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Current news about earthquake-devastated Haiti 5-13-10Today we have reports from the beleaguered nation of Haiti.Many of you remember Margaret Trost and her wondrous What If? Foundation. If you’ve missed Margaret on one of her visits to Sonoma, please read her inspiring story in “On Th... read more… The audacity of the Haitian populace 3-11-10To understand why Haiti was so extremely devastated by the 7.0 earthquake while Chile was actually less damaged though its quake was 500 times more powerful requires some knowledge of the history of the past 200 years.Actually, let’s star... read more… Some survived the 7.0 quake of January 12 3-04-10It’s no secret that we live in earthquake territory. Do we sometimes contemplate whether and how we might come through it? Today we’re going to hear from a small number of the people who survived the recent quake in Port au Prince, Haiti.... read more… Welcome my guest: Jacqueline Jill-Rito 2-18-10For the first time, just joan is providing space today for a Guest Columnist. Confident readers will support this decision … I’m offering a piece of prose written by a friend in New York.Jacqueline Jill-Rito, a single parent and en... read more… Generosity, outrage, misery, courage and dare we say –“racism” 1-28-10Few in Sonoma will soon forget the intense sense of outrage we felt recently when insult was hideously heaped on tragedy. How could anyone, we wondered, be so callous as to break into the victims’ home after the entire Maloney family was killed... read more… A few bright spots among Haiti’s horrendous devastation 1-21-10While luxuriating in a hot shower this morning, I thought about my cold showers while living in Haiti. About those afternoons I was first to get to our back yard where the generous tropical sun had primed the outstretched garden hose for a hot-water ... read more… Feel joy and love while being edified and inspired 5-01-09Some of you were swept away by the delightful Margaret Trost when she appeared in Burlingame Hall last October. Her story, documented in her deeply inspiring, quick-read book, “On That Day Everybody Ate; One Woman’s Story of Hope and Poss... read more… Inspirational story of a Bay area woman 3-13-09The first moment she met the young widow from California, the wizened and wrinkled elderly women gestured toward her open door, saying in English, “Welcome home.” And, although it was only her second time in this country after a two... read more… Every child deserves a good meal – at least once a day 9-20-07Six weeks ago tomorrow, hundreds of people surrounded St. Clare’s Church awaiting the return of their long-time pastor. He’d been away for ages and they were so very eager to shower him with songs and cheers of heartfelt welcome. When he ... read more… From misery to poverty with dignity 9-28-06This month a few of us Sonomans enjoyed the rare pleasure of hearing from the same platform several of Haiti’s most amazing advocates and courageous activists. Crowded into St. Joseph the Worker Church in Berkeley was a diverse assembly of some... read more… Dr. Paul Farmer, a man who would cure the world 4-13-06In celebration of the New Year I wrote last December of Ten Extraordinary Peacemakers, and the first entry was Dr. Paul Farmer. It’s time I told you more about this infectious disease physician/medical anthropologist who happens to be one of th... read more… Ten Extraordinary Peacemakers 12-22-05This was a tough assignment, to choose just ten. But here they are, in random order. Hearing him speak in San Rafael, I felt honored to be in his presence. Here was a doctor who treats AIDS patients back to robust health! In Haiti! In the land of ... read more… Haiti: Misinformation vs. eyewitness testimony 12-08-05I’m writing about Haiti again today, simply because I must. I want you to know about Haiti because I am just Joan, just an ordinary and (almost always) law-abiding citizen of a country I adore but whose foreign policies seem to be completely... read more… Wake up! The holidays are coming 11-17-05Today’s column is a challenge. Most of us have a sense that the celebration of Christmas has been co-opted by the merchandizing world. And yet, year after year we continue in the traditions, gritting our teeth, determined to make this one the &... read more… |
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