This child lost his entire family in the earthquake
This is one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the world. It's in Pakistan,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Iran, Niger, China,
Japan, Guatemala, India, Russia, Malaysia, Sir Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand,
Maldives, Somalia, Iraq, Lebanon, Palastine,…
Thousands of people, men, women, children, families and grandparents are fleeing
for their lives. Thousands upon thousands are feared already dead. Several towns
have been completely flattened. Entire populations have vanished. Thousands of children
and families are crushed below collapsed buildings. These are not exaggerated numbers.
It's hard to for a person's mind to grasp the magnitude and know how to feel about so much
death and devastation. We feel so helpless to do anything. Thousand upon thousands of people
are waiting to be rescued. Most are without food, or shelter and are dieing from the heat, cold,
and dehydration. Many are in desperate need of medical assistance and medication. Federal, state,
and local authorities are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the destruction and number of victims.
The power station outages are widespread and have caused blackouts in widespread towns and even in
adjoining states that were outside the disaster area. The roads are impassable. Crime, looting,
fires have flared up everywhere. Pets and wild animals are scarred, traumatized, and in the streets.
Hundreds of hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, public, government, and emergency facilities have been
destroyed or so badly damaged that they are out of service. Even the very old, the critically ill patients,
and those in emergency surgery can not be reached in time. Most of them will die before help arrives.
"THEM?"
A short film by Albert V. Sheppard
Be patient. Video may take a few moments to begin.
Watch this short video, “White House - Disaster and Environment.”
The original content, my first film attempt, was produced by me, Albert V. Sheppard, and my two class teammates,
Jennifer L. Nord, and Brendon Nystedt while at West Valley College in Saratoga, California as student
filmakers. I re-cut and edited the film to produce the current video for my Humanities 432 class project and our class professor,
Neha Dave, at DeVry University in Fremont while completing my Bachelor of Science degree in Technology Management and
Biomedical Engineering. Credits run at the end of the film with thanks for clips that I borrowed from other videos. Some permissions
are still pending. As you will notice, the film and this website is not for any commercial purpose nor profit. I am not fund raising.
I have no ulterior motive or other agenda for this website. ...and I don't send out junk mail. It is my intent to bring attention and
action to our common world problems in my small way and I hope you will do the same.
We need 1000's of ways that people can help to make the world better as well as to avoid or to recover from disasters and other human and
planet tragedies
...sound naive? You'd be surprised what can be accomplished when one thinks about it. Think of something. DO SOMETHING!!! Any little thing or a BIG THING!
“What Your Mind Can Conceive and Believe,
Your Mind Can Achieve”
This was Albert's adopted slogan and philosophy even before he heard of Barack Obama.
Now EVERYONE CAN Believe!!! …that They CAN achieve!!!
I began this site in 2005
…but NOW we have part of the solution as to How Can We Help “THEM”
In 2008, Albert Sheppard was appointed a “FELLOW” by the Barack Obama Campaign for the Presidency of the United States
to work as an “ORGANIZER” for Barack.
It's an amazing story and a brief view of the book that I am writing -- “How Obama Did It From The Grass Roots Up.” I put
my life, my business, and my MBA graduate studies at Keller Graduate School of Management on hold and agreed to be re-located and drove
over 1821 miles from my home in California to Iowa -- one of the states that needed “Fellows” and “Organizers”
immediately for the campaign. I was trained in Des Moine Iowa before being assigned with my team to to work as an “ORGANIZER”
based in Waterloo Iowa. This was my chance to do something MORE to HELP get Barack Obama elected, to HELP “THEM”, and to
HELP America and the world get on the right track for the future. Here are a few photos from the campaign. I will post more of about
this experience, photos, videos, and the presidential campaign grass-roots stories here in updates. I documented the campaign
with hundreds of photos, notes, Barack Obama campaign memorabilia, videos, and stories. Check back. It's a major event in world HISTORY.
