On Disaster Response: Good Press for Baha'i Red Cross Manager

Photo: Austrailian Red Cross Regional Manager Vahideh, a Baha'i

June/Pearlz left the following comment on one of my blog entries the other day and an entry on her own blog about Cylcone Larry:

Wow missed this blog and lots of stuff so much, had power off for a week as we had a cyclone in our area. We are all okay but the trees were ripped out and the place looks devestated. No loss of life and everyone's fine.Rang lots of friends this week, these things remind you of how important it is to always be spiritually and physically prepared.

The recent cyclone in Australia, Cyclone Larry, was apparently enormous and effected all people, Baha'is included, just as Katrina in the States had a devastating effect upon all. (The experience of the Baha'is in New Orleans was profiled in a recent Baha'i Newsreel video segment that was distributed for viewing at Feast here in the U.S.) I pray that Baha'is affected by these and any other disasters recover quickly.

There have been many news stories criticizing the response to Hurricane Katrina generally, and lately, many critical of managers with the Red Cross here. It is nice to note the positive story about a Red Cross manager in Australia who is a Baha'i that Mehran of Hullo World brings to the attention of his readers.

The northern part of my home state (Queensland) recently bore the torture of hurricane Larry. It has left entire cities without power, water or telephone lines, and a great number of people have lost their homes and possessions, not to mention, no doubt, health. Interestingly enough, I read an article today about the relief efforts published in "the Northern Star" which mentions the efforts of one amazing Baha'i.

Vahideh, the Lismore-based regional manager for the Red Cross, flew to far north Queensland yesterday to coordinate a team which will provide support, comfort, care and referral services.

Read the rest of his post and then, for laughs, read his previous post, "Serial Killer Encounter!"