CHAPTER SEVEN
Food for Life~Australia

One of the keys to understanding the potential success that is within our grasp, for the fulfillment of Shrila Prabhupada’s great mission—by means of disaster relief—are the proven achievements of the Australian Food For Life program. As an example, I am referring to a specific meals-on-wheels program that was originally running under the leadership of His Grace Priyavrata dasa. The important thing about this (that he later discussed in his newsletter) was how even though the program was quite small in scope, national credit was still quick to come. In other words, their modest effort was never criticized for being too small. Rather, it was their sincere effort that counted and, indeed, quickly recognized by the government. This is important to remember. In fact, this very point was again illustrated just the other day on CNN. A good two minutes was dedicated to an obscure relief agency who’s aid was actually minute in comparison to the total devastation they were trying to address.

It is my proposal, here (along with the tremendous fact how everyone loves a hero)—that even though our initial efforts will naturally be lacking in depth, no one will complain. Nobody criticizes the man who runs into a burning building but can only save two of the six children trapped inside.

And there is more to this than just my high hopes. Besides the lesson with the meals-on-wheels program in Australia, I have personally interacted with many of the professional men and women who respond to disasters. I have attended classes with them—and during disasters I have worked shoulder to shoulder with them. These are some of the nicest people I have had the privilege to meet and after hours of contact with them (as a Hare Krishna devotee) I am convinced of their open-mindedness and complete willingness to work with people of all faiths.

In fact, here in America, they are already organized to do this under a single banner, representing many diverse faiths and interests. Their organization (NVOAD) will be discussed soon. I even have a letter from them inviting Krishna Disaster Relief to join. But to begin with, the important issue is that you will never hear a particular group cited for not doing enough. They are all volunteers and are simply doing what they can to help out in times of disaster. This is all that is expected of them.