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| In the early hours of February 27th - a Saturday morning - a magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit Chile. ORT, which has been active in Chile for over 50 years, working from a headquarters in Santiago as well as in communities in Concepcion and along the hard hit coast. ORT Chile is a critical part of the ORT family and we will do everything we can to help them recover from this catastrophic event. Please check back here for updates as they become available.
Reports from Marcelo Lewkow, National Director of ORT Chile March 16 | March 4: Part II | March 4 Part I | March 1 | February 27 The Mass Media’s Role in Chile’s Earthquake -- by Marcelo Lewkow After a dubious start which showed its lack of coordination and truth, the TV stations sent their best men and women onto the streets to tell us what was going on. Generally they would show us images of destruction not dissimilar to those of other earthquakes in other towns. That was until the Hispanic-Chilean journalist Amaro Gómez Pablos started reporting, Clark Kent style, from outside a supermarket in Concepción which was being looted. With microphone in hand he took the cameras to the looting and disorder and changed the tone and coverage, to something which other media did not hesitate to copy. However, this was not the only way to find out what was going on in Chile, as was shown by the radio stations, in particular the “Comunitarias”. It was once again shown that radio is unbeatable as a means of information and cohesion in an emergency involving many people, as in Chile’s case. In Concepción, the Bío Bío radio went on air as soon as it could to ask for help in the search for missing people much more quickly and efficiently than the state media. In Santiago the first station heard on the internet was Radio Tierra which started its emission with its “Noticiero Ciudadano” linked with Radioneta de Valparaíso, Eco Comunicaciones and other similar stations. Everyone was waiting for news from “Picaflor Rojo”, the community radio from Robinson Crusoe island, but it appears that the damages were such that they are still unable to transmit. There was a wide range of opinions. The “masses” were covering stories of looting but the Comunitarias, reporting on the same thing, were also questioning the failure of the State’s emergency plans. Why new buildings had fallen down in Santiago itself, the delay in evaluations, the collapse in telecommunications, the hesitation in sending the army, the reluctance to accept international help, etc. As an early conclusion, it could be said that the Comunitaria radio continues to be a privileged medium, They went from contemplating what should have been done immediately following the disaster, to showing those affected by the earthquake receiving help and dramatic human life stories. A second conclusion from this experience, is that due to the reality shows “creating realities”, editors, directors, and cameramen are used to the logic of hidden cameras and close ups, not only visually but also conceptually, and the first reaction before a catastrophe as huge as Chile experienced, seems to be in searching for exciting close ups, instead of asking what is needed, what is their responsibility and what are the consequences of showing such images. (Thurs. March 4 2010) It is being called the hypocritical earthquake in Chile. A distracted visitor could walk through downtown Santiago and visit the upper and middle class residential areas and barely be able to tell that the Earth shook here last week as few times it has ever done so before in seismological history. Years of preparation, powerful previous earthquakes and undeniable development led Chileans to believe that this catastrophe would practically leave no victims and that the human factor wouldn’t be affected at all. Such as many or better said too many things in Chile, disaster is subtle and many times invisible, but it is there, hidden by our anxiety to be and seem normal, that is to say, to be seen as a First World country. The greatest danger that encompasses this Chilean disaster is its invisibility. Many buildings (2% of the 1500 of Chile’s central Region) that externally seem to have survived unscathed harbor deep cracks in the interior walls rendering them unusable. The same can be said about the country in general: the facade was left more or less intact, the structure did not collapse, but many of the country’s hidden cracks became deeper and therefore inevitable. To experience the aftermath of two of the most important and severe earthquakes registered this century is to cover the broad range of an arch. In Haiti, the images, evidence, horror, and astonishment were predominant whereas in Chile, it has been the rumors, subtleness, numbers and paradoxes. In Haiti entire families swatting flies away from the fresh stumps of their relatives are seen in the streets. Horror did everything possible to reveal itself on a full blown scale from the very first day. On the other hand, in Chile, everything has been so strangely slow and concealed that at times it is rather difficult to remember the scale of the disaster. In Haiti, most of the old structures collapsed