United States Government Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response Update

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Photo by Roxanne Lord

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 17, 2010

United States Government Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response Update

On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. President Obama has promised the people of Haiti that "you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten." The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort. Below please find some key facts and examples of government actions to date.

All numbers below are accurate as of noon Sunday, January 17, 2010

AIRPORTS AND AIRSPACE

•         The airfield is open for 24/7 operations and has a 100-aircraft per day capacity, this is an increase from yesterday’s 60 aircraft per day capacity.

•         The airport has received more than 600 short tons of supplies.

•         USAF air traffic control and airfield management personnel continue to manage air operations at the airport with approval of the Government of Haiti.

•         There are 30 military helicopters providing relief to the people of Haiti.

•         These helicopters are operating out of nine landing zones, including five drop-off points.

SAFETY

•         Approximately 5,800 military personnel on the ground or afloat. 

•         Approximately 7,500 additional military personnel are expected to arrive by 1/18.

•         More than 1,000 personnel from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Haiti on 1/16.

HEALTH

•         More than 250 HHS medical personnel have arrived in Haiti. 

•         2 planeloads of medicine, medical equipment and supplies from HHS have arrived in Haiti with a third expected to arrive today.

•         3,840 hygiene kits taken from USAID stockpiles in Miami have arrived.

•         The USNS Comfort is currently underway and expected to arrive on 1/20 with 600 medical personal on board.

EVACUATION AND RESCUES

•         As of 0900 a total of 1,760 American citizens have been airlifted out of Haiti.

•         USAID/DART reported that a U.S. Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team had rescued an additional three individuals at the Caribbean Market.

•         As of 0900, US USAR teams have rescued 26 individuals. 

•         There are currently six US USAR teams operating in Haiti along with 21 international USAR teams from around the world.  US teams are based out of Fairfax VA, Los Angeles CA, Miami FL (two teams), New York NY and Virginia Beach VA.

•         Each USAR team includes approximately 70 team members.

FOOD AND WATER

•         U.S. military aircraft have airlifted 130,000 humanitarian daily rations and more than 70,000 bottles of water to Port-au-Prince.

•         Three water purification units are operational and can supply 180,000 liters per day.

•         USS Carl Vinson continues to provide potable water production.

•         U.S. military aircraft will continue to support the delivery of an additional 600,000 daily rations over the next several days.

•         Six additional water purification units are scheduled to arrive in the coming days from USAID stockpiles in Dubai. Each unit provides 1000,000 liters of safe drinking water serving 10,000 people per day. 

•         12,000 water containers have arrived from Miami.

•         Yesterday, the U.N. World Food Program distributed high-energy biscuits to a total of 50,000 people.

•          The World Food Program Port-au-Prince metropolitan areas schools feeding program is no serving hot meals to 50,000 affected people

How to Help Support Relief Efforts

•          Contribute online through ClintonBushHaitiFund.org.

•          Text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a  $10 donation to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (the donation will be added to your cell phone bill).

•          Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

Get Information about Friends or Family

The State Department Operations Center has set up the following phone number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747 (due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording). You can also send an email to the State Department.  Please be aware that communications within Haiti are very difficult at this time.

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON RESCUE EFFORTS IN HAITI

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

ON RESCUE EFFORTS IN HAITI

Diplomatic Reception Room

January 13, 2010

10:20 A.M. EST

     THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everybody.  This morning I want to extend to the people of Haiti the deep condolences and unwavering support of the American people following yesterday's terrible earthquake. 

     We are just now beginning to learn the extent of the devastation, but the reports and images that we've seen of collapsed hospitals, crumbled homes, and men and women carrying their injured neighbors through the streets are truly heart-wrenching.  Indeed, for a country and a people who are no strangers to hardship and suffering, this tragedy seems especially cruel and incomprehensible.  Our thoughts and prayers are also with the many Haitian Americans around our country who do not yet know the fate of their families and loved ones back home.

     I have directed my administration to respond with a swift, coordinated, and aggressive effort to save lives.  The people of Haiti will have the full support of the United States in the urgent effort to rescue those trapped beneath the rubble, and to deliver the humanitarian relief -- the food, water and medicine  -- that Haitians will need in the coming days.  In that effort, our government, especially USAID and the Departments of State and Defense are working closely together and with our partners in Haiti, the region, and around the world. 

