Volunteer Service in Africa and Asia

[Guest guest]

Please forward widely.Unite For Sight Volunteer Abroad Opportunities: As Featured Weekly On CNN International and Recently in NY TimesVolunteer Abroad in Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring: http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteerWITH THE ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS LIKE YOU, UNITE FOR SIGHT RESTORED SIGHT TO 10,062 PATIENTS AND PROVIDED EYE CARE TO 300,000 IN 2006 AND 2007How Do I Apply? The application as well as complete details about Unite For Sight's international opportunities are available at http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer/Who Is Eligible To Volunteer Abroad?: Volunteers are 18 years and older, and there is no upper age limit. Volunteers range from undergraduate/college students to medical and optometry students, public health students and professionals, business students, filmmakers and photographers, nurses and nursing students, physician's assistants, teachers and educators, opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists.What is Unite For Sight's Mission? Unite For Sight is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization that empowers communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness.Unite For Sight's work to prevent blindness and restore sight is featured weekly on CNN INTERNATIONAL from September 2007-August 2008.What Do Volunteers Do?: Volunteers receive hands-on clinical experience while assisting doctors in remote, rural villages. Volunteers learn about international health and eye care, learn clinical skills while working with patients and doctors, and, in one program location, have an opportunity to practice cataract surgery on a goat's eye.The goal of Unite For Sight and its partner eye clinics and communities is to create eye disease-free communities. Unite For Sight’s volunteers (local and visiting) work with partner eye clinics to provide eye care in communities without previous access. The eye clinic’s eye doctors and Unite For Sight volunteers jointly provide community-based screening programs in rural villages. The clinic’s eye doctors diagnose and treat eye disease in the field, and surgical patients are brought to the eye clinic for surgery. Patients receive free surgery funded by Unite For Sight so that no patient remains blind due to lack of funds. Volunteers immediately see the joy on patients' faces when their sight is restored after years of blindness. These memories last a lifetime.While helping the community, volunteers are in a position to witness and draw their own conclusions about the failures and inequities of global health systems. It broadens their view of what works, and what role they can have to insure a health system that works for everyone and that leaves no person blind in the future.What Do Volunteers Say?:“During my volunteering experience, I realized that Unite for Sight’s service is a campaign for the salvation of humanity that allows the light of compassion to shine through each of us. I believe it is this display of altruism and commitment that makes the organization’s service so virtuous and treasured by both volunteers and patients. After all, making a difference in the world is not so difficult if only one would care enough to sacrifice a part of oneself in order to change the world for the better. My experience as a Unite for Sight volunteer has inspired me to dedicate my future career to serving underprivileged communities around the world.”—Chiwing “” Qu, Yale University Undergraduate Student, Unite For Sight Volunteer in Chennai, India"I can honestly say that everything I learned in 3 years of medical school paled in comparison to the 3 week experience I had in Accra (Ghana) in October 2007 as part of Unite For Sight. The program provides volunteers with a unique and hands-on involvement – being able to help out to the level of your training and comfort. My experience taught me that Ghanaian people are the friendliest people I have interacted with anywhere in the world, that ordinary people involved with Unite For Sight are making extraordinary differences, and that sitting in a classroom receiving a world-class education cannot match real life experiences while volunteering."--Varun Verma, UMDNJ Medical Student, Unite For Sight Volunteer in Accra, Ghana"While in Ghana, I worked with an ophthalmologist (Dr. e), two eye nurses ( Dolo, Kartee Karloweah), an assistant (Bismark Boryor), and a coordinator (Seth). Working with the Unite for Sight team on these outreaches in service to these wonderful people of Ghana was the single most rewarding work I've done in my life. The people of Ghana are some of the friendliest and most thankful of anyone I have ever met. Overall, the experience has changed the way I view the world, my own country, and my role in the world forever. The only way to understand the way 4/5 of the world lives is to go yourself and get involved. The staff I worked with that are the heart and soul of Unite for Sight in Accra were some of the brightest and hard working individuals I have ever met. They are accomplishing feats few ever accomplish in their lives, and I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with them and now call them my friends. I look forward to future work with Unite for Sight as an Ophthalmologist. The task at hand in Ghana, and I'm sure in all of Unite for Sight's locations throughout the world, is enormous. The more people that get involved, the more accessible services will be to these wonderful people. Plain and simple, the more we help, the more people can see the world they live in!”— Fowler, Medical Student at University of Virginia, Unite For Sight Volunteer in Accra, GhanaHundreds of volunteer narratives, volunteer diaries, as well as videos of alumni volunteers and partner eye doctors are available on the Unite For Sight website: http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer

[Guest guest]

Doesn't Ghana still have slavery (Trokosi), imprisonment of

politcal activists and journalists without justification, rampant

police corruption, and ritual female genital mutilation? All this

with Ghana being one of the BETTER countries of the region. Sounds

like fun.

I like the idea of restoring site to poverty stricken

Africans. All the better to help them aim their AK47's, single out

people from other tribes for chopping off of hands and the the like,

or maybe just sending bank scam email SPAM. I will do anything to

help improve one's basic survival abilities.

Incidentally, what is the daily pay rate and rotation scheme?

http://hrw.org/doc/?t=africa & c=ghana

http://www.amnestyusa.org/By_Country/Ghana/page.do?

id=1011159 & n1=3 & n2=30 & n3=909

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41606.htm

>

> Please forward widely.

