This is it!

Get ready to go!  It is going to be fun, good food, and at the same time, you will be helping so many people who need our help....

Immense grief...

Long before the earthquake, I used to visit a blog called Polin en Camino.  Polin lives in Concepcion (my home town), and I used to love her posts and photos because they were so familiar.  Now, after the earthquake, she has evolved into this amazing person (my hero).  She has organized a group of volunteers to go and help the people from Santa Clara, Talcahuano.  These people lost everything, and Polin is determined to help them in any way she can, from cleaning what was left from those houses to provide them with clothes, blankets, even stoves... And in the middle of all that, she tells us the story... the story of those whose lives will never be the same again...  

Bernardina's story comes to us from Santa Clara.  Polin says that you look at her and she is very silent.  She doesn't say anything.  Her hands, her gestures are filled with pain, that sort of pain that penetrates your bones.  The day of the earthquake, as soon as her house was shaking all over, Bernardina got out as fast as she could – she had always been scared of earthquakes.  Her 33 year old daughter stayed in bed, she hated these stressing situations, so she decided to stay in bed, together with her niece.  Her husband took Pablo, her 4 year old son, and asked her to get up, but she continued in bed.

Bernardina was already with her other 3 children in the street and decided to get to the hills, without waiting for them.  While she was climbing, she saw how the water was entering the houses... there was no time to repent now... she had to keep on going...

When the morning came, and the water had receded, she came to the place her house once had been... there was nothing left... Nobody said anything...the water had taken everything... including her daughter... Little Pablo suffers.  The ocean took his mom away, he is awfully scared of aftershocks, and he doesn't seem to make sense of it all. 

Bernardina keeps on looking around, hoping something can change this immense grief….

Invitation... RSVP

The Consulate General of Chile invites you to "The Ultimate Traveler Benefit Event for Chile" on Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30pm.

Event: The Ultimate Traveler Benefit Event for Chile
What: Fundraiser
Start Time: Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30pm
End Time: Tuesday, April 13 at 10:00pm

Where: Student Union Building UBC
6138 STUDENT UNION BOULEVARD
Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z1
Admission by donation!

How long can they wait for help...?

These pictures are from Concepcion, from Polin en Camino.  She lives there.  With her 2 children, her husband, and her lovely brother who has been working in the area as a volunteer to help people in need...

Her pictures will show what downtown looks like... Piles of debris everywhere...

And holes... like a war scene...

But even worse than that is the situation that people from Talcahuano are living... They have been without water since the earthquake.  Streets haven't been cleaned, there is mud and fish still all over the place, rotten... full of flies...

Polin talked to some of the people from Talcahuano.  One of them, Ana, told her the water was black, penetrating every corner of her house... and she thought she was going to die there... but his partner, Pedro, had reached the roof of the house, and she doesn't know how... he managed to catch her and bring her to the roof with him...

The water was getting higher and higher... Pedro managed again to grab one of his neighbours and bring him to the roof, too.  "On the radio, thye were telling us not to move from our houses, to be calm... And I believed that...!" said Ana.  At least 9 people from that street died.

Further down the road, Polin finds Marioli and her 3 daughters, living with her parents.  She lost everything.  She was 3 days without food or water... One of her daughters, Nicole, was operated on her spine, and she cannot afford to get sick.  The conditions under which they are living now are very risky for her health.

Polin continues walking around, and finds Néstor, wearing an overall.  He is cleaning mud and algae from what it used to be his house.  There is a sad look in his eyes.  She asked him if he needs anything... He says he doesn't.  But she realises he needs everything.  There is nothing left.

"It's difficult to imagine yourself without anything in life... your things, your clothes, pictures... the water took everything with it..."

Empty pieces of land, house are gone... So people just put a sign with their family name on it...

Thank you, Polin, for being our eyes...

There is still a lot of help needed in this area... Concepcion, Talcahuano, and Lota, too.

If you are in Vancouver, don't forget the  FRIED FISH & SALAD… Chilean Style,

April 03, Sat. - Chilean Housing Coop. 3390 School Av.
No time for this event?  Phone the Chilean Consulate in Vancouver and find out all the ways you can help...
Have a meaningful Easter weekend!

Spring is almost here...

Yesterday was such a nice day here in Vancouver... and I was watching the birds going around, really busy, building their nests, and I couldn't but think of all those people in Chile who lost their houses... if it only were that easy for them to rebuild...
For them, reality is quite different.  Whatever they try, it is a painful process.  I was talking to my niece yesterday, and she says Concepcion is not receiving any visible help from the government.  She is trying to fix her house, but construction material is so expensive now... prices have doubled or tripled... Winter is coming, and Concepcion is like here, in Vancouver, it doesn't rain... it pours...
Anyway, some coastal areas are already seeing some recovery... some small towns are already opening new schools, and some fishermen have already been able to recover their boats.  A lot of people are working together in any way they can to help the victims of the earthquake.
I am really touched by all those volunteers, long hours, no pay, only the satisfaction that they are doing their part...

