD or PDF)
  4. Visa/ Master Card

Download Donation Form

Please send a completed Donation Form, enclosing with cheque or pay-in slip, to CEDAR FUND, G.P.O. BOX 3212, HONG KONG.

Donation Form: WORD or PDF

[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details.
[2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts.
[3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.