>

> Unite For Sight Volunteer Abroad Opportunities: As Featured Weekly

On CNN International and Recently in NY Times

>

>

> Volunteer Abroad in Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring:

http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer

>

> WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS LIKE YOU, UNITE FOR SIGHT

RESTORED SIGHT TO 10,062 PATIENTS AND PROVIDED EYE CARE TO 300,000

IN 2006 AND 2007

>

> How Do I Apply? The application as well as complete details about

Unite For Sight's international opportunities are available at

http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer/

>

> Who Is Eligible To Volunteer Abroad?: Volunteers are 18 years and

older, and there is no upper age limit. Volunteers range from

undergraduate/college students to medical and optometry students,

public health students and professionals, business students,

filmmakers and photographers, nurses and nursing students,

physician's assistants, teachers and educators, opticians,

optometrists and ophthalmologists.

>

> What is Unite For Sight's Mission? Unite For Sight is a 501©(3)

nonprofit organization that empowers communities worldwide to

improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness.

>

> Unite For Sight's work to prevent blindness and restore sight is

featured weekly on CNN INTERNATIONAL from September 2007-August 2008.

>

> What Do Volunteers Do?: Volunteers receive hands-on clinical

experience while assisting doctors in remote, rural villages.

Volunteers learn about international health and eye care, learn

clinical skills while working with patients and doctors, and, in one

program location, have an opportunity to practice cataract surgery

on a goat's eye.

>

> The goal of Unite For Sight and its partner eye clinics and

communities is to create eye disease-free communities. Unite For

Sight's volunteers (local and visiting) work with partner eye

clinics to provide eye care in communities without previous access.

The eye clinic's eye doctors and Unite For Sight volunteers jointly

provide community-based screening programs in rural villages. The

clinic's eye doctors diagnose and treat eye disease in the field,

and surgical patients are brought to the eye clinic for surgery.

Patients receive free surgery funded by Unite For Sight so that no

patient remains blind due to lack of funds. Volunteers immediately

see the joy on patients' faces when their sight is restored after

years of blindness. These memories last a lifetime.

>

> While helping the community, volunteers are in a position to

witness and draw their own conclusions about the failures and

inequities of global health systems. It broadens their view of what

works, and what role they can have to insure a health system that

works for everyone and that leaves no person blind in the future.

>

> What Do Volunteers Say?:

>

> " During my volunteering experience, I realized that Unite for

Sight's service is a campaign for the salvation of humanity that

allows the light of compassion to shine through each of us. I

believe it is this display of altruism and commitment that makes the

organization's service so virtuous and treasured by both volunteers

and patients. After all, making a difference in the world is not so

difficult if only one would care enough to sacrifice a part of

oneself in order to change the world for the better. My experience

as a Unite for Sight volunteer has inspired me to dedicate my future

career to serving underprivileged communities around the

world. " †" Chiwing " " Qu, Yale University Undergraduate

Student, Unite For Sight Volunteer in Chennai, India

>

> " I can honestly say that everything I learned in 3 years of

medical school paled in comparison to the 3 week experience I had in

Accra (Ghana) in October 2007 as part of Unite For Sight. The

program provides volunteers with a unique and hands-on involvement --

being able to help out to the level of your training and comfort.

My experience taught me that Ghanaian people are the friendliest

people I have interacted with anywhere in the world, that ordinary

people involved with Unite For Sight are making extraordinary

differences, and that sitting in a classroom receiving a world-class

education cannot match real life experiences while volunteering. " --

Varun Verma, UMDNJ Medical Student, Unite For Sight Volunteer in

Accra, Ghana

>

> " While in Ghana, I worked with an ophthalmologist (Dr.

e), two eye nurses ( Dolo, Kartee Karloweah), an

assistant (Bismark Boryor), and a coordinator (Seth). Working with

the Unite for Sight team on these outreaches in service to these

wonderful people of Ghana was the single most rewarding work I've

done in my life. The people of Ghana are some of the friendliest and

most thankful of anyone I have ever met. Overall, the experience has

changed the way I view the world, my own country, and my role in the

world forever. The only way to understand the way 4/5 of the world

lives is to go yourself and get involved. The staff I worked with

that are the heart and soul of Unite for Sight in Accra were some of

the brightest and hard working individuals I have ever met. They are

accomplishing feats few ever accomplish in their lives, and I am

truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with them and now

call them my friends. I look forward to future work with Unite for

Sight as an Ophthalmologist. The task at hand in Ghana, and I'm sure

in all of Unite for Sight's locations throughout the world, is

enormous. The more people that get involved, the more accessible

services will be to these wonderful people. Plain and simple, the

more we help, the more people can see the world they live

in! " †" Fowler, Medical Student at University of Virginia,

Unite For Sight Volunteer in Accra, Ghana

>

> Hundreds of volunteer narratives, volunteer diaries, as well as

videos of alumni volunteers and partner eye doctors are available on

the Unite For Sight website:

http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

To The Site Owner:

Please remove me from your mailing list as I no longer wish to receive the sort

of xenophobic, supercilious, ignorant rubbish such as that printed below. To

write off an entire continent in this manner is the mind of someone at least 100

years backward, Mr. Sumoparamedic.

Many others I have spoken to and corresponded with recently agree that, the site

seems to have steadily degenerated into being a catalogue of rantings and

ravings from world weary, bitter and twisted people (usually military I am

afraid) who revel in either schoolboy banter, post colonial disaffection, or

off the planet ideas.

Hopefully things will improve.

Regards,

Simon

Simon Growcott

Medic/SHEA

East Brae Platform

Marathon House

Marathon Oil U.K., Ltd

Aberdeen AB15 6FZ

Tel: +44 (0) 1224 803000 ext 1777

Fax:+44 (0) 1224 803539

Email: SGrowcott@...

