http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood.aspx en-AU Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:59:06 GMT Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:59:06 GMT Raccoom rss generator, website http://raccoom.sytes.net, email chrisdarebell@msn.com 120 So I guess we know that there are some disasters that are caused by extreme weather events & are related to climate change and there are some disasters like Tsunamis – born of Earthquakes - that aren’t so much linked to climate change but that its still handy to have young, proactive volunteers on hand to respond to! This has definitely been true for Samoan and Tongan Red Cross volunteers responding to the recent South Pacific Tsunami – and it was certainly true for us a couple of weeks ago when there was an Earthquake between Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands which triggered a Tsunami warning for the whole of the Pacific including the East Coast of Australia and New Zealand. The volunteers of Solomon Islands Red Cross had every reason to expect that the Tsunami would happen – after all, the recent Pacific quake which triggered the tragic Tsunami in Tonga and Samoa was measured at roughly the same intensity on the Richter scale and was generated at roughly the same depth. We certainly weren’t taking any chances that the alarm would be false. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/october-09/tsunamisort-of.aspx Katie Greenwood Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1578.aspx A friend of mine recently posted some lyrics to a Bob Dylan song on her blog and as I read them, I just thought climate change, climate change, climate change!!! Here in the Solies, things are gearing up for the Copenhagen negotiations. There are a bunch of young Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYADs) here in the country working with Government and non Government organisations on their program responses to climate change, on creating awareness about it amongst young people, and on supporting the Government's approach to the Copenhagen meetings. Every time we speak about the subject - there is a definite air of desperately wanting change; desperately wanting decision makers to hear the voices of the people most affected by climate change and extreme weather; desperately wanting to be able to stem the tide. For over 40 years Bob Dylan's music has been at the heart of expressing a desire for social change and you might think that'd make him old school. But this week when I re-read these lyrics I thought they were spot on the mark. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/october-09/the-times-they-are-a-changing.aspx Katie Greenwood Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1577.aspx There’s a saying that goes something like: Youth is wasted on the young. I reckon that’s a bunch of bologne! Once upon a time, before I got a taste for volunteering to work in disasters, it was my role to work with young people in Red Cross to make sure that they were represented across the organisation – at all levels. To make sure the voice of young community members was heard in the youth projects Red Cross implemented and to make sure the voice of young volunteers was heard – even at the National Board level. It’s an important thing for young people to be heard – not just because we are the leaders of tomorrow, in fact I really dislike that idea…I dislike it because the reason it’s important to have a voice in society is because we are leaders today, right now. And the skills, motivation, idealism and passion we have for things that make a difference to us, can make a difference to so many people. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/july-09/a-word-on-the-wise.aspx Katie Greenwood Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1477.aspx Warning! This blog contains the completely unabashed rantings of a self-confessed Red Cross nerd!... Seriously, I’m even considering a Red Cross themed tattoo! So what’s got me feeling even more enthusiastic than ever about Red Cross? Well, this week, the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement celebrated 150 years since the event that inspired its creation. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/july-09/power-of-humanity.aspx Katie Greenwood Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1476.aspx So.. my last post mentioned the fact that Honiara is experiencing some power sharing issues. Well, they have continued- now between two and three times a day, for an hour at a time, the power goes out and we are left sweating quietly in the dark. All this darkness prompted me to do a little bit of research as I questioned my own knowledge about power, where it comes from and what its links are with the natural and built environment. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/july-09/i-got-the-power!.aspx Katie Greenwood Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1472.aspx How exciting was the Extreme Weather Hero arvo tea at Government House?! It was huge! Just meeting up with the other Heroes in Canberra was great – we don’t get to spend much time together and it was great to have lunch and a bit of a goss about what’s been going on for all of us http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/june-09/yes-minister.aspx Katie Greenwood Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1458.aspx Last week my mate Jess from the International Tracing & Refugee Services department of Australian Red Cross joined me here in Honiara. Jess is a veteran of international missions for the Red Cross having been to Lyberia, Angola and Georgia to undertake tracing missions with the International Committee of the Red Cross... http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/may-09/lost-and-found.aspx Katie Greenwood Tue, 12 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1421.aspx A couple of weeks ago I got to go home to Australia and participate in a workshop on 'Sphere' - an International project incorporating an humanitarian charter and a set of