Beneficial Microorganisms
Rescue Chilean Earthquake Victims
In the wake of the devastating 8.8 earthquake in Chile on February 27th, sanitation
issues, the spread of disease, and the rotting smell of pungent decay are problems of
massive proportion causing local officials to predict that the relief efforts will continue
for many months. SCD Probiotics (SCD), a Missouri-based company, and The Earth
Organization US (TEO), an environmental non-profit, have partnered to bring aid to the
people of Chile. Donations are currently being raised to cover the costs of producing
and shipping a unique liquid solution of beneficial microorganisms into Valparaiso where
it will be used and distributed, primarily through the Chilean military.
After the earthquake hit, Oikos, SCD’s distributor in Chile, immediately donated SCD
probiotic supplies to the military who began spraying it in schools, eating areas, and
cemeteries to help control the spread of disease and noxious odors. “The military was
so impressed with it’s effectiveness that they asked us to give them as much as we
possibly could for use in waste stream treatment, fly and mosquito abatement, and toxic
water and soil cleanup,” said Lorena Sepulveda Executive Director of Oikos. “But we
have no further supplies to donate. The world moves on, but the situation for the
Chilean people continues to be dire.”
“SCD is determined to get as much of these probiotics into the hands of the Chilean
people as possible, but we need help,” said Matthew Wood, SCD’s Founder and
Chairman. “We are asking people who want to contribute to make donations to TEO
by April 30th so that, through their disaster relief efforts, we can ship out as large a
quantity as possible in early May.”
“We saw how phenomenally effective and unique this particular probiotics technology is
when we approached SCD after Hurricane Katrina and asked them to donate thousands
of gallons of it for our use in cleaning up New Orleans,” said Barbara Wiseman,
International President of TEO. “We sprayed it in and around homes, churches, schools
and a hospital. The results were remarkable and caught the attention of local disaster
relief groups who started using it, as well.”
Acclaimed by Thailand’s military as having stopped the spread of disease-carrying
pathogens in the wake of the Southeast Asian tsunami in 2004, there have been no
reports of negative side effects, contrary to many of the toxic chemicals normally
applied in similar situations in an effort to solve problems related to waste treatment,
pest abatement and polluted water and soil.
Tax-deductible contributions to The Earth Organization, towards these efforts
will go towards the costs of producing, shipping and distributing the necessary probiotic
products on a rush basis with the added help of SCD’s Miami-based partner, Ecological
Resources. SCD Probiotics will match all monetary donations with additional SCD products to further the impact on the Chilean communities.
