Filipino-Canadians to Raise Funds for Flood
Victims
By Bulatlat
TORONTO, Canada - The
Community Alliance for Social Justice (CASJ) has issued an urgent appeal
here for immediate assistance to the victims of the recent typhoon and
three tropical storms that hit the Philippines in recent weeks.
Calling it an
ecological crisis caused by nature and aggravated by the wanton
destruction of the few remaining tropical forests in the Philippines. CASJ
Fundraising Chairman Edwin Mercurio and its Executive Committee members
endorsed a two-pronged action to mobilize its members and affiliate
organizations to conduct an extensive fundraising campaign for the typhoon
and flood victims and at the same time engage in an educational campaign
to explain the effects of deforestation, soil erosion, the cause of floods
and the importance of caring for the environment and safeguarding the
health of the last few remaining forests in the archipelago.
Latest global reports revealed that
nearly 1,800 people are dead or missing in the provinces of Quezon and
Rizal after a typhoon and three successive storms hit these provinces east
and north of Manila in a span of two weeks unleashing mudslides and
flashfloods. The hardest hit were the municipalities of Real, Infanta,
Gen. Nakar in Quezon; Dingalan and San Luis in Aurora.
About 650,000
survivors are in dire need of food, clean water and tents. Health
authorities fear an epidemic due to lack of adequate facilities and
sanitation in temporary shelters.
The Alliance is
coursing its aid through the National Council of Churches of the
Philippines (NCCP). The United Church of Canada (UCC) has offered to issue
receipts for tax purposes to corporate donors, organizations and
individuals who offer financial aid to the victims.
CASJ will publish the
names of all the donors in the Toronto-based Philippine Reporter and other
publications. Bulatlat
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© 2004 Bulatlat
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