HANGZHOU: December 01, 2017. Alibaba Group executive chairman Jack Ma has established a US$1.5 billion 'Alibaba Poverty Relief Fund' by leveraging the company's technology in attempt to end hunger in China.
In July last year the Jack Ma Foundation pledged US$30 million over 10 years to help train headmasters and educational leaders in remote villages and towns in China. Alibaba has also established a 'Rural Taobao' program to raise the living standard in China's countryside by providing e-commerce access and technical expertise to millions of the country's poorer residents.
"We don't want to help poor people by only offering them fish, but enable them to be self-reliant so they know how to fish for themselves," said Ma. "We believe the end of poverty is a goal that can be achieved and our fund embodies our long-standing commitment to give back to society," he added.
Support for the fund will come from Alibaba's 36 partners, employees and the Alibaba Foundation, a charity set up in 2011 that takes 0.3 percent of group's annual revenue to support CSR initiatives.
In addition to money, the company says it will provide expertise and technology from its e-commerce, logistics, payment and financial service platforms to help China's rural population. In the past 18 months Alibaba employees and those of associated companies have contributed over 230,000 hours of volunteer work to help their communities.
The latest Credit Suisse Global Wealth report published in November says Communist China had 1,590 millionaires in 2016 – down 43 from the previous year. By contrast, the U.S. gained 253 to top 13,500 in the same year.
This month the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, will tour the U.S. to examine government efforts to eradicate poverty and how they relate to U.S. obligations under international human rights law. "Despite great wealth in the U.S., there also exists great poverty and inequality," he said prior to beginning his visit.
The U.S. Census Bureau says (at least) 41 million Americans live below the poverty line.
Credit Suisse notes emerging nations are home to 18 percent of the world's ultra-high net worth population. China alone accounts for nine percent of the top decile of global wealth holders - well above France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.
The bank adds that while the bottom half of the world's population collectively own less than one percent of total wealth, the wealthiest top 10 percent own 89 percent of all global assets.
NEW YORK: October 08, 2017. JetBlue, which normally operates 53 daily flights from three airports in Puerto Rico to the U.S Mainland, has launched a 35-step relief program for the island over the next 100 days.
Acknowledging the reference to Puerto Rico's 100x35 mile size, the effort covers airlift support, relief pricing, awareness and fundraising, people deployment, unmet needs, and rebuilding efforts.
The airline has already donated US$1 million in supplies, flown 3,000 customers from San Juan and Aguadilla by September 27, and shipped over 100,000 pounds of aid to the island.
"We've been sending relief supplies to Puerto Rico since the first day flights were allowed onto the island following Hurricane Maria," said Icema Gibbs, JetBlue director of Corporate Social responsibility. "The amount of donated supplies has far exceeded our expectations and has surpassed the capacities of our commercial Airbus A320 fleet," she explained.
A flight donated by Atlas Air has augmented the airline's scheduled capacity by delivering 110 tons to San Juan over the weekend of October 7/8 with Jet Blue responsible for local logistics on the island.
The B747 freighter carried supplies from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to assist in rebuilding the Luis Munoz Marin Airport in San Juan; non-perishable food from the Food Bank For New York City; relief goods from JetBlue staff to their co-workers on the island; and medical supplies from the Afya Foundation and American Red Cross.
"The heartbreaking and devastating situation in Puerto Rico compels us to take action," said JetBlue president and CEO Robin Hayes: "Using our strengths as an airline, our partnerships, and our mission of inspiring humanity, we aim to make a positive impact on this island we call home. We know 100 days is just the start, but we hope it's a start that will make a meaningful difference."
The airline is inviting customers on every JetBlue flight to help reach its US$1 million goal to benefit hurricane- impacted areas throughout the U.S. and Caribbean. The airline, which restored services to St Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands on October 05, has committed to match donations dollar-for-dollar up to US$500,000 through November 15.
TORTOLA: September 22, 2017. With Hurricane Maria causing structural damage and power outages as it passes the Turks & Caicos islands, Royal Navy helicopter ship HMS Ocean has arrived in the British Virgin Islands today as part of the UK government's response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
The ship arrived with 650 personnel and 60 tonnes of aid loaded in Gibraltar including construction equipment, hygiene kits and water purification tablets.
