This month's blog entry was going to be about vaccination. It it was based around a video of the mayor of New York City, advertising free fries with every jab. It's one of those videos where I'm not sure if I should cry or laugh. The mayor of NYC – not some sheriff in a hillbilly village – going, 'mmmm, vaccination', while chewing on his fries and burger. You need to see it in order to believe it. Here's the video, the juicy bit starts at 2:30.
It wasn't an article against vaccination, it was just about our world going ever more insane. Obesity being the number one risk factor for Covid complications – and the mayor of one of the most influential cities in the world offering junk food in exchange for getting vaccinated. Help! Now!
Anyway, I changed my mind and won't publish it. Why? Cause there's already enough talk about vaccination and selfish countries not giving a fuck about the rest of the planet. Ironically, noone will ever be safe & healthy unless everybody is safe & healthy. Bit like the climate crisis. Will we learn our lessons in time?
Most people I know have been affected by the lockdowns. Either financially or emotionally. A great time to be a psychologist or charity worker! And yes, I've been affected too. Not so much by the lockdown, because as a writer I'm quite used to spending time in quarantine, but by the sheer madness of this world. I think it's still possible to make things better, to be kinder and healthier, with each other and with nature. But, sadly, each day it becomes less probable.
We're on course to drive humanity's van into the wall fairly soon. It's seems inevitable. Right now, however, we're still here, cruising along. And while we're here, demanding cheaper flights again and bigger cars, there are people who go without food today. Even worse, there are people who can't feed their children tonight.
So instead of adding another opinion to the already saturated vaccination debate, I'd like to invite you to help some people who are fighting for survival. It's a project initiated by my sister Lisa, who lived for many years in Nepal and has a wonderful track record of providing direct support to those in most desperate need. I'll let her explain. If you can help a little, please do so. It's friends helping friends of friends.
"Dear everyone, we are slowly opening up here in Germany, still slow, still quite shy, but people are getting vaccinated and numbers are dropping. A big sigh of relief, because we too are coming out of a very long lockdown, a difficult time.
While things finally seem to relax a little over here, other countries are heavily hit by second and third waves, with no means to protect or support their people. India began drowning in cases, chaos and hopelessness, and not long after Nepal was affected as well, stronger, more severe than last year. Not prepared...of course not. The government announced a few weeks ago, "you are on your own now".
Nepal has been my second home for the last 14 years. It is difficult for me to comprehend how people are getting by and survive at this moment, with Nepal's heavy dependence on tourism and worldwide travel restrictions in place for more than a year.
There's no safety network – of course this is hitting the most vulnerable the hardest. People who are struggling day by day and have no work due to a very strict lockdown that has been going on since almost 40 days. The government keeps extending the lockdown, aware of the suffering it causes. So many people, day labourers, are without a job. No income, no food. They can neither support themselves nor their families.
As some of you know, I have already fundraised in 2015, when a massive earthquake brought the country to its knees. It is difficult for me to ask for help now, as I know that we are all affected. Maybe you are already supporting a friend or neighbour. Maybe you are struggling financially yourself.
So I have been waiting, not asking, cause I know so many people are suffering. Over the past two weeks, however, a few people have contacted me, knowing my connection to Nepal. Asking if they can help. So I decided to reach out, once again building a bridge, for those of you who want and are able to contribute.
The money will go to friends in Kathmandu who are serving 500 people with food every day. Here are some photos:
They started serving 100 people, but the number rose quickly. They give food and water to the people on the street, so they have something warm to eat at least once a day. I have more photos, many are painful to watch. As the wet season started, people are sitting in the rain, waiting. They have no other choice.
A meal and water cost around 0,60 € per person. The food is typical vegetarian rice and lentils with some vegetables.
The money will also go to my Nepali Family in Pokhara, where Tara and her daughter are also supporting the most affected with food.
While the government is being silent, Nepalis do what they do best: supporting each other. Community. In my years spent in Nepal, I have never seen anything like it.
I opened an international account which allows me to send the money directly to Nepal with hardly any bank fees. The account is completely empty right now and I will use it during the next couple of weeks for Nepal.
During the earthquake I often said no amount is too small to contribute. If you wire 0,60€, you help someone through their day.
Account Details:
Lisa Christiane Mikosch
IBAN: BE04 9671 9591 7431
BIC: TRWIBEB1XXX
Subject: Nepal Covid
Just as during the earthquakes, be assured that every cent arrives.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please know that even a thought or a prayer sent to Nepal helps holding and acknowledging the pain and hopelessness so many are experiencing.
With Love, Lisa