Bantul Relief

Here is a letter from Rehane Abrams, who lives in Bantul:

"It is taking time to fully comprehend what has happened to us. Our area of Bantul was worst affected. For those of you that have been to the house - No.e's house in the rice fields outside Jogja- the kitchen is completely collapsed, the walls are cracked, chunks fell out of the roof... we can't live there. Our neighbors are in far worse positions. Some houses are completely flattened. We are terrified that another quake will hit. All little noises and wobbles scare us. The volcano is 4 times as active as before. People are sleeping outside under tarpaulins. It's been raining too...

On the positive side!!! The response to the has been amazing. People have organized themselves into anarchic bands of first aiders, relief workers carrying food and tents and help. It's amazing how the local people are rallying to help each other. There are communal kitchens everywhere. Circle and I have been helping as much as we can. The help must keep going for the next few months. People are homeless - So are we!

I am planning trauma healing arts workshops for kids. Drama and a bit of storytelling dahlings! Fabulous - those kiddies will be making musicals about it all in no time. The kiddies are well freaked.

It's deeply traumatic as you can well imagine! Strange apocalyptic scenes in the city and dream sequences - circle and I walking really slowly through rice fields with the villagers to escape the rumoured tsunami. Hundreds of families carrying their old out of doors for the first time in months maybe years.

Send LIGHT, Send Love, weave a network of light around us all. Sing the earth back down... love, Rehane"

I know that none of us are rich and can offer a huge amount of financial support, but the economy of the area is such that very small donations of $10 or $20 can have an amazing impact (that is enough to get food and water for a week for a family).

This is my short term help plan:

A)  I propose to collect whatever anyone can offer IMMEDIATELY and wire it to a close friend who is very active in the relief efforts centered around the villages that cluster around my school.  The latest word from him is what's left of the school grounds and buildings have been converted to shelter and administer medical aid to the community. I am waiting to receive enough donations to make the wire transfer fee negligible.

B) I am planning a trip to Yogya on the 3rd of July to perform a music concert.  I can bring whatever funds we have gathered until that date and distribute it personally among those in my village that need it, most likely to the school/mosque/community center that was next door to my old home in Geneng, Bantul Yogyakarta Java.

no.e sunflowrfish

6/5/2006 - we sent $600 to Bantul.