Haiti needs our Help

Ok, here's the deal - the Canadian government has agreed to match Canadians donations up to $50 million towards to efforts to help in Haiti. I really want to take them up on that offer and raise money for a country that has been struck by everything from extraordinary poverty (they are the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere), war, and now this devastating earthquake.

I live in Alberta, and since I was a small child I have felt an immense gratitude for that. We are prosperous, natural disasters are rare and limited in their destruction, we have plenty of natural resources and beauty, and, this may sound silly, but we have no rats and that makes me ridiculously happy (yes, for all you international blog readers - we have "rat patrol" in Alberta and we are rat-free. In fact, I did not see my first rat until I was 30, in India). Living in all of this natural and man-made luxury, I cannot begin to imagine (or begin to reconcile) the devastation that Haitians are experiencing right now.

All of that being said, we want to do something. We contacted the Red Cross and are set up to accept donations on their behalf. If you are in Edmonton and want to donate, here is our offer -

Between January 21, 2010 and February 6, 2010, Prana Holistic will be fund raising for the Red Cross:

• For every session booked here (except 30 minute sessions), we will donate $20 of that money to the Red Cross effort in Haiti. (for information on our services, see our website at www.pranaholistic.ca)
  
• For every infrared sauna session booked, we will donate $10
  
• If you would like to contribute more, we will also be more than happy to accept personal donations. All donations over $10 are eligible for a receipt from the Red Cross (to be mailed later).
  

And, perhaps just as important as the financial aid, we will be holding a "Group Meditate-y for Haiti" event (silly name, yes, but tragedy does not preclude cuteness!) on February 6 at 4:30 pm. Here we will meditate on and send love to our fellow friends in Haiti. This may sound like a silly, idealistic and trite effort, but there are numerous studies, published in respected journals, that support the idea that joining together to meditate can have amazing effects on the lives of others - even lower the crime rate in cities by 22%!

So however you want to be involved, please get involved. We really can band together and create a better life in Haiti and make this devastation a blessing instead of a tragedy.

Much love, health, happiness and success to everyone!

Kristi Shmyr