PHOTOS: A week after typhoon Pablo

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Malo Herry

Around 780 people are still missing after the province was hit by Typhoon Bopha. Bopha is the most southerly typhoon ever recorded in the western Pacific Ocean, and the second strong typhoon to have hit southern Philippines in 2 years. Scientists predicted years ago that human-caused climate change would result in abnormally severe extreme weather events. The past few years have seen the Philippines, and other parts of the world, struggle to cope with the effects of drastically altered weather patterns. Pablo has left more than 1,500 people either dead or missing and has left at least PHP 14.30 billion ($348 million) in damages.

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Thanksgiving Feast in Rockaway during Hurricane Sandy Relief

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Connor Gibson

Yesterday, residents and volunteering occupants of Rockaway Park in Queens NYC gathered at hurricane relief hubs to share Thanksgiving dinner with one another. Here’s video of the afternoon feast, the solar arrays powering the event, and some speeches from organizers and residents:

Despite conditions that still feel alien—sand and dust and rubble under the brilliant sun—the community feasted away on turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes at a gathering powered by solar electricity and human determination. Continue reading →

PHOTOS: Bonfire on Rockaway Beach to Celebrate Ongoing Sandy Cleanup

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Connor Gibson

Josh from Greenpeace with Katie from Occupy in front of the original YANA building, which is being completely cleaned out.

Last night after the sun set, residents of Rockaway Park had a small celebration of all the hard work and progress that they have led with assistance from members of Occupy, Greenpeace and numerous dedicated volunteers.

Make no mistake, you will see no “Mission Accomplished” banner hanging above Beach 113th Street anytime soon–there are still many people in need of serious assistance and a massive amount of construction and cleanup needed before Far Rockaway looks anything like it did before Hurricane Sandy tore the area apart. Disturbingly, we’re hearing reports of body bags being quietly pulled from buildings where disabled and elderly folks have been left isolated.

But after two weeks of relentless hard work, there has been undeniable progress. There has been a reliable source of cooked food, water and supplies thanks to the work of rapid responders. For the last week we have seen the establishment of a stable clinic for doctors and medics to administer aid and organize outreach to ill residents stuck in their homes. The clinic is so successful that FEMA is referring residents to it. Continue reading →

You Are Not Alone – PHOTO ESSAY from Hurricane Sandy Relief

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Connor Gibson

Posted on behalf of Luan “Jonathan” Dong, who is attending graduate school at George Washington University and interning for Greenpeace in Washington, DC.

When you tell your family in China that you are going to the United States for a Master’s degree, or tell your friends that you are going to New York City, you would never imagine end up being here.

Here is Rockaway Park, Queens, New York City. Assumed by many people to be full of summer resorts, Rockaway in fact has a significant portion of impoverished or isolated, if not homeless, residents. More shocking is the scene that greeted us: a scene of total devastation.

This is nothing like the New York City that I knew of, nor does it resemble any part of the United States that I have ever been. Rockaway Beach has been mostly destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. And before Rockaway residents could even catch their breath, a Nor’easter was already here to add insult to injury. The storms have left many people dependent on incoming aid for food and provisions.