Marathon Oil U.K Ltd

Registered in Scotland

Company Number SF275

________________________________

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Sent: 18 February 2008 19:21

Subject: Re: Volunteer Service in Africa and Asia

Doesn't Ghana still have slavery (Trokosi), imprisonment of

politcal activists and journalists without justification, rampant

police corruption, and ritual female genital mutilation? All this

with Ghana being one of the BETTER countries of the region. Sounds

like fun.

I like the idea of restoring site to poverty stricken

Africans. All the better to help them aim their AK47's, single out

people from other tribes for chopping off of hands and the the like,

or maybe just sending bank scam email SPAM. I will do anything to

help improve one's basic survival abilities.

Incidentally, what is the daily pay rate and rotation scheme?

http://hrw.org/doc/?t=africa & c=ghana <http://hrw.org/doc/?t=africa & c=ghana>

http://www.amnestyusa.org/By_Country/Ghana/page.do?

<http://www.amnestyusa.org/By_Country/Ghana/page.do?>

id=1011159 & n1=3 & n2=30 & n3=909

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41606.htm

<http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41606.htm>

>

> Please forward widely.

>

> Unite For Sight Volunteer Abroad Opportunities: As Featured Weekly

On CNN International and Recently in NY Times

>

>

> Volunteer Abroad in Summer, Fall, Winter, or Spring:

http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer

<http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer>

>

> WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS LIKE YOU, UNITE FOR SIGHT

RESTORED SIGHT TO 10,062 PATIENTS AND PROVIDED EYE CARE TO 300,000

IN 2006 AND 2007

>

> How Do I Apply? The application as well as complete details about

Unite For Sight's international opportunities are available at

http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer/

<http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer/>

>

> Who Is Eligible To Volunteer Abroad?: Volunteers are 18 years and

older, and there is no upper age limit. Volunteers range from

undergraduate/college students to medical and optometry students,

public health students and professionals, business students,

filmmakers and photographers, nurses and nursing students,

physician's assistants, teachers and educators, opticians,

optometrists and ophthalmologists.

>

> What is Unite For Sight's Mission? Unite For Sight is a 501©(3)

nonprofit organization that empowers communities worldwide to

improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness.

>

> Unite For Sight's work to prevent blindness and restore sight is

featured weekly on CNN INTERNATIONAL from September 2007-August 2008.

>

> What Do Volunteers Do?: Volunteers receive hands-on clinical

experience while assisting doctors in remote, rural villages.

Volunteers learn about international health and eye care, learn

clinical skills while working with patients and doctors, and, in one

program location, have an opportunity to practice cataract surgery

on a goat's eye.

>

> The goal of Unite For Sight and its partner eye clinics and

communities is to create eye disease-free communities. Unite For

Sight's volunteers (local and visiting) work with partner eye

clinics to provide eye care in communities without previous access.

The eye clinic's eye doctors and Unite For Sight volunteers jointly

provide community-based screening programs in rural villages. The

clinic's eye doctors diagnose and treat eye disease in the field,

and surgical patients are brought to the eye clinic for surgery.

Patients receive free surgery funded by Unite For Sight so that no

patient remains blind due to lack of funds. Volunteers immediately

see the joy on patients' faces when their sight is restored after

years of blindness. These memories last a lifetime.

>

> While helping the community, volunteers are in a position to

witness and draw their own conclusions about the failures and

inequities of global health systems. It broadens their view of what

works, and what role they can have to insure a health system that

works for everyone and that leaves no person blind in the future.

>

> What Do Volunteers Say?:

>

> " During my volunteering experience, I realized that Unite for

Sight's service is a campaign for the salvation of humanity that

allows the light of compassion to shine through each of us. I

believe it is this display of altruism and commitment that makes the

organization's service so virtuous and treasured by both volunteers

and patients. After all, making a difference in the world is not so

difficult if only one would care enough to sacrifice a part of

oneself in order to change the world for the better. My experience

as a Unite for Sight volunteer has inspired me to dedicate my future

career to serving underprivileged communities around the

world. " †" Chiwing " " Qu, Yale University Undergraduate

Student, Unite For Sight Volunteer in Chennai, India

>

> " I can honestly say that everything I learned in 3 years of

medical school paled in comparison to the 3 week experience I had in

Accra (Ghana) in October 2007 as part of Unite For Sight. The

program provides volunteers with a unique and hands-on involvement --

being able to help out to the level of your training and comfort.

My experience taught me that Ghanaian people are the friendliest

people I have interacted with anywhere in the world, that ordinary

people involved with Unite For Sight are making extraordinary

differences, and that sitting in a classroom receiving a world-class

education cannot match real life experiences while volunteering. " --

Varun Verma, UMDNJ Medical Student, Unite For Sight Volunteer in

Accra, Ghana

>

> " While in Ghana, I worked with an ophthalmologist (Dr.

e), two eye nurses ( Dolo, Kartee Karloweah), an

assistant (Bismark Boryor), and a coordinator (Seth). Working with

the Unite for Sight team on these outreaches in service to these

wonderful people of Ghana was the single most rewarding work I've

done in my life. The people of Ghana are some of the friendliest and

most thankful of anyone I have ever met. Overall, the experience has

changed the way I view the world, my own country, and my role in the

world forever. The only way to understand the way 4/5 of the world

lives is to go yourself and get involved. The staff I worked with

that are the heart and soul of Unite for Sight in Accra were some of

the brightest and hard working individuals I have ever met. They are

accomplishing feats few ever accomplish in their lives, and I am

truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with them and now

call them my friends. I look forward to future work with Unite for

Sight as an Ophthalmologist. The task at hand in Ghana, and I'm sure

in all of Unite for Sight's locations throughout the world, is

enormous. The more people that get involved, the more accessible

services will be to these wonderful people. Plain and simple, the

more we help, the more people can see the world they live

in! " †" Fowler, Medical Student at University of Virginia,

Unite For Sight Volunteer in Accra, Ghana

>

> Hundreds of volunteer narratives, volunteer diaries, as well as

videos of alumni volunteers and partner eye doctors are available on

the Unite For Sight website:

http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer

<http://www.uniteforsight.org/intl_volunteer>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Bravo Simon,

Guess you made your choice and probably will not revel in what I have to say.