Albert V. Sheppard will forever be proud that he gave up part of his life, left home, and worked to get Barack Obama elected as President of the United States
Albert V. Sheppard training as a Fellow in Des Moines Iowa for the Barack Obama Campaign for the Presidency of the United States
Albert V. Sheppard (bottom of photo -- third from left) training as a Fellow in Des Moines Iowa for the Barack Obama Campaign for the Presidency of the United States
Albert V. Sheppard (third from left) at completion of training as a Fellow in Des Moines Iowa for the Barack Obama Campaign for the Presidency of the United States
Albert V. Sheppard, other Fellows, and Tripp Wellde at completion of training as a Fellow in Des Moines Iowa for the Barack Obama Campaign for the Presidency of the United States
Albert V. Sheppard, one of the Fellows performing the duties of an Organizer is seen here at his desk in Waterloo Iowa at the Black Hawk County Barack Obama Campaign office
Albert marched in city parades in Iowa for the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign in June and July of 2008. This Barack Obama campaign photo
of June Teenth parade in Des Moines Iowa June 2008
Email me by clicking here with at least one good idea to be posted on this site. We would also like to list all charity
organizations and aid workers. If you are part of such a group, please send the group name here and contact information.
Get your children involved in national, local and world service
.
Ask them to think of ways that people should help, but we need your ideas too.
War, terrorism, genocide, floods, mud slides, tsunamis, fires, earthquakes, volcanic eruption with ash and lava flows,
poisonous gases, radiation, meteorites, avalanches, hurricanes, tornadoes, dust storms, sand storms, drought, land slides,
plague, insect born viruses, animal born viruses, air-born viruses, deadly micro-organisms...
Disaster in Pakistan, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Iran, Niger, China,
Japan, Guatemala, India, Russia, Malaysia, Sir Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand,
Maldives, Somalia, Iraq, Lebanon, Palastine,…
See Geoff Mackley's (Film maker - Storm chaser - Volcano Photographer - Mountaineer - Adventure Cameraman) full photo of this boy.
Does this sound familiar? Perhaps all too familiar. Natural disasters are happening increasingly around the
planet. We live on a violent planet and we are unprepared to deal with the magnitude of human suffering caused by natural disasters,
disease, conficts, and wars.
Telemedicine is the most cost-effective and efficient system to provide health care; and it offers the promise of helping
to democratize and equalize the “availability” and the “best possible healthcare” to people worldwide.
This book was required reading in my Economics 312 Course at DeVry University in Fremont California with Professor Abhay Ghiara.
Some students wondered why he required this additional book in an economics class while other intructors who taught the class
didn't require it. As a hint, the professor travels everywhere possible on his bicycle. The class and this book taught me more
than economics. It taught me about the world, humanity, helping others, compassion, the brave common people who took a stand to
MAKE A DIFFERENCE -- and my own responsibility to DO SOMETHING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I am happy that it was required for my education;
and I believe it should be Required Reading For Everyone In The World!
Albert V. Sheppard
I hope you will find it in your library,
bookstore, or get it here online by clicking here:
Connect with women of Armenia; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Georgia; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Moldova; Russia; Tajikistan;
Turkmenistan; Ukraine; Uzbekistan and in the Baltic states (Estonian: Balti riigid,
Latvian: Baltijas valstis, Lithuanian: Baltijos valstybes)
Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia Division: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Uzbekistan
East Central and South-East Europe Division:Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine
No matter who you are, there is something that you can do that fits your time, your finances, or your lifestyle.
If you ask yourself, "How can I help THEM? please check back here periodically. Email for making the site better as well as
ideas ideas for posting to make the world a better place.
A Seriously Injured Young Girl Being Carried By A Disaster Aid Soldier
Childred are made homeless
A father carries his injured young son
Total Destruction Of Homes, Hospitals, Businesses, and, Apartments -- Thousands upon thousands -- Whole families and animals buried, killed, injured, and trapped under tons of concrete and steel. Where do you start?
