The Mast-Head: Message for Surfers
For those who surf, like me, there should be a moment when we realize that waves like those generated by distant hurricanes which are so pleasurable to us meant death and property loss to others. The paradox should come with a sense of obligation.
Hurricane Matthew’s devastation of Haiti, as well as some parts of this country and the Caribbean, is an example. Aid organizations fear that the long aftermath of the storm will add to the toll. It seems to me that surfers in particular should be willing to do what they can to help.
The hurricane’s wind damage was catastrophic in Haiti. Houses, crops, access to safe drinking water were destroyed. Fishing boats are gone. Food production may be upended for years. The United Nations estimated that 1.4 million people are in immediate need of help. Hospitals and clinics are in ruins. Medical supplies are scarce. And even worse may lie ahead, as a new cholera epidemic is expected. For Haiti, the poorest nation in the region, there is little immediate hope.
East Hampton is far from Haiti. We do not have a large number of Haitians living here — though there are some. And Hurricane Matthew did not create the wave bonanza for surfers of other storms. Yet, those of us who love the ocean and try to organize our lives around its rhythms cannot just sit by.
Thinking as I sat on my board the other day in Montauk, it occurred to me that surfers ought to link their personal joy to helping relieve suffering and that they might do this by donating in proportion to the number of waves they catch, maybe $1 a ride, maybe $10 a ride. I started keeping a rough count.
Where to send the money is a question. The Urban Zen Foundation, founded by Donna Karan, who has a store in Sag Harbor and a house in East Hampton, is accepting donations and has chosen to support several groups. Among them are Project Medishare, which supports Haitian doctors, nurses, and clinics directly, and Prodev, a Haitian organization focusing on schools, children, and the need for immediate supplies. Doctors Without Borders operates four hospitals in Haiti and is an extraordinary organization to which I have donated in the past.
This month has been one of spectacularly great surf here. Those of us for whom the waves mean almost everything should think about making good on the deal and giving something to those suffering today.