Battle Of The Bands – Rise Up Event

If you are in or around Bend, Oregon this weekend (June  5, 2009)…come check out the Rise Up Battle of the Bands. This event will feature six young Bend-based bands and has been put on by the efforts of Rise Up High School Senior Intern extraordinaire Dana Munson!

Battle of the Bands

CHINESE NEW YEAR with RISE UP

Rise UP events, if nothing else, tend to be lively. Head on down and check out the efforts of Robert Tadjiki and Rise Up in China. 

 For more information about Rise Up, our efforts in China, and to see how you can get involved- check out our website www.riseupinternational.com

For the latest updates & photos visit our newsblog: Rise Up NewsBlog!

 Rise Up
869 NW Tin Pan Alley
Bend, Oregon 97701

Rise UP School – Second Story Rising UP

The good folks in India are working hard on the second floor of the Rise UP India School. Check out the latest photos.

Building Construction: Concrete post and beam with brick infilled walls. Flat concrete roof. Steel barred windows with no glass but with wooden shutters. Two more bathrooms and four more classrooms.

A good solid building that can survive the monsoons, the heat and rot, its fireproof  and can’t be blown down.

Thanks to Sheri and the generous time and contributions from the folks in Bend and elsewhere and to the crazy crowd at RISE UP international.

Pramod, Upendra, Rakesh, the other teachers, cook, handyman, and all the students, and the nine orphan boys will have some more room to live, learn and play. Children have the right to a childhood. An education, no matter how simple, can make all the difference in life. Like I’m sure, dear reader, you know all so well.

Pramod and Upendra check out the new digs.

The folks who run the Rise UP India school are a hardy lot. They are working hard under difficult circumstances.  You, dear friend, probably have no clue about the situation in India. But they shrug it off and plunge forward. Want to find out? Send them an email at:

 rakeshmishra8242@yahoo.com 

Think about supporting Rise UP. It makes you feel good, and definitely increases your Q factor. Peace  -  Love  -  Happy New Year.

Mission Statement

RISE UP INDIA is dedicated to helping children living in impoverished settings by providing education and other aid with the goal of stopping and preventing child exploitation.

went down to the beach – fuimos al la playa

Padre Island, Texas – December 2008 

The other sunny day, I cut out of work and went down to the beach for a late afternoon walk. I reached my turnaround point and I was walking back to the car when I saw something in the surf. A guy was standing there. In front of him something was thrashing around in the surf. A big fish, like a dolphin. I went up to see. We looked. It looked like a big dolphin with no dolphin nose. It was big and thrashing and stuck. A couple of other guys showed up. It seemed like the creature was stuck so we kind of spontaneously decided to push it further out into the surf. We got it turned around and pushed out a little. The water filled with dark rust colored liquid. Another fellow came up to us. He was talking on his cell phone. He told us to stop. Apparently he was from the beached whale response team. He said the troubled creature was a pygmy sperm whale. We stopped. He said that we should just try to keep the whale upright. It was about 10 feet long and big, probably weighted 800 pounds. In short order another guy, Tim, showed up and pretty much took over. We held the whale upright. Some other folks stopped and some cars stopped. We got some beach towels and fed them under its belly and hauled the whale up the beach so its blowhole was free. The blowhole for the pygmy sperm whale is offset to the left of center on its head. The poor thing was struggling and every once in a while it took a big breath. Tim said four or five of us should hold the whale upright and stay clear of the tail. If the whale slumped over on its side the blowhole could get blocked and it would make it hard to inflate its lungs. Tim sexed it and it was a male. Tim was on the phone; apparently he talked to the marine center in Port Aransas, in Galveston, in Houston, and to the state in Austin. Tim came back and told us there has never been a case of a beached pygmy sperm whale surviving and that there were no rehab facilities available anywhere. He said he had been told from above what to do. In his truck he brought out a huge syringe and gave the poor whale an injection of a sedative near its spine. It was getting dark, the wind was up, I had my sunglasses on, and I had been standing in cold water for over an hour. We kept out of the whale’s line of vision and kept peoples car headlights out of its face. We put towels over its back and kept its skin wet. We dug out the sand to make room for its flippers, but most of all we held it upright. A man held his hand underneath and on his chest and felt the heartbeat. I felt cold and stiff but this was nothing compared to the whale’s suffering. Tim came with two huge syringes of poison. He injected the whale and it didn’t take long. It had one last weak breath. We held it until it moved no more. The whale’s only encounter with humans; euthanasia. I felt like crap. We put a stretcher under it and hauled it up on to the beach. I was frozen and really didn’t want to look. I left in the warmth of my car.

I didn’t sleep that night

 .

 The next day I was emptying out my pockets. I found a penny from 1942. I remembered back to when I was a kid and when I collected pennies. 1942 wasn’t that uncommon back then, but I hadn’t seen one in years.

The day after, I was walking on the beach again, I found a shell. A shell like the Shell Oil shell, only black, shiny, jet black, like a shell I’ve never seen.

 Somehow these three things seemed related: the whale, the penny, and the shell. I can’t say how, but in my mind I could think of a hundred meanings. But the meaning seemed to me to be like most of the experiences in my life. My life, the world, is full of surprising, delightful and tragic things. And in the end, although we may deny it, we’re all ground to dust.

 

 

Contact the Rise Up India School

Contact the Rise Up India School

Why Not? Kick down an email to the lads and lasses at our Rise Up School in Bakrour Village. They’re friendly and want to practice English. Our main guy is Rakesh Mishra. He’s in charge of the computer and shows the students and teachers how to use the computer.

rakeshmishra8242@yahoo.com

Rakesh is self taught in English. he took computer classes. He grew up in Bakrour. Maybe some day he’d like to work for the railroad. Unfortunately his parents have passed away and he cares for his younger siblings. He has been involved with the Rise Up school for years. Drop him a line.

