I'm reminded in these crazy times of a lyric from Ice-T's heavy metal side project, Bodycount. "...the world's insane while you drink champagne and I'm living in black rain..." Stories of entitled morons thinking that efforts to curb the spread of the pandemic don't apply to them. There's the ultra-elite resort in Brazil which has now become a cluster, former jailbirds travelling interstate, large groups of people congregating on the playing fields near my house...the list goes on. It's easy folks, STAY AT HOME unless you're out for something truly essential.
You may or may not have realised that a category 5 cyclone ripped through the South Pacific during the week. Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga have all been in its path and the destruction is massive. Category 5 is the strongest there is and has sustained wind speeds of over 250 km/h (157 mp/h). In 2015, Cyclone Pam made a huge mess of Vanuatu and this time Cyclone Harold has done the same. Port Vila, the capital, is ok but the northern islands, including Pentecost, are a real mess. We still have no reports from Level School as communications are not yet restored. However, my brother Godden who is a little further north at Lini reports that whilst they are all safe, the whole island is destroyed, gardens are gone (that's where they grow their food) and the community will be out of food and water in a few days. I'm putting together some money to send over to help them out so please let me know if you can help. A few dollars will make a big difference and of course the money goes 100% to our families on Pentecost without any administration fees or costs. It'll be used in the first instance to provide food and water with any remainder put towards the huge task of rebuilding. In 2015 it was really hard waiting for news of Zoe after the cyclone. This time, being very much part of two families and the associated communities on Pentecost I can assure you that it is even more heartbreaking.
John Farnham - Help (live) - https://youtu.be/DgmNi-0atb4
There's a lot more that I could write about this week but somehow it all seems to not really matter. My heart and my thoughts are on a little island in Vanuatu. So, you can't hug anyone at the moment but please reach out in other ways and do what you can to make someone else's life just a little better. I'll see you all next time.
Willie Nelson - Rainbow Connection - https://youtu.be/deebKNI-dTE
Rob
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