during the first second of the earthquake while in Chile, it is ironically the new structures that fell. Buildings destined for the rising middle class, the new international airport proudly decorated in a modern and international style, and the recently inaugurated highways, were the first to collapse. Builders say they were supposed to collapse the way they did to save lives. Non professional people wonder if that is so, then what could have happened if the earthquake stroke during broad day light busy hour. The contrasts multiply in all aspects of both earthquakes. In Haiti, the capital was devastated whereas in Chile, it was the provinces, the forgotten provinces where development has barely permeated the population, a population that now suffers and is unable to count their dead. If the supermarkets in Port-au- Prince were virtual deathtraps, the ones in Concepcion were strangely ransacked by thieves who carried away televisions and food while showing the cameras that they had fistfuls of money but no one to pay it to. Chile is not Haiti, but it is not Sweden or Switzerland either as we would like to believe. It is somewhere in between, located in a unique limbo in which the structures are resistant but the ornaments fall dangerously. The facades remain standing while the interior walls are split by deep cracks. In Chile, entire regions have been forgotten. Regions, that have never had a hospital or a highway, have new buildings that bring the promise of an upper class lifestyle but made with second hand materials. Income and taxes are a common currency and so are fear, paranoia and hunger when disaster strikes, but they are undeniably distributed unfairly. While most homes in Santiago are relatively intact and have electricity and water once again, many of those who tried to imitate this lifestyle now realize the deep lack of protection rooted in their homes and lives. Unprotected in buildings that seem luxurious and living too far away from where the decisions are made, the earthquake has reminded them not only of how fragile life is, but of the fragility of the “Chilean miracle” as well. Fighting the Moral Earthquake -- by Marcelo Lewkow After the physical and emotional horror of the earthquake and the death toll, came the indignation. Average citizens did not feel the government presence in the most damaged areas. The riots symbolized the superficial and horrifying image of a deeper crack in the society. Neighbor against neighbor fighting for survival. Thieves are wondering during the night and choosing their victims, businesses or private homes, with no punishment or control. Then the army came. The army brought in silence, order restoration, and a certain amount of peace for those who suffer. The crisis is real, the needs are urgent, so now is the time for a benign temporary denial that will save the energy for the real battle -- solidarity. Some ideas are thrown into the air, and will remain to be analyzed: How to create social bonds that will endure and protect society against its own destructive instincts in case of emergency? How to educate? How to create leadership? What did the government, the institutions, the civil society do wrong? Meanwhile, those groups that have strong tradition of moral values and solidarity take the lead. The Catholic Church, the Jewish community, ORT and few others move quickly and efficiently to start the immediate help. Will Chile learn its lesson? Will this event change decades of development in style and content and allow the learning to be better prepared? The second stage of the reconstruction, the social one, will be harder and longer than the immediate stage. It will need the expertise of institutions such as ORT that can bring international experience in a practical yet technically updated way. |
  Map of the epicenter and impact areas of the recent earthquake.
Marcelo Lewkow and Isidoro Gorodischer, World ORT Representative for Latin America on Easter Island, Chile – one of many ORT locations in the country
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Chile’s approximately 20,000 Jews are concentrated in the capital Santiago and are not known to have suffered any significant damage from the earthquake that struck the country last Saturday. However, in a sign of how difficult it is to dig information out of the worst-hit parts of the country, it has only now emerged that the Masorti Synagogue in Chile’s second city, Concepción, was destroyed during the 8.8 temblor, one of the most powerful ever recorded. ORT Chile National Director Mr. Marcelo Lewkow is hopeful the situation will stabilize enough for him to visit the hardest hit areas and assess the condition of 13 affected schools ORT is partnered with.
Read more about ORT's next steps and about what may be needed in the months ahead.
Just three days ago, the earth moved violently in a phenomenon we felt would be a life changing event. National televised broadcasts have opened our eyes to the desperate situation in the south, the tsunami, the destruction, the vulnerability, the inability of the state to cope with such a tragedy, and to the military forces, feared so much in the past, being called upon by the populations of damaged areas to protect its citizens.
