RECENT FLOODS/STORMS IN MINAS GERAIS/BELO HORIZONTE

[jivau3930]

Is anyone aware of recent floods and/or storms in Belo Horizonte causing much damage to homes?? Thanks

[trilingual]

There has been tons of rain in central and southern Brazil since New Year's, and there have been a number of landslides that have destroyed houses and buried people (in several heartbreaking cases, entire families). Minas has been the worst hit, but other states have also been affected, including Rio de Janeiro. The biggest impact, sadly, is on the poor, who build precarious dwellings on steep slopes because they can't afford to build homes anywhere else. The city and state governments try to prevent this, and also do what they can to shore up the slopes in areas where construction has progressed so much that a whole neighborhood can't be torn down, but it seems to be a losing battle. Until decent housing can be found for all the Brazilians who need it, I'm afraid this will continue to be a yearly tragedy during the rainy season. :-(

[jivau3930]

Tri, thanks so very much. I received an e-mail from a boy I met in Rio in Sept. We have kept in touch. He recently sent me an e-mail asking if I could send him a little money. He said he was embarrased to ask but his family lived in Belo and their home was destroyed by the floods. He said he was desperate. He had given his family all the money he had and he had no money for food or rent nor did he have a job at the moment. I just wanted to confirm that the flood story was true. I saw him several times while I was in Rio and have/had no reason not to trust him. I will wire him money in the morning. Knew I could count on you, Tri.

[dick_nyc]

Is there a fund to collect money to help these people? We have gotten so much from Brazil and put a lot back in in money with our visits, but it just seems we could give at least something to help them in times of trouble like this.

[trilingual]

I don't know of any funds in the U.S. right now. You might check with the American Red Cross to see about contributions for Brazilian flood relief. They may not have a particular fund set up at this point because the flooding this year, although bad, isn't as awful as in some previous years. The next time you're in Brazil, though, you can always contribute to a fund there. Just ask around and someone should be able to point you in the right direction for the Red Cross, the Catholic Charities (Caritas), or some of the anti-hunger funds.

 

As for helping individual guys, you might as well be aware that if you make friends with any of the sauna guys you're probably going to get periodic appeals for help. It's up to you whether to give, but I've helped out at least one guy (who now lives in Belo Horizonte himself) over the years. It's hard to say "no" when you realize that many of these guys come from poor families, are undereducated, and are competing in a brutal employment market. Un- and under-employment is rampant, and it's particularly high among young people. My friend in BH has tried a variety of things over the years, but with all the things working against him there are times I know he's needed help, especially in family medical emergencies. In dollars it hasn't come to that much money, so I just think of it as being my personal direct charity project. Sometimes I don't believe all the stories he tells me about why he needs money, but I know he's been genuinely humiliated at times to have to keep asking and that whatever the reason he can use any help I can provide. I wish I had a magic wand that would eliminate all the misery in Brazil; the Brazilians really deserve better than what they've got, so far! With luck and lots of hard work, maybe things will get better under the new government and Lula can really make good on his promise of ending hunger in Brazil. That would be a helluva achievement all by itself and would make all kinds of other problems easier to solve.

[dick_nyc]

Thanks for the info. I'll be there from Mar 20 - Mar 28. I'll be on the lookout for any way to help. I know when I was a kid we had a really bad flood in my home town and cities and people from all over the country contributed to help us out. We were a fairly middle class area and not even poor. I can only imagine what is needed in those areas which do not have the infrastructure we had.

 

We in the US have gotten so much from the Brazilian escort community. We have helped them, but I think from the postings I read that many of the posters have also gotten a great deal of pleasure and friendship from the Brazilian people. It can't cost too much to help out at this time and they really need it.

[CT Dick]

What a great idea. For those of us who have loved Brazil (and had a nagging whisper of guilt when looking at a favela) here is a way we can pay back.

 

Dick

 

 

Donate online:

 

https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

 

--------------------------------------------------

Donate by Phone

 

Call

1-800-HELP-NOW

(1-800-435-7669)

 

To call in a donation for international relief, please mention the International Response Fund.

 

----------------------------------------------------

Donate by Mail:

 

Send a check to help those affected by international crises.

Make your check out to the American Red Cross International Response Fund and mail to the following address:

 

American Red Cross International Response Fund

P.O. Box 37243

Washington, D.C. 20013

[+ glutes]

Very well done CT Dick!!!!!!!!! Sending my check now!

[jivau3930]

Want to share an e-mail I received from a friend (retyped as received):

hello,jim how areyou?

well here the things not going right, but i can survive.

Also were an a tragedy in Minas Gerais State in point Belo horizonte was rainning like a big storm and destroyed many houses, is a poor region and i invest all my momney for help may family. now can?t work and can?t find anything, the problem is on the rent of appartment and also can go to buy meals and food.

The quantity that i need for helping is around 500 reais or whatever you can, if you can help me can send by American Express to:

(Name and address omitted because -)

I beck yourperdon for the kind of these letter, but i hope can understand my situation. Please be advised for don?t talk to anybody about these, cause shame. Any doubt please send e-mail.

Best Regards, END

For me, a real tear-jeaker!