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| 0845 601 5743 |
| The 24 hour confidential US
Tragedy Support Line for British people affected by the terrorist atrocities
has been launched and will be staffed by British Red Cross, Victim Support and
Cruse Bereavement Care |
There is also a separate
emergency line
0207 008 0000
Families bereaved by the tragedy are being offered two tickets
for next-of-kin to travel to New York and three nights'
accommodation |
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| Coping
with tragic egents |
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| WHAT DO WE TELL THE
CHILDREN? |
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News for Kids
from InfoPlease |
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| Share with other parents on
Parents
Talk |
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| How kids can
help |
Many of us are wondering what -
and how much - to say to our children. Finding a balance on the one hand
between helping a child feel safe and, on the other hand, acknowledging the
existence of violence and danger in our world is a challenge for all parents at
this time.
Always trust your intuition about your own child's needs but see if the tips on
these websites can help... |
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| How to talk about
war |
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| The
I am Your Child Foundation has been reviewing the advice being
given by the media and professional organisations in the US. Their summary
suggests three core principles which may matter most in the coming weeks. Plus
links to those professional organisations. |
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| Sound advice from Irish website
Rollercoaster |
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| Helping children cope with tragedy from the US National PTA
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| Lots of resources on the
Mercy Corps website |
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| A World of
Difference Institute What to tell your child about prejudice and
discrimination |
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| Helping children handle
disaster-related anxiety |
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| Learning Network family therapist
Carleton Kendrick offers
ages-and-stages advice for how to express your own thoughts
and feelings -- and listen to kids talk -- about what’s
happened |
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| I saw it on
Oprah |
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| Talking with children about terrorism |
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| Strategies for parents and teachers |
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| The US
Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) has some good advice including a section
especially for kids |
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| For more information about
helping children process tragic events, see the
National Center for Children
Exposed to Violence. |
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| Remember the Children Yellow Bow Campaign |
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| Sarah Ferguson has started a
charity to help counsel the children affected by the World Trade Centre
attacks. |
The 911 Fund comes as an offshoot
of her Chances for Children charity, which was run from the 101st floor of the
World Trade Centre north tower.
The duchess, who was in New York on the day of the attacks, is said by her
spokesman to be "devastated" by the tragedy. |
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| The
Mercy Corps is based in
the US and Scotland. Amongst other activities, they support organizations that
provide scholarship funds for children who lost parents in the attacks.
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America
mourns
A pictorial tour
of New York, Christmas 2001
"Business as usual"
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Mothers from over 60 nations lost children in the recent events in America.
Up to 2000 children have lost one or more parents.
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Join with us in remembering those who gave their lives and praying for those
in mourning and recovering their physical and emotional health and strength.
May our political leaders make wise decisions with all our futures in mind.
On this and following page we offer..
At the end of the page, you will find a poignant image (source unknown - it
will take a while to download).
I hope you will find these resources of comfort and practical assistance in
these bewildering times.
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We have a message for mothers everywhere from American
mom, Tammy Harrison
of Home-Based Working Moms
writing from the States |
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We have been asked to return to normal so that the perpetrators
are not allowed the satisfaction of knowing that they have disrupted our lives
and affected the psyche of business. It is difficult to think of working at a
time like this and I find that that taking that kind of action is beyond me
right now.
As I hugged my kids a little tighter this week, all I have been
thinking about is motherhood. Moms are the core of society. We nurture our
children, we love our children, and we produce the next generations.
I do not want to imagine being a mom who has lost a child in New York,
Pennsylvania or Washington D.C. But, I do know that the incidents surrounding
this week have made me cherish motherhood for all it's worth.
While my American flag waves from my front porch, and while I play every
patriotic song I can find, it's the moms that I want to applaud.
Moms who raised the firefighters and volunteers who are working until they
cannot work anymore....moms who are sitting by the telephone waiting for their
sons or daughters to call them and tell them they will be home for
dinner....moms who work from home just so they can raise their own
children....moms who say "I Love You" like no other.....and moms
whose strength and compassion will get us through the next days, months and
years.
Take the time to reflect on the mothers who are hurting. Turn your compassion
into action by donating to those who are directly aiding in the ongoing relief
efforts.
Then, look in the mirror and thank yourself -- because YOU are a mom!
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What are YOUR messages for
mums?
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MESSAGES OF HOPE
and understanding |
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Business as usual,
a message from Gil,
who is a volunteer fireman in New
York |
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Yes, it's been difficult, obviously. I am a volunteer fireman,
and we were all very busy yesterday (11th September). We lost a lot of people,
sometimes entire fire companies were wiped out. I think the number of
firefighters lost right now is ~250, including the senior leadership.
Over the next week they may rotate my company into the City for cleanup. I
choose to go about my business as usual, as one of the major (if not the first
and foremost) goals of terrorism is to disrupt people's lives.
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from Harold Kushner's book
 When
Bad Things Happen to Good People
Special 20th Anniversary edition, 2001 |
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The facts of life and death are neutral. We, by our responses,
give suffering either a positive or a negative meaning. Illnesses, accidents,
human tragedies kill people. But they do not necessarily kill life or faith.
If the death and suffering of someone we love makes us bitter, jealous, against
all religion, and incapable of happiness, we turn the person who died into one
of the 'devil's martyrs.'
If suffering and death in someone close to us bring us to explore the limits of
our capacity for strength and love and cheerfulness, if it leads us to discover
sources of consolation we never knew before, then we make the person into a
witness for the affirmation of life rather than its rejection.
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The Challenge of Understanding
Send your thoughts and prayers to mothers in Afghanistan.
