For immediate release May 12, 2008
Las Vegas—On May 2, 2008 the nation of Burma was devastated in the catastrophic Cyclone named Nargis. Cyclones are known in the United States and Western Hemisphere as Hurricanes. Today it is being called the second greatest cyclonic disaster in history and tomorrow, it may well become the worst human tragedy in modern history.
My background in disaster relief efforts and calls to assist have caused me to end my 2008 campaign for Assembly District 2 in Nevada.
In 2004, I helped with the greatest relief effort to date for the Indian Ocean tsunami, and the calls for my help this time are many times more urgent.
Our own Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast and rebuilding efforts are still slow to this day. The disaster in Burma is 1000 times worse, with an estimated 100,000 dead and fierce fighting for what little food and water is available. One township is reporting 80,000 dead and some 1.5 million people are homeless and destitute today.
Imagine nearly the entire population of the Las Vegas Valley homeless, destitute and submerged in flood waters with no food, water, clothing or medical supplies.
I cannot turn away, I cannot look away, I am compelled to help in any way that I can.
Today, much of the Irrawaddy Delta region of Burma is dealing with unspeakable destruction and human suffering today. Burma does not have 1/100th of the infrastructure we have here in the US, and the prospect of famine, disease and continuing crisis is the greatest challenge facing the world today. The storm surge pushed a wall of water 12 feet high, 25 miles up the delta, killing tens of thousands.
Relief efforts are complicated by a repressive government that for 50 years has isolated itself from the world under military rule. Burma's Human Rights record is atrocious, but this calamity needs our help today. The help of the human family coming to the aid of our fellow man in great distress is where my efforts must be for the foreseeable future, with years of stabilizing, rebuilding and relief to come.
I can't fully serve my campaign and the great citizens of Nevada's Assembly District 2 and lead up relief efforts from Nevada without either one suffering. You may have seen my multiple TV media interviews in recent days regarding the devastation and pleas for assistance, and the reports are getting progressively worse with each passing day.
I will enthusiastically support the Democratic candidate for Assembly District 2 and assist my fellow Democrats in turning our district Blue this November, and perhaps return to the local political arena at another time.
Remaining campaign funds will be donated to relief efforts, or returned following Nevada law, and we will continue fundraising efforts, only this time redirecting them to this awesome tragedy of unimaginable suffering and consequence that could destabilize that entire region of the world for decades to come.
We will set up a donation apparatus and other details in the coming days and beg your support for these efforts to assist our fellow man in his darkest days. Our goal in Southern Nevada is to raise one million dollars and I will be traveling to the region in a month, or so.
It has been my great joy and pleasure to meet so many hundreds of residents and businesses during my campaign. I will continue to lobby for reforms I had hoped to bring to the legislature, but for the time being, I will do so as a private citizen building our West Valley neighborhoods to a Democratic majority.
Your help is greatly needed and appreciated today and we will be in email contact in the coming days and months to direct your desire to help us through this horrific tragedy.
Fondly, and Democratically yours,
Sanje Sedera
Press calls to 702.540.3337