For those of you who want to help, there are lots of ways of doing it:

This Saturday, March 27, 2010:  Trout Lake, 3350 Victoria Drive.  From 9am to 6pm:  Soccer games: $5 to play.  Children matches in the morning.  Afternoon for adults.  And you will also be able to buy EMPANADAS!!!  Yeah!!!

Also, this is happening in Vancouver, in April:

Special Presentation on CHILE

Fundraiser for the victims of the 20101 Earthquake
Friday, April 9 at 7:00 PM - Ferry Building Gallery
1414 Argyle Avenue, West Vancouver, BC

Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30 PM - University of British Columbia
6138 Student Union Boulevard - Room 207-209, Vancouver, BC

"Join us for a special show on Chile, where the Central-South Region has been ravaged by a terrible earthquake and tsunami on February 27, 2010.
Peter Langer had just returned from an extensive journey through Chile in 2009/2010 and will update you about current conditions; an overview of the country, as well as talk about the tourism attractions of the country, which for the most part have not been affected by the tremors.
Admission is by donation and all profits will go to Canadian Medical Assistance Teams and tax receipt will issued for donations over $ 25.00
Hope to see you all at the shows
Best regards,

Peter Langer
Managing Director
Associated Media Group"

There is so much to rebuilt...

More opportunities to help in Vancouver.  I was listening to the radio today, and I heard that this coming Saturday, in Trout Lake, there is going to be fund raiser soccer games.  A full day of activities: children's games in the morning, and in the afternoon, games for adults.  There is going to be music, too... and empanadas, and many other things happening in order to raise money to help the victims of the Chilean Earthquake...
Come and join us at Trout Lake!

More ways to help...

So much help is still needed...! Lots of people in Chile are so commited to help those in need. Many young people are volunteering their time to help in any way they can... I also found this blog Desafio Levantemos Chile, and these people are doing an amazing job, trying to repair boats and creating schools! Good for them!

And here in Vancouver, there are ways of helping, too.
This is what is happening so far:
- The Chilean Cultural & Sporting Association of B. C. cordially invites you to a Fund Raiser Dinner for Chile Help Chile at Sehnor Rooster Portuguese Restaurant located at
850 Renfrew Street, Vancouver BC V5K 4B6
Ticket at $25.00 per person with Live Music by Jorge Hernandez & Salsa Tres on
Friday March 19th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
All proceeds from food will go directly towards the Earthquake Victims in Chile

-FRIED FISH & SALAD… Chilean Style
April 03, Sat. - Chilean Housing Coop. 3390 School Av.

- FIESTA LATINA… April 09, Fri. - Croatian Cultural Centre

- CULTURAL EVENT… April 24, sat. – Our lady of Sorrows Church . 555 Slocan

MORE INFO:
604-439-1414 LESLIE PANADERIA LATINA
604-515-1761 ANTONIO

Bingo at UBC...

The Chilean community at UBC cordially invites you to participate in an evening of Bingo, organized in order to help the people affected by the devastating earthquake in Chile.
The Bingo will take place on Sunday, March 14th, 2010, at the Commonsblock ( 2707 Tennis Crescent) between 5:30 and 9:30 pm.
Entrance fee is $20, which entitles you to play 6 games and win some prizes. You will also be able to buy things such as "brazo de reina", "queque", and all sort of goodies.
The money collected will go to the Chilean Red Cross.
Those interested in buying tickets can contact Ximena Carreño in Downtown, at 778-319-2912 or Solange Aravena, 5650 Yalta Place Acadia Park, UBC, at 604-221-6302.
Thank you for your participation.

Organizing Committee
Chilean Community at (VANCOUVER)

I just received this information...

MEDIA ADVISORY

Date:
March 11, 2010
To:
NEWSROOMS, TRAFFIC REPORTERS
SUBJECT:
Contributions for Chilean earthquake relief

SkyTrain customers will have the opportunity to contribute to relief efforts for the earthquake in Chile on Friday, March 12. Members of the Chilean community will be at selected stations, collecting donations to the Canadian Red Cross Chilean Earthquake Relief Fund during the morning rush hour and from 2-6pm.

Teams will be on-hand at the following stations: Waterfront, Burrard, Granville, Commercial-Broadway, Metrotown, King George and Lougheed Town Centre. Chilean musicians will also be performing at Metrotown in the afternoon.

The BC Rapid Transit Company and TransLink are pleased to support this effort to get aid to victims of the disaster.

Contact:
DREW SNIDER
Public Information Officer
(604) 803-3199
Or
JENNIFER SIDDON
Communications Liaison,
BC Rapid Transit Co.
(604) 788-0236

A prayer for Chile...

