PHILIPPINES

OUR MOST URGENT 
NEED RIGHT NOW
IS FOR....

 THE FUNDING REQUIRED TO SHIP NOT ONLY
HIS VERY HARD TO LOCATE AND SELDOM

DONATED C-ARM AND OTHER URGENTLY

NEEDED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

BUT ALSO THE FUNDING TO SHIP AN

ADDITIONAL 6 CONTAINERS OF

VERY CRITICALLY NEEDED

HUMANITARIAN RELIEF GOODS

TO THE PHILIPPINES IN RESPONSE TO

THE FLOODING CAUSED BY

TROPICAL STORM

" ONDOY "

A DISASTER OF
EPIC PROPORTIONS 
IN
THE PHILIPPINES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcbTckGR-1o
Double click on this link to watch an example of what was happening here during the flooding

WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN ON THE NEWS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK....

Ondoy like Katrina
Double click on this link for updated information on the floods in the Philippines

Not only are we are in need of the immediate funding required to ship this URGENTLY needed, very hard to locate and fully functional Philipps BV 25 C-Arm Fluoroscopy Machine to the Philippines in Mid October.

This C-Arm, two brand new portable anesthesia machines, and one electro-surgical generator plus several other items of medical equipment and hundreds of boxes of supplies have been set aside for us in the US pending our ability to raise the funds needed to bring them here.

If we don't raise the funds required for this shipment we stand not only the chance of losing this single shipment but the Donor as well.


The estimated cost to bring these very valuable and much needed items which are worth in excess of $ 350,000.00 to the Philippines is $ 18,500.00 +-.

FYI

We have already solicited and are prepared to immediately ship and physically distribute in a safe and direct manner upon arrival ONE forty foot container of very similar items as well as many of the most urgently needed humanitarian relief items needed now to assist the victims of Tropical Storm ONDOY for every $ 18,500.00 that we raise. 

We currently have standing by ready for immediate shipment a minimum of six containers of food, clothing and shelter items for which we need funding.

It takes Approximately 30-45 days to receive any items shipped from the US so we are only accepting those items which, from our many years of experience, will address the needs of the tens of thousands of victims of Tropical storm “ONDOY” that far out.

This is the absolute worst flooding in the Philippines since 1973 and is being called by many, the Katrina of the Philippines.
  
33 barangays ( Barrios or small subdivisions ) in Metro Manila suffered the worst flooding in recent years. These barangays are located in Marikina, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Quezon City, Makati City, Pasay City, Pasig, San Juan and Valenzuela City, where its 32 barangays were submerged.

Officials of the flood-prone city of Malabon reported some 400 people were forced to move to their rooftops in the afternoon during the height of the storm.

Pasay City officials, meanwhile, reported some 12,000 families had been relocated.

Outside of Metro Manila, the towns of Sasmuan, Apalit, San Luis, Sta. Ana, Guagua, Mexico, Candaba, Arayat, Macabebe, and Masantol and the City of San Fernando in Pampanga were flooded as water was released to ease pressure on the Angat Dam.

A total of 31 barangays in Bulacan were also flooded, provincial disaster officials reported yesterday.

Provinces in Central Luzon also sustained damage from the incessant rains brought about by Ondoy.

The Philippine National Red Cross,with whom we have worked very closely with the past 6 years has set up 122 Evacuation centers so far with 15,125 families, which translates into 71, 640 individuals and that is only the current number which have been assisted by the PNRC in some parts of Metro Manila and Makati where we are currently located.

REMEMBER....We can ship and personally deliver one container for every $ 18, 500.00 that we raise.

PLEASE help us help those in need right now by sending us your donation today.  

Immediate Donations can be made online via PayPal on our website which is located at:

http://www.kbi.org/
 
* Or via checks ONLY made payable and sent to:
 
Steps For Recovery
A California 501(c) 3 Tax Exempt Corporation
P.O. Box 67522
Century City, CA 90067

Federal ID # 95-4472343

PLEASE .....clearly mark your donation..... " FOR KNIGHTSBRIDGE "

* Due to the long delays that we have experienced in getting our mail forwarded to us in the Philippines in a timely manner and other issues that are beyond our control, all donations via check are being processed through Steps for Recovery at this time.

///////

UPDATE

 MISSION COMPLETE

ALL 19 PATIENTS THAT SHOWED UP AND COULD BE CLEARED FOR SURGERY WERE SEEN AND TREATED.

ONE YOUNG GIRL WILL BE BROUGHT TO MANILA IN THE NEAR FUTURE
AS HER CASE WILL REQUIRE AT LEAST THREE SEPERATE OPERATIONS TO CORRECT.