Right now our efforts are focused on several urgent priorities.  First, we're working quickly to account for U.S. embassy personnel and their families in Port-au-Prince, as well as the many American citizens who live and work in Haiti.  Americans trying to locate family members in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888/407-4747.  I'm going to repeat that – 888/407-4747.

Second, we've mobilized resources to help rescue efforts.  Military overflights have assessed the damage, and by early afternoon our civilian disaster assistance team are beginning to arrive.  Search and rescue teams from Florida, Virginia and California will arrive throughout today and tomorrow, and more rescue and medical equipment and emergency personnel are being prepared. 

     Because in disasters such as this the first hours and days are absolutely critical to saving lives and avoiding even greater tragedy, I have directed my teams to be as forward-leaning as possible in getting the help on the ground and coordinating with our international partners as well.

     Third, given the many different resources that are needed, we are taking steps to ensure that our government acts in a unified way.  My national security team has led an interagency effort overnight.  And to ensure that we coordinate our effort, going forward, I've designated the administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Dr. Rajiv Shah, to be our government's unified disaster coordinator. 

     Now, this rescue and recovery effort will be complex and challenging.  As we move resources into Haiti, we will be working closely with partners on the ground, including the many NGOs from Haiti and across Haiti, the United Nations Stabilization Mission, which appears to have suffered its own losses, and our partners in the region and around the world.  This must truly be an international effort.

     Finally, let me just say that this is a time when we are reminded of the common humanity that we all share.  With just a few hundred miles of ocean between us and a long history that binds us together, Haitians are neighbors of the Americas and here at home.  So we have to be there for them in their hour of need. 

Despite the fact that we are experiencing tough times here at home, I would encourage those Americans who want to support the urgent humanitarian efforts to go to whitehouse.gov where you can learn how to contribute.  We must be prepared for difficult hours and days ahead as we learn about the scope of the tragedy. We will keep the victims and their families in our prayers.  We will be resolute in our response, and I pledge to the people of Haiti that you will have a friend and partner in the United States of America today and going forward. 

May God bless the people of Haiti and those working on their behalf.

     Thank you very much.

TRIP TO WHITE HOUSE FOR HONORING OF TEACHERS & MENTORS

January 6, 2010

White House East Room

Washington, DC

Photos by Lady Simone

Article by Roxanne Lord

(Zen Media for Around Town Magazine)

President Obama honored over 80 of the best science and math teachers in America on a day that symbolizes hope. (Jan 6, Three Kings Day, Epiphany) The President's "EDUCATE TO INNOVATE" campaign was expanded today to more than half a billion dollars more coming from private funding and government initiatives as well as partnerships. Huge corporations like Intel and Dell paying key roles in supporting America's youth to do better in math and science.

Some of our nation's top minds were at this groundbreaking moment for education in America; Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Secretary of Energy and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Steven Chu, NASA Administrator and former astronaut, Charles Bolden, the creators of the Internet, DARPA's director, Regine Dugan, Vice-President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden and a host of senators, members of Congress: Bart Gordon, Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee Democrat - Tennessee; William Lacy Clay Representative from the state of Missouri: George Miller, Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee of California, and dignitaries from many states boasting some of the best teachers in the country.

The President spoke about Asia's commitment to education, as is evident by the fact that South Korea and China have no problem recruiting teachers because the teaching profession is revered in those nations and their compensation is comparable to the salaries of doctors.

"The nation that out-educates us today is going to out-compete us tomorrow," said President Obama. Our nation has a new goal when it comes to education; to move from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math education over the next decade. Particular attention will be paid to prepare, support, reward and retain good teachers.The Department of Education will be announcing an additional $10 million in grants for innovative programs to train new teachers. Moreover, a $4 billion Race to the Top fund, has been launched, which marks the largest investment in education reform in history in the United States.

The President calls for more states and school districts to start being more creative about attracting more science and math teachers. "Educate to Innovate" will continue to be a nationwide effort by citizens, non profits, universities and companies from across America to help us move to the top of the pack in math and science education.

PBS and the National Science Teachers Association will create new online platforms for teachers. Texas Instruments and Dell Foundation will work with the National Math and Science Initiative to prepare more math and science teachers in the next five years- through  a program allowing young people to earn teaching certificates and science degrees simultaneously. In addition, presidents from more than seventy five of the largest public universities in the country have committed to producing thousands of additional science and math teachers at their institutions. The Woodrow Wilson National fellowship foundation is expanding with the help of several states and non profits to place more math and science teachers in more high-need school districts. Intel, not to be outdone, is launching a 10 year $200 million campaign to train math and science teachers in all 50 states. The Recovery Act has combined the largest investment in education while preventing more than 300,000 teachers and school workers from being fired because of shortfalls in state budgets.

