http://www.theseoultimes.com/
Arts & Living
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Wave Aid
Tsunami Benefit Party Planned
By
United Planet 's Seoul Representative Hillary Sprigler
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On July 16, 2005, the spirit of compassion
is rekindled at Jesters Bar and the Big Electric Cat in Itaewon. United Planet
will host its benefit party at these locations with proceeds going towards aid
and development of the Ranong region of Thailand.
Jesters' will provide food and discounted
drinks all evening with giveaways, including a trip to Thailand. Meanwhile, the
Big Electric Cat will feature 12 bands! A minimum contribution of 10,000 won is
asked at the door.
Participants will also receive information
on how they can actively participate in the re-building of Ranong by United
Planet representatives who will be in attendance.
"When the December tsunami hit, I was
watching with a freightened and grateful eye from a hotel room in Ho Chi Minh
City, Vietnam, " said Ms. Hillary Sprigler, Seoul representative of United
Planet.
"After watching the coverage for
several days, and the death toll number rise, I recognized my obligation to
help given my last minute cancelation to Phuket. We have to take advantage of
all situations where we can make a difference. I was determined to find a way,
and I did," she continued.
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Ms.
Hillary Sprigler, Seoul representative of United Planet, is the organizer of
"Wave Aid" Tsunami Benefit Party. |
After contacting multiple volunteer
organizations and political figures, Hillary found United Planet Organization,
based out of Boston, Massachusettes. Since the tsunami, they have been carrying
out multiple aid efforts in Indonesia and Thailand; one project specifically in
Ranong , Thailand. Her initial project had a goal of taking a group of 10
people from Seoul and to raise $10,000.
In a short time, the planned one-week effort
turned into a three month coordination of sending volunteers to reconstruct the
village of Thal Nok , Thailand, to reforest mangrove trees in Laem Son National
Park , and to assist and council the families and their children.
"The support from the U.S and Seoul has
been overwhelming. Every other day I am meeting amazing people who are well
connected and willing to help. If people can see your motivation, they will
find a way to help you, but you have to think politically and
economically," she explained.
"Even charity is a business. I didn't
expect to catch as much negativity as I did, but you will always have critics.
I'm not going there to save lives. I'm going there to remind those who are
still alive, that there is a reason to live by building for them what they once
considered home," she said.
"My goal is to raise money to send my
volunteers, because many cannot afford to pay for the fee ($879 USD) or the
flight so close to the departure date," she added.
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A
house in Thailand
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_thailand.htm .
