It all started with a short e-mail from Willie Nelson that said “HEY LES, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR MYANMAR CYCLONE VICTIMS? - THANKS WILLIE” That’s all it took. Just 12 short words, but when the legendary Willie Nelson himself asks for a favor, who is going to say no? Certainly not Les Barber.
A friend and business associate of Derek Miller and Willie Nelson, Les answered the call to aid by putting his vast network of contacts and tremendous powers of schmoozing (and believe me, the man can schmooze with the best of ‘em) to good use. He started a chain reaction of relief efforts by appealing to everyone he knows (which is apparently…well everyone) to join the desperately needed relief efforts for the people of Myanmar.
Organizations and people that that have jumped on board so far include Willie Nelson’s Water from Air and Wataire International, Da Kine Natural Spring Water, Media eBlast, Samaritan’s Purse and of course, Willie Nelson, Derek Miller and friends.
The first project in the works is Willie Nelson and Wataire International’s plan to send “two CI2500 Atmospheric Water Generators to the people of Myanmar. These machines produce a combined output of 1400 gallons of clean, fresh, potable drinking water that can save 2800 lives daily.” These water generators can produce clean, safe drinking water from the atmosphere while simultaneously purifying the air.
Another offer of water relief comes from John Teeter and Diane Hawkes of Da Kine Natural Spring Water out of Drayton Valley Alberta. The company has been in contact with aid organizations such as Earth Justice as well as CFB Edmonton, movement operations. They are offering to send as many 18.9 Littre bottles of water as can be shipped for the relief efforts.
There in lies one of the many challenges of disaster relief. At first glance it seems simple enough. A terrible Cyclone leaves millions of people in need of clean water, food and shelter. A few kind hearted individuals and organizations decide to pitch in and donate bottled water and a water generating machine to help the victims. Sounds simple right? But getting aid to those in need is a logistical nightmare that requires super human feats of organization and relentless determination.
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