The honorees, the teachers and mentors, were absolutely honored to be invited to the White House and to acknowledged and thanked by the President of the USA himself, for the great work that they are doing for society. They are all enthused and encouraged by the additional funding as well, since it will allow them to be rewarded for doing the best job they can possibly do to teach this country's young minds.

JON BON JOVI & MAYOR CORY BOOKER CUT RIBBON IN NEWARK

December 8, 2009

Newark, NJ

by Roxanne Lord

Jon Bon Jovi, Mayor Cory Booker, Kenneth and Maria Cole were some of the good samaritans on hand last Tuesday to cut the ribbon on a brand new 51 unit apartment complex in South Jersey. The HELP Genesis JBJ Soul Homes will be home to low income families and will also provide special care and housing to HIV/AIDS residents. Ruben Mayor, (Black man in above picture) the complex's first resident, suffers from diabetes and is HIV positive. He said that he feels very good that he will be able to have his own apartment now. He used to live at Broadway House, a nursing home type of facility for continuing care.

This project led by leaders like Governor Jon Corzine, Mayor Booker as well as philantropists in New York and New Jersey is intended to be a major part of  the redevelopment of the area around Rafael Hernandez school. "With affordable housing and an integrated facility, with post-acute care AIDS services, this housing complex will connect resdients with ecah other, their community and a continuum of care. We are grateful for the support of Jon Bon Jovi, Mayor Booker ad the Municipal Council for supporting our efforts to improve the quality of life for Neward residents," said Council Member Ramos.

Twenty five percent of the apartments will have tenants living with AIDS.The other seventy-five percent will be low income mostly minority families with their children and teenagers. When asked if this will pose a threat to innocent and sometimes gullible teenagers and families who do not have the disease but may now live in the same building with many struggling with the disease; the Executive Director of the African-American Office of Gay Concerns, Gary Paul Wright, also a Board Member of Broadway House for Continuing Care, a facility that provides housing and special care services for people living with HIV/AIDS, maintained that "HIV does not spread from casual contact and we cannot discriminate against people with HIV."

Elle Decor has donated time and resources to furnish and decorate a two-bedroom model apartment for the project, which will be shown in ELLE DECOR's March 2010 issue. Chairperson of HELP USA, Maria Cuomo Cole, the wife of designer Kenneth Cole,  is proud to be part of "this dynamic public private partnership." HELP USA remains committed to developing services and to providing enriched  permanent housing to working families and people living with HIV/AIDS.

In the wake of the White House's National discussion at Columbia University, moderated by Rosie Perez, earlier this month, from which mulitiple requests and comments for housing for HIV/AIDS patients, it is timely that philanthropists like Jon Bon Jovi, Maria Cuomo Cole and elected officials are stepping up to the plate to provide much needed housing and services.

For video of this event, please go to www.youtube.com/bornkool

How to Get the Desires of Your Heart

SUCCESS MEDITATION
How to Get the Desires of Your Heart
“Beloved, BELIEVE that ALL things are possible through Me, God, and it shall be so.” This Christmas season, as we meditate on all the things we would like for Christmas for both ourselves and our families, I encourage you to meditate on Christ. For Jews and Muslims, you can meditate on some of Jesus’ best teachings, like walking on water, with faith or like healing the sick by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we focus on God’s power, not our own power or human logic, to accomplish the desires of our hearts, we will begin to rely on Him more and access or tap into Divine Power. Many people go around saying ‘I can’t’ a lot of times; I challenge you to start believing that ‘you can’ indeed do all things through Christ who will strengthen us. We are God’s children, we have every right to tap into our Father’s power and use His energy to accomplish our desires and goals. Start believing in Him more; stop using your own logic, your own strength, which is limited. Won’t you like to tap into unlimited power? Believe and know that He is Lord. Tap into limitless power of the Most High.

