January 13, 2005. PICTURED: NYSUT President Tom Hobart discusses satellite photos of the tsunami devastation as he prepares to embark on a six-day mission to Southeast Asia.

ALBANY, N.Y. January 13, 2005 - New York State United Teachers President Thomas Y. Hobart Jr. will leave Friday, January 14, on a six-day mission to deliver messages of support as well as desperately needed aid to teachers, students and their families in areas hardest hit by the December 26 Asian tsunami.

"The number of children and their families affected by this natural disaster is staggering," Hobart said. "We need to consider the long-range effects when it comes to housing them safely and getting them back in school as soon as possible."

The president of the state's largest union will be bringing a sizeable donation collected from local unions and individual members. Hobart will be touring Indonesia and Sri Lanka with Fred Van Leeuwen, general secretary of Education International (EI) and Aloysius Mathews, chief regional coordinator for Asia.

EI, the world's largest educators' federation, represents more than 29 million members through its 343 member organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers, NYSUT's national affiliate. Hobart is representing the AFT on the mission. EI member organizations in Southeast Asia represent more than 7.1 million teachers.

"More than 10,000 teachers were directly or indirectly affected by this catastrophe," Hobart said. "The death toll has surpassed 160,000 and hundreds of thousands more are vulnerable to disease. The world cannot allow this tragedy to slip from our consciousness. We need to help save lives right now, and rebuild lives for the future."

During the six-day tour, Hobart will visit many devastated areas including the province Aceh in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, where more than 1,000 teachers were reported missing.

"NYSUT will continue to work with the AFT to help the tsunami victims," Hobart added. "Right now the world's most important priority is to help these survivors regain some kind of normal, healthy and safe existence."

NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 500,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO.

CONTACT: NYSUT Media Relations and Communications. (518) 213-6000, Ext. 6313. E-Mail: mediarel@nysutmail.org.

NYSUT.ORG. Copyright New York State United Teachers. 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, New York, 12110-2455. 518.213.6000.