Humanitarian

As the founder and executive director of War Child Canada and War Child U.S.A., the non-profit organization that helps raise awareness and support of war affected children globally through local and international initiatives, Toronto’s Dr. Samantha Nutt has seen her share of atrocity.

In her new book, Damned Nations – Greed, Guns, Armies & Aid (Signal/McClelland & Stewart), in stores October 25, Nutt examines the plight of humanitarianism on the frontlines of such war-torn countries as Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, with heartfelt and startling eye-witness testimony on one hand and a sober analysis of the realities and actions that would result in a massive turnaround to help end war and suffering.

Nutt, recently awarded the Order Of Canada for her contributions to improve the conditions of citizens in the world’s worst conflict zones, explains in her book why eliminating the gender divide, implementing education and employment opportunities, and installing a stable infrastructure of legal aid offer hope for the future.

On a personal and local level, she offers several suggestions on how people who want to rally for change can get involved, from donation tips and consideration for where your money is going to lobbying for changes to the Official Development Assistance (ODA) policy.

Dr. Nutt recently spoke with Samaritanmag.com’s Nick Krewen about Damned Nations and what can happen when inexperienced people and organizations try to do good.

The Canadian government is suggesting that Canadians wanting to help victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami should give money, not clothing or food. The web site for Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade lists everything from contact numbers to inquire about friends and family in Japan to the web site for Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's and the Embassy of Canada to Japan; and lots of ways Canadian citizens and companies can help.

On March 11, an 9.0 magnitude earthquake - the most powerful recorded in history, according to the U.S. Geological Survey - with a depth of 24.4 kilometres, struck Japan's east coast of Honshu, and triggered a tsunami.  A significant series of aftershocks, ranging from 5.8 to 7.1 in magnitude followed in the same area.

As of today (March 15), at least 6,746 people are missing, Japan's National Police Agency said.
On the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada site, it states "We are aware of the death of one Canadian citizen as a result of the earthquake at this time."  It says there are an estimated 11,000 Canadians in Japan; more than 2,400 Canadian citizens registered with the Canadian embassy in Japan but "very few" in the affected area.

Officials at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa and at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo are working to determine the fate of any Canadians living or visiting Japan.

“Your face is your calling card to the world,” begins Dr. Peter A. Adamson’s new book, Fabulous Faces, which focuses on the motivations and transformations of more than 30 of his patients. While their primary reason is cosmetic and stems from self-esteem issues, the international leader in facial plastic surgery is also involved with humanitarian surgical programs in developing countries benefitting children with facial deformities.

Ten percent of the proceeds from the sale of Fabulous Faces (Osler Wood) goes to the Canadian Foundation for Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, headquartered in Toronto and founded in 1996.

Since then, the non profit organization, of which Adamson is president, has done 21 Face To Face missions overseas and operated on more than a thousand children, says Adamson.

“We’ve had over 90 children who were orphans with facial deformities that have been adopted,” he says proudly.  Others have been returned to their families.

During the most recent Face To Face mission to Ekaterinburg, Russia, a team of seven surgeons did 72 operations. Missions are affiliated at all times with state-sponsored institutions.

Tammy Babcock already had a trip planned to Haiti this month in anticipation of her latest humanitarian trip to the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. That was before the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck, destroying thousands of buildings in the capital region of Port-au-Prince, decimating an already shaky infrastructure and leaving a death toll estimated by the Pan American Health Organization to be more than 200,000.

The founder of the small, grassroots Kingston, Ontario-based organization Help Tammy Help Haiti was looking forward to a ground breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction on  a new medical clinic in the massive shantytown Cité Soleil, on the outskirts Port-au-Prince. Instead, on January 26, the 33-year-old will go there to help rebuild in the wake of the devastating January 12 quake.

While Help Tammy Help Haiti is not yet a registered charity, Cari Wolsey, one of the directors, says they have applied for charitable status with Canada Revenue Agency. Babcock has been able to do their good work down there through the support of people who have seen the small projects they have achieved to date, such as the completion of a water tower and plans for the medical clinic.  Now, she needs help more than ever before in the organization’s two-year history.