Over 1.6 million Syrians have taken refugee in Turkey since the outbreak of the crisis in March 2011.

Around 30 percent of these live in 22 government-run camps near the Syrian-Turkish border. The rest do their best to make ends meet in communities across the country.

Such a response has come with substantial cost, and by May 2013 the Turkish government had spent around $1.5 billion (€1.6 billion) on accommodating Syrian refugees. The rising price tag has now forced the Turkish government to seek international support for an operation that, at the beginning, was guarded as a government responsibility. Now UNHCR and other groups have much greater access to the refugees than they did at the beginning, but the Turkish government still maintains a large degree of control over the camps.

Turkey has accorded temporary protection to Syrians on their territory, which precludes forced repatriation, however legally they are not refugees in Turkey but ‘guests’. Turkey is a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, however because of a geographic exception written into the original document it is only obligated to accept refugees from European nations. Thus, Syrians in Turkey do not have access to all the legal safeguards accorded to refugees elsewhere, and those seeking permanent resettlement must look to a third nation. Turkey long-maintained an open border for fleeing Syrians, although that policy has changed somewhat as the crisis has grown. For this reason, a substantial number of people are now camped on the Syrian side of the border, waiting for an opportunity to cross.

In September 2014, attacks by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant against Kurdish towns and villages near the Turkish border caused hundreds of thousands of Kurds to flee to Turkey.

Refugees in Turkey from Syria’s Kobani area are being encouraged to move into the newest and largest camp which opened in Suruς in late January 2015. To date, 5,000 people have moved into the camp, managed by the government’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, which has a capacity to shelter 35,000 of the estimated 192,000 people who fled to Turkey from Kobani during fighting between militants and Syrian Kurdish forces last year.

Over 200 agencies and aid groups, together with the governments of neighboring countries, are working together to protect Syrian refugees and assist them with meeting their basic needs, improve access to education and medical care, and provide basic goods such as tents, food and safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities.

Here are the lyrics:

I am so weary, so very tired. I Can’t even say my name.
I am so hungry, so sick and frightened. I Can’t even hold my head up.

I’m not an animal. Not some strange creature. I am a human..
I have such dreams I can tell you about, I have such love I can tell you about,
If you would listen.

I  am unwanted, my land is a desert, and all of my life a nightmare.
I’m not an animal, not some strange creature, I am a human.

 

I have such dreams I can tell you about, I have such love I can tell you about,
 If  you would listen.

So stop all the fighting, I’ll care for my children, let’s burn all the guns and rockets.
We’ll paint the world kindly, use many colours, and light up the sky with magic.

 I’m not an animal, not some strange creature, I am a human.
And I have such dreams I can tell you about, I have such joy I can tell you about.
If you would listen.

I am the frightened, I am your sister.
I am the homeless, I am your brother.
I am the future, I am the children.

 

 

Meet Lian Pin Koh, a relentless tinkerer and science fiction movie geek, though most know him as an environmental scientist. His dreams of combining these interests led him to co-found, with colleague Serge Wich, the site ConservationDrones.org, a project dedicated to gathering intelligence on forests and wildlife through the use of low-cost unmanned flying machines.

Ground surveys are expensive, and are not conducted at a sufficient frequency. Furthermore, some remote tropical forests have never been really surveyed for biodiversity. Koh's machines have already collected valuable information in Sumatra, Congo, Gabon, and Madagascar.

He is an assistant professor of applied ecology and conservation at the ETH Zurich.

What others say:  “Although it's still the "dawn of drone ecology," as one innovator calls it, these unmanned aerial vehicles are already skimming over Indonesia's jungle canopy to photograph orangutans, protecting rhinos in Nepal and studying invasive aquatic plants in Florida... A conservation drone pioneer, Lian Pin Koh of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, says the idea came to him after another sweaty, jungle slog in Sabah, Malaysia, hauling heavy equipment for his field work.” — Denis D. Gray, USA Today

This Ted Talk was filmed in June, 2013:  A Drone's -Eye View of Conservation.

 

A billion people in the world lack access to all-season roads. Could the structure of the internet provide a model for how to reach them? Andreas Raptopoulos of Matternet thinks so. He introduces a new type of transportation system that uses electric autonomous flying machines to deliver medicine, food, goods and supplies wherever they are needed.  Another positive creative use of drones shared by Ted Talks in June, 2013.

 

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking and exciting year long class that transforms middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and actually launch and run their own real, legal, fully formed companies and social movements. Complete with dynamic guest speakers from the local business community and exciting behind-the-scenes trips to local companies, the fun, projects-based YEA! approach empowers students to take charge of their futures in a profound way.

 

This is my first year helping out with this program and I have had a blast. At least three hours weekly for about eight weeks I meet with two students from Brazosport Christian School and mentor them in creating a business plan for a clothing line that's mission is to help people rise above the negativity that is ever present in our day-to-day lives. Their slogan, "Rise Above" is in many ways in-line with the goals of Rotary; both seek to leave the world a better place.