Lord, I would like to THANK YOU because today I woke up, and I knew where my loved ones were. Because my house is safe, and because today I am not crying because my children, my husband, my parents, my brother or my sister, need to be rescued from under a pile of debris or concrete...
THANK YOU because this morning I drank a glass of water, I saw my children sleeping safely in their rooms, or because this morning I am not planning a funeral...
THANK YOU because I am alive and have a voice to pray for the people in Chile...
Lord, I pray to you, the one who can make possible the impossible, the one who can transform the darkness into light... Please, give those mothers strength, open those streets so help can reach them, and they can have access to food and water, and doctors, nurses and medicine, everything they so badly need...
To all those that are grieving, give them peace, hope and courage to continue. Protect those children who lost their homes.
Here, we are really blessed!!!

New Figure... $24 thousand million pesos!!!

Teleton "Chile ayuda a Chile" is almost over...

The goal: $15 thousand million pesos has been exceeded! And at this moment, there are 40 trucks loaded with blankets, clothes, water and food in Santiago, ready to start their way, in a caravan, with the help the south of Chile needs so much... I am sorry I don't have a picture to show you. It's very touching!
The show is still on with Los Jaivas... and everybody dancing and clapping, after a long, long effort... almost 24 hours and new numbers: $17 THOUSAND MILLION PESOS!!! YES!!!

Vamos Chile!

So far, the numbers indicate that they have received more than 11 thousand million pesos!!! Yeah!!!
Part of this money will supply 30.000 emergency houses... Such a great job! Vamos Chile!
If you are interested on see how this is going, go to Teleton here!
There is a big party going on!

Chile helping Chile!

A wonderful event! The Teleton "Chile ayuda a Chile" is in full swing. I am following it through the internet, and it has been an event full of music, dance, and more... and results? They have already collected $2 thousand million pesos!!! You can still donate tomorrow and make a difference!

Isabel Allende!!! Yes!

This gets better and better!!! One of my favourite Chilean writers, Isabel Allende, author of the "The House of Spirits", donated $500 thousand dollars to the Teleton "Chile ayuda a Chile". And she will even be working as one of the telephone operators that will be receiving contributions to the Teleton tonight and tomorrow.
I will be posting continuosly from now till the end of the Teleton to bring you all the news from Chile. It's the time to help. Call the Chilean Consulate in Vancouver right now to donate!

Vamos Chile!

This is so beautiful! Every morning now, I get up and start phoning family and friends in Chile to know how things are going, and check the news hoping to find things are a little bit better... Well, they are. Help is slowly getting to the areas that most need it. Roads are in better shape, and food and water are being delivered...
But also, people from the north of Chile are getting organized, and helping in any way they can. How? With a soccer match! La Serena and Coquimbo teams made 8 million pesos yesterday!!! And all that money is going to the Teleton "Chile ayuda a Chile". This is so beautiful!
So, what is the idea? They are playing soccer, matches which they call "amistosos" (friendly), and then asking people for donations, either money or food, and all that goes to the people from the south... Vamos Chile! Vamos Vancouver! You can also help... If you don't know how... Call the Chilean consulate in Vancouver...

Best news!

This Chilean is probably the only one able to unite Chile in all this chaos. He is known as Don Francisco. He will be arriving in Chile today, after a 20 hour flight. He has organized a Teleton called "Chile ayuda a Chile" (Chile helping Chile). Its main objective: to raise $15 thousand million pesos to help the people affected by the earthquake.
The program will be a 24 hour TV program where local and worldwide stars will participate. This is the time to help.
Vamos Chile!

Most people lost their houses...

This man is inspecting what was left of his home... They don't have access to food or water. If you can help, please, do it now contacting the Chilean consulate in Vancouver...

Help needed...

People from the south of Chile, with a sign that reads: "We need help. There are children. Please!" Basic problem: food and water. These people are by a road mostly used by the press and the armed forces.
I received news from my niece Jimena, from Concepcion, today. She is in the street with 2 children, lost her house. Her feelings are that they were abandoned by the government. Just today, they received water, and a bag with 4 things to eat. Since the earthquake, Saturday early morning, they didn't know what to do. Not able to rescue anything from their house because of the aftershocks. The kids vomiting because the water they could get makes them sick...
Chile needs help...
There are lots of ways of helping.
As usual, through the Red Cross
And you can also find out more ways of helping at the Chilean Consulate in Vancouver.
Thank you so much to all those people that are praying for Chile. Everything counts...

Muddy shoes...

When I read the news from Chile, looking for information, I find a lot of people from Santiago commenting on the earthquake, tsunami, and looting... They can do this because they have access to electricity and computers, so they have a voice. The worst part of it: they are not commenting, but fighting, bringing politics into the tragedy. each party have something nasty to say about the other... And the looting? They are horrified by the looting, ashamed of what the foreign press might think of us...

