Stories From The Homefront: Climate Justice!
Berkeley, CA - "The fundraising is not just charity, but about solidarity", this is how Ginger Leopoldo executive director of the Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts (CIRCA), Pintig (the Filipino word for heartbeat/pulse), described their upcoming event on the 28th of January 2022 to raise funds for the victims of the super typhoon dubbed as "Raising Voices: Stories from the HOMEFRONT", in a one-on-one interview with People's Media Advocacy Asia (PMAA).
Typhoon Rai, known locally as Typhoon Odette, violently struck the Philippines on December 17, 2021. Despite damaging 1.4 million homes, 514 towns, and leaving 8,700 locations without food or water supplies, the effects of Typhoon Odette are not met with adequate solutions.
Sylvio Tamayo Dorig Jr., a community organizer and volunteer correspondent of the Center for People's Media (CPM) claim that afflicted communities fail to receive enough support from the national government. Without proper assistance and resources, these communities- most notably in the Negros area and Cebu region- are left to rebuild homes and infrastructures on their own.
In an effort to stand in solidarity with the affected communities, Raising Voices: Stories from the Homefront-Climate Justice, aims not only to raise funds for the victims but to provide awareness and discussion around natural disasters like Typhoon Odette and the overall response- or lack thereof- by world leaders and the national government.
Through guest speakers, Wilson Fortaleza (Journalist and Environmentalist) and Sylvio Tamayo Dorig Jr. (Community Organizer), guest moderator, Bibeth Orteza (Concerned Artists of the Philippines Chair), and guest artist, Noel Cabangon (Filipino Folk Singer and Composer), the event will amplify the voices/artistry of individuals while simultaneously providing support for communities abroad.
Leopoldo also discloses that the remittance company, "SENDWAVE", will join in the effort by "extending a free credit of $25 for any new users who download the app and use the promo code "PMAA" to remit money to their families in the Philippines.
The event will be Live on Facebook: Friday, January 28, 6:00 pm PT/ 8:00 pm CT / 9:00 pm ET and 10:00 am, January 29, in Manila. PMAA