AND

FYI

ANOTHER MISSION HAS ALREADY BEEN SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN TAWI TAWI IN OCTOBER 2010.

Our first registered patient

for the October 2010 Mission

*** PLEASE NOTE THAT ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AND INFORMATION ON THIS VERY SUCCESSFUL MEDICAL MISSION WILL BE POSTED WITHIN A THE NEXT FEW DAYS

AS WE ARE ALL PRETTY BUSY RIGHT NOW AS A RESULT OF TROPICAL STORM ONDOY AND

THE DESTRUCTION AND HAVOC THAT IT BROUGHT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES.

INCLUDING SEVERAL OF THE MISSION TEAM MEMBERS WHO ALSO SUFFERED GREAT PERSONAL LOSS

AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY WHILE THEY WERE AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES SERVING THOSE IN NEED,

BUT THANK GOD, NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED.

ANOTHER VERY SUCCESSFUL
JOINT MEDICAL MISSION HAS BEEN COMPLETED

During our Medical Mission to Bongao, Tawi Tawi

which was conducted from
September 23rd thru 26th, 2009

Operation Smile-Philippines

http://www.operationsmile.org.ph/index.php

19 cases of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate and other facial deformity operations were performed
FREE of Charge.

This was a joint Medical Mission between:

Operation Smile-Philippines

Holy Family Hospital, Bongao

The Integrated Provincial Health Office, Tawi Tawi

The Hon. Sadikul Sahali, Al Haj, Governor

The Hon. Ruby Sahali-Tan, Vice-Governor

Provincial Government of Tawi Tawi

Rotary Club of Bongao, R.I. District 3850

Naval Task Force 62 and Philippine Marine Battalion Landing Team 2

American Embassy-JUSMAG-P and JSOTF-P

The Alegado Family Foundation, San Diego, California

The RP UN White Helmets Commission ( DFA )

TEAM Network / CDAG

Singleton - USA

and

Knightsbridge International

Mission sites and other info is posted on this map...
Double click on it to enlarge it...

///////

During the entire month of October
 in association with The Hard Rock Cafe-Makati
we will be presenting a series of
public awareness concerts and performances
as part of the
8th Annual Daniel Pearl World Music Days

" Harmony for Humanity..."
http://www.danielpearlmusicdays.org/

Double click on this image to enlarge it...

2009 PROJECTS UPDATE 

Since January 2009 to date, we have been able to solicit and safely deliver in partnership with various international and local NGOs and GOs, 14 forty foot cargo containers of appropriate medical supplies and equipment, worth millions of dollars which were subsequently distributed FREE of Charge throughout the Philippines.

Some of those partner organizations have been, The Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach Program (HSMO) USA, The American Embassy Manila (JUSMAG-P), The RP UN White Helmets Commission (DFA), The Diplomatic Society of St Gabriel (UN), The Tzu Chi Buddhist Compassion and Relief Foundation-Taiwan and the Philippines, The Century City News, Century City, California,  The Alegado Family Foundation, TEAM Network / CDAG, DisasterLogistics.org, The Congress of The Republic of the Philippines, The Philippine National Police (PNP), The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Physicians for Peace, Philippine General Hospital (PGH) through the Philippine General Hospital Medical Foundation (PGHMFI), Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, The City of Olongapo, The US Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), The III Marine Expeditionary Force from Okinawa, The Armed Forces of the Philippines, The Philippine Marines, The Philippine Navy, The Philippine Air Force, The Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

The following Rotary Clubs here in the Philippines, the US and around the world have all played a very significant role in our many successes over the years:

PHILIPPINES
RC Pasay Silangan,(Makati, Hon. Mbr 2002-2009) http://rotary3810.org/rcpasaysilangan/
RC Clark Centennial, (Angeles City/Clark, Hon. Mbr) http://www.rotaryclubclarkcentennial.org/
http://www.bahaybata.org/ona.htm (2003-2005)
http://www.bahaybata.org/sports/baseball/baseball-100.htm (2005-2007)
RC Conception, (Tarlac)
RC of Cubao, (Quezon City)
RC of Forbes Park, (Makati) http://www.rotaryforbespark.org/

RC of Zamboanga City, (Zamboanga 2009)

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=89473819023

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGKq1M-fAJg
RC of Isabela, (Basilan) http://www.rcbasilan.blogspot.com/
RC of Bongao, (Tawi Tawi 2005-2009) 
RC of Pasay Southeast (Pasay City 2007-2009) http://rotary3810.org/rcpasaysoutheast/
Rotary International District 3810 www.rotary3810.org
Rotary International District 3850
USA