I encourage you to pray out loud more, speaking and asking God for all things, out loud, that you desire. Pray on them often, seven times a day if you really believe and absolutely need your desire to manifest. Try praying to God and asking Him for all that you desire with childlike faith, knowing that your good Father will totally make a way for you. Now if you been bad, and you know that you don’t have a good relationship with the Father, the SON or the Holy Spirit, I will advise you to repent and say you’re sorry first of your wrongdoing. Ask for forgiveness, say out loud what you’re sorry for, speak like you’re speaking to a Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent Being, you cannot fool Him, He knows you, so come clean, with a pure heart. Then negotiate for the desires of your heart. Like a good father, God will give you those desires that mean you and your family good.

You may have to wait for the seeds of your desires to grow so learn to be patient. Working on yourself or your home, focusing on building up yourself while waiting for your desires to manifest, will keep you busy as you wait. Get ready, prepare for the successes, the manifestation of your desires while waiting for them to ripen. You will reap if you sow good seeds and water them daily through prayer (talking to God). You have to give people, sowing seeds means giving, try helping someone not as fortunate as yourself, even though you might have very little, let some of it go to build up someone else. If you have a lot, make someone’s day by sharing with them, take them out to a meal at a fancy restaurant or give them $100 just to brighten their day or their children’s day. Send money or give money to a struggling church or a struggling non-profit, where the founder is really trying to make a difference. So often the rich give only to the rich, who get richer, and the poor remain poor or get poorer. If you’re rich and reading this, break that cycle, give to the poorer people, not just the rich in your circle. Less pompous more ‘real’ needed. It’s great to give to HUGE charities that don’t really need the money, but consider giving, time or money, making a difference to a struggling charity or individual in a low income community whose mission and success can affect many.

To get ready for success in all areas of your lives, you will need the following: Faith, hope, love and a business bank account. You will also need to clean up your mind, body and spirit as well as your home for all the good that is coming into your life. Pull up the weeds of envy and self-doubt, replace with confidence and self-love; complete the tasks that you need to complete, to make ready for your blessings. Take action; stop sitting down and thinking of how you may fail if you try and how you fell on your face or butt last time you tried. Get up, dust yourself off, put your best foot forward and get ready to win! May God bless You richly this holiday season.

THE WHITE HOUSE & ROSIE PEREZ LEAD DISCUSSION ON HIV

Columbia Medical Center, NY
Friday December 4, 2009 (6pm-8.30pm)

Written by Roxanne Lord

Acclaimed actress Rosie Perez was the moderator for The White House National discussion about HIV& AIDS. This discussion, held at Columbia Medical Center and hosted by the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), offer the public a chance to provide input as the White House works to fulfill the President’s pledge to develop a National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS).

With more than 56,000 new HIV infections occurring in the United States each year, the President believes that we must re-focus national attention on the domestic epidemic. He has articulated three goals for the NHAS: reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes, and reducing HIV-related health disparities. The national HIV/AIDS community discussions are just one mechanism for engaging the American people and obtaining input. The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) will also provide input, and public comments submitted to the ONAP website will also be taken into consideration.

Ms. Perez, actress and human rights activist, has been busy working with children and teenagers as well as older people to make a difference wherever she goes. Remembered in the films; Do The Right Thing as well as White Men Can't Jump, Perez has built a solid reputation for herself as First Lady Latina in films and community service.

Last night, Rosie represented the White House and President Obama's pledge to develop and implement a comprehensive National AIDS Strategedy, focusing on reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to care in addition to reducing health disparities. Many brave voices came together for this HIV discussion held in New York. Here are some of the stories and comments by New Yorkers of different ages and race and ethnicities, many of whom are infected with the disease and many of whom are in a gay relationship or participate in substance abuse. Many are homeless, many are Latino, African-American and White people. Many spoke about incarceration.

*Need for more media campaigns, targeting immigrants, more community based organizations funding, more testing especially for women.

*Socrates from the Bronx.. Better prevention, better discharge planning for people coming home from prison to the Bronx, lack of housing, mental health services, substance abuse services, education and prevention for the previously incarcerated.


*HIV education in the schools; community centers, talk about it more, especially to people with mental health issues.

*HIV and  people over 50. Aids and aging, more awareness of this group as well as more focused treatment and recovery.

*Good evening Dr Obama....... primary care, mental care,  more service and hospitals, more specialists needed in Long Island.
*HIV testing as a routine part of medical care. Call for First Lady and President to take the HIV test in public in America as they did in Africa.

*Care and service for transgender women and men living with HIV and AIDS.
 
*Mobile clinics for HIV are not coming consistently to the communities. Mobile clinics help the community and those who don't have access to healthcare.
 
