APP7BrownP
1/22/2012

Responding Organizations

According to www.oldies1079wodb.com, The Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT) renders immediate medical care, food and clothing distribution, stress management, and community and social services. AMURT also provides long-term development assistance and sustainable economic programs to help disaster-affected people. AMURT depends primarily on full- and part-time volunteer help, and has a large volunteer base to draw on worldwide. AMURT provides and encourages disaster services training in conjunction with other relief agencies like the American Red Cross. Some similarities and differences between the American Red Cross model and the Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team are as follows. As stated by the www.medbib.com, and the New Religious Movements (1989), Ananda Marga runs yoga and meditation centers, schools, children's homes, food distribution centers, disaster relief programs, medical clinics, integral community development projects and other services, carried often through its service branch, the Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team. The AMURT organization, founded in India in 1965, has projects in over 80 countries. Emphasis is placed on solving the problems of the local people, whatever they may be, by empowering them in managing all their personal and social resources for the prosperity of all. The philosophy of Ananda Marga is one of universalism. It is a synthetic outlook, recognizing the one limitless supreme consciousness, both transcendental and manifested in all. As further stated by the www.medbid.com, and the New Religious Movements (1989), “Thus, we are all brothers and sisters, connected in love and consciousness by the bonds of cosmic fraternity”. This world of diversity has evolved out of unity (Supreme Consciousness), and we must continually strive to see the unity within all diversity and act accordingly. Thus, the social outlook of Ananda Marga recognizes that the welfare of the individual is inextricably linked with the welfare of the collective, each relying on the other for its existence and dynamism. Everyone has the right to equal opportunities of life and development and as such, there should be no discrimination because of superficial barriers such as race, nationality and religion. The www.medbib.com website provides a short list of the essential elements of Ananda Marga Spiritual Philosophy: 1) Cosmology 2) Realms of the Mind 3) Biopsychology 4) Life, Death and "Sam'skára". These range from proper hygiene and diet, yoga postures, to a scientific technique of meditation based on morality and leading to complete peace and inner fulfillment. According to this website (www.medbib.com), the Ananda Marga Spiritual Philosophy recognizes that a balance is needed between the spiritual and mundane aspects of existence, and that neither one should be neglected at the expense of the other. Hence, the goal of Ananda Marga is "self-realization and the welfare of all". According to the www.article.wn.com, in addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; communications services and comfort for military members and their family members; the collection, processing and distribution of blood and blood products; educational programs on preparedness, health, and safety; and international relief and development programs. Recommendations that I might make to aid counselors of responding agencies can be viewed from this website (www.reliefweb.int). They are as follows; both responding agencies cannot only coordinate relief efforts in the event of a disaster, but continuously update emergency plans and conduct preparedness training for health and medical personnel. As further stated by www.reliefweb.int, each agency can make health relief assistance more compatible with the needs of affected communities. An