Help Fiji to recover from Cyclone Winston

Besides being home to some of the heaviest waves on the planet, the beautiful Pacific island nation of Fiji was recently hit by the strongest tropical cyclone on record to make landfall in the southern hemisphere, Cyclone Winston. Entire communities have literally been blown away. Estimates vary, but there may be as many as 51,000 left homeless in the wake of the storm - perhaps more. Many children were swept out to sea and people are having salvage their relatives’ bodies from the wreckage.

Shamefully, the UK government has not yet provided any aid. As a commonwealth nation which still bears the Union Jack on its flag, Fiji should get help from the UK. Australia, New Zealand and France have thrown their weight behind the effort, but not us. A petition has started to get this matter debated in the UK parliament: I hope that those of you who are UK citizens (or happy to pretend that you are) will click on the link and add your name to the petition.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/122974/signatures/new

Additionally, our pal Harry runs a volunteer organization in Fiji called Think Pacific. They are now a major part of the relief effort supplying aid packages, evacuating islands and (eventually) helping with the rebuilding process. You can find more information here: http://fijicyclone.thinkpacific.com/ and if you are willing and able to go one stage further and donate to the cause, then go for it.

Vanuinui vinaka to all XXX