*Rapid HIV test will allow people taking the test to know in about 20- 40 minutes.
 
*Shelters are no place for people that are HIV positive.
 
*Mandatory or involuntary testing at routine visits.
 
*They should test people more than once in jail.
 
*Latino boys can jump. I wanna talk about substance abuse.Too many brothers are getting locked up. This is not a second chance society. My dad was an addict. Substance abuse should be decriminalized. Elder parents who are users have children who are users. America, America why do you incarcerate so much.
 
* Youth coming through the shelter, these are no places for them. Make shelters for all people, races, gender, age and White people too. More dialogue on racism, include more White people in this dialogue.
 
*Need special department to strategically educate the young generation in high schools.
 
*From a pastor: If you spend the money we will get better, spend more money on HIV counselling, housing and awareness, media campaign.
 
*From a lawyer: Lift some of the legal restrictions and disclosures to be better able to help HIV infected people with housing and other much needed services.
 
* More research needed on alternative medicine for the disease that will strenthen immune system, reishi mushroom a good start as a possible cure.
 
*Strategic emergency housing especially in Albany is needed. Shelters are no good, people are not checked

for even TB there. I want to leave you with something that Plato said, "We can all understand when a child is afraid of the dark, but we cannot understand when a man is afraid of the light!"

What do you think?
Send comments to Lady Simone at Zenmedia3@gmail.com
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WEST POINT SPEECH: WHAT YOU DIDN'T SEE ON TV

12/01/09

West Point, NY

(Zen Media)

My first impression of West Point is that it resembled a British moat. High mountains and a large body of water, the Hudson River. The West Point Military Academy, where President Barack Obama delivered his long awaiting speech on the war strategy, is a campus of nationally landmarked buildings. The USMA was built in 1802, the garrison was occupied in 1776 and played a key role in the Revolutionary War. Cadets here have all applied directly to the academy and received a nomination from a congressman in order to be selected.

It was in one these historic neogothic granite buildings, the Eisenhower Hall, that the first African-American President of the United States gave his speech. I was moved that the ceremony started off with a prayer by Colonel Mike Durham, West Point Chaplain, for our nation, the young cadets going off to war and for peace. They prayed for the families of the cadets also. Kay Messenger sang the National Anthem and Colonel Ty Seidule, a professor at the USMA gave a brief history and warm welcome to all the attendees. He reminded the cadets to be professional and courteous to the President and said that the President could give a presidential pardon to minor offenses of military men . Then the Superintendent of the academy came up and delivered one sentence only, "The President is not the only one who can give a pardon for minor offenses, I can too. You are all pardoned of your offenses." Lieutenant Hagenbeck then walked off the stage after that statement. The cadets cheered and whooped of course. Then there was silence as we waited for the President to come on stage.

They played the VOG music and we all stood at attention as President Barack approached the podium. His speech was long and the President seemed less passionate than he has at other speeches. Some key points in his speech:

"As Commander in Chief, I have determined that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months our troops will begin to come home. These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan."

"We have been at war now for eight years at enormous cost in lives and resources...... having just experienced the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the American people are understandably focused on rebuilding our economy and putting people out to work here at home."

"If I did not think that the security of the United States and the safety of the American people were at stake in Afghanistan, I would gladly order every single one of our troops home tomorrow."

'So, no, I do not make this decision lightly. I make this decision because I am convinced that our security is at stake in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This is the epicenter of violent extremism practiced by Al-Qaeda, it is from there that we were attacked and from there that new attacks are being plotted as I speak."

Our President believes that if we retreat now that Al-Qaeda will pose more of a threat. He maintains that Al-Qaeda is seeking nuclear weapons and that Pakistan is able to supply them. POTUS said that it is important to work with allies, like the British to dismantle, disrupt and defeat Al-Qaeda. To meet this goal, POTUS is calling for a military strategy that will break the momentum of the Taliban. By deploying 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in early 2010, we will be able to target the insurgency and secure key population areas.

By partnering with other international allies within the United Nations and the Afghanistan government, America will help to strengthen their government so that they can become more responsible in protecting their people and their country. By focusing on agriculture and accountability, America will help Afghanistan to rebuild their war torn nation.

Our President's speech at West Point Military Academy is one of the most important ones that he has ever made. Please go to My Facebook/Lady Simone to view the notes for the entire speech verbatim.

Roxanne Lord

Zen Media