CNN – Watch: Larry King’s interview with Sean Penn and Diana Jenkins, discussing the Jenkins/Penn Haitian Relief Organization (J/P HRO) and the ongoing efforts to bring water filters to survivors in Haiti.

To bring clean drinking water to school children in Kenya & Uganda, Jack Rose started RainCatcher. To bring what we do in Africa to the rest of the world, Jon Rose created Waves for Water. Jon is currently traveling & working with Sean Penn’s team in Haiti.

All of us would like to extend a special acknowledgement to Dennis Haysbert, Sean Penn,Diana Jenkins and Patricia Arquette for their extensive donations of time, talent & funds. Together we will continue to bring our clean drinking water systems to the survivors in Haiti.

To those who have already helped fund our relief efforts – “Thank you, thank you, thank you”.

Yours in friendship, Jack Rose / Jon Rose

SAVE THE WAVES is partnering with WAVES FOR WATER to provide HUMANITARIAN RELIEF.

HELP CHILE NOW:       http://www.savethewaves.org

A massive earthquake and tsunami hit Chile this weekend. The earthquake and tidal wave damage is devastating. The epicenter was just 5km from Save The Waves’ Coastkeeper office.  Friends, colleagues and neighbors in coastal Chile need everyone’s help now more than ever. The destruction to infrastructure is severe, and includes massive damage to buildings and roads, drinking water systems, power grids, and communication. Aid and relief in the next few weeks will be crucial to help save lives.

Bringing clean water: Jon Rose in Haiti . . .Ron Mathis in Dallas . . . Mike Perkins in Samoa . . . Jon on a volcano in Bali.

The primary focus of our mission will be to provide clean drinking water to hundreds of thousands of Chileans who are currently without water. Save The Waves is partnering with Waves for Water to distribute filter systems for clean drinking water, and plans to get 1,000 filters – enough for 20,000 people to get clean water – distributed in coastal Chile during the first week, with more to follow.

Because Save The Waves Coalition’s ongoing environmental work is in the same area as the disaster, the organization is uniquely positioned to help direct humanitarian relief efforts in the region.

Patagonia Inc, the outdoor apparel company, has stepped up and provided significant support for this initiative, and has been rallying others to join the cause.

All donations to Save The Waves for Chile earthquake relief will go directly to humanitarian work on the ground in the devastated regions near the quake and tsunami epicenter. Humanitarian aid efforts will be focused in the rural coastal areas where help and aid are less available. Since Save The Waves is a small and nimble organization with years of experience in coastal Chile, support for this effort will be extremely effective, with no bureaucratic roadblocks or delays -just pure aid for the coastal communities that are in dire need. Can learn more and participate at the link below.

www.savethewaves.org/news/view/111 New photos and stories soon from the front lines in Chile.

In any situation, anywhere around the world, clean, safe drinking water is always at hand, once you have the right tools. To see how, watch the three minute video. . . and for detailed, step-by-step, instructions go to www.wavesforwater.org/2009/06/water-filter-instructions .

Above the Rubble - Here’s a recent video of Jon and filters in Haiti by Julie Santos.

abovetherubble.blip.tv

The following posts include the next round of Jon’s updates from the front lines of earthquake disaster relief in Haiti.

I went back to Delmas 31, with Sylla, first thing in the morning. We brought another local with us to drive, so that Sylla could focus on translating. Dr. Raul Ruiz, our chief staff doctor, decided to tag along as well. Once again, we had no real plan other than giving goods to the 2 or 3 other camps located near the one we did the previous night (Syla’s family’s camp).

We packed a bunch of product into the back of the truck. It’s a little pick-up, with a metal cage welded over the bed, but still open entry to the back. I felt a little weary about going into the thick of it with so much product exposed and really no manpower. When we do food drops to areas like this we have security, etc.  Once again I had to trust my gut and charge onward.

There was one thing that we were unaware of though – word had gotten out from the previous night. People from Sylla’s family’s camp had already started using the systems and word was spreading like wildfire about how clean their water was. Apparently one woman said her baby had diarrhea for two weeks and it finally stopped with only one nights worth of filtered water. Coincidence? Maybe. Although, clean water will do wonders for just about anybody, especially a baby. Whatever the case, the local word-of-mouth news network certainly messed up our strategy  to fly under the radar.

We arrived at the first camp and as soon as I pulled out some materials to do a demo, Dr. Ruiz and I found ourselves pinned against a wall … on the INSIDE of the compound! The truck was parked outside and Sylla was trying to organize the crowd. Everyone was hustling to form a line because they thought I was going to give stuff out one by one. All of the merch was still in the truck and Sylla had asked some guys he knew from the neighborhood to help with crowd control while we did the demonstration. I felt claustrophobic and trapped.

Whenever I’m in situations like this though, somebody random always comes out of nowhere to help … like an angel of sorts. In this case it was a man named Jean Paul. Right away he started organizing the crowd, and they listened to him. I found out later that he is a community organizer for that area and not only did he obviously have the respect of the people, he also had an office with a lockable door next to the camp. I knew I could give him all of our filters & buckets and he would then get names to distribute them at a later time. It was the only option. Had we tried to give stuff out from the back of the truck, it would have started a riot – no doubt in my mind!

People were already agitated and once again we didn’t have enough for everyone, and there never is – the numbers are just mind boggling, so there’s just never enough.

After my demo, Jean Paul and his crew somehow got about half of our stock unloaded, through the crowd, and into his office. I exchanged info with him and he said he would update me once the filters had been distributed. Dr. Ruiz and I climbed into the back of the truck with the rest of our goods AND, the guys who watched it for us.

As we pulled away, someone came out of nowhere, reached through the cage, and stole a filter right out of the box.