The idea that people don't have a right to an opinion as you so eloquently hid

in your verbiage and adjectives in that posting is just the kind of thing I

wouldn't want to see in such a place as a forum.

A forum is plainly that a place for open discussion. has an opinion and

I would rather hear what he has to say and respond, just as you did, if I agree

or disagree, than have people like you edit and suppress open and free

discussions.

What you are talking about has been for millennium fought over in most

countries of the world. Those same people the, and I quote, “ world weary,

bitter and twisted people (usually military I am afraid) who revel in either

schoolboy banter, post colonial disaffection, or off the planet ideas” are the

ones out in the middle of the conflicts dealing with the difficulties fighting

for your right to post your suppressive ideas of freedom of thought and

expression. Sorry, you decided to go hide your head in the sand.

Here we have a group of people who live and work all over the world. This is a

very diverse group of occupations, managers and experience. Even though

came off a little on the negative side of the situation down there the fact is

he made some very valid points that those who consider going into an area like

that should contemplate. I say contemplate before being sucked into a marketing

pitch that paints a totally different view of an area and endeavor that may put

some poor naïve individual into a serious situation that he may not be able to

survive in.

Truth is there are valid concerns and knows this as well as you. You

don’t go out on a rig without proper training and doing your homework do you?

This area has serious health, security and cultural concerns, as does the whole

continent that’s a plain fact of life there.

If you don’t see this then you are truly naïve. I am one of those people you

are talking about and have been out in the jungles, plains, savannas and deserts

and I know from experience it’s not a vacation spot it’s real humanitarian work,

war and conflict that takes courage and dedication.

There are risks that sometimes you don’t even know exist. There are whole

agencies dedicated to providing intelligence and information about the risks you

should know that. If not please review CDC, CIA Fact Book, Global Security,

Consulate Warnings etc, etc, etc there you will find some very interesting facts

about Ghana as well as most any country in the world.

The point and sarcasm in ’s posting was plainly stating to me that the

marketing posting was leaving out some very serious issues that should have been

pointed out and that is what an open discussion forum is all about isn’t it.

Bringing out the truth and sharing of information; at least that’s what I think

it’s supposed to do.

As far as the Unite For Sight's Mission I salute them and know from experience

the work that they do. There is nothing like seeing the “Blind See”. If you

have ever experienced that then you know what I’m talking about. I agree with

though with the marketing should come further real education which I’m sure

that they do or at least I hope that they do. I wouldn’t think that an agency

like that would not be concerned about the volunteers. But, you never should

depend solely on others to protect your backside should you.

You are right about one thing sometimes the discussions get carried away but

I’ve noticed that the site monitors say enough when it’s enough.

So, so long Simon good luck out in there.

Mike Plyler

Never mind what I'm doing I don't need to post it.

[Guest guest]

Guys,

I do try to moderate threads that are likely to cause offence or

threads that I feel are not in the best interest of the general

membership.

I like all other human beings am not perfect and I do occasionally

miss a post or thread that should be moderated. However a discussion

forum such as this is completely at the mercy of its members, and the

quality of posts is a direct link to that membership.

Its always a fine balance on the one hand we don't want to be dictors

and moderate every single thread but on the other hand we do want to

try to keep the quality up. If we over moderate then we are accused

of stiffling free speech and if we under moderate we are accused of

letting rubbish through. In short the moderators and owner sometimes

just can't win.

The bottom line is we have to trust our members to act responsibly.

There are however, certain safeguards that we have put in place,

All new members need to be approved

All new members are moderated until we feel it is safe to un moderate

them.

We only allow plain text emails in an effort to stop viruses

We do not allow attachments for the same reason

There are 3 moderators so there is always an appeal process.

There is an acceptable user policy posted to the group each and every

month

The moderators try to be vigilent but the time, effort and costs

alone sometimes make this difficult

We are of course always open to futher suggestions, and you can

contact any of the moderators or list owner either directly or via

the group if feel we can improve in any one area.

Since its concpetion in Jan 2001 there have been 19,164 messages

posted to the group, on the whole I don't think we've done a bad job

at maintaining the quality.

Finally, the only people that can keep the quality up is you guys...

tolerance, patience and some thought before you post may help....