- Albert V. Sheppard -- You can make a difference -- One Can Make A Difference --
charity, Charities, Red Cross, Christian Children's Fund, United Way, Methodist, Episcopalian, Presperterian, Othodox Russian Greek, Catholic Charities, Catholicism, Baptist, Muslim, Hindu, Buddist, Shinto, Naturalist, Atheist, Agnostic, Agnosticism, Mormon, Mormons, Temple, Church, Cathedral, Bible, Koran, Shintoism, Islam, Good Samaritan, Children's Hospital, St. Jude, Aid workers, Doctors Without Borders, United Nations, Peace Keepers,
Life and living on a violent planet
THEM - ACT
EXT. A VIOLENT PLANET --ESTABLISHING SHOT -- DAY
FADE IN
Set up scene...
OUTER SPACE ASTRONAUTS VIEW OF A PEACEFUL PLANET EARTH.
THE BIRTH OF STARS AND SUNS; AND BLACK HOLES
Several family shots (different races and world cultures. Busy street scenes people moving about typical big city normal work day including modern city and ox-drawn cart with people in a third world developing country.
FACES OF PEOPLE HAPPY; CHILDREN PLAYING.
BEAUTIFUL SUNSETS, BLUE OCEAN AND VACATIONERS ON PACIFIC ISLAND BEACHES.
A SLEEPING BABY
EXT. DARK TRANSITION -- NIGHT
CUT TO TOTAL BLACKNESS
The MUSIC continues as...
TITLE SHOT ON SCREEN -- LARGE BUT UN-REMARKABLE - "THEM"
A Disturbing collage of sound tracks of emergency sirens, screams, explosions, rumblings, the crack of lightning, heavy rain, and loud disturbing music.
A COLLAGE OF THE WORST NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE LAST 100 YEARS. THE SHOTS CUT BACK AND FORTH FROM DISTANT LONG SHOTS TO MEDIUM AND CLOSE SHOTS OF THE DEVASTATION TO PROPERTY THEN TO LONG SHOTS THAT ZOOM TO MEDIUM, CLOSE, AND EXTREME CLOSE UPS OF EMOTIONAL VICTIMS OF ALL RACES, AGES, AND CULTURES IN TERRIBLE DISTRESS.
INT. WAITING ROOM -- DAY
JANICE and other people are watching a disaster - Hurricane Katrina and Rita - coverage on TV and reading about it in newspapers and listening to THE NARRATOR
NARRATOR
(Excitedly))
This is one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the world. Thousands of people, men, women, children, families and grandparents are fleeing for their lives. Thousands upon thousands are feared already dead. Several towns have been completely flattened. Entire populations have vanished. Thousands of children and families are crushed below collapsed buildings. These are not exaggerated numbers. It's hard to for a person's mind to grasp the magnitude and know how to feel about so much death and devastation. We feel so helpless to do anything. Thousand upon thousands of people are waiting to be rescued. Most are without food, or shelter and are dyeing from the heat, cold, and dehydration. Many are in desperate need of medical assistance and medication. Federal, state, and local authorities are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the destruction and number of victims. The power station outages are widespread and have caused blackouts in widespread towns and even in adjoining states that were outside the disaster area. The roads are impassable. Crime, looting, fires have flared up everywhere. Pets and wild animals are scarred, traumatized, and in the streets. Hundreds of hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, public, government, and emergency facilities have been destroyed or so badly damaged that they are out of service. Even the very old, the critically ill patients, and those in emergency surgery can not be reached in time. Most of them will die before help arrives.
ACT
EXT. DISASTER AREA -- THE HELPERS -- DAY
HELPERS IN ACTION. PRIVATE GOVERNMENT, NON-PROFIT, AND CORPORATE PEOPLE AND GROUPS IN ACTION HELPING WITH SEARCH AND RESCUE, SEARCH AND RESCUE DOG TEAMS, MEDICAL, FOOD DISTRIBUTION, FOOD KITCHENS, SETTING UP TENTS, DISTRIBUTING BLANKETS, HELICOPTERING VICTIMS, BOATING AND CARRYING VICTIMS, COMFORTING PEOPLE, TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN.
NARRATOR
Funds of money are being pledged to help the victims and to rebuild the properties and the people live's. As usual, there are people already here helping. Large numbers of people and charitable aid groups have already deployed here to help. These are ordinary people working alongside fire fighters, police, military, and government workers. Who are these HELPERS? Where do they come from? Why do they interrupt their lives or plans to help others? It seems that it is always this same small segment of the world population that cares and does the lions share to help.