I realized that they weren’t getting out. Sylla said that he promised to give the guys who did security for us some filters, in return for their efforts. Of course I was more than happy to do so. So we stopped a little ways down the road and I quickly pulled out some stock for them.

Instantly the truck was mobbed again. I banged on the tailgate for the driver to move. As we moved away from the growing crowd a man, in a beanie, started yelling at me in English – “Why  do they get some and not me? Huh bro? What about me?!” I could see the desperation in his eyes and frankly, I couldn’t blame him for. He started running after us and since we were going so slow, he got within a few feet from my leg, which was hanging over the tailgate. He yelled some more and began to lunge towards me. The driver accelerated just in time. The guy stood in the middle of the street with his arms raised. As we got further and further away, I watched closely at his shrinking silhouette.

Lesson Learned! And thankfully, not at the cost of anyone’s safety. What happened there, was exactly the reason why I only try to work with the bigger local networks to help organize and get our supplies out. But, I have always loved the intimacy of a grassroots, street level drop. I’ve done them many times in villages, all over the world, and it always works great. But this is a completely different scenario. The urgency that accompanies catastrophes completely changes the whole dynamic.

Sylla and I agreed that he and Jean Paul would meet at a later time to coordinate a covert drop for the rest of the goods I had allocated for that area.

In retrospect, I can clearly see we were only one click away from a serious predicament. I’ve said it before, but I really do believe that in doing this work, from the heart, I am protected. I have to trust that … or else I have nothing.

I’m in my tent and though it’s a crystal clear evening,  I put my rain-fly on so I can have some time to myself … I need it!

Much love,
Jon

Yesterday was flat out awesome! It’s so great to have such a big stockpile of filters to work with. In the morning, Paula (from David Belle’s network in Jacmel), came with a huge truck and picked up the 1500 filters I promised to the Crose Network. It feels so good to follow through on my word. Paula is a dread-headed Rasta woman with honest eyes and a calming presence. When I was coordinating with her on the phone she told me she was a little surprised to hear from me again so soon. Paula was there for my filter workshop in Jacmel a couple weeks ago and heard that I had flown back to the states. Now, when she heard from me again so soon, she said to me on the phone (while chuckling) “yes I, back so soon… What are you doing? You crazy mon!”. I guess since this is a place where every one is trying their hardest to leave, she was shocked to see me returning to the front lines.

But here I am handing off thousands of filters to Paula – and have already received an email from her telling me about her amazing distribution process and the clean water it’s providing. Already I am filthy dirty, and smiling. I know we will be working with this group for a long time to come.

After Paula left, I went to a meeting with Sean and Oscar (operations guy at our camp), to see the pastor who helps govern the tent camp we have directly below us – now at 50k in population. Since I first arrived on the scene, I’ve been trying to find a way to distribute filters in this camp, but can’t come up with a civil and just way to decide who gets what. Everybody needs everything and they all deserve it, but because we have a limited amount, it has to be planned out or riots will erupt. Our strategy meeting went well. I could see that the pastor really does care about his people and wants to work out a fair protocol to distribute our filters through the camp.

Later in the day I ventured out with enough materials for 30 systems to a district of 3-4 tent camps in an area called Delmas 31. This area is where Sylla’s family is now living. I wanted to use the camp with his family as a test-run for the area. I had no real distribution plan other than letting Sylla coordinate once we got there. Plus this particular camp only has about 50 people in it so it would be more manageable. Just Sylla and I on this outing, so if things got out of hand we could be in real trouble…very fast.

It was awesome… as grass roots as it gets. I did a demonstration at the entrance to the camp with about 30 people. Men women and children all crowded around. They watched with curious eyes and as soon as they GOT IT, things went from casual, to everyone wanting one. We were able to manage it but I don’t have to speak creole to know that there were some bad f%#@ing words being thrown back and forth. We were able to give the stock to the camp organizer so he could get a list of names and pass them out the next day. If you don’t have some kind of order, then people on the street will rock up and crash lines and start grabbing stuff, because they see the crowd.

By days end, I felt damn good about our efforts. This whole thing feels like I’m constantly swimming upstream… and that’s to be expected. But days like yesterday make the currents feel less strong… and made of beer. Why not?
Adios!  Jon.

It’s not surprising that I feel so much comfort in the idea of going back. I’m definitely a little rattled and it’s been such a short time being home that my heart still feels like it’s in Haiti. Going back to the front lines almost feels like the most natural thing to do.

I spent the entire day helping to coordinate the next J/P HRO shipment, which included 3000 more of our filters. Was a great experience helping the freight company and getting to know the system. We were scheduled to load and fly out on a DC 4 – a beautiful 60+ yr old. The plane is nothing short of badass!! We packed it to the brim and climbed up a step latter to get in. There’s no rules, just cargo and some random jump seats. The plane is not pressurized so we are only traveling at about 7000 ft. Throughout the flight I was able to chat with the pilots, who by the way, are a few of the most interesting cats I’ve ever met. They were telling me stories of landing in random countries, at night (w/ no lights), on a strip of grass. Hardcore… old school… Legends!

I’m sitting now, in the very back of the plane … It’s loud as hell and my ears are popping like crazy. I’m looking directly at the tons of filters we’re hauling, with a big grin, and I think to myself … what an amazing position to be in.

I’m very excited to see all of the people I promised filters to, with the goods in hand. This return trip really is a gesture of good faith more than anything. Yes, the filters we’re bringing in will help thousands of people, but I really want them to know that we’re serious and that our program is committed to Haiti for the long haul.

Landing soon…
Jon              Sent from  my iPhone

The following posts include Jon’s updates from the front lines.