H2OPEN

Waves For Water at the U.S. Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach, California

The U.S. Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach, California

Bob Hurley & Jon Rose at the U.S. Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach, California

Turning contaminated water into safe water, turning death into life

Can see Hurley/W4W exhibit @ the U.S. Open all week

We are all aware of the 'world water crisis'

To the question, “What can I do?” . . . we have the answer.

By carrying a bunch of filters when traveling to remote areas of the world,

one person can bring people a new source of clean drinking water.

ONE PERSON CAN CHANGE THE WORLD FOR AN ENTIRE VILLAGE.

Save a family for an entire year for only $20!

Imagine millions of travelers doing this. Now we’re changing history.

Jon Rose in Haiti

Waves for Water is a 501-C3 Non-Profit Corporation – Fed. Tax # – 27-1319189

Read about the Waves For Water story in the Orange County Register

More stories & videos in previous posts. Thank you.

Jon’s update from Haiti, May 19

My experiences in Haiti have taught me a boatload of things, but one of the more unexpected byproducts has been a new-found understanding and appreciation for the global military community. In the first month after the quake I worked closely with the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and was blown away day in and day out by their incredible discipline and stark efficiency. They were such a great group of guys that genuinely enjoyed helping the local people through such a rough time.

Fast forward – I’ve spent the last two days living with the Chilean battalion of the UN Minustah Military (Minustah is the name for the UN’s Haiti operation). The Chileans are in charge of patrolling and securing the North section of Haiti. My stay here is part of a preliminary mission to start laying the foundation for a collaboration/partnership between the UN Minustah operation here and my water program. The idea is to utilize the Minustah Military’s knowledge of this area to help us establish and operate our program. It is an exciting step towards our goal of getting everyone in Haiti clean water; this kind of support is the very backbone of such a goal. The Chilean soldiers are hospitible and genuine people. They have let me in to their world and I will never forget it. Especially their cook, who insists on calling me “California!”

It’s been nice to be away from the intensity of PAP. However, the day before I came up here to the North I visited two camps in Cite Soleil – Haiti’s most desperate and crime-ridden area. There is a project going on there, spearheaded by Patricia Arquette, that involves our filtration systems. She has created a testing facility in one of the tent camps to try a few different sustainability concepts. Patricia and her team have mainly been addressing the sanitation challenges of this area – human waste, trash, etc., all of which are on the verge of creating a secondary disease-driven epidemic. She is incorporating our filter model into her program to combat the potable water challenges, but her main focues have been on composting, recycling, and bio-digesting. It was an incredible project to see and I’m honored to be a part of it.

I really believe that there is such enormous opportunity in Haiti right now. We have a chance not only as foreigners, but as humans, to try aggressive solutions here, solutions that in the future could end up being benchmarks for the global community. There are amazing people here doing amazing things, and once again I feel confident in our ability, as a species, to collectively change our destiny.

More to come…

Humbled and grateful,
Jon

Jon’s update from Haiti, May 13

Where do I begin? I’m sweaty and sleep deprived but the work is good. I’ve had a 13 hr day yesterday with Fritz in Leogane. Like I said in my last update my networks have been exceeding all of my expectations. Mainly in their organization and persistent work ethic. Coordinating and operating a filter distribution is HARD work and they are not getting paid. They have truly embraced the empowerment aspect of this program.

Yesterday I went to some villages only accessible by a 4 wheel drive up a riverbed. In each mud/stick hut there was our filter systems… Operating perfectly! One mother said that her baby had severe diarrhea and now with the filter, it has stopped. It really is that black and white…. They say the differences in their health are nothing short of extreme.

There has been more civil unrest in PAP. Organized crime is getting more organized… And there are more and more reports of kidnappings and killings. Some aid workers have now been victimized. Which, is unsettling since I have been out in the thick of it almost everyday. I am relying on trust and quick wit… Psychologically, that’s all I have.

About to crack into my trusty Jack Daniels stash. I’m banking on it to make the bags under my eyes feel less heavy.

Signing off cause this update is now making me sweat more….

Jon

Jon’s update from Haiti, May 10

Good morning!