Rgs

Ian

List Owner

[Guest guest]

Well said Mike!

cheers

Tom G

Chad

@...: michael_plyler@...: Thu,

21 Feb 2008 01:00:38 -0800Subject: RE: Re: Volunteer

Service in Africa and Asia

Bravo Simon,Guess you made your choice and probably will not revel in what I

have to say. The idea that people don't have a right to an opinion as you so

eloquently hid in your verbiage and adjectives in that posting is just the kind

of thing I wouldn't want to see in such a place as a forum. A forum is plainly

that a place for open discussion. has an opinion and I would rather hear

what he has to say and respond, just as you did, if I agree or disagree, than

have people like you edit and suppress open and free discussions. What you are

talking about has been for millennium fought over in most countries of the

world. Those same people the, and I quote, “ world weary, bitter and twisted

people (usually military I am afraid) who revel in either schoolboy banter, post

colonial disaffection, or off the planet ideas” are the ones out in the middle

of the conflicts dealing with the difficulties fighting for your right to post

your suppressive ideas of freedom of thought and expression. Sorry, you decided

to go hide your head in the sand. Here we have a group of people who live and

work all over the world. This is a very diverse group of occupations, managers

and experience. Even though came off a little on the negative side of the

situation down there the fact is he made some very valid points that those who

consider going into an area like that should contemplate. I say contemplate

before being sucked into a marketing pitch that paints a totally different view

of an area and endeavor that may put some poor naïve individual into a serious

situation that he may not be able to survive in. Truth is there are valid

concerns and knows this as well as you. You don’t go out on a rig without

proper training and doing your homework do you? This area has serious health,

security and cultural concerns, as does the whole continent that’s a plain fact

of life there. If you don’t see this then you are truly naïve. I am one of those

people you are talking about and have been out in the jungles, plains, savannas

and deserts and I know from experience it’s not a vacation spot it’s real

humanitarian work, war and conflict that takes courage and dedication. There are

risks that sometimes you don’t even know exist. There are whole agencies

dedicated to providing intelligence and information about the risks you should

know that. If not please review CDC, CIA Fact Book, Global Security, Consulate

Warnings etc, etc, etc there you will find some very interesting facts about

Ghana as well as most any country in the world. The point and sarcasm in ’s

posting was plainly stating to me that the marketing posting was leaving out

some very serious issues that should have been pointed out and that is what an

open discussion forum is all about isn’t it. Bringing out the truth and sharing

of information; at least that’s what I think it’s supposed to do. As far as the

Unite For Sight's Mission I salute them and know from experience the work that

they do. There is nothing like seeing the “Blind See”. If you have ever

experienced that then you know what I’m talking about. I agree with though

with the marketing should come further real education which I’m sure that they

do or at least I hope that they do. I wouldn’t think that an agency like that

would not be concerned about the volunteers. But, you never should depend solely

on others to protect your backside should you. You are right about one thing

sometimes the discussions get carried away but I’ve noticed that the site

monitors say enough when it’s enough. So, so long Simon good luck out in there.

Mike PlylerNever mind what I'm doing I don't need to post it.[Non-text portions

of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

> Since its concpetion in Jan 2001 there have been 19,164 messages

> posted to the group, on the whole I don't think we've done a bad job

> at maintaining the quality.

correction thats 14,470 messages.

[Guest guest]

Hi Mike

Glad to hear your still around mate - drop me a line

off list sometime

Hope all is well

BZ

--- Plyler <michael_plyler@...> wrote:

> Bravo Simon,

>

> Guess you made your choice and probably will not

> revel in what I have to say. The idea that people

> don't have a right to an opinion as you so

> eloquently hid in your verbiage and adjectives in

> that posting is just the kind of thing I wouldn't

> want to see in such a place as a forum.

> A forum is plainly that a place for open

> discussion. has an opinion and I would rather

> hear what he has to say and respond, just as you

> did, if I agree or disagree, than have people like

> you edit and suppress open and free discussions.

> What you are talking about has been for millennium

> fought over in most countries of the world. Those

> same people the, and I quote, “ world weary, bitter

> and twisted people (usually military I am afraid)

> who revel in either schoolboy banter, post colonial

> disaffection, or off the planet ideas” are the ones

> out in the middle of the conflicts dealing with the

> difficulties fighting for your right to post your

> suppressive ideas of freedom of thought and

> expression. Sorry, you decided to go hide your head

> in the sand.

> Here we have a group of people who live and work

> all over the world. This is a very diverse group of

> occupations, managers and experience. Even though

> came off a little on the negative side of the

> situation down there the fact is he made some very

> valid points that those who consider going into an

> area like that should contemplate. I say contemplate

> before being sucked into a marketing pitch that

> paints a totally different view of an area and

> endeavor that may put some poor naïve individual

> into a serious situation that he may not be able to

> survive in.

> Truth is there are valid concerns and knows

> this as well as you. You don’t go out on a rig

> without proper training and doing your homework do

> you? This area has serious health, security and

> cultural concerns, as does the whole continent

> that’s a plain fact of life there.

> If you don’t see this then you are truly naïve. I

> am one of those people you are talking about and

> have been out in the jungles, plains, savannas and

> deserts and I know from experience it’s not a

> vacation spot it’s real humanitarian work, war and

> conflict that takes courage and dedication.

> There are risks that sometimes you don’t even know

> exist. There are whole agencies dedicated to

> providing intelligence and information about the

> risks you should know that. If not please review

> CDC, CIA Fact Book, Global Security, Consulate

> Warnings etc, etc, etc there you will find some very

> interesting facts about Ghana as well as most any

> country in the world.

> The point and sarcasm in ’s posting was

> plainly stating to me that the marketing posting was

> leaving out some very serious issues that should

> have been pointed out and that is what an open

> discussion forum is all about isn’t it. Bringing out

> the truth and sharing of information; at least

> that’s what I think it’s supposed to do.

> As far as the Unite For Sight's Mission I salute

> them and know from experience the work that they do.

> There is nothing like seeing the “Blind See”. If

> you have ever experienced that then you know what

> I’m talking about. I agree with though with

> the marketing should come further real education

> which I’m sure that they do or at least I hope that

> they do. I wouldn’t think that an agency like that

> would not be concerned about the volunteers. But,

> you never should depend solely on others to protect

> your backside should you.

