We have been thinking a lot recently about loss. About Lahaina and British Columbia, about Ukraine and those pummeled by typhoons.
The water and wastewater professions are a generous and open hearted bunch of people – we see problems and we want to fix them.
We have previously posted of ways to contribute to Lahaina recovery but how does the human soul get past the not knowing, the endless speculation and bogus rumors that seem to flare as quickly as the fires themselves?
There will be no funerals for some of the victims. Take a breath and give the animosity a break – please. Blame is inevitable but for now channel the anger in to doing something for those who have lost everything.
It seems to us that taking a moment to think about words and how they can be a salve or a sting is the essence of walking a mile in another’s shoes?
And that the internet will keep replaying what you said years from now.
We were reminded of that just last week when a new business owner reached out to ask if we could say something nice about his efforts to bring a new professional attitude to a company he has just taken over.
Here is a young man trying to rebuild a living and still plagued by vile comments made, on social media of course, about the previous owner. And some of these still available comments are from 4, 6, 7 years ago?
Recovery is needed – starting with a recovery of basic human kindness – as shown by the outpouring of help for Lahaina.
The most effective immediate contribution is monetary donations to established community-focused organizations with a strong track record of efficiently distributing funds where they will have the greatest influence. These include:
WasteWaterEducation-Information 