Been here for 2 days now and finally starting to adjust. Its a weird sensation for me to be back. On some levels I feel more comfortable than ever but there’s also been a lot of change. Mostly good changes – debris removal, better structures in the tent camps, and definitely a resumed sense of commerce and low level economic growth. But there has also been a vibrational shift within the people that is very noticeable. The sense of emergency has subsided and with that comes two things – most feel gracious for what seems to be a return towards normalcy… But for others, that normalcy is a return to a very unpleasant reality. The quake brought so much destruction and loss but it also brought people together… and in some ways, served as a distraction from what was already an incredibly hard life. It put a freeze on a lot of the existing problems because everything was about basic survival. Plus the amount of international attention and support. Now that the dust has settled the old issues are resurfacing in a sobering fashion.

For me, The experience this time is completely different. My sadness for their situation is the same except it’s not as specifically focused on quake victims, but rather the bigger picture – jobs, upcoming election, and corruption.

The focus, with my work, has shifted in he same manner. Less disaster relief — i.e. “band-aid” type solutions — and more long term ideas such as rain harvesting or potential well digging sites. Also looking into natural spring sources in the hills that could be contained and then piped down to villages.

On my way to Saint Marc with my bro/driver/comedian, Sylla. So great to see him. He’s been taking me to some of the regions he’s distributed filters to and I’ve been seeing firsthand the evolution of this program. He has done a fantastic job! The filter systems are in people’s huts and working great! These are all people I never demonstrated for and that is exactly the point. Sylla has taken the knowledge and started empowering his communities… Just as I’d hoped.

Please continue to spread the word. It DOES make a difference.
Much love!
Jon

OC surfers bring clean water to devastated regions

New post today on the Orange County Register blog, OC surfers bring clean water to devastated regions, about Jon Rose, Greg Long, and the efforts of Waves For Water and Save the Waves to bring clean water to Sumatra, Chile and Haiti.

Larry King Interview

Watch Haiti video with new Eddie Vedder song: www.jphro.org/gallery.html

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.

Waves for Water was created by Father-Son team, Jack & Jon Rose. 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

Jon Returns to Haiti

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

Update # 5, Trip 2 – ‘INTENSE’

Sometimes experiences are difficult to put into words. The ones so rich, that you can actually feel yourself changing right then and there. I guess the best word to describe yesterday is INTENSE. Each day seems to get more and more enhanced. Maybe its because I’m getting more in rhythm, or maybe because I’m pushing a little harder – probably a combo of both.

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

update # 4, Trip 2 -’Everybody Needs Everything’

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.

Update # 3, Trip 2 – “You Ready?”

There’s really no substitute for putting in the hours. The only way to have an even semi effective operation down here is to personally oversee every stage. Simply put, it just comes down to time spent … There’s so much chaotic energy that it’s so easy for good intentions to slip through the cracks a fall apart.Yesterday was a good day. I was finally able to return to the northern region and deliver the filters I had promised Scott Bonnell’s group. When we arrived to the church the main pastor, Albert, who manages 130 churches, greeted us. It was Sunday morning, so church was still in session. Because Albert wasn’t able to attend my filter demonstration a couple weeks ago, it was crucial that he was here today. We unloaded the goods and he said – “You ready?” I replied “sure”, not really knowing what he was talking about. I followed him and all of a sudden I was standing at the podium with the local pastor in front of everyone. He said, “You ready to teach?”. I was planning on just dropping the stuff off, but since the entire community was there for Sunday service, why not use the opportunity to demonstrate. It was classic! – with a PA system and everything. Was such a moment. To truly connect on a grass roots level with the community is what this whole thing is about. I felt so damn good to deliver on my word. Everyone really had a look of surprise on their faces when I returned.On the way home my driver/translator, Sylla proceeded to give me a history lesson on the tremendous violence that has plagued his country for generations, and has only recently (past 3-4 years) slowed down. We drove through an area that he said is (still) considered the most dangerous part of Haiti. I might add that the prison was ruined in the quake as well, and 4000 inmates lived through it and were able to escape. Sylla mentioned that most of them would certainly be hiding in this area, as they have always claimed it to be theirs. He said that four years ago he wouldn’t have dared drive through there, but it has since gotten better… And,with the earthquake, things have slowed down even more. It sounded much like the violence we Southern Californians are so aware of in Baja. This area is on the outskirts of PAP and no police ever go there. He said they used to hide in caves in the neighboring hills and would set up road blocks for ambushes on passing cars. Kidnapping was the primary business. A little unsettling since we were passing directly through it. However, I have still yet to feel unsafe. I really believe that in doing this work, I am protected. and everything will work out for the best. It’s just a feeling… hard to describe.

Looking up right now, my mind is adrift … Nothing but stars!!

Jon   It’s a new day… and productive one at that!