Have we forgotten Haiti?

January 12, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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It’s a story we seem to have let slip into history. Just before 5:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday the 12th of January 2010, two years ago today, a a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit just outside Port-au-Prince, the capital of the impoverished nation of Haiti. Within the first fortnight after that event, at least 52 major aftershocks had been recorded.

The quake killed around 220 000, injured more than 300 000 and affected 3.5 million people. Even before the quake, 86% of people in Port au Prince were living in slum conditions. Compassion was there and continues to work with the people of Haiti.

While we heard story after story about the tragedy in the weeks immediately following the earthquake, the plight of the Haitian people has already faded from our TV screens and newspapers. The rebuilding isn’t even close to being finished but we’ve already moved on.

Compassion International has been working in Haiti for over forty years so they were one of the first aid agencies to begin helping the people of the affected area. They’re committed to the people of Haiti and they’ll continue to help them in the years and even decades that it will take to return life to what we might consider normal.

Just ten days after the quake I spoke to Tim Glenn from Compassion live from Haiti. You can hear that radio interview by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

Over the past couple of months I’ve been looking back at my visit to Haiti and Dominican Republic with Compassion Australia in April 2008. That visit is the main reason I’m passionate about taking park in the 25000 Spins Great Ocean Road Challenge. Next month I’ll be riding 290 kilometres in three days and I need your support. By sponsoring my efforts on the challenge you’ll be releasing children from poverty. You’ll be giving children a real chance at life. Please visit my fundraising page and make a contribution. Maybe you can afford to sponsor me for a dollar a kilometre, maybe 50 cents a kilometre, or perhaps you’d just like to donate $10, $20, $50 or any other amount.

The ride isn’t specifically raising money for Haiti but I know that whatever is raised will go to those who need it most right now. Please consider how much you can afford to give.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR220110_0949.mp3]

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The End of the World

March 4, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
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Floods, earthquakes, fires, natural disasters, wars and continuing instability in various regions around the world. Are we in the end times?

Going right back to biblical times people have been watching the signs and events around them and predicting the end of the world. Some have actually tried to predict dates but those dates have just sailed past, making many people cynical about the whole topic.

Wars and disasters have always been happening but in recent days there has been a major increase in natural disasters. Does this mean that we’re facing the end of the world? What does the Bible really say?

My regular Wednesday morning guest on 98.5 Sonshine FM is Rev Dr Ross Clifford who is the Principal of Morling College in New South Wales . Each week we chat about a range of issues relating to spirituality and belief.

This week we tackled the issue of the end times and discussed whether what we’re seeing might be signs of what’s to come. This is a question that Ross is being asked more and more by a variety of people both inside and outside the church. You can hear what Ross had to say by clicking the play button on the audio player below.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/SPI030411_1413.mp3]

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Christchurch Earthquake Update

February 26, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
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Several days on from the massive quake which has caused so much destruction in Christchurch, I took the opportunity yesterday to update my radio listeners on what was happening in New Zealand.

Tuesday’s 6.3 magnitude tremor is the largest of many aftershocks from the 7.1 magnitude quake in the same area on the 4th of September last year.

At this time 123 people are confirmed dead with 200 still missing and many hundreds injured.

Allan Lee is Director of News and Current Affairs for Rhema Broadcasting Group in New Zealand. He joined me live during my program on 98.5 Sonshine FM the day after the quake as he headed by road to Christchurch. I spoke to Allan again yesterday and he updated me with details from the last couple of days.

Since we last spoke Allan had been into the city of Christchurch and witnessed the devastation as well as travelling through the suburbs and finding out how the people of the area are coping.

You can hear our discussion by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

I also asked Allan how we should be praying for those caught in the tragic events. He reminded us that while the physical needs are being attended to as quickly as possible, the emotional scars will take many years to heal.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR250211_1401.mp3]

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Rescue and Recovery continues in Christchurch

February 23, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
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A national state of emergency has been declared in New Zealand following the devastating earthquake that rocked the area surrounding Christchurch yesterday. Horrific images have been beamed into our lounge rooms as the rescue and recovery efforts continue.

Yesterday’s 6.1 magnitude tremor is the largest of many aftershocks from the 7.1 magnitude quake in the same area on the 4th of September last year. At this time 75 people are confirmed dead with 300 missing and many hundreds injured.

Allan Lee is Director of News and Current Affairs for Rhema Broadcasting Group in New Zealand. He joined me live during my program on 98.5 Sonshine FM this morning as he headed by road to Christchurch.

We talked about the feeling in New Zealand today as people continue to come to terms with the tragedy and the dangerous rescue efforts as aftershocks continue to shake buildings that are already on the brink of collapse.

You can hear our discussion by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

I also asked Allan how we should be praying for those caught in the tragic events. He reminds us that while the physical needs are being attended to as quickly as possible, the emotional scars will take many years to heal.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR230211_1128.mp3]

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How can we forget Haiti?

February 22, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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It’s a story we know all too well. Just before 5:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday the 12th of January this year a major earthquake hit just outside Port-au-Prince, the capital of the impoverished nation of Haiti. Within the first fortnight after that event, at least 52 major aftershocks had been recorded.

An estimated three million people have affected by the quake. The Haitian Government reports that between 217,000 and 230,000 people have been identified as dead, an estimated 300,000 injured, and an estimated 1,000,000 homeless.

While we heard story after story about the tragedy in the weeks immediately following the earthquake, the plight of the Haitian people is already beginning to fade from our TV screens and newspapers.

Compassion International has been working in Haiti for over forty years so they were one of the first aid agencies to begin helping the people of the affected area. They’re committed to the people of Haiti and they’ll continue to help them in the years and even decades that it will take to return life to what we might consider normal.

To find out what’s been happening and continues to happen in Haiti I spoke to DJ Konz of Compassion Australia during my morning programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM this morning.

You can hear our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

There is still so very much to do so please donate generously to Compassion to help those in Haiti. Click here to give through Compassion International. If you’re in Australia, click here to donate through Compassion Australia.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR220210_1028.mp3]

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