US/India Solidarity Project

Indian Tsunami Survivors to Visit Gulf Coast for Katrina Anniversary 

Visit is second in cross-cultural exchange program to educate survivors of natural disasters 

            BILOXI, MS – More than 50 survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed thousands and devastated hundreds of miles of Asian coastline will visit Mississippi on Monday, August 27 in the second half of a cross-cultural exchange stretching thousands of miles.

            The exchange will bring survivors of two different cultures together to discuss the same social and structural problems they face in the wake of similar natural disasters.  

            On Monday, August 27, Coastal Women for Change in cooperation with ActionAid and Oxfam America will host a community forum at the Church of Redeemer, 610 Water Street,  in Biloxi in which Tsunami and Katrina Survivors will share their survival stories. 

            “This exchange sheds light on disaster preparation and recovery and highlights similarities experienced that transcend culture,” said Sharon Hanshaw, Executive Director of Coastal Women for Change in Biloxi, MS. “This is a tremendous learning experience and we invite the community to come out and share their stories… storytelling brings understanding and understanding empowers change.” 

            This is the second half of an exchange that began in May 2007 when 8 Gulf Coast residents traveled to India via a cultural exchange sponsored by ActionAid to dialogue about survival in the wake of a natural disaster including cultural, social and economic barriers to recovery.   

Sharon Hanshaw reports that “the similar dynamics of the two countries (India and the U.S.) are amazing; we have transitional home trailers made of formaldehyde, they have transitional homes made out of asbestos.  Both substances are poisonous toxins that should not be forced upon already ailing victims of natural disasters. In both countries those who face the greatest financial barriers face the greatest challenges from the government who treat low income, economically disadvantaged citizens as unworthy of suitable living conditions.  We must remember that we as people must continue to share stories of our struggles and our continued fight for fairness- we must march in solidarity with the Indian delegation.”  Join us as we come together to share our struggles and offer support to survivors from the Tsunami and Katrina. 

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Coastal Women for Change is committed to making a difference in our communities through securing and revitalizing our neighborhoods. CWC does this by ensuring that our communities have adequate information in a timely manner so that we can both influence and make informed decisions about the recovery process and community development, now and in the future.