According to UK Defence secretary Michael Fallon, there are now over 2,000 UK military personnel working on the relief effort, making it the largest such deployment anywhere in the world.
Captain Robert Pedre, commanding officer of HMS Ocean said his ship's company included hundreds of highly skilled personnel including engineers, logisticians and medical professionals drawn from the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
Already pre-positioned in anticipation of the current hurricane season, the 16,000 tons British support ship RFA Mounts Bay has been providing support to several Caribbean islands since Irma first struck on September 06. The UK government said it has committed £57 million to the relief effort and so far delivered 75 tonnes of aid by sea.
Meanwhile Antonov Airlines has joined the Caribbean hurricane response effort with a flight from Châteauroux, France to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe with 105 tonnes of portable generators from French power company EDF.
The generators will be used to provide electricity to Guadeloupe and Saint Martin, both of which were severely affected by Hurricane Irma.
"The aircraft was in Cairns, Australia at the time the charter was confirmed which meant we had to respond promptly to move it halfway around the world," said Antonov Airlines' representative Paul Furlonger.
"This is the first in a series of flights that will deliver humanitarian and relief cargo to the Caribbean from the governments of France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom," he added.
Also supporting the British government response this week was UK-based CargoLogicAir that used a B747-400 freighter to fly to Barbados with 70 tonnes of bottled water plus 40 tonnes of ready meals for UK troops assisting those affected by the two hurricanes.
(Pictured: Mexifloat from RFA Mounts Bay carrying road contruction equipment near Grand Turk, British Virgin Islands.)
MEMPHIS/MIAMI: September 20, 2017. FedEx Corporation has reported adjusted first quarter (Q1) revenue of US$15.3 billion, up from US$14.7 billion year-on-year, and net income of US$683 million, down from US$760 million in Q1 a year ago due to the US$300 million cost of the 'NotPetya' cyberattack in June.
"The first quarter posed significant operational challenges due to the TNT Express cyberattack and Hurricane Harvey, and I want to thank our team members for their extraordinary dedication and performance," said Fred Smith, FedEx Corp. chairman and CEO. "We reaffirm our commitment to improve operating income at the FedEx Express segment by US$1.2 billion to US$1.5 billion in fiscal 2020 versus fiscal 2017," he added.
FedEx Express reported a decline in Q1 operating income to US$521 million despite an increase in revenue to US$8.65 billion. The business unit cited the cyberattack and US$88 million in TNT Express integration expenses.
The Integator said that while most TNT Express services resumed during the quarter, volumes, revenue and profit still remain below previous levels.
Meanwhile FedEx has responded to the aftermath of Hurricane Irma by rescuing over 150 shelter dogs and cats from Florida and delivering them to 'no-kill' shelters and potential new homes in California and Washington State.
The donated FedEx MD11 arrived in Miami last week filled with more than US$11 million in hurricane relief aid from Direct Relief and Heart to Heart International which will be used in Florida and the Caribbean. After offloading the supplies, the animals were boarded for the return flight to Oakland, CA.
(Pictured: Three month-old Chihuahua mixes Bunny and Funny prior to their flight from Florida to California.)
U.S. residents interested in adopting a shelter animal can visit: https://www.aspca.org/
HARGEISA, Somaliland: June 29, 2017: Save the Children says more than 20,000 children across nine districts in Somalia risk starving to death unless the international community continues to provide life-saving aid to the drought-stricken region.
Earlier this month, Network Airline Management (NAM) arranged the shipment of 57 tonnes of mainly IV fluid from Liege via Nairobi to a Canadian Red Cross field hospital in Hargeisa.
The cargo flew on the regular Astral Aviation/NAM B747-400F service for transshipment at Nairobi to a chartered Astral B727 freighter. The company also operates the aircraft on a weekly scheduled service to the Somaliland capital.
NAM Commercial director Andy Walters said: "The flight, for our customer NEO Charter Air and the Charterstore, sent IV fluid to a local hospital which treats over 140 cholera patients daily. The Red Cross is providing vital healthcare to thousands of people and these life-saving supplies are invaluable and will help to reduce the numbers of children dying from cholera in this area."
