Western New York Musicians Support Pakistan Flood Victims

Contact: Aaron O'Brian
Ph: 716-602-2465
  blackbird2009@gmail.com

 

Western New York Musicians Support Pakistan Flood Victims

On Sunday, September 19th from 1-9pm, Western New York musicians will help raise money for the victims of the Pakistan flood at the Pakistan Flooding Relief Benefit Show at Alternative Brews 3488 Sheridan Drive, Amherst NY.


The show will feature ten local bands with musical styles ranging from acoustic solo acts to original rock and alternative songs and covers. Bands and musicians scheduled to play are: Michael Bly, Black Heart Republic, The Improvements, Concubine, The Gibbets, Force Of Habit, Big Tree Road, Ozzmageddon, Rosaleen Marion and Nicolette Saraf.


All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to UNICEF: Pakistan Flood Relief.


Local musician Aaron O'Brian, lead singer of the Buffalo-based band Black Heart Republic, organized the event to help out the millions of people left homeless and in need of food, shelter, clean drinking water and medical services.

"The United Nations estimates that more than 20 million people are injured or homeless as a result of the flooding, exceeding the combined total of individuals affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake," said O'Brian.


Acoustic musician Rosaleen Marion felt compelled to help out and would rather take some sort of action in order to help the people in need.

"When the world turns upside down, everyone is moved, "said Marion. "If the choice is to cry or sing, I would rather sing. If the tears are going to come anyway, then at least I am not crying alone in front of the TV wondering what to do, because I have done that before and I am grateful for the opportunity to do something helpful instead."


Doors open at 1 p.m. and admission is $5 at the door for this 21 and over show. Bands will play throughout the day starting at 3 p.m. The Buffalo Bills/Green Bay game airs at 1pm and can be watched at Alternative Brews.

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YOU are a part of HUMANITY. This is OUR World. 

Please help the PEOPLE of PAKISTAN. 

Susan Marie Public Relations

Think Twice Radio

This is NOT the Apple

New York USA 2010

Grace Stumberg: Music in Action: WNY Org as Model in Quality

View Article in Buffalo Rising

Here's a homegrown response to the growing call for education reform and accountability.

Future Schools Network, a small WNY non-profit organization with a 15-year track record of providing innovative student-centered programming, just did something that no one else has done, at least not in New York State. They received a rare "quality" certification for a 2nd time for providing leadership, career and service learning programs to area students.

The Promising Practice certification, received last month, comes from a NYS quality assurance board, www.sharingsuccess.org, supported by the Legislature & Governor's office.

"Less than 1% of programs ever receive this award, states Dr. Felicia Watson, Technical Assistance Director for New York State's 21st Century Community Learning Centers. "Earning two is the definition of being an evidence-based 'best-practice', and a great lesson in quality and dedication to continuous improvement."



Future Schools Network, was first certified in 2007 for their Future Leaders / Student Voices program and received this second award in July for "Music in Action", a program co-authored by Future Schools Director, Bob James and Robby Takac, Founder of Music is Art.

Students also "get it", but on a more personal level, including Grace Stumberg, who was invited to open a May 2009 education conference at the State Capital with her song, "Change the World."

"For myself and others, it [Music in Action] was the reason to come to school," Stumberg was quoted. "If it weren't for the program, I wouldn't be here today and I'd probably be drifting and not knowing my own voice inside."

Official quality certification is rare, requiring ample data and analysis. Many high-profile programs like D.A.R.E. & Save the Music have not achieved similar honors.

The New York State Education Department advocates the use of proven "evidenced-based" programs. Many claim to do this, but few have the data to prove it.

"The ultimate goal of funding for educational programs should be youth development", states John Soja, former Director of the NYS Education Department's 21st Century Community Learning Centers. "Students need meaningful service learning experiences in order to nurture the academic, social and emotional skills necessary to function as productive citizens.  Future Leaders, and now Music in Action have effectively utilized grant funding to accomplish this goal."

Assemblyman Sam Hoyt said, "Buffalo should be proud of the double 'quality' certification that Future Schools Network has received.  Its work is a model of accountability and has the ability to transform the way services can be delivered in schools across the state."

What If This Were Your Family In Need of Disaster Relief?

This is still ongoing in 2011 . . . 

YOU are a part of HUMANITY. This is OUR World. 

Please help the PEOPLE of PAKISTAN.  

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© International Medical Corps 2010



CLICK HERE TO HELP FROM ANY COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL AND IF IN PAKISTAN TO JOIN A RELIEF TEAM OR TO DONATE TO ONE INTERNATIONAL


 

I received a story written by Amna Siddiqui, a young lady in Pakistan, a nation currently declared the largest relief aid effort overshadowing Hurricane Katrina, the Tsunami, and the Haiti Earthquake by the United Nations News Room.  Following a severe plane crash (as reported by the BBC), sudden and extreme flooding has left [and continues to leave] families without homes, belongings, food, and safe water to drink.  Numerous teams of people in Pakistan are bringing food, water and assisting with medical aid to victims of flood areas. The reality of this situation is not what is seen on television or newspapers.  Through the mouths of those living in this disaster, I share with you pictures, videos and information.

The Boston Globe Initial Flood Pictures


Pakistan Youth Student Relief Team


Pakistan Youth Rescue and Relief Operation



Pakistan Youth Rescue and Relief: Free Medical Camp 


Pak Fauj Relief (Pakistan Army) 


MORE TO COME . . .