> You are right about one thing sometimes the

> discussions get carried away but I’ve noticed that

> the site monitors say enough when it’s enough.

> So, so long Simon good luck out in there.

>

> Mike Plyler

> Never mind what I'm doing I don't need to post it.

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

__________________________________________________________

Sent from - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.

[Guest guest]

Hello Mike,

Nice reply!

Hope all is well with you.

Tim Miles.

@...: bazg_uk@...: Thu, 21 Feb

2008 11:03:01 +0000Subject: RE: Re: Volunteer Service in

Africa and Asia

Hi MikeGlad to hear your still around mate - drop me a lineoff list sometimeHope

all is wellBZ--- Plyler <michael_plyler@...> wrote:> Bravo Simon,>

> Guess you made your choice and probably will not> revel in what I have to say.

The idea that people> don't have a right to an opinion as you so> eloquently hid

in your verbiage and adjectives in> that posting is just the kind of thing I

wouldn't> want to see in such a place as a forum. > A forum is plainly that a

place for open> discussion. has an opinion and I would rather> hear what he

has to say and respond, just as you> did, if I agree or disagree, than have

people like> you edit and suppress open and free discussions. > What you are

talking about has been for millennium> fought over in most countries of the

world. Those> same people the, and I quote, “ world weary, bitter> and twisted

people (usually military I am afraid)> who revel in either schoolboy banter,

post colonial> disaffection, or off the planet ideas” are the ones> out in the

middle of the conflicts dealing with the> difficulties fighting for your right

to post your> suppressive ideas of freedom of thought and> expression. Sorry,

you decided to go hide your head> in the sand. > Here we have a group of people

who live and work> all over the world. This is a very diverse group of>

occupations, managers and experience. Even though> came off a little on the

negative side of the> situation down there the fact is he made some very> valid

points that those who consider going into an> area like that should contemplate.

I say contemplate> before being sucked into a marketing pitch that> paints a

totally different view of an area and> endeavor that may put some poor naïve

individual> into a serious situation that he may not be able to> survive in. >

Truth is there are valid concerns and knows> this as well as you. You don’t

go out on a rig> without proper training and doing your homework do> you? This

area has serious health, security and> cultural concerns, as does the whole

continent> that’s a plain fact of life there. > If you don’t see this then you

are truly naïve. I> am one of those people you are talking about and> have been

out in the jungles, plains, savannas and> deserts and I know from experience

it’s not a> vacation spot it’s real humanitarian work, war and> conflict that

takes courage and dedication. > There are risks that sometimes you don’t even

know> exist. There are whole agencies dedicated to> providing intelligence and

information about the> risks you should know that. If not please review> CDC,

CIA Fact Book, Global Security, Consulate> Warnings etc, etc, etc there you will

find some very> interesting facts about Ghana as well as most any> country in

the world. > The point and sarcasm in ’s posting was> plainly stating to me

that the marketing posting was> leaving out some very serious issues that

should> have been pointed out and that is what an open> discussion forum is all

about isn’t it. Bringing out> the truth and sharing of information; at least>

that’s what I think it’s supposed to do. > As far as the Unite For Sight's

Mission I salute> them and know from experience the work that they do.> There is

nothing like seeing the “Blind See”. If> you have ever experienced that then you

know what> I’m talking about. I agree with though with> the marketing

should come further real education> which I’m sure that they do or at least I

hope that> they do. I wouldn’t think that an agency like that> would not be

concerned about the volunteers. But,> you never should depend solely on others

to protect> your backside should you. > You are right about one thing sometimes

the> discussions get carried away but I’ve noticed that> the site monitors say

enough when it’s enough. > So, so long Simon good luck out in there. > > Mike

Plyler> Never mind what I'm doing I don't need to post it.> > > [Non-text

portions of this message have been> removed]> >

__________________________________________________________Sent from

- a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.

_________________________________________________________________

Windows Vista + Windows Live. Open up your digital life. Get Windows Live free.

http://get.live.com

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: " Ian Sharpe " <Ian@...>

> correction thats 14,470 messages.

I would like to use my right to free speech to say that Ian is a very

pedantic person!

)

--

I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.

It has removed 8092 spam emails to date.

Paying users do not have this message in their emails.

Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len

[Guest guest]

Thanks Mike,

That is in fact exactly what my sarcasm was trying to point

out. I am known far more for my candor than tact. I support the

idea of helping those unable to help themselves. In fact 17 years as

a medic kind of implies that doesn't it? What struck me about the ad

was it's rosy " isn't the world a wonderful place full of chocolate

rivers and gumdrop trees " sentimentality, including testimonials.

The reality is Africa,even in the best of settings, requires care and

planning and an informed traveller.

I was also pointing out something that others have also

mentioned recently. This board is becoming less and less about

networking for offshore/remote medics. Certainly an advert from a

charitable organization is reasonable, but in the final analysis it

seems more often we spend our time discussing which country makes the

best medics, and which resume fisher is trying to scam people. I

like what WhiteDiesel mentioned. Why can't we spend more time

discussing where the best gigs are, and what the best company is?

To the guy who requested he be removed from the board because I

expressed disdain for ethnic cleansing, slavery, and genital

mutilation. Lighten up Francis.

>

> Bravo Simon,

>

> Guess you made your choice and probably will not revel in what I

have to say. The idea that people don't have a right to an opinion as

you so eloquently hid in your verbiage and adjectives in that posting

is just the kind of thing I wouldn't want to see in such a place as a

forum.

> A forum is plainly that a place for open discussion. has an

opinion and I would rather hear what he has to say and respond, just

as you did, if I agree or disagree, than have people like you edit

and suppress open and free discussions.