RC of Century City, Century City, California (Hon. Mbr. 2002-2009) http://centurycityrotary.com/index.php

http://centurycityrotary.com/portfolio_details.php?ID=19

RC of Ojai, Ojai, California (2006-2009) http://www.ojairotary.org
RC of Woodland Hills, Woodland Hills, California (Hon. Mbr. 2005-2009)
RC of Wilmette Harbor, Willmette, Illinois (2007)
RC of Wilmette, Wilmette, Illinois (2007)
RC of Highland, Highland, Illinois (2007)
Rotary International District 6450, Temple Solar Project (SOLAR OVENS)
http://www.rotary6450.org/tools/fckeditor/UploadFolder/TSOknightsbridgei_intl.pdf
AFGHANISTAN, (2002)
SRI LANKA, (2004)
COSTA RICA
RC of Puntarenas, (2006)
NIGER
RC Club of Agadez, (2007) 
TIBET
ChaZhu Valley Clinic, (2007)
http://www.tibetanaid.org/tibetan_aid_foundation/new_letter/medical_suplies.htm
ARGENTINA
RC of Santa Fe, (Las Parejas, Santa Fe 2007)

February, March, April, May, June, July, August

In March and April we were invited by the US Embassy JUSMAG to assist with the planning and execution of a series of COMRELS (Community Relations) in partnership with the III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa under their OPERATION GOOD WILL, a program where the military personnel and civilian dependants of the III MEF collect, sort and pack large boxes of high quality, new and used articles of clothing and toys which are then shipped to various locations where they are personally distributed by members of the III MEF and their local counterparts in the host country.  These are very high impact community outreach opportunities for the various elements to work side by side in some of the most depressed areas of the Philippines.  Thousands of these COMREL Boxes were shipped to the Philippines and distributed throughout the country from Pampanga Province up to and including our visits to Jolo in June and July of this year. Several hundred are still being stored at the Santo Nino Parish, in Pandacan for use during a national disaster or flood in the poorest areas of Pandacan or Boseco which happens each and every year about this time.  In addition to the handovers of these COMREL boxes the teams of volunteers also repaired and painted several school classrooms in Pampanga Province, and a clinic at a convent in Pandacan.

Participants in these COMRELS were:

The men and women of the III Marine Expeditionary Force and their families and friends in Okinawa.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, Army, Navy, Airforce and Marines.

The Philippine National Police.

The leadership and numberous volunteers of the Santo Nino Parish, Pandacan, Manila.

The Volunteer members of the RP UN White Helmets Commission ( DFA )

The Volunteers from TEAM Network and CDAG.

The Men and Women volunteers of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The US Embassy JUSMAG and JSOTF-P.

Singleton-USA

and

Knightsbridge International

We have once again been invited to participate in these COMREL Missions in Mid 2010

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Operation Smile-Philippines

http://www.operationsmile.org.ph/index.php

May

In May we were given an opportunity to participate in our first Medical Mission with Operation Smile-Philippines where 100 children were scheduled to receive FREE Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate surgeries in Cauayan, Isabela between May 14th and May 16th, 2009. Our partners for this incredible mission were, The RP UN White Helmets Commission (DFA ), The Diplomatic Society of Saint Gabriel, and Singleton-USA

JUNE AND JULY

MUSICAL MISSION COMPLETED

Check out John's blog on this website

http://www.flutesacrosstheworld.org/

and then

See what happened when John Zeretzke took Flutes Across the World to Zamboanga City, Philippines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGKq1M-fAJg

Flutes Across the World

Flutes Across the World, Knightsbridge Intel., The RP UN White Helmets Commission (DFA), Singleton Worldwide-USA and Team Network / CDAG, the Rotary Clubs of Zamboanga City and Isabela, Basilan have joined forces and will bring this innovative youth oriented music program to Jolo, Sulu Province, Zamboanga City, Isabela, Basilan and Manila in Mid July 2009

http://www.vimeo.com/5188811

Internationally renowned musician, John Zeretzke, will travel with Knightsbridge Intl. , The RP UN White Helmets Commission (DFA) Singleton-USA and TEAM Network / CDAG to join a surgical team from Operation Smile-Philippines, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center and The Healing Hands Foundation on a humanitarian mission in Mid July in association with and coordinated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and US Military JSOTF-P to provide FREE life changing cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries and the gift of music to more than 37 children in the Southern Philippines. John will be bring 120 flutes made by 5th grade students in Ojai, CA, especially for this project. And an additional 20 flutes which were made especially for this program last week by counselors at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, in Los Angeles, California where John has worked with Campers for more than 10 years as a volunteer.

