|
Points for visiting activists to consider Posted December 5, 2005 |
|
In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, many well-intentioned people have been descending upon New Orleans and nearby areas of the American Gulf Coast. The following list of suggestions was adapted from a posting in New Orleans IndyMedia by a group of locally-based activists. Solidarity not charity Make sure that projects you start are sustainable and won't stop when it's time for you to go home. Make sure to run the ideas by the local community. Be respectful of locally organized meetings and cultural events. If there's a local meeting and volunteers want to come, it would be best to send 1 or 2 delegates, instead of the whole group. It is not appropriate to videotape or record meetings without prior approval. The same goes for photographing people and their residences. This is home to many people and their privacy needs to be assured. When going into communities to help, please be respectful. Try to spend a little time where you'll be helping, to get to know the area and people in it. Listen instead of offering advise. Ask people in need what they need. Don't just assume that you know. Moving in too many relief workers at once may strain resources that are needed for the people who are being helped. Even though there is a need for a lot of help, establish contact with an organized group "on the ground" before getting a group of people together to come help. An important task in the recovery effort is to help displaced residents get back home. One way to help is to offer to buy a ticket so a stranded resident can return home. When you meet someone for the first time, please ask "Do you live here?", instead of "Where are you from?". Remember, even the local activists have been affected. Be respectful of people who may appear lazy or uninvolved. There is a grief process that will take time. We have to provide support for each other. New Orleans is home to a variety of different cultures and backgrounds. Don't make assumptions based on a person's dress or appearance. Try to be tolerant of others. |
purplearth home