I cannot judge... to judge these people I would have to be in their muddy shoes...

Proud to be Chilean!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly...

The Good: A 12 year old girl saved the life of many of the people from Juan Fernández Island, 600 kms off the Chilean coast. Martina Maturana learned about the earthquake from her grandfather in Valparaíso. She felt a slight tremor, and her father phoned Valparaiso just to learn that there had been a powerful earthquake. When Martina heard this, she run to a central plaza of Robinson Crusoe Island, and rang a gong, which was the emergency alarm for the people in the island.
The signal awoke many people, who at the same time began ringing bells and so everybody could flee to higher land, minutes before a giant wave destroyed most of the area. Because of Martina's action, about 700 people were saved. The numbers show 8 deaths and 13 unaccounted for, and nothing left of the town site.

The Bad: The Chilean Navy made a mistake when initially discounting the possibility of a tsunami on the south coast of Chile after the earthquake. In a public declaration it was admitted that the Navy "made a mistake by not issuing a tsunami alert". Immediately after the earthquake, the president Michelle Bachelet discounted the threat of a tsunami and told everybody to remain calm in their homes...

In spite of that, many people ran to the hills and saved their lives. Tragically, many elderly people couldn't make it out of the devastated areas.

The Ugly: The looting in Concepcion. Scary. There are so many facets to the issue of looting. In some cases, I have seen pictures of women taking diapers and powder milk, presumably for their children... but on the other hand, seen pictures of people taking TVs and washing machines... In some areas, residents have got together to defend their neighbourhoods... You have to remember, too, that there are lots of criminals that escaped when the prisons collapsed. And then again, Concepcion was not receiving the help they needed so much. They don't have water, electric power or communications.

Now the armed forces are trying to reestablish order, and guard food stores and other businesses. Stores tried to distribute food, but it was very chaotic because as days go by people get more desperate for necessities... It's a very sad and complex situation...

More photos...

Today I finally had news about my brothers. They are all right, as well as their families. I haven't been able to talk to them because communications are still a big issue there. I haven't heard from my niece who lives in Concepcion, though...

The south of Chile is still struggling for water and food. No electricity yet.

A friend of mine, who has her family in Constitucion, send me an article from one of the Chilean newspapers and it says than half of the 700 people dead are from this city.

Constitución is located in the VII Región. Yesterday, all the bodies found floating in that area were taken to a gym that was been used as an improvised mortuary building, for people to go and recognise them. Every half and hour there were 2 or 3 dead bodies coming to the building.

Isla Orrego, in front of Constitución, is another point of concern because the night of the earthquake, there were about 500 people camping. Most of them haven't been found...

Father and daughter survived a 13th floor fall...

This picture shows a building, in Concepcion, that collapsed completely during the earthquake. Alberto Rozas was in his apartment on the 13th floor when he felt the earthquake. He grabbed his 7 year old daughter and decided to stay under the bathroom door frame, until the earthquake was over. But instead, they fell, together with the building which was falling like a tree would fall.
They never stopped hugging each other while falling. The father says he didn't know which was the way up, until he saw some light coming through the destroyed apartment window: "there was light, the light from the full moon". Alberto and his daughter Fernanda climbed up and got out through the rubble with only some bruises, cuts, and scratches. A real miracle!

Their neighbours weren't as lucky, though. They were trapped under the building structure. Today, firefighters were still trying to rescue about 60 people still trapped in the building. The rescue teams have been working, non stop, trying to break the concrete with electric saws and mechanical hammers. "We don't have specialised listening devices or cameras", said one of the firefighters working in the rescue operation.

And the Chilean president kept on saying we didn't need help...???

Chilean firefighters in Chile are not paid. They are all volunteers. Great people. I have seen them working all over the place...

Here you can see a firefighter in charge of supplying much needed water...

Chilean flag...

Image from one of the Chilean TV channels, where a man rescues a Chilean flag from amid the mud that covers most of the coastal towns...

Vicente Terremoto...

In the midle of all this tragedy, a baby is born... His name is Vicente... They call him "Vicente Terremoto". He is doing fine and is being breastfed by a neighbour...

Heartbreaking...

Community of Pelluhue, about 200 miles south of Santiago, where from the very beginning authorities said there was no Tsunami. The south of Chile was devastated, but unfortunately, because communications are still down in the most affected areas, information is limited. I still haven't heard from some family members...

It is heartbreaking to be so far, looking at the news, and not to be able to help. And then, when you hear about all those mistakes made in decision making, by authorities, by the Navy (in charge of the Tsunami prevention)...

I will just translate the information from the people of Chile, affected by this tragedy, for all of you that have asked me how the situation is right now. Maybe it will be of some use for the people of Vancouver, too.