Save the Children said drought-related diseases like cholera have been persistently high across Somalia and Somaliland, causing thousands of deaths and leaving already weakened children even more vulnerable.
New survey results released by the aid organization in partnership with Concern Worldwide and Action Against Hunger show the number of severe acute malnutrition cases - the most dangerous form of hunger - have skyrocketed in nearly half of the nine districts assessed. In the Somalia district of Mataban, 9.5 percent of children under five are now severely malnourished according to the study.
Hassan Noor Saadi, director for Save the Children in Somalia noted: "The most recent rains have been erratic and have not performed well enough to guarantee crop growth, and families continue to lose what little remains of their livelihoods and livestock, leaving them with few options to provide for their children, indicating a clear risk of famine."
An estimated US$1.5 billion is needed to help save lives of which only US$550 million has been funded to date. "The first half of the year saw significant levels of support from donors, which allowed us to help nearly one million vulnerable children. But these funds will soon run out, leaving millions at risk unless additional funding is made available," Noor Saadi explained.
"We welcome the UK government's recent announcement to provide an additional US$75 million to the response, and the U.S. government's ongoing commitment. We urge other donors to follow suit and make more funds available. Otherwise, we risk repeating the horrors of 2011, when a famine caused over 250,000 people – half of them children – to needlessly lose their lives," he added.
MARSEILLE, September 13, 2017. The French government has asked CMA CGM to ship 46 modular living containers, food and vehicles from Marsellie on September 14 to St Martin is response to the devasation caused by Hurricane Irma.
The company is using one of its regular sailings (right) to the islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy for the shipment that also includes 90,000 bottles of water. The vessel is due to arrive in two weeks.
CMA CGM said it has already made two roundtrips between Pointe-à-Pitre and the Saint-Martin/St. Maarten ports of Galisbay and Philipsburg respectively, delivering 400 tonnes of humanitarian aid on each trip with a third rotation under way.
The Dutch Red Cross said 90 percent of buildings on the French/Dutch island were damaged and a third destroyed. Visiting the island on September 12, French president Emmanuel Macron promised rebuilding efforts would result in a "model island" and a "showcase of French excellence".
The Dutch government is sending the 28,000 tons multipurpose support ship Karl Doorman to Philipsburg with more supplies that are expected to arrive by the end of September.
Boston-based catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide estimates insured losses in the U.S. resulting from Hurricane Irma range from US$20 billion to US$40 billion. The company said this would include property losses from wind and storm surge damage but not infrastructure, marine cargo and uninsured properties.
GENEVA: June 21, 2017. The United Nations says it needs US$23.5 billion in 2017 to provide humanitarian assistance to a record 141 million people in 37 countries. With half the year gone, it has received US$6.2 billion.
According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), new disasters and deteriorating protracted emergencies are driving up the numbers - whether it is violence in the DRC, drought in Kenya, cyclones in Madagascar and Mozambique, or flooding in Peru.
OCHA said this is in addition to 20 million people who face famine across northeastern Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.
So far this year the U.N. and its logistics partners have provided food to 5.8 million people in Yemen (right), over three million in South Sudan, 2.7 million in Somalia, 2.3 million in Nigeria and 2.2 million people in Syria.
"With generous donor support, humanitarian partners have swiftly scaled up to deliver record levels of life-saving assistance in challenging and often dangerous environments. Donors have invested in these efforts but we are in a race against time," commented Stephen O'Brien, U.N. under secretary general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief coordinator.
A key element in the U.N. effort is the Logistics Cluster - a community of partners that includes Maersk, Agility, UPS and DP World - to coordinate Information management in support of humanitarian emergency response worldwide.
Last year it supported 454 organizations, including national and international NGOs, U.N. agencies, foundations, civil society organizations and government agencies, to deliver 87,239 tonnes of aid and distribute 1.3 million liters of fuel.