Original music by John Zeretzke.

Footage from BEYOND THE CALL used with permission.

http://www.beyondthecallthemovie.com/

Adrian Belic's " Beyond the Call..." PBS Independent Lens

http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/beyondthecall/film.html

Below are links to SOME of the projects that we have engaged in here in the Philippines within the past three months alone.

Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines
 Knightsbridge Intl and other NGO and GO Partners

JSOTF-P delivers medical supplies to Camp Navarro General Hospital

http://jsotf-p.blogspot.com/2009/08/jsotf-p-delivers-medical-supplies-to.html

International cooperation brings new smiles to Jolo

http://jsotf-p.blogspot.com/2009/07/international-cooperation-brings-new.html

AFP, JSOTF-P, Local and International NGO Partners Turn Over Education,
Livelihood Projects and Distribute Relief Packages to Sulu Communities

http://jsotf-p.blogspot.com/2009/07/afp-jsotf-p-turn-over-education.html

Flutes Across the World Visits Jolo in July 2009

http://www.flutesacrosstheworld.org/

INFORMATION ON MISSION SITES
AND LINKS TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

Tawi Tawi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawi-Tawi


http://www.tageo.com/index-e-rp-v-72-d-m3332125.htm?Bongao


http://encarta.msn.com/map_701531234/tawitawi_group.html


Jolo Island, Sulu Province

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulu


http://www.tageo.com/index-e-rp-v-60-d-m3349520.htm?Jolo


http://encarta.msn.com/map_701516830/sulu_archipelago.html

Basilan Island

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilan


http://www.tageo.com/index-e-rp-v-22-d-m3349025.htm?Isabela


http://encarta.msn.com/map_701510819/Basilan_Island.html

PLEASE VISIT THIS BLOG OFTEN AS

MANY ADDITIONAL PHOTOS LINKS AND POSTS ARE FORTHCOMING

City of Olongapo (2003-2009)

http://subicbaynews.blogspot.com/search?q=knightsbridge

UPDATE

COMPLETED IN 2009

Myanmar

We were once again able to provide for the housing for the local MaMa's Hope Haven Orphanage / Group Home which was established several years ago by our very good friend Ms. Rachel Trovi, with whom we have worked for years in the Philippines. The 24 Children and 4 adults living there now have a very clean and safe enviornment through at least August 2010.

Michael D Carlin's, A Prescription for PEACE.... is now available on Amazon.com

A Prescription for Peace: A Practical Guide (Paperback)

by Michael Douglas Carlin (Author), Elmer V. PHD Sayre (Contributor), Brian Douglas Carlin (Cover Design)

Editorial Reviews
Product DescriptionThe world of the haves and the have nots is antiquated. The coming world is of the haves and the have mores…this is a nuts and bolts approach to today’s problems with concrete solutions to bring about an era of peace. Included in this work is Marlon Brando’s solution to feed the world. The philosophy behind the book comes from following the works of Sir Edward Artis who has traveled the world and brought relief to some of the most dangerous places in the world. Millions of dollars get raised in the United States to solve problems and a lot of that money never hits the mark. We can continue doing the same things and the problems will not get solved. But doing the same thing will not lead to solutions. Solutions will come when ordinary citizens rise and do the work themselves. This book outlines solutions!

http://www.amazon.com/Prescription-Peace-Practical-Guide/dp/1427631239/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212984077&sr=8-6

Knightsbridge International Relief Mission # 1 to Myanmar

We have just wrapped up our FIRST Mission in to Myanmar during which we have accomplished the following:

Located the local MaMa's Hope Haven Orphanage / Group Home in North Dagon Township a suburb of Yangon, which was established by our very good friend Ms. Rachel Trovi, with whom we have worked for years in the Philippines, and provided them with a large truckload of urgently needed items such as food, bedding etc. as well as some financial support for their continued operation. We currently have our local volunteer staff, Ms Hto and Ms Ada looking for a NEW property where these 25 Children and 4 Adults can move.

The website listed below will give you some information on Mama Rachel's very substantial operations in the Philippines.

