ReliefNet

RELIEFNET IS ANNOUNCED---LEADING CHARITIES ACCEPT PLEDGES THROUGH INTERNET FOR FIRST TIME. WORLD'S FIRST ONLINE VIRTUAL BENEFIT CONCERT, "RELIEFROCK," FOR RWANDA BEGINS. ONLINE BENEFIT FOR HAITI PLANNED.

ReliefNet, a new feature of the internet that promotes online humanitarian aid, was announced today. ReliefNet enables internet users to instantly help global relief efforts and make online pledges to relief agencies, for the first time.

Charter participants in ReliefNet include Oxfam America, CARE, American Friends Service Committee, Operation USA, Food for the Hungry, YMCA, Lutheran World Relief, International Medical Corps., Doctors Without Borders, Medical Assistance Program, Adventist Development Relief Agency, SURAnet, Warner Bros. Records, IUMA (the Internet Underground Music Archives), and EarthWeb.

ReliefNet's "ReliefRock for Rwanda," the first internet virtual benefit concert in history, was also unveiled. Plans for including Haiti in ReliefRock are underway. ReliefNet and ReliefRock are prime examples of an emerging trend to use the internet for global humanitarian advocacy.

ReliefRock for Rwanda will enable internet users to make online charitable donations while downloading music samples by Prince, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Laurie Anderson, and many other artists. ReliefRock will run from Friday, September 16,1994 until Friday, November 11, 1994, and longer if necessary.

ReliefNet is sponsored by ReliefNet, Ltd., a non-profit organization. ReliefNet routes pledges to participating organizations. Pledges do not contain confidential or credit card information and are therefore safe to send across the internet. Pledges can be made via WWW, gopher, telnet, and even by email---which enables users of America Online, Compuserve, and Prodigy to also make online pledges via ReliefNet!

"ReliefNet amplifies the diverse resources for humanitarian information on the internet through promotions and a safe internet pledge system," explains Jack D. Hidary, a director of EarthWeb, Ltd. EarthWeb develops online commerce and information services, and initiated ReliefNet and ReliefRock as a pro bono project.

"CARE has mounted a comprehensive relief effort in five countries to assist in the Rwandan crisis. CARE will continue to rely on the support of the American public, through efforts such as ReliefNet, to meet the challenges ahead," Katya Andresen, Donor Response Supervisor, for CARE, said.

"As well as Rwanda, ReliefNet also provides information about the crisis in Haiti, and many other areas as well. We are ready to speed pledges to disaster relief agencies around the world," says Murray Hidary, a director of EarthWeb.

"ReliefNet sets the pace for future events which apply the internet to today's humanitarian needs," adds Ronald Vasaturo, of SURAnet, the leading provider of internet connectivity in the Southeastern USA, the Caribbean, and South America.

"By providing timely information and analysis from humanitarian organizations like Lutheran World Relief, over the Internet, ReliefNet can play a vital role in motivating effective actions in emergency situations," adds Kathryn F. Woford, Executive Director, Lutheran World Relief.

"THE INTERNET IS WAKING UP!---It's not just for email anymore, it is now a powerful medium for electronic democracy and citizenship," adds Nova Spivack, a vice-president of EarthWeb. "If the internet is like the nervous system of our planet, then ReliefNet is like the beginning of its conscience," Spivack explains.

ACCESS INFORMATION:

World Wide Web: http://www.earthweb.com:2800/
Gopher: earthweb.com 2801
Mailbot: info@earthweb.com
Pledge via telnet: telnet earthweb.com 2803
Pledge via email, send empty letter to: pledge.reliefnet@earthweb.com

RELIEFNET CONTACTS:

-Washington, D.C.: EarthWeb, Jack D. Hidary, (301) 231-5058
-Boston: EarthWeb, Nova Spivack, (617) 491-6225
-New York, NY: EarthWeb, Murray Hidary, (212) 736-6540

-Lutheran World Relief, John Fazio, (212) 532-6350
-CARE, Katya Andresen, (404) 681-2552 x310
-American Friends Service Committee, Scott Duncan, (215) 241-7087
-SURAnet, Ronald Vasaturo, (301) 489-8123

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Nova Spivack                :  * EarthWeb, Ltd.: ReliefNet, ReliefRock 
--> nova@tiac.net           :
                            :  * Individual, Inc.: Editorial Dept., Reviewer
                            :    of Multimedia & Interactive News
tel: (617) 491-6225         : 
fax: (617) 441-3667         :  * The Networking Institute: TeamNet design
Cambridge, MA, USA          :  
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From: nova@max.tiac.net (Nova Spivack)
Newsgroups: comp.infosystems.www.providers
Subject: ReliefNet Is Announced!
Date: 20 Sep 1994 14:11:02 GMT
Message-ID: <35mqhm$n2@sundog.tiac.net>