TV COVERAGE OF APPEALS FOR HELP
INT. HER LIVING ROOM AT HOME - EVENING
JANICE
Janice reads the newspaper about the disaster and looks over the top of the paper to the TV to see the disaster coverage and appeals for help.
LATER
INT. JANICE'S BEDROOM - EVENING
Janice gets ready for bed, yawns excessively as she flips channel, then looks and the TV coverage for one final glance, then says, "Enough", and snaps the TV off.
(Time passes as light fades to dark and Janice falls asleep)
THE CAMERA OVERLAYS JANICE SLEEPING COMFORTABLY WITH SCENES OF VICTIMS HOMELESS AND MISERABLE.
FADE TO BLACK
VOICE 1
(Excited and Urgent)
Help them!
JANICE
Still asleep -No reply - total darkness
VOICE 1
(Louder this time)
Help them!!!!
JANICE
Janice springs up into a sitting position in bed as lights come on mysteriously.
(Shocked and scared)
VOICE 1
(Softly and with empathy)
Help them!
JANICE
(Defiantly)
What?!!
VOICE 1
(strongly)
Help them!!!!
JANICE
Scared again crouching up against the head of the bed and drawing up the covers to her neck. Then reaching for the phone.
Help who? Who are you? What's going on? How did get in here. I'm calling the police.
The phone is dead. She taps the phone plunger trying to get a dial tone but gets none.
JANICE
What do you want. I have no money!
VOICE 1
(Long drawn stretched out plea)
Help Them!
SUDDENLY ALL THREE CHARACTERS APPEAR IN THE FRAME. THE SIDE PROFILES OF THE VOICES SNAP IN TO WITHIN INCHES OF JANICE'S RIGHT AND LEFT EAR, RESPECTIVELY, AND WHISPER AUDIBLY AND IN RAPID FIRE SUCCESSION - EACH VOICE TRYING TO OUT-TALK THE OTHER SIMULTANEOUSLY - A TIGHT SHOT OF ALL THREE FACES
CAMERA ZOOMS SLOWLY TO EXTREME CLOSE UP OF JANICE'S EYES. SHE IS TERRIFIED BY THESE COMPETING VOICES BUT UNABLE TO MOVE. WITHOUT MOVING HER HEAD HER EYES SWITCH FROM ONE VOICE TO THE OTHER AS A CONVINCING ARGUMENT IS HEARD. HER FACE REMAINS STRAIGHT AHEAD. ONLY HER EYES MOVE AND EXPRESS HER TERROR AND CONFUSION. HER FACE WINCES, SQUIRMS, AND CONTORTS TRYING TO IGNORE OR CLOSE OUT THE VOICES, BUT SHE CAN NOT MOVER HER HEAD, HER HANDS, OR HER BODY. THE CAMERA SNAPS TO DIFFERENT P.O.V.'S AS EACH VOICE SPEAKS. SHOT JANICE'S P.O.V., VOICE 1'S P.O.V., VOICE 2'S P.O.V. AUDIENCE'S P.O.V. MULTIPLE OTHER SHOTS TO CREATE THE EFFECT OF ACTION FOR THIS OTHERWISE STATIC SCENE SEQUENCE.
VOICE 2
(simultaneously with Voice 1 trying to talk-over voice 1)
Don't help them! You have your own problems. You don't know them. What are they to you? That's why you have to think about yourself. Save yourself. What of it we'll deal with that when the time comes. You are struggling right now with finances. Your heart is in the right place. You want to help out but you can't right now. You can't afford a dime to give away to strangers even if you wanted to help. There are plenty of others to help them. Don't worry about it. It's not your fault that this happened. Don't let anyone put a guilt trip on you. Go on with your life. You will be able to do more when you accomplish your goals first. Those people had an option. They didn't have to be there. That was their choice. They knew this could happen! Most are so stupid they are going to do the same thing again if they survive. Let the police, fire-fighters, Coast Guard and military, and government handle it. That's what our taxes are for ...and charities they are just going to waste the money in administrative costs. You DON'T have time! You can't take any time off! It will mess up your own life. You have responsibilities to yourself and your family. There is nothing that you can do. You are just ONE person. There is TOO MUCH DEVASTATION for YOU to make a DIFFERENCE. Don't feel bad there are millions of others just like you who won't help either. All of you have VERY LEGITIMATE REASONS for not helping right now. Why SHOULD you help? None of them ever helped you. Your tired. You've had a hard day. All this news has worn you out. It's better to turn it off and go to sleep. It will all be over soon.
