Go well

Written By: - Date published: 5:33 pm, March 14th, 2011 - 18 comments
Categories: aid, disaster - Tags: , , ,

Forty two Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) workers left New Zealand this morning for Japan. Straight off the back of three hard weeks in the rubble of Christchurch, they are flying in to help out with an even bigger disaster.

Just as the world rallied around us in our time of need, so too it is right and good that we aid Japan. I’m sure we are all very proud that our tiny country is willing and able to help out in this way. This is something that I would like to see much more often, especially for disasters in those parts of the world that seem too easily forgotten…

To all the USAR and aid workers, from whatever country, heading out to Japan — go well.

18 comments on “Go well ”

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  1. Colonial Viper 1
    14 March 2011 at 6:31 pm

    So proud to be a New Zealander. As a country we should commit to building up our capabilities and our expertise in these areas: both for our benefit and the benefit of others.

  2. travellerev 2
    14 March 2011 at 7:08 pm

    “I’m sure we are all very proud that our tiny country is willing and able to help out in this way.”

    Sorry Rob,

    But it is those guys who are doing the helping, not NZ as such. Be proud of them for sure as they represent the best NZ has to offer but most kiwi’s are sitting safely on their comfy couches watching telly tonight while those guys are heading for burnout and PTSD.

    • higherstandard 2.1
      14 March 2011 at 7:22 pm

      Urban Search and Rescue is a state funded group of professionals – ipso facto NZ is helping out how best it can at this point.

      • Luxated 2.1.1
        14 March 2011 at 7:55 pm

        As far as I can tell USAR’s constituent response teams are almost entirely volunteers. If you have evidence to the contrary though I would like to hear it (genuine curiosity).

        EDIT: Obviously some of the CD management will be professionals but I can’t find a single RT which claims anything other than being completely volunteer driven.

        • higherstandard 2.1.1.1
          14 March 2011 at 8:01 pm

          My mistake it seems you’re right.

          http://www.civildefence.govt.nz/memwebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/For-the-CDEM-Sector-NZ-Response-Teams-Index

          Although I’d think their travel and pay/expenses must be covered by the government in these circumstances ?

          • Luxated 2.1.1.1.1
            14 March 2011 at 8:07 pm

            Although I’d think their travel and pay/expenses must be covered by the government in these circumstances ?

            You would think so, otherwise it would be fairly difficult for the government to make any commitment to deployment. Stranger things have happened though.

            It could be that the task forces (NZ-TF1-3) are professional organisations, they certainly are larger (32 members in TF2 compared to 10-20 in most RTs). Having said that I think even then they aren’t FTE and are largely drawn from the emergency services.

      • travellerev 2.1.2
        14 March 2011 at 8:48 pm

        HS,

        Couldn’t wait to pounce could you? Whoever they are going out there trying to help, I’m sure you won’t be with them, you little turd. Higherstandard, jeez.

        • Mac1 2.1.2.1
          14 March 2011 at 9:09 pm

          I hold no candle for HS, Travellerev, but methinks you did a little holier than thou first pounce there, on Rob, with a rather tight interpretation as to how a country does any helping.

          No country does anything, if it comes to that, apart from sit there and endure earthquakes from time to time.

          He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. That’s who does it, and I’m glad that my fellow countrymen are there, in Japan, returning a generous favour. Sour national relations for generations between Greece and Turkey were sweetened in similar circumstances ten years ago by swapping of emergency teams as both countries endured successive earthquakes.

          May our representatives do similar good work.

          • travellerev 2.1.2.1.1
            15 March 2011 at 8:47 am

            Hi Mac1,

            What does he tangata mean?

            About HS, there’s a history there but good to know you don’t hold a candle for HS either. LOL.

            • Armchair Critic 2.1.2.1.1.1
              15 March 2011 at 10:21 am

              What does he tangata mean
              Let me google that for you

              • Mac1 …
                15 March 2011 at 1:12 pm

                Kia ora, AC.

                Travellerev, it’s part of a whakatauki or Maori proverb which in essence said, “What is the most important thing in the world? It is people. It is people. It is people.”

                “He tangata” is the answer to the question and encapsulates a view of the world for Maori. It is very often quoted. HS is also tangata, as are we all, and is important for that reason. I don’t hold a candle for his views, I should have said, except perhaps to let a little light on them. 🙂

                • travellerev …
                  15 March 2011 at 9:22 pm

                  Mac1,

                  tēnā koe.

                  Thank you for the explanation and thank you fro trying to shine a light on HS’s views. After a couple of years of having to endure them I don’t have high hopes but you have to keep on trying.

                  Goede nacht en slaap lekker.

              • travellerev …
                15 March 2011 at 9:15 pm

                Armchair Critic,

                Thank you but maybe it would be nicer if you didn’t patronise me. I only arrived in this country 5.5 years ago and were I come from we don’t have Maoris so I ask questions. If someone says something in te Reo I expect to be able to ask what that means of that person so I can learn.

                Tell you what here’s one in my language: Zoals de waard is vertrouwd hij zijn gasten.

                Why don’t you google that too.

        • higherstandard 2.1.2.2
          15 March 2011 at 7:20 am

          No I have plenty of work to do in NZ Eve and I would only hinder efforts as I am not an expert in search and rescue.

  3. Steve Withers 3
    15 March 2011 at 10:12 am

    It’s going to be even tougher, in many ways, than Chch. Different language and culture. Different systems of life and daily living in many respects. Nothing can be assumed. It will be mentally challenging on a day to day basis…..amplified by the chaos of the disaster they will be in the middle of. Incredible….and all my best wishes go with them.

  4. Jenny 4
    15 March 2011 at 11:14 pm

    .
    Brave men go, where angels fear to tread. Our prayers are with you.

    “17 US military personnel involved in helicopter relief missions were found to have been exposed to low levels of radiation after they flew back from the devastated coast to the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier about 160km offshore.

    US officials said the exposure level was roughly equal to one month’s normal exposure to natural background radiation, and the 17 were declared contamination-free after scrubbing with soap and water.

    As a precaution, the carrier and other 7th Fleet ships involved in relief efforts had shifted to another area, the US said.”

    Reuters and AP

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