RPCV Kirby Nicol who has friends in tsunami-battered areas of Sri Lanka and Thailand says: "Compassion, in its best form, is done one-on-one"



RPCV Kirby Nicol who has friends in tsunami-battered areas of Sri Lanka and Thailand says: "Compassion, in its best form, is done one-on-one"

Heated council debate on aid for Southeast Asia
By RAMONA TURNER
Sentinel staff writer

An emotional discussion over whether or not to donate money to Southeast Asia tsunami relief efforts produced a City Council vote Wednesday for more support in getting community donations.

[Excerpt]

Nicol, who has friends in tsunami-battered areas of Sri Lanka and Thailand, agreed.

"Compassion, in its best form, is done one-on-one," said the former Peace Corps member, who lived in that region for a number of years.

While he travels there often, he keeps in touch with friends via e-mail. Since the communication systems are down, he hasn’t heard from some of them. His daughter Kim, 30, is there with a medical team trying to help care for the sick and wounded, he said.

"I encourage people to donate individually," Nicol said, noting the city didn’t donate cash to charities after 9/11 and the budget can’t bare the burden.

In disagreement with the way the discussion was headed, Norton left the meeting. Councilwoman Stephanie Harlan was absent.

The committee — made up of Arthur, Norton, the city manager and Capitola Chamber of Commerce — will meet Friday to draw up a plan, which includes pitching residents and businesses for donations.

The committee’s progress will be updated at the council’s regular meeting Jan. 13.

Contact Ramona Turner at rturner@santacruzsentinel.com.

When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Peace Corps issues appeal to Thailand RPCVs Peace Corps is currently assessing the situation in Thailand, anticipates a need for volunteers and is making an appeal to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps. Also read this message and this message from RPCVs in Thailand. All PCVs serving in Thailand are safe. Latest: Sri Lanka RPCVs, click here for info.

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January 1, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Lesotho RPCV starts "Touching Tiny Lives" 1 Jan Guatemala RPCV was grassroots veterinarian 31 Dec Reginald Hodges will head Durham Literacy Center 30 Dec Ed Seidel is Director of Marine Resources Aquarium 30 Dec PC wants happy, shiny faces without felony convictions 29 Dec Newspaper says PC could go to India and Indonesia 29 Dec Tom Johnson choses to spend Christmas in Sierra Leone 28 Dec Barry Rosen helps compile textbooks for Afghanistan 28 Dec Dorinda Dove learned to appreciate midwifery in Africa 28 Dec RPCVs host Exhibition at University of Rochester 28 Dec Mike Tidwell calls on Sierra Club Official to step down 28 Dec RPCV says we can express patriotism as we see fit 26 Dec more top stories...

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The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

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Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

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