> What you are talking about has been for millennium fought over in

most countries of the world. Those same people the, and I quote, "

world weary, bitter and twisted people (usually military I am afraid)

who revel in either schoolboy banter, post colonial disaffection, or

off the planet ideas " are the ones out in the middle of the conflicts

dealing with the difficulties fighting for your right to post your

suppressive ideas of freedom of thought and expression. Sorry, you

decided to go hide your head in the sand.

> Here we have a group of people who live and work all over the

world. This is a very diverse group of occupations, managers and

experience. Even though came off a little on the negative side

of the situation down there the fact is he made some very valid

points that those who consider going into an area like that should

contemplate. I say contemplate before being sucked into a marketing

pitch that paints a totally different view of an area and endeavor

that may put some poor naïve individual into a serious situation that

he may not be able to survive in.

> Truth is there are valid concerns and knows this as well as

you. You don't go out on a rig without proper training and doing your

homework do you? This area has serious health, security and cultural

concerns, as does the whole continent that's a plain fact of life

there.

> If you don't see this then you are truly naïve. I am one of those

people you are talking about and have been out in the jungles,

plains, savannas and deserts and I know from experience it's not a

vacation spot it's real humanitarian work, war and conflict that

takes courage and dedication.

> There are risks that sometimes you don't even know exist. There

are whole agencies dedicated to providing intelligence and

information about the risks you should know that. If not please

review CDC, CIA Fact Book, Global Security, Consulate Warnings etc,

etc, etc there you will find some very interesting facts about Ghana

as well as most any country in the world.

> The point and sarcasm in 's posting was plainly stating to me

that the marketing posting was leaving out some very serious issues

that should have been pointed out and that is what an open discussion

forum is all about isn't it. Bringing out the truth and sharing of

information; at least that's what I think it's supposed to do.

> As far as the Unite For Sight's Mission I salute them and know

from experience the work that they do. There is nothing like seeing

the " Blind See " . If you have ever experienced that then you know

what I'm talking about. I agree with though with the marketing

should come further real education which I'm sure that they do or at

least I hope that they do. I wouldn't think that an agency like that

would not be concerned about the volunteers. But, you never should

depend solely on others to protect your backside should you.

> You are right about one thing sometimes the discussions get

carried away but I've noticed that the site monitors say enough when

it's enough.

> So, so long Simon good luck out in there.

>

> Mike Plyler

> Never mind what I'm doing I don't need to post it.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In the whole, all the replies made to this mail / advert just brought us

again and other example of individuality. Being from Africa and working in

Africa (last hitch thank goodness) I have to add that I agree with what was

said above. The advert is painting a picture of a continent that has seen

more wars, ethnic cleansing, child soldiers, corruption and the like than

most of us would care to admit.

As has been said before me, taking the onus upon yourself and doing the

needed research into a country / company before simply jumping on your

little broom and jetting off into the sunset towards darkest Africa and

expect a rosy future. In the end everyone working in these environments such

as ourselves know that not everyone is cut out for this type of work we are

but a select few that can actually start in this profession and stick with

it.

On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 9:46 AM, <sumoparamedic@...> wrote:

> Thanks Mike,

> That is in fact exactly what my sarcasm was trying to point

> out. I am known far more for my candor than tact. I support the

> idea of helping those unable to help themselves. In fact 17 years as

> a medic kind of implies that doesn't it? What struck me about the ad

> was it's rosy " isn't the world a wonderful place full of chocolate

> rivers and gumdrop trees " sentimentality, including testimonials.

> The reality is Africa,even in the best of settings, requires care and

> planning and an informed traveller.

> I was also pointing out something that others have also

> mentioned recently. This board is becoming less and less about

> networking for offshore/remote medics. Certainly an advert from a

> charitable organization is reasonable, but in the final analysis it

> seems more often we spend our time discussing which country makes the

> best medics, and which resume fisher is trying to scam people. I

> like what WhiteDiesel mentioned. Why can't we spend more time

> discussing where the best gigs are, and what the best company is?

> To the guy who requested he be removed from the board because I

> expressed disdain for ethnic cleansing, slavery, and genital

> mutilation. Lighten up Francis.

>

>

> >

> > Bravo Simon,

> >

> > Guess you made your choice and probably will not revel in what I

> have to say. The idea that people don't have a right to an opinion as

> you so eloquently hid in your verbiage and adjectives in that posting

> is just the kind of thing I wouldn't want to see in such a place as a

> forum.

> > A forum is plainly that a place for open discussion. has an

> opinion and I would rather hear what he has to say and respond, just

> as you did, if I agree or disagree, than have people like you edit

> and suppress open and free discussions.

> > What you are talking about has been for millennium fought over in

> most countries of the world. Those same people the, and I quote, "

> world weary, bitter and twisted people (usually military I am afraid)

> who revel in either schoolboy banter, post colonial disaffection, or

> off the planet ideas " are the ones out in the middle of the conflicts

> dealing with the difficulties fighting for your right to post your

> suppressive ideas of freedom of thought and expression. Sorry, you

> decided to go hide your head in the sand.

> > Here we have a group of people who live and work all over the

> world. This is a very diverse group of occupations, managers and

> experience. Even though came off a little on the negative side

> of the situation down there the fact is he made some very valid

> points that those who consider going into an area like that should

> contemplate. I say contemplate before being sucked into a marketing

> pitch that paints a totally different view of an area and endeavor

> that may put some poor naïve individual into a serious situation that

> he may not be able to survive in.

