The world is on fire. It has been said. We can look around and see it is true. Whether the sparks are from unrest across the Arab World or at your doorstep such as we have seen these last few months in Burkina, we have felt the heat. It is not just Africa or the Arab World. Tornadoes, tsunamis, and earthquakes have added fuel to the flame, leaving many seeking shelter and aid. Terrorism and the death of its largest symbol. Wars and protests. Elections and fraud. Chinese suppression to American economics. The wild fire of 2011 has even touched my grandfather’s home in West Texas.
The world is calling. Look around at the chaos and the choices; you will see that help can come in any form. You can serve in the military or at a local food bank. You can tutor a child or fly halfway around the world to help build latrines. It all matters.
You see, wild fires happen. There are always problems. Yet, we do not have to sit by and just watch the flames devour the world. Fire can be useful, even replenishing. It is a necessary part of the forestry cycle or the refinement process. But, when it cannot be put out, fire needs direct.
What are we doing to put out the flames? What are we doing to shape its path towards usefulness?
It isn’t enough to want to help. We have to do something, anything. We have the time. We need only the will. It does not have to be running off to Africa. But, our humanity demands that we look around us and pick up the slack. Join a movement you care about. Learn about a movement. Support your local library. Do something brave. Join the Peace Corps. Join the military. Join an anti-war protest. Start a discussion. End a fight. Seek a compromise. Let go of a grudge. Seek commonality. We are called to act, called to help and “no one is exempt from the call to find common ground.”
If it is a wildfire, give to your local firefighters. Sign up as a volunteer. Give shelter and aid to those that have lost homes.
If it is frustration about those in the streets celebrating Osama’s death, try to find out why they are celebrating and help to educate them about the human cost of any death. Seek a way to help mold that raw emotion into a desire for unity and community. Use it to build roads or clean up a neighborhood. Use it to as an excuse to find common ground and common action.
If it is a problem with policy and politics, seek a higher ground. Try to elevate the debate away from in-fighting and towards common principles. Break the cycle of pundit slash and burn. Turn a cheek.
If you have concerns about how to get involved, then reach out. You can always contact me. Do a google search. Open that ancient thing called a phone book. There are ways to get involved even if you have only a few minutes of time.
For those that say it is easy for me to speak of helping and to go adventuring around, it is not. It has not been. And it will not be. My reply to these skeptics is from E.M. Forester’s Where Angels Fear to Tread:
“I’m muddle-headed and stupid, and not worth a quarter of you, but I have tried to do what seemed right at the time. And you – your brain and your insight are splendid. But when you see what’s right you’re too idle to do it. You told me once that we shall be judged by our intentions, no by our accomplishments. I thought it a grand remark. But we must intend to accomplish – not sit intending on a char.”
I am muddle-headed and I fall short of so many of the goals I set for myself. I am far from the best example of a volunteer or teacher. I by no means measure up to so many far better men and women doing brave and outstanding acts. But, I’m not idle. I’m trying, despite the setbacks and the reasons not to do so.
Further, I am proud of my friends and family. Whether it is serving our forces overseas or supporting a friend/family member through their darker times, I am proud and grateful. What amazing examples of the better parts of human nature.
This blog is as much a call to action for others as a public expression and setting of a goal for myself. It is a way to hold myself to that higher standard and maybe help lift up some of those around me.
Kong Comp Lab
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| From Kong |
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a little about burkina faso
Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and has won every election since then.
Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries.
Location:
Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Area:
total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km
Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries.
Location:
Western Africa, north of Ghana
Geographic coordinates:
13 00 N, 2 00 W
Area:
total: 274,200 sq km land: 273,800 sq km water: 400 sq km
Hear, hear.
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration and, hopefully, a motivation to other muddle-headed folks, like me.
I would like to know what specific processes are in place from the Peace Corps to keep you safe during times of unrest. The US state department website states very clearly specific travel restriction to B.K. (unpredictable and dangerous) and also reiterates the published danger from Al Qaeda in the Maghreb regarding possibility of kidnapping of Westerners in the North. How much communication is there to warn you of impending dangers, should they arise? how fast can they move you? When you were more isolated in small village: wasn't that isolation inherently dangerous? How do you reconcile the State Department's clear warning about the dangerous unpredictable natures of the situation and the Peace Corps continuing to maintain PCV and bring new volunteers to the country? I am asking for your opinion because you are experienced in the country and because I have a realtive who may be posted to B.K. as a new Peace Corps volunteer.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely empathize with the feelings you are having about your relative coming to serve in Burkina. My parents have lived in a number of hotspots and that has often kept me on the edge.
ReplyDeleteBelow I will talk about security measures but, really, I want to make a personal argument first: I have been a world traveler for almost 14 years and I have not felt safer in a country than I do in Burkina. I would be more worried about violence against me in Paris, Cairo, Instanbul, L.A. or Jakarta. I have full confidence in my community, Peace Corps staff and even myself to make smart and efficient decisions about my security. Now for a bit more on logistics:
The Peace Corps works directly with the Regional Security Officer at the US embassy. We also have our own Saftey and Security Officer, Harouna Congo. To show you how available they are; Harouna routinely drops his vacations or takes calls at 3 a.m. even when he is not on duty. I have never seen someone so dedicated to their job.
Further, the Peace Corps has a number of strategic plans setup for consolidations (grouping of volunteers together to safe places), evacuation, etc. Staff and volunteer wardens (PCVs that are chosen in certain areas) are trained on these procedures and help facilitate during emergencies or concerning situations.
It is good to remember too that the State Department warning is for travelers. To put it simply, I would warn a traveler going to New York about the crime. If you aren’t from there, you can be a bigger target because you don’t know what to look for. Being in Burkina is the same. We are trained to be culturally sensitive and to integrate into the community directly. I am far safer in my community here in Kongoussi than in New York City. I am amongst friends and coworkers that will go far out of their way to help in the slightest of cases and I know what to look for when it comes to danger.
The unrest in Burkina has nothing to do with westerners (Americans). No westerners have been targeted or hurt in any case. It is simply a protest situation. Be careful reading the news as much of it is not fully accurate. Plus things often seem much worse from the outside. Most villages have seen nothing more than student protests (meaning the students stayed at home and played instead of going to class). Further, the towns that have had violent unrest have had their volunteers moved out quickly and efficiently with Peace Corps and embassy support without incident (nor direct danger to the PCV).
As far as al Qaeda is concerned, there have been threats along the boarder with Mali and Niger though no actual acts. Thus, volunteers can neither work nor travel anywhere in those regions. This is much like saying there is a threat to those in Boston when you live in New York. Now, I am not saying the Peace Corps takes such lightly. I only mean to say there is significant distance between these regions and volunteers. Further, Peace Corps, the embassy and the Burkina government are constantly evaluating and monitoring the situation. We are updated regularly.
I hope that helps you understand a bit better our security here in Burkina. If you do have further concerns, you can always contact me or you can call Peace Corps Security at 1-800-424-8580 ext 1470. Also see:
Peace Corps’ Safety and Security Page: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.safety.safeandsec
A Volunteer Built Wiki Page about Security:
http://www.peacecorpswiki.org/The_Safety_of_the_Volunteer