According to Logistics Cluster global coordinator Stephen Cahill: "In 2016 we operated in thirteen emergency-stricken countries with 87 million people affected. Without the strength of our partnerships and the collective advantage of our shared skills and common services, we would have not been able to achieve [such] results."
By the end of March this year, the Cluster had provided support for 270 organizations and operations in the Central African Republic, the DRC, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Haiti, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen, and distributed just under 21,000 tonnes of aid on behalf of 170 organizations.
"We now need donors to set the bar higher and increase their support," O'Brien added.
MARCO ISLAND, Florida: September 10, 2017. Hurricane Irma has become the second Category 4 hurricane to make landfall on the continental U.S. in less than 16 days.
With over 6.7 million Florida homes without power, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is responding with air, ground and marine personnel to assist in the recovery operation as Irma heads towards Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; and Nashville, TN.
The DoD said it has pre-positioned almost 4,500 personnel, including 300 doctors and healthcare professionals, in the U.S. Southeast to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Florida state authorities.
As Irma moves north to Georgia, an aircraft carrier, guided missile cruiser and two amphibious vessels will begin deploying search-and-rescue forces, strategic and vertical airlift, planning, communication and medical capabilities to airports in Florida.
Army Corps of Engineers' power teams, debris removal teams, temporary roofing teams and port survey personnel are on standby in Florida and Georgia and the Defense Logistics Agency will support the distribution of more than 12 million meals over the next 10 days.
Meanwhile, U.S. Army spokesman Jamie Davis said evacuation of 2,000-3,000 American citizens from St.Maarten/St. Martin to Puerto Rico, following Irma's destructive landfall, is continuing along with the provision of water, sanitation, logistics support and the transport of disaster relief personnel to the island.
The DoD said three amphibious assault ships are already delivering food and water in the U.S. Virgin Islands; the Army Corps of Engineers' has deployed power restoration teams, debris removal experts, temporary roofing teams and port survey personnel; and the Defense Logistics Agency has begun shipping commodities and large generators.
Pictured: The New York Air National Guard has rescued U.S. citizens requiring urgent medical attention from St. Maarten, Leeward Islands after Hurricane Irma. America is also providing humanitarian assistance in St. Martin in response to a request from France.
SEATTLE: June 21, 2017. FedEx and UPS are among the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States according to the latest 'Civic 50' list from Points of Light, the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service.
The winners are from public and private companies with U.S. operations and revenues of US$1 billion or more, and are selected based on four aspects of their national community engagement program - investment, integration, institutionalization and impact.
"FedEx Cares is more than a corporate giving platform. It allows us to use our unique skills as individuals and as a corporation to make a difference in the world," said Neil Gibson, vice president, Corporate Communications, FedEx Services. "As a company of logistics and shipping experts, we know how to solve tough problems. With FedEx Cares, our goal is to turn obstacles into opportunities," he continued.
"UPS has been a purpose-driven company throughout our history helping to lift people and communities in need – this is integral to our values and indeed guides our success," said Eduardo Martinez, president, The UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer at UPS. "We are honored by our inclusion on the Civic 50 and will continue to advance programs and initiatives that engage, empower and give back to global communities."
The 50 winners, who also included Allstate, Dell, HP, IBM, Motorola, Tata Consultancy and Toyota Financial, were announced at the Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service in Seattle this week, where leaders in volunteerism and civic engagement met to discuss how social innovation, cross-sector collaboration and citizen engagement can drive change.
"In the fifth year of honoring the most community-minded companies in the nation, The Civic 50 truly highlights the commitment to community and civic engagement of America's leading brands. This year's honorees contributed more than US$1.4 billion and 10.1 million volunteer hours in their communities around the country," said Jennifer Lawson, president of networks at Points of Light.
In its latest survey to determine the winners, Points of Light said the most community-minded U.S. companies have realized they can make a bigger impact in communities and harness the talents of their employees by contributing time and talent to critical causes.
As a result, the average percentage of skilled volunteer time at Civic 50 companies increased from 20 percent in 2014 to 26 percent in 2017.
Inspired by U.S. president George H.W. Bush's "Points of Light" speech in 1989, the Points of Light Foundation was established in 1990 to encourage volunteer service.
