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Lots of friends have said they've lost loved ones to Covid in India - and that's just today. I'd like to start a thread here specifically to highlight some ways the diaspora can help (especially our journalist colleagues there). Please send me your ideas/funds/etc
Here's a doc of orgs looking for donations (please note how to search for those taking foreign donations vs NRI donations): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eiobgyrl8iz-R1Dz7c4R5pzzzkuZLBj99vaC7T_UeVo/preview?pru=AAABeTOd-xc*89WzYt7_8_5o_tsoxDph5g
Re doc above, please filter by <urgent> requests as well!
Here's another doc (may be some overlap from the previously tweeted one but good to check anyway): https://twitter.com/kumaraishwarya/status/1386759045646802946?s=20
Per @lakitalki https://www.kqed.org/news/11871122/each-hour-matters-bay-area-couple-fundraises-for-indias-oxygen-crisis
Please check @lksriv's list too https://twitter.com/lksriv/status/1387074944983502854?s=20
I'm not filtering any of these sources by political affiliations because I don't think that's helpful right now. If you want to, that's fine, but the point is to get help where and when it's needed most because the govt isn't taking care of it alone.
Some of these orgs accept international payments and have been 'vetted' vs individual crowdfunding calls. I'm not saying one is better than the other, that's up to the donor to determine. Also, please see previous tweet. https://twitter.com/vforvelvetta/status/1387171377199951876?s=20
Another way to help is supporting outlets where our colleagues work: @ThePrintIndia @thewire_in @thecaravanindia @project_polis (NYC based but been doing a lot of work in India). If there is a fund to support local journalists/fixers/etc or other outlets, please let me know.
There are so many families like this one who are being forced to buy their life with gold. But, what happens when jewelers/others can't buy any more? See above in this thread for the docs listing urgent requests for crowdfunding (which also take intl $$) https://twitter.com/SBengali/status/1387352968333168640?s=20
I'm so disgusted by all this for a few reasons: The Modi govt ignoring Covid the way Trump did, incl holding political rallies last week. And, the number of incredibly, FILTHY rich Indians seemingly not helping their own. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2021/04/india-covid19-moral-failure/618702/
Yes, the Biden admin should do everything it can reduce barriers to vaccine production - not just for India but everyone in the Global South. They should have done it months ago when they came into office. But, there's also plenty of blame to go around within India as well.
In any case, I don't want to hijack this thread anymore. If you're in the diaspora, check the docs/sites/events above to see if they accept international payments. Mutual aid is a small but powerful hope for those suffering.
Another effort to help with oxygen access https://twitter.com/chhotepanditt/status/1387755653037363201?s=19