After witnessing all of this, we understand that we, as a country, are experiencing a larger than life moment that will impact us as individuals and as a society for as long as we live.
Life in Santiago reflects the image you may be seeing internationally – most of us now have electricity and water, and after our initial fear and paralysis, we know that our loved ones, community, and city are safe and normalcy is returning to our lives. There are, of course, minor problems such as a shortage of gasoline (this means we only travel if absolutely necessary), electronic methods of payment (we keep cash available and keep all expenses to a minimum), and some minor damages and rioting in the poorer areas that television footage made to appear widespread and destructive, but which were actually short lived and easily controlled. Yet, just 200 kilometres away, the scenario differs greatly and is still not fully understood.
The Jewish schools in Santiago and Vinda del Mar are okay for the most part. Classes will resume next Monday, March 8th, and the Jewish community is quickly organizing itself to coordinate a nationwide campaign to help those who have been less fortunate. Among the less fortunate are a small, but significant, Jewish community in Concepcion, one of the areas which suffered greatly in the earthquake’s aftermath.
The Country:
To those of you who have visited Chile, you must remember the friendly and educated people, its impressive infrastructure, and the order and beautify of this peaceful and industrious country located at the end of the world. The long and thin Chilean territory encompasses a wide range of climates and boasts an abundance of nature. The northern half is a dry desert between tall Cordillera de Los Andes and the Pacific Ocean with mining, fishing, and agricultural cities scattered every 500 kilometers. This part of the country only felt the shake mildly and is intact. The central part of Chile, where Santiago is located, is mostly urban with some agriculture (grapes, fruits, wheat, and corn). This part of the country felt with quake significantly but was fortunate enough to only have felt minor effects.
The area which suffered the greatest damage spreads from 150 kilometers south of Santiago and all the way to the city of Temuco, 600 kilometers from Santiago. As the epicentre was under the Pacific Ocean, right next to Chile’s coastline, damage was felt closer to the coast and less so in the mountains. It was the earthquake that destroyed properties, roads, and left people homeless with no basic supplies, waiting for help. Worse than the actual earthquake, a tsunami struck which wiped out entire towns, leaving in its aftermath death and destruction difficult to understand or comprehend.
This part of our country was a place with a major fishing industry and agricultural wealth. The earthquake struck just as the fruits, grapes for fine wine, and wood, were ready to be harvested.
A myriad of small towns throughout the region, as well as a few big cities (Concepcion is the 3rd largest city in Chile) suffered extensive destruction. Entire industries, farm lands, houses, government facilities, and schools were wiped out or severely damaged. An intensive and large scaled effort will be necessary to help this region regain its life and economy to what it was just a few days ago. The impact of what has been lost will be felt throughout the entire Chilean economy and will be severe.
To add further complications to the situation, in a week’s time the newly elected right wing government will be taking control as new state leaders and officers are selected and put into positions of responsibility. We can only imagine the confusion and desperation of both the old government, which will soon be leaving, and the new one, coming into office during the most upsetting of circumstances. There is no denying that there are many urgent needs, and the best thing for Chile to do right now is to continue with normalcy and production to support the reconstruction effort.
ORT in Chile:
ORT has been active in Chile since 1943 and aside from being closely linked to the Jewish community and schools, it is also widely known as an agent for bringing about quality changes in education throughout the country.
ORT Chile has worked with at least thirteen of the schools in the area which suffered the greatest from the earthquake. This work was funded by the government and private supporters, such as Coca Cola and Telefonica Corporation. Computer and science labs, early literacy projects, and technology for the disabled population are among the many projects which have been executed in recent years in the towns which have now been completely wiped away. An ORT professional had been due to travel to Talcahuano this Sunday to train teachers on computer science methodology through a project funded by Coca Cola. Today, Tacahuano hardly exists.
We want to help.
Unfortunately, the roads are not accessible and the area of catastrophe is under martial law. The new and old authorities are too busy helping with basic needs to cope with the educational reconstruction effort which will not begin for a matter of weeks, if not months.
What can we do?