HOUSTON/BATON ROUGE: August 30, 2017. As UPS and FedEx join other US$1 million-donors in responding to what is described as the worst flooding disaster in U.S. history, the American Red Cross (ARC) said at least 32,000 people have sought refuge in over 230 shelters across Texas and Louisiana.
ARC said more than 1,500 disaster workers have been deployed including a group of "highly skilled" volunteers from the Mexican Red Cross to help support shelters, distribute aid and connect with Spanish-speaking survivors.
The relief organization has activated 200 response vehicles, more than half its total fleet, and 80 tractor-trailers have delivered cots, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, comfort kits, kitchen and cleaning supplies.
As of September 01, ARC has served more than 180,000 meals from six mobile trailer kitchens, with four more on the way; provided 116,000 ready-to-eat meals with another 39,000 delivered soon; and stockpiled enough shelter supplies to support 50,000 people.
FedEx is providing transportation to deliver medical aid and supplies: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the millions of people affected by this unprecedented storm," said David Bronczek, company president and chief operating officer.
In addition to cash and in-kind donation, UPS said it was delivering a Hewlett Packard 'Connection Spot Trailer' to provide Wi-Fi internet access, printers and charging stations to help expedite flood claims.
Texas governor Greg Abbott said the cost of restoration would be US$120 billion with an estimated 185,000 homes destroyed and many Houston residents reportedly not covered by flood insurance.
As part of his latest budget proposals Donald Trump wants to eliminate the US$190 million National Flood Insurance Program that provides Americans with affordable flood insurance. He's also proposing to cut the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) budget for state and local grants by US$667 million in order to help fund his wall with Mexico.
With more than 12,400 employees from 17 federal departments and agencies working together across Texas and Louisiana, FEMA said it will have to work for several years to help Houston recover.
"In this time of enormous need, it is critical to establish and support extensive networks of public-private partnerships to get aid to those who need it, as quickly as possible," declared Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer. "At the same time, setting aside funding and other resources for long-term recovery efforts is also important, and we are laying that groundwork as well."
Other annual US$1million donors to the American Red Cross include American Airlines and Delta Air Lines while Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are donors at the US$500,000 level.
Three years ago ex-U.S. Treasury secretary Henry Paulson, former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg and Thomas Steyer, founder of Farallon Capital Management published 'Risky Business' - a warning that time was running out for the U.S. due to climate change. View the video here:
MUNICH: May 10, 2017. Lufthansa Cargo has celebrated the 10th anniversary of its employee-inspired humanitarian logistics program Cargo Human Care (CHC) at transport logistic this week.
Begun by MD-11 freighter captain Fokko Doyen (pictured seated in front of group) with the aim to provide medical care and education to some of the poorest inhabitants of Kenya, CHC now runs a children's home for 120 orphans, a medical centre where 50 German doctors work on a regular basis, and a young people's home that offers vocational training for school-leavers of the children's home.
"When we founded CHC ten years ago, I never, for the life of me, would have thought that we would achieve so much one day: 560 members, 220 children and young people in our sponsor program, 2,000 treatments every month in our own medical centre, and donations that are increasing every year," commented Doyen.
Lufthansa Cargo continues to fly doctors, CHC employee supporters and equipment for free to Nairobi. As a result less than one percent of the organization's expenditure goes on administration.
"The identification with this 'Cargo project' can be felt throughout the company," continued Doyen. "Since we started out, the number of members has grown to over 550. We do not just have passive, paying members, but above all many people who participate in our work as doctors, custodians of various sponsorship groups and in the association's organizational work.
Over the past 10 years CHC sponsors have contributed over €3.5 million to provide medical care, reliable school and career training for the children, teenagers and young people in its care. Specialist doctors from Germany volunteer their services at the clinic for about a week. Last year they helped 7,000 destitute patients with over 25,000 treatments.
Lufthansa Cargo CEO Peter Gerber observed: "For me, the special thing about Cargo Human Care is the very direct aid. Here people from our company have wanted to do something and they have done it. Additionally, it is fantastic that Cargo's key competencies, namely flying and logistics, can be completely put to good use here to help people who do not have such good opportunities in life."