> > Truth is there are valid concerns and knows this as well as

> you. You don't go out on a rig without proper training and doing your

> homework do you? This area has serious health, security and cultural

> concerns, as does the whole continent that's a plain fact of life

> there.

> > If you don't see this then you are truly naïve. I am one of those

> people you are talking about and have been out in the jungles,

> plains, savannas and deserts and I know from experience it's not a

> vacation spot it's real humanitarian work, war and conflict that

> takes courage and dedication.

> > There are risks that sometimes you don't even know exist. There

> are whole agencies dedicated to providing intelligence and

> information about the risks you should know that. If not please

> review CDC, CIA Fact Book, Global Security, Consulate Warnings etc,

> etc, etc there you will find some very interesting facts about Ghana

> as well as most any country in the world.

> > The point and sarcasm in 's posting was plainly stating to me

> that the marketing posting was leaving out some very serious issues

> that should have been pointed out and that is what an open discussion

> forum is all about isn't it. Bringing out the truth and sharing of

> information; at least that's what I think it's supposed to do.

> > As far as the Unite For Sight's Mission I salute them and know

> from experience the work that they do. There is nothing like seeing

> the " Blind See " . If you have ever experienced that then you know

> what I'm talking about. I agree with though with the marketing

> should come further real education which I'm sure that they do or at

> least I hope that they do. I wouldn't think that an agency like that

> would not be concerned about the volunteers. But, you never should

> depend solely on others to protect your backside should you.

> > You are right about one thing sometimes the discussions get

> carried away but I've noticed that the site monitors say enough when

> it's enough.

> > So, so long Simon good luck out in there.

> >

> > Mike Plyler

> > Never mind what I'm doing I don't need to post it.

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Well said paul.....

<sumoparamedic@...> wrote:

Thanks Mike,

That is in fact exactly what my sarcasm was trying to point

out. I am known far more for my candor than tact. I support the

idea of helping those unable to help themselves. In fact 17 years as

a medic kind of implies that doesn't it? What struck me about the ad

was it's rosy " isn't the world a wonderful place full of chocolate

rivers and gumdrop trees " sentimentality, including testimonials.

The reality is Africa,even in the best of settings, requires care and

planning and an informed traveller.

I was also pointing out something that others have also

mentioned recently. This board is becoming less and less about

networking for offshore/remote medics. Certainly an advert from a

charitable organization is reasonable, but in the final analysis it

seems more often we spend our time discussing which country makes the

best medics, and which resume fisher is trying to scam people. I

like what WhiteDiesel mentioned. Why can't we spend more time

discussing where the best gigs are, and what the best company is?

To the guy who requested he be removed from the board because I

expressed disdain for ethnic cleansing, slavery, and genital

mutilation. Lighten up Francis.

>

> Bravo Simon,

>

> Guess you made your choice and probably will not revel in what I

have to say. The idea that people don't have a right to an opinion as

you so eloquently hid in your verbiage and adjectives in that posting

is just the kind of thing I wouldn't want to see in such a place as a

forum.

> A forum is plainly that a place for open discussion. has an

opinion and I would rather hear what he has to say and respond, just

as you did, if I agree or disagree, than have people like you edit

and suppress open and free discussions.

> What you are talking about has been for millennium fought over in

most countries of the world. Those same people the, and I quote, "

world weary, bitter and twisted people (usually military I am afraid)

who revel in either schoolboy banter, post colonial disaffection, or

off the planet ideas " are the ones out in the middle of the conflicts

dealing with the difficulties fighting for your right to post your

suppressive ideas of freedom of thought and expression. Sorry, you

decided to go hide your head in the sand.

> Here we have a group of people who live and work all over the

world. This is a very diverse group of occupations, managers and

experience. Even though came off a little on the negative side

of the situation down there the fact is he made some very valid

points that those who consider going into an area like that should

contemplate. I say contemplate before being sucked into a marketing

pitch that paints a totally different view of an area and endeavor

that may put some poor naïve individual into a serious situation that

he may not be able to survive in.

> Truth is there are valid concerns and knows this as well as

you. You don't go out on a rig without proper training and doing your

homework do you? This area has serious health, security and cultural

concerns, as does the whole continent that's a plain fact of life

there.

> If you don't see this then you are truly naïve. I am one of those

people you are talking about and have been out in the jungles,

plains, savannas and deserts and I know from experience it's not a

vacation spot it's real humanitarian work, war and conflict that

takes courage and dedication.

> There are risks that sometimes you don't even know exist. There

are whole agencies dedicated to providing intelligence and

information about the risks you should know that. If not please

review CDC, CIA Fact Book, Global Security, Consulate Warnings etc,

etc, etc there you will find some very interesting facts about Ghana

as well as most any country in the world.

> The point and sarcasm in 's posting was plainly stating to me

that the marketing posting was leaving out some very serious issues

that should have been pointed out and that is what an open discussion

forum is all about isn't it. Bringing out the truth and sharing of

information; at least that's what I think it's supposed to do.

> As far as the Unite For Sight's Mission I salute them and know

from experience the work that they do. There is nothing like seeing

the " Blind See " . If you have ever experienced that then you know

what I'm talking about. I agree with though with the marketing

should come further real education which I'm sure that they do or at

least I hope that they do. I wouldn't think that an agency like that

would not be concerned about the volunteers. But, you never should

depend solely on others to protect your backside should you.

> You are right about one thing sometimes the discussions get

carried away but I've noticed that the site monitors say enough when

it's enough.

> So, so long Simon good luck out in there.

>

> Mike Plyler

> Never mind what I'm doing I don't need to post it.

>

>

>