Currently, we are gathering information and preparing to act while getting ready for the ORT schools to reopen. Now we have a better idea of who needs help and with international support, we know we can make a difference using ORT’s experience and commitment to Chile.
At 3:40 am on the last Shabbat of our summer holiday, just a few short days away from the first day of classes in schools throughout Chile, the earth moved.
I was home asleep and my bed moved so violently that it took me seconds to get down the stairs and outside my house in an open and safe space.
I was working for ORT Mexico in 1985, and vividly remember that catastrophic earthquake. Based on my memory and perception, this latest earthquake was both stronger and longer.
The communication system was very fragile – cell phones were off and sending MSM messages was the only way people could be in contact. I was able to communicate with my family and friends in Chile to make sure everyone was okay, as well as contact my family in Argentina. In complete darkness (lights were, and still are, off) I waited sleeplessly for the early morning light to dawn while listening to the radio.
Soon, it became clear that this was one of the strongest earthquakes in Chilean history, centered in Cauquenes, a couple of hundred kilometers south west of Santiago.
It was felt strongly and caused casualties around the center of the earthquake and also in modern Santiago and surrounding urban areas.
Lights are still off in 60% of the city, public transportation is suspended, and the government has requested everyone to remain at home if possible. Shops are closed and electronic payment systems are shut down throughout most of the city. So far, the population is remaining calm while waiting for a wider evaluation of the situation and official announcements.
The Jewish community in Chile, composed of an estimated 16,000 inhabitants, most of who live in Santiago, to my knowledge have not suffered any losses or casualties. Synagogues and schools are okay, pending a deeper evaluation by professionals, but there is no visible damage to the buildings or hydraulic systems.
ORT in Chile has two headquarters which both seem to be alright, and all personnel are safe and sound.
The earthquake found ORT Chile over its summer break. Activities will start on Monday. On Monday, we will get in formally contact our colleagues at the Jewish schools and partners of our projects with Coca Cola and Telefonica. They will update us on the situation of the schools and institutions where ORT has its science and early literacy projects and let us know if any help is needed.
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The History and Current Role of ORT in Chile
ORT first arrived in Chile in 1943. In the 1970s it began working together with Vaad HaChinuch to introduce its science and technology programmes in local Jewish schools. These have grown through the years to include seminars and courses for students and adults, teacher training and Jewish education.
- In 1994, ORT Chile began work with the Coca Cola Foundation on a project in state schools to provide state of the art science and technology laboratories together with an education infrastructure and training programmes for students and teachers. These Coca Cola funded and ORT executed fifty-six projects are found in the northern most city of Arica near the border with Peru, to near the Antarctic, in the southern most city of Punta Arenas, going through every major town in the country. This project has been subject of very positive external evaluation, and has been recognized by the Ministry of Education as important to Chilean development, as it fosters the development of new methodological approaches in science, and opens new roads for the access to science to the most deprived students of the country.
- In the 2000s, ORT Chile introduced the project ‘Children Have the World’ offering training programmes for students with special needs in the poorest municipalities of Santiago. Following the success of this project, the Chilean Ministry of Education invited ORT Chile to utilize its approach in other schools in the capital.
- In 2002, ORT Chile began a three-year project, funded by the Education Ministry and the United Nations Development Programme, to provide management workshops for teachers and training for the teaching of Spanish and mathematics at eleven schools serving 10,000 students.
- In 2005, ORT Chile started to work with the Chilean Ministry of Interior on projects for young people at risk and is continuing to cooperate with the country’s largest telecommunications company, Telefonica Corporation, to provide technology education for disable people.
- Since 2006, ORT Chile and Telefonica Corporation have provided technology training to inmates in prisons throughout Chile before they are released so they have technical and concrete for skills.
Currently, World ORT and ORT Chile are working towards opening a new Jewish school in Santiago catered towards Jewish students who are not benefiting from any Jewish education due to a shortage of places in existing schools and the high cost of tuition.
In recent years, ORT Chile has become even more involved in supporting the local community and the organization has attracted widespread acclaim and support for its projects, which have helped thousands of people in the country’s Jewish and wider communities. The project is strongly supported by community leaders and Jewish parents alike.
