Okay, this is an all class post. Hello to you all from the Western Communication Conference in Palm Springs California. It is freezing down here! I showed my movie to a group of performance studies scholars today, I was very nervous. I got some good laughs, though!
Current Events: Regarding the recent landslide disaster in the Philippine Islands, tell me what it means to communication scholars. How can we help? What does our discipline have to offer in order to address natural disasters? Can you suggest a charity we should associate with if we want to contribute as a class or group? As students, what is our social responsibility? I am open to extra credit for ideas that can actually move our classes to action or those of you that are motivated to ACT in the face of the recent disaster. Think outside the box/act outside the classroom/make an active difference!--Sandra
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17 comments:
I always belief that most people somehow are all kind. We are sympathetic and feel sad when we notice that some people is there suffering. However, in my opinion, there are three reasons why people don't want to act.
First, some people don't want to act/donate because they are not sure if the act/donation can realy help those people. Say, if someone donate $100 to a charity, s/he probably can never make sure where the $100 gose. The charity might not spend the money properly or even embezzle all/some of the donation.
Second, some people don't know what they can do to help those people in pain. Except for donating something/money, actually people can also to be a volunteer or, at least, to tell more people to be concerned about the disasters or even more, but some people don't have any information about this.
Third, some people just need more motivation. They are not cold-blooded. They don't act only because they don't see how those refugees are suffering. For example, most people know the landslide disaster in the Philipine Islands, but how many people have ever seen the calamity or how those people cry?
Thus, I think what we could do is to collect more information about the disaster and try to find a reliable charity. Then, at least, we can convince more people to help the people in pain.
Rose N Williams
comm 321
How can we help? We can help by sprading the word and leting people know that they can valenter. What does our discipline have to offer in order to address natural disasters? When pople get togerther for a good cuse, changes tends to come quiker. Can you suggest a charity we should associate with if we want to contribute as a class or group? We can start a fund raise and donate money to help the victems. As students, what is our social responsibility? I really don't no; but I think that we should at lest be aware of what's goning on and figer out posible solutions.
As a communication scholars we need to get every individual involved to actively participate and help people that are affected by this disaster. Access to information and specific possibilities how to help victims would allow everyone to make small contribution that will not be too excessive for individuals but could make great impact for the victim of this landslide. Many people are not aware of this disaster and in order to change this access to information would be first step to organize mass reaction and involvement in this tragedy. From a stand point of a student we are limited; however, not completely excluded from possible active involvement. We can organize ourselves and create a rally or maybe even charitable race which many organized institutions are also doing. It could be on-campus event where all student could participate or even with greater magnitude in the city of Elk Grove or Sacramento. I think on this way you could get people involved and all sides would have benefits in certain way.
Thanks again Sandra for extending the deadline for this blog. I am touched by the way you have included my country in the blog. A lot of times the Philippines just gets unnoticed as it is too tiny (just a bit bigger than Arizona or about 300 sq km) and the political unrest scares most tourists away. Fifty percent of 84 million Filipinos live below poverty level (www.cia.gov). President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo almost declared a state of emergency (martial law) last week due to some sectors asking her to step down as president. So although there are many great beaches and the sun shines most part of the year, tourism will not flourish as much as the country needs it.
The recent landslide in Leyte was due to illegal logging. Greedy businessmen have totally ravaged the province without reforestation efforts. One thousand eight hundred (1,800) people are believed to have died in this disaster. Classes were going on at about 10 in the morning that is why there were so many children trapped. They used their cellphones sending text messages to their families but the disaster happened so quick. In a province like Leyte, that is bound to happen. There are no disaster centers, no sensors to warn residents of what is bound to happen.
As communication students, we are part of the communication scholars that you mentioned in your question. It is our responsibility to know what is happening around us not just what happened in Leyte and decide what the best thing to do because we have the ability to discern right from wrong. Our discipline offers us critical thinking so we could decide which agency/ies we could go to if we want to help. I understand the sentiments of class members on doubting the people who would get whatever amount we could donate. Especially, Fermina’s comment on the need to research first if there is really an agency we could use. Corruption is prevalent in the Philippines and although I want to go back and retire there someday, that is the truth. There are two things I could suggest: 1) We can go to St.Charles Parish at Center Parkway and there is a Filipino priest Father Bernard we can ask and 2) The Filipino Channel – TFC – they post an 800 number we can call if we want to help. If you ask me, these people would need food. We can put together any little money and send them canned goods. We can then send through the church or through the network. The last thing I have in mind – I worked for a pharma company for 20 years and I have traveled most parts of the Philippines. I have been to the radio stations in Leyte as well. I could check if we can send the food directly to the station – these are my thoughts. Let me know what the class thinks.
A comment on the landslide,
If each and everyone took what they learned from the communications class and came together I think that we would be able to make something happen.
Maybe if we washed cars to make money or went around to all the fastfood places and did work for them to raise money.
Secondly, if we were unable to do those things maybe if we just went and feed them and put clothes on their backs maybe that would help. Something that I know that I would love if I were in their place is if I had a friend to talk to.
What is important, first and foremost, for commmunication scholars is to effectively notify everyone of such a tragic event. It is important news to everyone far and wide whether we are filipino or live half way around the world because we should all feel a sense of connectedness to our human race and offer help and support when people are in need. What is surprising to me, is that so few people are actually unaware of this tragedy; does this mean that scholars have been ineffective in notifying the world??
I actually attended a charity event this last weekend at the University of California Davis. It was a talent show to raise money to donate to aid help in the repurcussions of the landslide. Not only was it just talent show singers and dancers prancing on stage, but the audience was constantly reminded of the purpose of the talent show. The masters of ceremony talked about the history of the filipines, the effects of the landslide, how we can help, etc. There were also moments of silence along with acts in the talent show that honored the culture of the philippines and the victims of such a diaster. It was good to see the caring side of our race, who far too often seemed consumed within themselves.
Donating is not just an act of sympathy for victims; it's a way to show you care about others to give a helping hand when they are need. This is our social responsibility; to help others that can live thousands of miles away, but are so alike ourselves. It's comforting in a way to know that there are so many supportive people if ever a landslide were to happen 2 miles from my house.
Michelle Koga
COMM 321 M/W @ 5:30
sssss
Clearly students on this blog are compassionate people; the comments I skimmed all the bloggers were moved; and felt moved to try and do something. I think two areas that others pointed out are important: awareness and action. I'm not sure the term "scholar" is one I like unless the term "activist" is associated with it... now "activist-scholar" there is a term with power ! Visualize Al Gore Prez candidate 2000... and
Al Gore Environmental-nik, there's the difference ! and Viva La Difference ! So a great discussion in class I think would be... how can we each of us (scholars all !) make more people aware of issues (choosing your battles is the most important step!) and how can we take actions both individually and as a group.. .but oops... everyone already said that. LOL
--Paul DeLong Friday 301
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