Paisanos Talentosos IV: Michelle Jackson
Cuando uno escucha el nombre Michelle Jackson, lo primero que a uno se le viene a la cabeza es que esta tipa es "gringa", -o por lo menos-, venezolana no es. Pero lo cierto es, que su madre es venezolanísima y ella también lo es, a pesar de haber pasado la mayor parte de su vida en el imperio y haber nacido en Washington DC.
Michelle tiene 24 añitos, - con cara de 16 -, y es la gerente de Programas Globales y Respuesta a Emergencias en AmeriCares (organización humanitaria que provee respuesta inmediata a necesidades y emergencias médicas para todo el mundo y dentro de EEUU).
Ha estado a cargo de la ayuda por Americare en Chile y Haiti. Ahora mismo, se encuentra en Japón ( si desea hacer una donación para ayudar en la tragedia de Japón vaya a www.americares.org ).
Aquí les dejo a Michelle en una entrevista (en inglés) en FOX , que le hicieron para que diera su impresión del estado de la tragedia.
Otro venezolano con talento.
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Michelle en Blogalaxia
Jackson en Blogalaxia
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5 comentarios:
Su mama debe de estar bien orgullosa de tener una hija tan bella y tan humanitaria, eso no se ve mucho hoy en dia. Los jovenes estan mas atentos a lo que tienen, a cosas materiales, que ayudar al projimo. La educacion de hogar que debio de haber tenido, cono porque eso se aprende en casa no en la calle o en la universidad. Felicidades a la mama de tan grandiosa nina. Que Dios la bendiga.
que dice Jarri, que dice
Presentasela a Ciro!
More on Michelle
"In Haiti, it was highly disorganized, it was a frenzy and it was slow moving. The needs were very apparent but the aid was slow to trickle in and there was very little coordination on the ground," Jackson said. "This is a highly organized structure and environment, but even the most prepared countries can't be ready for a disaster of this magnitude; there's still a lot of need and a lot of moving pieces. In Haiti, things got bottlenecked and it took about six weeks to understand the needs. Here, the needs change about every six hours."
Jackson is not sure how long she'll be on the ground in Japan -- it could be as little as a few more days or as long as a few more months. She is certain, however, that AmeriCares will be a solid presence in Japan as the effort transitions from the search-and-rescue phase to the task of rebuilding.
"Commitment is an important aspect of this disaster, even in a country as developed as Japan. I think that message is sometimes lost," Jackson said. "Relief is really important but I think reconstruction is equally important."
In Tokyo, Jackson spends much of her time in meetings with United Nations agencies, Japanese NGOs, members of the Japanese Cabinet and Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is frequently in taxis speeding across Tokyo, on subways to meetings outside the city, coordinating with her translator and running errands that can pop up at any moment.
"Every single day is different. When I wake up in the morning, I'm not quite sure where the day's going to take me," she said. "I'm constantly glued to my phone, I'm always on the go."
In less hectic moments, Jackson sends daily emails to her family in her native Virginia; by now, she said, they're used to her lifestyle. Nevertheless, with the potential dangers inherent in the job, she makes sure to let them know how she's doing.
"When I got into this business, I think my family was on the edge of their seats every time I would go on a trip. Now, they're used to it," Jackson said. "I think they're really worried about radiation and making sure I'm not taking any unwarranted risks."
The nuclear crises following the earthquake have made the relief process even more complex. Fears of radiation are spreading in Tokyo, with small levels of radioactive iodine recently discovered in tap water, but Jackson said she feels prepared. She has potassium iodide on hand, should levels of radiation become dangerous, and is continually monitoring the situation with the AmeriCares headquarters.
More on Michelle
"I think I'm as concerned as anybody would be as far as not understanding it that well," Jackson said. "Personally, I feel OK but it's definitely one of the biggest concerns here in Tokyo."
Since the initial 9.0 magnitude earthquake, the country has experienced a series of aftershocks; Jackson described the eerie sensation of a seemingly sound, manmade structure suddenly trembling underfoot, as of its own accord.
"I think I would be lying if I said I didn't get rattled in the middle of one of those big aftershocks," Jackson said, adding that the smaller ones "don't seem to faze me anymore."
Aftershocks and building tremors are not the only unnerving aspects of leading a relief effort -- the emotional component of witnessing so much trauma and suffering can be difficult to process in the midst of running a full-scale operation. When Jackson goes to work, her focus is on helping survivors in any way she can, a task that becomes a priority ahead of her own personal response. It's after the job is over, when she's on her way back to the United States, that the emotional impact comes at full force.
"Sometimes its hard to just pick up and go and it doesn't hit you, the adrenaline kicks in and all you think about is how to help these people," Jackson said. "Every time I deploy, it doesn't really hit me until I get home."
For more information, visit www.AmeriCares.org.
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