It's more than stretching the dollars. The airport in Haiti cannot handle the traffic, and are turning away planes loaded with donated goods. No one has time to sort out what are essential goods and what are not (apparently, some companies tried to donate building materials - important, to be sure, but not essential right now). They're landing only military planes loaded with essential goods (mainly, purified water or kits for purifying water, and heavy machinery to dig up people trapped in the ruble). Even after they land, there aren't enough people to download them, and the roads into the city are busted.
So right now they have a huge distribution problem, and the charities don't want to add to it by accumulating goods that they would have to store and transport (thus spending money on them), but won't be able to distribute for a while. I even heard an appeal on CNN for people who want to volunteer: Don't! Shocking, but sheds light on the magnitude of the problem. They said that any volunteer coming in on their own is at risk b/c there is no electricity, no purified water, no shelter. So instead of helping, they're likely to become victims themselves. They want only official workers for the charities, and the army. Makes sense.
Oh? What made you think of us? The fact that you were using Google?
Last year Sergei was on one of his visits to the NY office, and spent some time in my husband's office, talking to him and another colleague about their projects. I called hubby as I usually do each day, and he says, 'Hon, not now, I'm talking to Sergei.' - 'Sergei who?' I ask, since I know most of his colleagues, and none of them is a Sergei. 'Sergei Brin,' he says. *jaw hits floor* Though we didn't get invited to his wedding on the basis of that acquaintance. :-) Still, very impressive when the big boss just drops in someone's office and chats with them! Which is typical for Google.
So right now they have a huge distribution problem, and the charities don't want to add to it by accumulating goods that they would have to store and transport (thus spending money on them), but won't be able to distribute for a while. I even heard an appeal on CNN for people who want to volunteer: Don't! Shocking, but sheds light on the magnitude of the problem. They said that any volunteer coming in on their own is at risk b/c there is no electricity, no purified water, no shelter. So instead of helping, they're likely to become victims themselves. They want only official workers for the charities, and the army. Makes sense.
Oh? What made you think of us? The fact that you were using Google?
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Last year Sergei was on one of his visits to the NY office, and spent some time in my husband's office, talking to him and another colleague about their projects. I called hubby as I usually do each day, and he says, 'Hon, not now, I'm talking to Sergei.' - 'Sergei who?' I ask, since I know most of his colleagues, and none of them is a Sergei. 'Sergei Brin,' he says. *jaw hits floor* Though we didn't get invited to his wedding on the basis of that acquaintance. :-) Still, very impressive when the big boss just drops in someone's office and chats with them! Which is typical for Google.
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