DESIRE 2005
DESI RELIEF FOR SOUTH ASIA
NEW YORK


DESIRE 2005 was a fundraising effort by a group of young activists in NYC to aid the post-tsunami devastated areas in Sri Lanka and the areas destroyed by the earthquake in Pakistan. 

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 Held on December 28, 2005, the first annual DESIRE fundraiser was held at Show Nightclub in NYC. The evening proved to be a memorable event that commemorated the one year anniversary of the tsunami. The event was hosted by comedian Dan Nainan with live performances by the hypnotic rhythms of Deep Singh and the mind-blowing spoken word by Shine. DJ Sharad and DJ Suhel kept the dance floor moving all night long.

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The night’s headliner Dushyanthi rocked the crowd with sexy belly dancers and a sultry voice that had the crowd wanting more. An emotional slideshow was shown depicting Sri Lanka in all its beauty and all its devastation that no one would soon forget.

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DESIRE 2005 fundraising efforts aided in sponsoring a team of doctors, nurses, and teachers who traveled to impoverished areas of Sri lanka, where people have little access to medical care. Over 3000 patients were treated in the 4 day clinic, while the children were taught music, dance, and art. DESIRE 2005 also supported the construction of a water tank to provide clean water to the Place of caring Orphanage where 50 of the 100 children’s families had perished in the tsunami.

   

In addition to tsunami destruction, the tropical island of Sri Lanka has also been torn by two decades of internal conflict. Around 64,000 people have been killed since 1983 in the Sri Lankan conflict-almost twice the number of lives lost in the tsunami. Sri Lanka has been working on post-tsunami reconstruction efforts in the midst of political tensions.  

 

Tensions in Sri Lanka have escalated recently as over 100 people have been killed in shootings and landmine attacks in December alone.  Security alerts have slowed down aid to the north and east of the country. Both sides are discussing the possibility of peace talks, as a return to open war would have a devastating effect on the nation.

Please take urgent action by sending a letter to both sides to call for a return to peace here.

LETTER OF PEACE