It's Christmas time...

Below is my attempt to try an make the BandAid30 lyrics a little more relevant and specific to the West African Ebola virus disease epidemic. 

I'm not musician, or poet - as you may tell - but I like these lyrics more...and they scan for me!

I've tried to build this while listening to my bought version of the latest BandAid song from iTunes or you can watch the video for the tune - just yell these lyrics over the top!!

It's Christmas time

Sometimes it hard not to be afraid

At Christmas time

We let in light and we banish shade

And in our world of plenty

We can spread a smile of joy

Throw your arms around the world 

At Christmas time

But say a prayer

Pray for less lucky ones

At Christmas time it�s hard

But while you're having fun

Remember a world outside your window

That it's a world less safe than here

Where a farewell kiss can kill you

And that death is much more near

And muddy roads all over

Cause delays that can spell doom

Well tonight we look around

To help you

Bring health and joy this Christmas

To West Africa

A song of hope when hope seems rare tonight (ooh)

Touch now to be spared

Cause that�s how virus is spread

How can you show you want to help at all?

Here's to you

Donate funds for everyone

Here's to them

And all their years to come

Show them that it's Christmas time for all

Come on world

Let�s show them we want to help

Rise up world

Let�s help build a safer place to

Heal the world

Let all know we care for you 

Heal the world

Let them know it�s Christmas time

Come on world

Let�s show them we want to help build

Rise up world

Let�s help build a stronger place to

Heal the world

Let all know we care for you 

Heal the world

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Christmas 2014: give the gift of help...

I wrote a little guide back in August listing some places where one could donate if seeking to help out in the battle to contain Ebola virus and try and prevent more loss of life due to Ebola virus disease (EVD). 

With Christmas day nearly upon us, and many who read this blog likely to be doing something to celebrate it involving the giving of gifts to friends and loved ones, please think about donating to help the fight. 

You can easily add a donation, in the name of your friend or loved one, to help a range of organisations help save lives. I've re-posted my earlier list below in case you need some ideas. These donations can be made online-you can even get in a little Christmas craft and make a "voucher" tells the recipient what they did to help!

And the donation does not need to be limited to EVD of course! These organisations supply aid in many ways to those in all sorts of need. They also have a good record of getting that help to where it really needs to go. In some cases you can see that these guys spend most of your donation on tangible items and real aid - not on administration - a good thing to look out for. 

• M�decins Sans Fronti�res (MSF)They are meticulous, fastidious and well trained so they don't needlessly risk themselves. They are on the front lines everywhere. They have been all over this outbreak from early one. They warned us.
  http://www.msf.org/
• Direct ReliefThey can (and have) mobilize the personal protective equipment (PPE) and other material. They have contacts with others in industry. They are a nexus for getting this done.
  http://www.directrelief.org/
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.They are one the ground helping keep locals informed about Ebola virus
  http://www.ifrc.org/
• United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
  Always finding way to help children. There is a large orphaned population in West Africa due to EVD this year.
  http://www.supportunicef.org
• Ebola Response Fund, United Nations Foundation 
  The UN created this fund as way to allow individuals, corporations and civil society organizations to directly support UN entities in their efforts to respond to the Ebola virus disease outbreak.
  https://secure.globalproblems-globalsolutions.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=5A0017918CF67B11BD1FA907C0DE8C70.app246a?9260.donation=form1&df_id=9260
• Africare
  Among other things, they are helping to outfit health care workers with PPE in West Africa
  http://www.africare.org/
• globalgiving
  Among other things, they help to educate and provide medical supplies to the countries under Ebola virus assault
  http://www.globalgiving.org/
• actionaid
  Spreading awareness about Ebola through village visits, music, explanation, drama...and some pretty cool dancing!
  http://www.actionaid.org/videos/ebola-door-door
• USAID
  Has a link to a range of agencies seeking funds to help stop the EVD epidemic
  http://www.usaid.gov/ebola
• Australia Red Cross: Ebola Outbreak 2014 Appeal
  Providing education, care and aid with burial
  http://www.redcross.org.au/ebola-outbreak-2014-appeal.aspx

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