©  Pakistan Youth Alliance 2010

Below is Amna's story and following her story are links to teams in Pakistan to join, reputable organizations to donate to, and cell text donations.  I share this to educate and inform.  Many countries have and are sending aid, however, the aid is needed now.  The aftermath of each passing day presents new areas of flood victims, need for more food/water, medication/medical aid workers to halt waterborne disease, and to prevent further death. All underlined links below go directly to the website mentioned.  We are all a part of humanity. Please join me in lending your hand to the people of Pakistan, and if in Pakistan, join your nation in whatever way possible.

This Family by Amna Siddiqui    
[Ramadan is a celebration of blessings.]

5 days had gone past; washed away more like. And with them, washed away were my house, my family, my things; things that mattered, and things that now, didn’t. And I was left alone, to ponder over its meaning. 5 days, and I still couldn’t believe it.

Ramadan was to start from tomorrow; the Month of Blessings. And I wondered, with a pang of disgrace, over the things I had lost. Certainly, there was no compensation to family; my mother and father and my two younger sisters. Every single thing reminded me of them, and with every single reminder my heart would break anew.

As I looked around, I would only see houses that were flattened, the school destroyed, parents missing, siblings missing, and the fruit laden trees washed away. What was there to be grateful for now? What blessings was Ramadan going to bring me? Nothing mattered to me now, as fresh tears flooded my eyes and I silently wished I could drown myself in them.

With a tired sigh, I got up and started walking. It was a long and silent night. I had no idea of time. I put my hand in my pocket and felt the half eaten pack of biscuits my sister had lent me a week ago. With a tight throat, I lifted it out of my pocket and opened it. The biscuits were soggy; not really my choice. As I was counting them, a cough distracted me. I looked up and noticed a faint glow coming from a distance away. Curiously, I started walking towards it, and saw a few figures settled around a fire. My heart skipped a beat.  They must have food.  I thought. At last, I wouldn't have to eat these soggy biscuits. I sped up towards them.

As I reached nearer, I could make out their faces. Two old men, a woman and a little girl, a middle aged man doing the fire, and two young boys sitting next to him. They weren’t talking, just sitting there drying their clothes and warming up their broken hearts.

© UNHCR The UN Refugee Agency 2010

“Assalam o alaikum” I said loudly so the middle aged man and a few others looked up. 

“Walekum assalam” he replied. “Do sit down.”  

I sat down on a small boulder next to him.

“My name is Zaheer” he said, “And you are?”

“Azhar. From the village down the… road.”  I said.

“Hmmm… Do join us.” Zaheer said with a faint smile and pushed a plate towards me. It had a few dates and some rice. I looked around and noticed others had the same eccentric dish in front of them. The little girl was eating her cold rice hungrily, and the woman, possibly her mother was chewing on the dates.

“This is all we have” Zaheer said without looking up. “But it’s something.”

And I felt like someone had shoved a brick down my throat. I could not speak, I could not swallow. I just sat there with my eyes burning.  Reminding myself of all the blessings I had been ignoring.  How could I have been so ungrateful?  I never valued the whole ripe fruit we grew in our own houses.  I never appreciated my relations.  I sulked over not having a brother,  when blessed with two wonderful sisters.  And worse yet, I loathed my village folk.  I thought of them as illiterate, ignorant, crazy people.  And now, all these blessings were taken away from me.  And I didn’t deserve them in the first place.  And now,  I were blessed so much still. 

And here I was, a Muslim. Sitting among my fellow Muslims. None of us knew each other. The woman and her daughter, the two old men, the little boys and Zaheer himself, all belonged to different families. And were now, sitting together, preparing to Fast.  Of course I still had a family.   They were my family.  My brothers and sisters.  There was no place in the stretched out world where a Muslim was not having Sehri [the feast before the fast] right now, or any moments to follow.  No matter what calamity, we were still here, assembled together for praying.  No matter how many people were lost, we still had ourselves to heal us, and our belief to keep us going. And it was this belief, that linked us together, that made us a family.

© UNHCR The UN Refugee Agency 2010

“Do you… have water?” I croaked.

“Lots of it…” said Zaheer and handed me a huge plastic bottle.

I drank the cold liquid, grateful for every gulp.

“You should start eating.” Zaheer prompted.

I nodded and reached my pocket and brought out the pack of biscuits and handed them over to him.

He instantly opened them and distributed a biscuit each amongst us. Thankfully, there were enough.

“Alhamdulillah.” [Praise to God] We both said and ate gratefully.

And the warmth I felt towards my fellows in faith around me was warmer than any fire could create.

_______________________________________________________

Thousands of people have died, 2 million have been displaced and 14 million lives have been disrupted by exceptionally heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan since July. The U.N. says that even more lives could be lost if aid doesn't arrive soon.


CLICK HERE TO HELP FROM ANY COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL AND IF IN PAKISTAN TO JOIN A RELIEF TEAM OR TO DONATE TO ONE INTERNATIONAL
 

Click pictures below for live video of the flood 

© YOU TUBE VIDEO ITT news 2010 

 © CNN.com YOU TUBE VIDEO 2010 Reza Sayah


© YOU TUBE VIDEO www.Pakistankakhudahafiz.com




YOU are a part of HUMANITY. This is OUR World. 
Please help the PEOPLE of PAKISTAN.  


Peace,


Sue

Susan Marie Public Relations

This is NOT the Apple
New York USA 2010

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