While many people found themselves transfixed to the media barrage surrounding the earthquake in Haiti, I saw but a few fleeting moments of coverage.
Photo from Strength.org
Instead, I have kept my distance emotionally and instead have followed the long tail of Haiti. The blogs, tweets, Flickr photos, and other online media. It wasn’t on purpose. I wasn’t conducting an experiment. Instead, it’s how it fit into my life.
Interestingly, while the media has shifted its focus away from Haiti, I have found myself increasingly engaged and connected to the story.
Why? One simple reason: I am captivated by the first person narratives coming from those on the ground.
CEOs in the US, Volunteers in Haiti
Billy Shore, executive director of Share Our Strength and board member of Timberland, and Jeff Swarz, CEO of Timberland, flew to Haiti with Wyclef Jean and medical professionals volunteering for Partners in Health. Wyclef and Timberland have been partners in a major reforestation project in Haiti, so it was only natural for them to work together to help those in need.
I follow both men on twitter (@BillShore and @Timberland_Jeff) and read their tweets with great anticipation. Upon their return, both men have written powerful first person accounts of their experiences in Haiti.
Billy wrote a series of posts (1, 2, 3, and 4), while Jeff shared his in its entirety.
Another Partners in Health Perspective
Jim Ansara, a Boston businessman and humanitarian, has been traveling between Boston and Haiti since the earthquake helping out with the humanitarian relief effort. His updates have been collected and shared on the Jim in Haiti blog.
A Champion for Women
The person who has captured my attention the most has been Gretchen Wallace, the founder of Global Grassroots. Through her twitter updates (@ConsciousChange), I have followed what has been happening in the recovery of the Hotel Montana. She has shared heart wrenching news, fought rumors, and updated us on the ground floor view.
Please take a few moments and scroll thru her Twitter stream. You’ll walk away with a different understanding of what’s happening there.
First Person Accounts in Real Time
For students of history, the idea of first person accounts of major disasters is nothing new. What’s different now is how these accounts are available in real time to anyone connected to the internet. To me, these narratives have given me far more understanding and appreciation for the enormity and reality in Haiti.
What first person narratives have you been following? Who else is out there?
Tags: Global Grassroots, Haiti, Hotel Montana, Jim Ansara, Share Our Strength, Timberland, Wyclef Jean, Yele Haiti