The Taliban has created a society in which women are denied education and work.
Mothers with children to look after, and no other means of support, are left to
beg on the streets. Any woman who uncovers her face in public for whatever
reason will be severely punished. This is not a yashmak - the face is covered
completely. It is acceptable practice to throw acid in a woman's exposed face,
a 'punishment' designed to cause disfigurement.
Click here for emails received from
Afghan-Americans
explaining how they feel about the atrocities and about the threat of war
against Afghanistan and the Taliban.
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Where
next? |
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The 21st century has become a time of massive change - both personal and
political. At a time when people are saying 'the world will never be the same
again', there is a new will to seek out answers and create new relationships.
Have YOU changed? How will our future be different?
Click here to read more... on our page
dedicated to 'Messages of Hope'.
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MORE MESSAGES OF HOPE
and understanding |
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from Azriela Jaffe
author of Heartwarmers,
Starting from 'No'
and the Create your own Luck Newsletter
Create your own luck
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Evil exists in the world. Innocent people are the victims of
it, and in many cases, they did absolutely nothing to deserve it. Life is not
always fair, as we see it...we are all vulnerable to the impact of evil, which
can eradicate, in just a matter of seconds, our right to exist and all the luck
we've created for ourselves in this universe.
Our death does not, however, ever eradicate the goodness we have contributed to
the world we leave behind...
We cannot know what is lucky, or unlucky, for every human being because we do
not know about the life beyond this physical plane. We can know for certain
that the loss of a loved one is horrendously unlucky for the family and friends
and employers who lost them. We cannot know what the event really means for the
person who dies.
Right alongside the most horrendous, horrifying acts of evil... is also
glorious good...such as the deeds of thousands of volunteers and loving people
who have extended themselves to those in need.
None of us can control our destinies to the fullest extent, but every one of us
can control how we choose to respond to what has been handed us. The world is
in darkness now. Shine your light upon it.
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America's Day of Mourning - 14th September 2001
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| WHAT CAN WE DO TO
HELP? |
| Support the green ribbon
campaign |
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Light a virtual
candle
 |
Very neat concept - light an
instant virtual candle against terrorism - and join nearly 2 million others
Light a candle
at Scandinavia Online |
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| 10 small ways to help others
from the
Mercy Corps |
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| DONATIONS |
| The organisations leading the humanitarian
effort in New York do not require funds. New York City is currently overwhelmed
with volunteer and material donation support which they cannot use.
The Red Cross explains. |
Please see also the UK
Disasters Emergency
Committee website which launches and co-ordinates UK National Appeals in
response to major disasters overseas.
Their official
statement confirms that all needs are currently being met from
within the USA. |
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| However, if you feel the need to donate, some
official channels are listed below. |
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| Please note that there have been NO official
requests for donations from the Red Cross or the Salvation Army. Sadly, there
are those who are taking advantage of our need to be of assistance in times
such as these. If anyone contacts you with a request to donate money, you are
advised to report it to the police. |
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In the early days, the only donation
specifically requested was for
heavy
equipment but practical offers of assistance from skilled workers can be
made to the Consular Command Centre at the American Embassy in London on: Tel:
020 7409 0820 or Tel: 020 7894 0090
Details are entered on a database and contact made if specific
needs are established
The US Fire Service has already stated that they cannot use the
many offers of volunteer help |
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| Helping.org is being cited in the US press as a good place for
finding out what you can do to help. There are links from there to information
concerning hospitals, blood donation, finding survivors etc. |
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Please note : there are an
increased number of viruses circulating round the net. A new one began
circulating exactly a week after the events in the States.
As usual, be extra wary of opening attachments but the latest virus
activates if you click on it to try to delete it- so see our CyberMums page on
how to combat the latest
viruses and protect your data now! |
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| The World Trade Centre Disaster Fund has been set up by the UK
financial services sector for victims of the US terror attacks and their
families. |
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| All About Giving (UK) has set up a
special fund called
Helping USA which allows UK and European residents to help out
by donating Sterling, Dollars, or EUROs. |
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| The American Liberty Partnership is an Internet industry
initiative that is connecting people who want to help with the organizations
that need it most. |
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United Way of New
York City and New York Community Trust have set up the
September
11th Fund
The purpose of the fund is to mobilize financial resources to respond to the
pressing needs of the victims and their families and all those affected by the
tragedy. 100% of your online contribution goes to the support of the victims
and their families. |
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| New York Fallen Firefighter Rescue Worker Fund and the New
York Fraternal Order of Police Fund. |
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| Donations to
The Red Cross can be made by calling 0207 201 5038 or by post
addressed to American Emergency, British Red Cross, Freepost, London, SW1X 7BR.
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The Salvation Army ministers to the physical, emotional, and
spiritual needs of families, individuals, and emergency personnel involved in
the disasters by setting up canteens and offering counselling
Donations can be made by calling 0800 028 7744 or by post
addressed to: American Support Appeal, The Salvation Army, Freepost KE3466,
London SE1 6BP. |
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In an effort to provide assistance in the
aftermath of these tragedies, America's Second Harvest and Mercy Corps will use
the proceeds generated from The Hunger Site through September 30th to support their
efforts to aid victims and survivors in New York City and Washington D.C.
Find out more about the Hunger Site and others on our
Give with a Click page |
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| Justgiving.com |
is now co-ordinating online appeals for aid to
Afghan refugees. All electronic donations are transferred direct to charities'
bank accounts, so they can be used immediately.
The site operates as a channel for 120 UK charities and has
adopted an Inland Revenue approved system that automatically reclaims 28% of
every £1 donated by UK taxpayers. |
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