VOICE 1
You MUST help them. There IS no one else. They are part of the human race. We MUST help each other. We live on a violent planet. The chances are that one day you too will need help. Don't lie to yourself. There's never going to be a perfect time or perfect situation for you to help. The time is now. These people are suffering now! How are you going to help them later if they are dead? The government can not do everything alone. We, the people must pull together. Every ONE makes a BIG difference. You must get involved in some way small or large. We live on a very violent planet. Disaster can strike anywhere at any time. We can never be totally safe. It's not all about money. Donations are needed. Major charities do a good job keeping their expenses down so that the money helps the people who need it. Major charities have save countless millions of lives and helped countless millions of people. How many have you saved? How many have you helped? They can do more to help and purchase more with each dollar than you ever. They have the personnel and are organized to take action and to distribute help. There are thousands of other ways that you can help people. You are part of the human family. You have responsibilities that are outside your small circle in this world. That's the point. There are millions of people who like you will not help because others like you aren't helping either. What if you were the only one not helping? It has the same morality and the judgment upon you life and humanity shall be the same. Are you not outraged? All of us together CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Even ONE MAKES A DIFFERENCE! Your INACTION will be just as much a cause of these people's suffering and death as the natural disaster itself. Do you not feel empathy for people. It is the essence of a soul? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you do not help, do not expect to receive help. Why are you here? Why are you alive? How can you sleep in your nice comfortable bed without helping.
JANICE
Janice's eyes transition from fear, shock, bewilderment, confusion, and finally to intense sadness and empathy as her eyes tear as she sees...
SCENES FADE IN AND OVERLAY ONTO JANICE'S FACE OF TRAGIC DISASTER FOOTAGE THAT SHE IS RECALLING FROM THE NEW COVERAGE. THEN FOCUS BACK IN TO HER TEARING EYES. FADE INTO FIST INTERVIEW. THE BACKGROUND MUSIC IS DRAMATICALLY SAD BUT UPBEAT TONE TO SET THE TONE FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL ACT 3 - THE INTERVIEWS.
INT. INTERVIEW - DAY
INTERVIEWER
(Never on screen. The interviewed subjects repeat the question that is asked, but the Interviewer is never seen and never heard. Give each interview subject this orientation and these questions. Second, do a filmed practice run. Third, tell the interview subject what was the most relevant information that he or she gave in the practice interview and ask if he or she would be sure to include it again in the final shooting. Fourth, shoot the interview a final time. Keep both the practice and the final interview for editing.)
Think and Grow Rich video
The purpose of this interview is to discover and answer the question, what are all the different reason why YOU help in disasters or when other people are in trouble. We hope that your personal reasons may inspire others to do the same. We know that each person is different so we are mainly interested in what motivates YOU to help. Can you tell us of any situation where you responded to an emergency or disaster to help people in trouble physically, charitably, or otherwise?