Or if you want to go to the top, try sending a message to our principal Upendra Pathak. He’s a friendly guy who oversees the day to day operation at the school. He is a teacher, a Bakrour resident, and truly a friendly person.

upendrapathak_123@yahoo.co.in

Or for some local color shoot one over to Jyoti at Hari Om Restaurant. If your heading out Bodhgaya way he’ll set you up at his place. Jyoti is a restaurateur, tour guide, and part time priest. Jyoti runs Hari Om restaurant which is an up start where we had many a meal.

jyoti_gupta2000in@yahoo.com

Tell ‘em all Curtis sent you.

Cheers and Peace Out.

Rise Up India Web Log Stats

Rise UP India Weblog Stats

Listed below are search terms used to find Rise UP India.

The vast majority are for ‘child labour’ and ‘child labour in India’.

Roadside food stand

All over India children work long and hard each day with some working seven days a week.

Rise Up India believes children should not work full time all the time. Children should have  time set aside for some education and some time to play and be with other children. Every child has the right to have a childhood.

Below are the search terms and number of views:

All Time

Search Term	Views
child labour	446
child labour in india	105
bihar flood	35
child labor in india	29
india art	23
child labour india	23
child labor india	19
poet house bend oregon	18
bihar flood disaster	15
indian art	12
art from india	11
child slavery in india	11

RISE UP AND VOTE

Greetings and Well Well - Rise up India has been shipped out to the Southern Republic of Texas for the duration.

Girl On a Fish - Sandcastle on South Padre Island

These parts are firmly in the red state category. Even so people are very concerned about the election and have aready been lining up to cast their vote. Whatever you feel or think, agree or disagree, part of RISING UP is to vote. So head on down or mail ‘er in like a good Oregonian. Yeah, Put up or shut up. Get’er done. Hey thanks to y’all for rockin the poet house and kickin down the booty for the kids at Art For India ‘08.

Construction on the second floor of the Rise Up India school is ongoing thanks to Sheri and all of you. So clamp on the hat, pull on the boots, header on down and tip a few Lone Stars for y’all.

Cheers and Peace Out

ART FOR INDIA 2008

Art for India Update & Photos           Thanks to everyone who came to our second annual Rise Up Art for India fundraiser last month! We had a fun evening filled with amazing art, live music, creativity, and conversation. The event featured huge murals painted by 20 local artists. So far, over $14,000 was raised! 100% will go to completing the second story of our school in India, providing education for children from the untouchable caste, and providing support for nine orphan boys! Many thanks to the artists, musicians, and sponsors- The Wine Shop, Poethouse Art, Tbd Loft, Myc Yoga, Eyes on Wall, John Thompson & Associates, Planet Hair, Backporch Coffee Roasters, Alpine Glass, Denfeld Paints, Klaver Landscaping, Liberty Bank, and the countless others who donated items for silent auction & food for the evening!          There were many great photos from the event- please click here to view a slideshow! For more information about Rise Up, our efforts in India, and to see how you can get involved- check out our website www.riseupinternational.com For the latest updates & photos visit our newsblog: Rise Up NewsBlog! If you missed the event… There is still time to purchase your piece of the canvas! There are sixty pieces of beautiful work still available! Here are a few examples…                                         Please contact Sheri@riseupinternational.com for more information on how you can own your very own piece of the canvas! Also…we are looking for monthly supporters for our orphan boys in India!                             To find out more information about the boys visit our India Blog. To find out how you can become a monthly supporter and make a difference in the lives of these boys- contact Ron@Riseupinternational.com or stop by our new downtown Bend offices: 869 Tin Pan Alley (next to Thump & the Wine Shop). Thanks again for being a part of Rise Up’s vision and mission to stop the exploitation of children all over the world!   Rise Up 869 NW Tin Pan Alley Bend, Oregon 97701

Rise Up India*Art For India*School Fundraiser*Sept 28, 2008

The Wine Shop is a generous Sponsor

Hey y’all, join us on September 28, 2008, 5 to 9 pm for our 2nd annual Art For India fundraiser. Your ticket allows you to enjoy two beverages, food, music, and the opportunity to purchase art and other stuff to support the Rise Up School in India.

Carrie and Dave picking out their piece of the canvas

Click to view the Finished Canvases

We have 40 feet of canvas painted and we’re chopin it up and selling it off. Come on down and pick your custom piece(s). Canvases are now on view at Juniper Aquatic Center and at Dilusso Bakery downtown.

Thank You to our groovy sponsors and our many volunteers and talented artists. Due to their generosity 100% of funds collected at the event will go directly to the school. 100% is a very good number.

WHAT: ART FOR INDIA – Rise Up India School fundraiser. Hang out with cool people, have a drink, eat some food, listen to live music, buy unique art work and other funky items, 100% of funds raised go to support 250 children, 14 staff, 3 school locations in Bihar India.

WHEN: Sunday, September 28, 2008 – 5:00 to 9:00 pm

WHERE: The Poet House Art, located at TBD Loft in downtown Bend, Oregon, 55 NW Minnesota Ave (upstairs above the “Wine Shop”).

How Much: $15 adults, $10 under 21, kids under 10 are free. Available for purchase: original Art Work by local Artists – Get your piece of the canvas. Silent Auction: many cool donated artful items and bunches of carvings, clothing and other stuff hand carried from India. Tickets available: at the door, at the Rise Up office in Tin Pan Alley, or call Sheri Foster 503.551.5174.

Click To Link To Fundraiser Page

Click To Link To Fundraiser Page

Caution Uprising – Sample Logo