"I am proud to be participating in this program and impacting the lives of the two students that are both 15 years old.  I find that they are both committed to realizing their dreams of a owning a business with a socially responsible mission."  Alexis joined the e-Club of Houston in December, 2014.  He is the Director of Client Services for Retirement Planning & Wealth Management in Lake Jackson, Texas.  He was sponsored by our President Sofka.

 

Thank you, Alexis Campestre, for your community service as a Rotarian!  Here he is with the YEA! class of students.

 

The 30th Year - As we celebrate the 110th Anniversary of Rotary this month, we also recognize the 30th year of our battle for Global Polio Eradication.  We have never been closer to our goal.  But "This Close" is not close enough.  Please continue to Donate (to reach our $35 million goal this year - to be matched by $70 million from the Gates Foundation), to Educate (so Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike may be united behind this effort), and to Advocate (encouraging each government, foundation and NGO to support us) until we reach Zero Polio Cases worldwide for 3 Years!

 

Africa - It has been over 13 months since the last Polio case was reported in Ethiopia,  over 7 months for Cameroon, over 6 months for Somalia and over 7 months for Nigeria.  If Nigeria can go 12 months with quality surveillance detecting no Wild Polio Virus, they will join the countries which have stopped Polio transmission.  If after an additional two years, no Wild Polio Virus has been detected, Nigeria could be certified as Polio - Free! 

   

A Polio-Free Pakistan - With 85% of the world's 2014 Polio cases occurring in Pakistan, it's clear that evidence of increased commitment from the government of Pakistan at all levels is crucial for turning the tide on polio. The emergency activities will in the future be directly overseen by the Office of the Prime Minister, which will monitor progress on a regular basis and redirect the plan as needed based on evolving epidemiology.  In the long history of the polio eradication effort, countries that seemed to have insurmountable problems have made a dramatic turnaround following a similar commitment from their governments.  

 
The Final Three Endemic Countries:
Pakistan - 9 cases reported in 2015 with 306 Polio cases recorded in 2014  The most recent case was reported on 01/31/15 in Peshawar.    
Afghanistan - Two cases reported in 2015 with 28 Polio cases recorded in 2014. The most recent case was reported on 01/21/14

from the Hilmand Province.   
Nigeria - Zero cases reported in 2015 with 6 Polio cases recorded in 2014.  The most recent case was reported on 7/24/14.  Sub-National Immunization Days are planned on March 14-18 using trivalent vaccine.

 

Importation Countries:
Ethiopia - Zero Polio Case reported in 2015 compared to 1 in 2014.
Cameroon - Zero Polio Cases reported in 2015 compared to 5 in 2014.
Somalia - Zero Polio Cases reported in 2015 compared to 5 in 2014.   
Iraq - Zero Polio cases reported in 2015 compared to 2 in 2014.  
Syria - Zero Polio case reported in 2015 compared to 1 in 2014.
Equatorial Guinea - Zero Polio Cases reported in 2015 compared to 5 in 2014.
  

 

Register NOW for our fabulous District Conference in April and LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULEZ!  It starts with a Second Line Band March led by District Governor Lisa Faith Massey, then on to a "kick-off jazz dinner cruise" on the Riverboat Natchez, and ends with a true NOLA District Governor's Masquerade Ball (that's right ball gowns and tuxedos adorned by fabulous masks). April 16-19 will be filled with fun and fellowship, not to mention great speakers talking about the power and import of Service!  We have a great conference planned for District 5890 in New Orleans and you don't want to miss it.   Starting with a Second Line Band march to the Natchez for dinner on the Mississippi on Thursday night and ending with a Masquerade Ball with a live band, silent auction of your club's musical instrument creations and our awards, this will be a phenomenal time of Rotary fellowship.  A detailed timeline is on the website, but just to tease, we have Nic Phillips of Culture Map Houston and Harris County Sheriff Adrain Garcia joining us as speakers and fellow servants at our service project at the Ellis Marseilles Center for Music in the Ninth Ward on Saturday.   Hank Moore, former White House Aide, will be speaking on Friday as well.  Oh, and our RI President's representative will be one of the best ever (or so says PRID Andy Smallwood).  So, take a few minutes, go to our website and register.   Make sure to register your spouse/guest as well so they don't miss out on the fun.
 
Rooms rates and availability end soon, book now. Don't forget the bus travel option too.
 
See you in New Orleans.  Geaux Rotary!!
 

TRANSPORTATION:  Our GEAUX Rotary District Conference in New Orleans is fast approaching and we don't want you to worry a second more about whether to drive or fly, parking costs or taxi fares.  Let us do the driving for you on our District conference buses. We have fabulous buses to take you to and from New Orleans for $150/per person round trip, which includes lunch and libations on the trip to New Orleans.   Buses will leave at 8:00 am on Thursday 4/16, returning on Sunday 4/19 at 11:30.  Your car will be safely parked at the North Shore Pavilion.  Sign up now through the District Website as space is limited!!!

The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings:
Of the things we think, say or do

 

First, Is it the TRUTH?
Second, Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Third, Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
and Fourth, Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?