Ma' Ma Children's Center of Norway
http://www.mama-children.org/english/organization.htm

We established a partnership with Zawgyi Care, a very well run local NGO that has been providing a series of very effective Medical Services and Feeding Programs since three days after Cyclone Nagis devastated the delta region of Myanmar. Each week they have managed to feed between 3,000 and 5,000 people and they are now looking into the possible purchase of small Rotor Tillers at a cost of approximately $ 900.00 each for use by the farmers. If they decide that this is an appropriate program, we will join them in that as well. http://www.zawgyicare.org/

We met and agreed to partner with another very small, newly formed group of Australian Expats currently working and living in Yangon who have started a program where they are buying Water Buffalos that will be provided to farmers in the devastated area. We will provide funding as requested when this program has been finalized. Local Water Buffalo, Bullocks and Cattle that can be used for farming are available and can be purchased for anywhere from $ 400.00 - $ 500.00 each with the equipment necessary for working in the rice paddies. They have also started building houses in some of areas where they have been granted access. We will assist them in those efforts as well, IF asked.

We have also agreed to work with a very large local construction company who is about to build a NEW 100 bed civilian hospital in Bogale, one of the hardest hit areas in the path of the Cyclone. They will build the facility and we will assist as much as possible in providing certain items of medical equipment needed to outfit that facility. They have also started to build houses which cost approximately $ 1,000.00 each. We will try to support the construction of as many of these as possible.

We did meet "informally and unofficially" with some Government Representatives and started a dialogue wherein we have been assured that we will be granted permission to return to Myanmar to continue our humanitarian efforts.

In closing, I ask that you not forget the people of Myanmar simply because it is no longer front page news. If you can remember the images that you may have seen of the Tsunami in 2004 you have a very good idea of what it was like for these very simple, gentle people in the Delta when that Cyclone hit. People lost everything...their families, their property, their hope...you can give them some of those things back by continuing to support efforts like ours or those of the other countless Local and International NGOs who continue to do their best to help those in need.

Thank you,

Ed Artis-Bangkok, Thailand
Thursday July 10. 2008

NEW PHOTOS WILL SOON BE POSTED

UPDATE... Yangon, Myanmar June 25, 2008

Hello...I thought I'd post a brief update on what we are up to here in Myanmar....and what we have been able to accomplish during the past 13 days...

We now have dependable Internet service in our room...NOT always available here...three local SIM cards for our hand phones ...and while they do not allow us to make outgoing International Calls...they do allow us to communicate with other team members and our local NGO partners......Our Biz Cards are now in English / Myanmar / Burmese...We have car with reasonable air conditioning and a very good driver who understands English and actually knows where he is going....We also have some VERY good local contacts thanks to our good friends Chris C and Steve R...and three vetted, well organized local NGO partners and some cash which has been converted in to the local currency ready for our swoop thru the area.

Today we bought a truck load of food, medicines, clothing and other urgently needed items that we will deliver tomorrow to very dedicated young local couple who run a small orphanage with 19 children just outside Yangon...we met them through some good friends in the Philippines.

This coming Saturday we will be buying the first 6 Water Buffalo for a local version of The Buffalo Bank that we assisted setting up in the Philippines in 2002.

Next Saturday, July 5 th we have been invited to join another local NGO we have partnered with as they go into the devastated area to provide food to approx 2,500 people.

All in all I feel that we have done pretty well considering the real time situation that exists here.

Once again we have accomplished more with less.

Thank you for your interest in what we are trying to do here in Myanmar and elsewhere around the world...IF you are interested in supporting these efforts financially you can make a donation online thru Pay Pal on our website located at www.kbi.org or by sending a check made out to:

Knightsbridge International,
PO Box 4394
West Hills, CA 91308-4394

Ed Artis-Yangon, Myanmar
Wednesday June 25, 2008

PS....The Photos that I have posted were taken in the small office that we have set up in our hotel in Yangon.

KI Humanitarian Mission to Myanmar

We currently have a small advance team working in Myanmar going through the process by which the required approvals are granted for any organization to be allowed to work in this country.

It is not a complicated process if you know someone who has been working here before and we have been lucky enough to meet a couple people here who have agreed to open some doors for us whereby we have been able to get our application before the decision makers within the first five days after our arrival. We should have a decision within the next five to seven days.

Unfortunatey there are a great many NGOs here, both large and small going through this process now and many of them are of the opinion that these approvals should simply be given with zero review or application process. This is like no other place in the world where we have worked...it is their way or no way...and trying to force the issue only sends you into a slot where you will be stuck waiting in your Hotel for...in some cases a month or more.

Great people here and I am optimistic that we will know very soon what future, IF ANY we may have here.

Sir Edward Artis
Yangon, Myanmar