minimum standards applicable in disaster response. Find out more about my spin on 'Sphere'.... http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/may-09/sphere.aspx Katie Greenwood Sun, 10 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1420.aspx So, in this episode, you see your extreme weather hero going off the beaten track a little. I realised that my blogs have covered all sorts of issues on responding to extreme weather situations – but not so much about life in general here in the Pacific. Given that this opportunity has sprung from the experience I’ve had in working in emergency services- I thought I’d share a few of the joys and challenges that could one day be yours if you decide to head down a similar path. Working here in the Solomon Islands isn’t all disaster response – a lot of my work revolves around assisting the local Red Cross to prepare for disasters through reviewing volunteer training packages and provincial disaster plans; assisting the management and board to prepare a new strategic plan that best positions the organisation to deal with new and emerging issues such as climate change; and even assisting with the preparation of budgets. And, when the weather is good (which hasn’t been much lately) it also consists of trips to the beach and the huge central market and volunteer celebrations for just about any reason really! http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/april-09/minor-disasters.aspx Katie Greenwood Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1388.aspx In the last couple of days I’ve been texting and facebooking with some friends who work in Red Cross Emergency Services in Australia. My friends in Melbourne have been declaring their shock and awe at experiencing fresh almost-disaster in the form of the Earthquake on Friday night. (Mainly their comments are things like “You’ve got to be kidding, floods, fires and now this?...) And as for my Queensland friends, just as many of them had been planning what to do with the few days R&R they’d earned after working with flood affected communities in such places as Ingham, a nasty looking cyclone decided to rear its head off the North-Queensland Coast. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/march-09/shake-rattle-and-roll-with-it.aspx Katie Greenwood Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1357.aspx In the last few months, a few different worlds seem to have collided for me; I’ve come to live here in the Pacific, I’ve joined the Extreme Team and I read a book called “The Stone Gods” by Jeanette Winterson. Winterson is my favourite author so there’s nothing odd really about me reading this book, except that as I say, I’ve read it now when my mind is so clearly focussed on the effects of climate change and extreme weather. So clearly focused on the effects we humans have on our environment and whether or not we are listening to our planet as it speaks to us day by day. The book is written in 4 parts and is a set of stories about repeating worlds, repeating mistakes and chances for change. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/march-09/the-stone-gods.aspx Katie Greenwood Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1356.aspx So, things are starting to get back to normal here – if not for all the people affected by flooding, then at least for the staff and volunteers of Solomon Islands Red Cross! For the last ten days our focus has been water: establishing a central water distribution point on the North West Coast of Guadalcanal and an outreach program delivering water to remote communities and particularly vulnerable people with special needs. Dave, our water & sanitation delegate has also been lending a hand to Government agencies assessing the best places to erect new water tanks and cleaning out wells destroyed by silt deposits. Hand in hand with the water team, our public health teams have also been visiting villages spreading the word on hygiene and sanitation and how to take extra special care of yourself in the aftermath of flooding to avoid such diseases as Malaria – which is a big problem here in the Solies. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/february-09/road-to-recovery.aspx Katie Greenwood Sun, 22 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1355.aspx After a pretty huge beginning to the wet season here - many of the provincial areas of the main Island - Guadalcanal had taken just about all the wet they could handle when the heavens opened and unleashed some of the heaviest downpours I have ever experienced. For about 72 hours the torrents just didn't let up and the result was devastating to many communities - particularly in the North West of the Island. 8 people have been confirmed dead with 13 missing - presumed drowned when rivers literally washed whole villages away. Many have lost their homes and all their possessions with the affected population estimates standing at around 6 000. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/february-09/extreme-weather-in-the-solomons.aspx Katie Greenwood Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1308.aspx So here I am in my new home in the Solomon Islands. So far, so good! The incredible staff and volunteers of the Solomon Islands Red Cross have been so gorgeously friendly and welcoming that I can't help but know this is going to be an amazing experience full of friendship and learning. http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/january-09/thisfalla-lo-honiara!.aspx Katie Greenwood Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1278.aspx After recovering momentarily from an enormous weekend at the Extreme Weather Heroes Briefing - I have only a few days to pack up what is left of my life in Queensland and prepare myself for new life in the Solomon Islands - and my future as an Extreme Weather Hero! http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/our-heroes/katie-greenwood/blog/january-09/katies-first-blog.aspx Katie Greenwood Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.extremeweatherheroes.org/1262.aspx