A MONTAGE OF STILL SHOTS OF THE HELPERS THAT WE INTERVIEWED WHILE NARRATOR VOICE OVER IS HEARD
NARRATOR
Floods, mud slides, tsunamis, fires, earthquakes, volcanic eruption with ash and lava flows, poisonous gases, radiation, meteorites, avalanches, hurricanes, tornadoes, dust storms, sand storms, drought, land slides, plague, air-born, insect and animal born viruses and deadly micro-organisms... Pakistan, Iran, Niger and other areas of Africa, China, Japan, the Caribbean, Guatemala, India, Russia, Malaysia, Sir Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, Maldives, Somalia, finally disasters stuck America and you still You did nothing and others did little. What are your excuses the and reason for doing NOTHING and non-action, and non-participation. After the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, even a group of homeless people took up a collection to help the victims. The odds of a disaster of one type or another happening to you, your family and close friends in your lifetime is likely ONE HUNDRED PERCENT certain. It can happen when you are at home, at work, in school, shopping, on the road, traveling, vacationing, visiting, on the way home, or hiding in a bunker. Nevertheless that is NOT the primary reason that you should become a Helper. You are part of the human race. We ALL are living on this violent planet. You are part of the world family. There is always SOMETHING that YOU can do small or large. I appeal to your head as well as your heart. Consider this. When you are injured, do not the cells of your body rise to the occasion, take action to heal your wounds and stop the pain, stop the bleeding, and stop the suffering? The GREATEST essence and purpose of life is to sustain itself. We too are all CELLS of the human race. It starts within you and is extended to all others on the planet. You are not too small to make a difference. Consider yourself like a tiny electron. Even the tiniest action you take will set forces into motion that will reverberate throughout the world for an eternity. Like an infinite line of billions of tiny falling dominos. One tiny domino can affect billions. Each action you take has consequences around the world. You will not always see the affect you are creating, but it is inevitable nevertheless. Your failure to take any action and your failure to help ALSO has consequences -- BAD CONSEQUENCES. Stretch out and help. Extend the value and essence of your own life by helping to heal and save others. Don't just make a commitment by saying, "One of these days I will help." Words are cheap. More than a commitment to yourself is needed. We are all interconnected in life. Find the power and strength to DO SOMETHING. You CAN do SOMETHING TODAY to make a difference TODAY. Here are some ways. If you can't remember want to see these and a thousand other ways to help go to THEM.COM. Again that is T.H.E.M dot Com. Them.Com!!!
ROLL CREDITS WITH A MINIMUM OF 100 DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THOSE WATCHING CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP NOW. START WITH THEM.COM. -BUT NOT JUST WEB SITES!!!! FINISH CREDITS WITH THE FILM MAKER TEAM NAMES, DATES, COPYRIGHTS NOTICE, ETC.
This is one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the world. It's in Pakistan,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Iran, Niger, China,
Japan, Guatemala, India, Russia, Malaysia, Sir Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand,
Maldives, Somalia, Iraq, Lebanon, Palastine,…
Thousands of people, men, women, children, families and grandparents are fleeing
for their lives. Thousands upon thousands are feared already dead. Several towns
have been completely flattened. Entire populations have vanished. Thousands of children
and families are crushed below collapsed buildings. These are not exaggerated numbers.
It's hard to for a person's mind to grasp the magnitude and know how to feel about so much
death and devastation. We feel so helpless to do anything. Thousand upon thousands of people
are waiting to be rescued. Most are without food, or shelter and are dieing from the heat, cold,
and dehydration. Many are in desperate need of medical assistance and medication. Federal, state,
and local authorities are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the destruction and number of victims.
The power station outages are widespread and have caused blackouts in widespread towns and even in
adjoining states that were outside the disaster area. The roads are impassable. Crime, looting,
fires have flared up everywhere. Pets and wild animals are scarred, traumatized, and in the streets.
Hundreds of hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, public, government, and emergency facilities have been
destroyed or so badly damaged that they are out of service. Even the very old, the critically ill patients,
and those in emergency surgery can not be reached in time. Most of them will die before help arrives.
charity, Charities, Red Cross, Christian Children's Fund, United Way, Methodist, Episcopalian, Presperterian, Othodox Russian Greek,
Catholic Charities, Catholicism, Baptist, Muslim, Hindu, Buddist, Shinto, Naturalist, Atheist, Agnostic, Agnosticism, Mormon, Mormons,
Temple, Church, Cathedral, Bible, Koran, Shintoism, Islam, Good Samaritan, Children's Hospital, St. Jude, Aid workers, Doctors Without
Borders, United Nations, Peace Keepers,
