Of course. Hey, I'm not having a go, we just have a slightly differing view on thiswdlove said:Can't we agree that everything humanly possible is being done for the victims as expeditiously as possible.
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Asia quake death toll over 11,000
- Thread starter jsw
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The death toll will likely reach 250,000 making it possibly the 2nd worst natural disaster in recorded history.
Contrast this with man-made tragedies, like Hiroshima and Nagasaki that instantly vaporized 340,000 japanese. Or the millions of Jews in the Holocaust. Or the 3 million Vietnamese in it's civil war.
At this point, these numbers become so large it's unfathomable.
Contrast this with man-made tragedies, like Hiroshima and Nagasaki that instantly vaporized 340,000 japanese. Or the millions of Jews in the Holocaust. Or the 3 million Vietnamese in it's civil war.
At this point, these numbers become so large it's unfathomable.
wdlove said:
One couple that survived the tsunamis said they decided to remove all the bullsh*t from their lives. I think alot of us do not experience these types of life-altering events, so it is nice to hear stories of survival and renewed hope in times of immense tragedy.
For all the parents who lost children, and all the children who lost their parents, in this time of mourning, perhaps an adoption program could be set up in those countries. Unite childless parents with parentless children, it could help in the healing process.
edesignuk said:
Wow, it's great to see the UK has pledged a good amount. At least we know *some* of the high tax we pay is going to a good cause..
Well done UK Gov't, nice move.
Just an update, there are over 80 after-shock after the disaster which trigger a few false alarms although there is no new threat. In Maldive, where the population get their water from underground water source, they have their water source contaminated by seawater resulting in no drinkable water for them. In some other parts, they have problems identifying the bodies and with the tropical weather, decomposition sets in pretty fast. In one temple in India alone, they have over 2,000 bodies lying in the open. In the first day of disaster, many survivors went on without food and water for over 20 hours before help arrived. Millions are now homeless. Many people are still missing.
Help is coming from all over the region but it might take a lot time to repair the damage.
Help is coming from all over the region but it might take a lot time to repair the damage.
Saudi Arabia: $10medesignuk said:
UAE: $2m
I feel this countries need to help a bit more. Saudi Arabia is extremely wealthy, as is the UAE.
I think it's sweet that you guys all seem to want to help those tsunami victims, but please don't forget in your youthfully urgent idealism that charitable offerings must also be judiciously divided among those many other areas of the world still desperately in need. They still have AIDS in Africa, you know...
Yes, reallocations are on order given the acute nature of the situation, but sh$t happens and there is only so much that can be done.
So don't balk at the seemingly paltry millions being dished out by those countries with outstanding commitments elsewhere (such as smoking those kids in Iraq out of their holes).
Take your wife and kids out to dinner and a movie.
Yes, reallocations are on order given the acute nature of the situation, but sh$t happens and there is only so much that can be done.
So don't balk at the seemingly paltry millions being dished out by those countries with outstanding commitments elsewhere (such as smoking those kids in Iraq out of their holes).
Take your wife and kids out to dinner and a movie.
The facts and numbers continue to astound and horrify me. When fatality counts get so large, you lose the ability to comprehend them (as when people can't distinguish a million dollar government program from a billion dollar program).
I read that the earthquake that caused the tsunami affected the earth's orbit!
Supposedly, the Indian Ocean wasn't thought to need a tsunami warning system because it is less seismically active than, say, the Pacific, but it's also clear to me that the coordinated effort to finance, install, maintain, and benefit from such a system, with so many nations involved, would have been hard to manage for a number of practical reasons. Even if one is now installed, I can't imagine that knowing of an approaching tsunami would have saved a large percentage of these victims.
I read that the earthquake that caused the tsunami affected the earth's orbit!
Supposedly, the Indian Ocean wasn't thought to need a tsunami warning system because it is less seismically active than, say, the Pacific, but it's also clear to me that the coordinated effort to finance, install, maintain, and benefit from such a system, with so many nations involved, would have been hard to manage for a number of practical reasons. Even if one is now installed, I can't imagine that knowing of an approaching tsunami would have saved a large percentage of these victims.
I know - but I can't edit the thread title (but the original post title has been altered)yamabushi said:
It just shows how fast the numbers have risen as more accurate counts are done.
This disaster is very hard for anyone to comprehend.
That $35m by the US is still only a starting figure. In our system of government it is the Congress only that has the power to spend money. They plan to meet after the first of the year to pass legislation to authorize what Bush has pledged. This allows time for thoughtful deliberation on the amounts needed.
Another figure that isn't being mentioned is the amounts that are given by private citizens. I think that when those figures are made public the US will rank very well.
That $35m by the US is still only a starting figure. In our system of government it is the Congress only that has the power to spend money. They plan to meet after the first of the year to pass legislation to authorize what Bush has pledged. This allows time for thoughtful deliberation on the amounts needed.
Another figure that isn't being mentioned is the amounts that are given by private citizens. I think that when those figures are made public the US will rank very well.
I would very much hope so, and as well it should be. America is a "rich" nation, and has a HUGE population!wdlove said:
Excellent, well done to the American public (and the UK, I just read we're up to £45m ($86m) from the public), now do somthing about your government!Hector said:america has now pledged $350,000,000 which is about the same per person as we have given
edesignuk said:
As I said, for the actual contribution will be decided by our Congress. It will be done on a Bipartisan basis.
There really shouldn't be that much division on what every one is giving. The real focus should be on the Victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.
Oh I know that, but at the moment the best anyone can do to help is give as much money as possible, money it's what's needed to fund all the rescue/supplies/relief/rebuild efforts. The more nations can give the better.wdlove said:
More updates and more information at Channel News Asia (http://www.channelnewsasia.com)
Main Article at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/125086/1/.html
EDIT:
Main Article at
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/125086/1/.html
EDIT:
The death toll has passed 135,000 according to CNN. In some places I heard that they were running out of trees to do crematorial pyres. In the Hindu faith, a body is supposed to be cremated. Of course, tens of thousands of bodies are simply being dumped in massive holes. Horrifying.
At least the US has stopped making too much of an a** of itself. Our governmental donation is now only less than a thousandth of our annual defense budget, instead of a ten-thousandth.
P.S. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $3 million to relief efforts. You can't fault Bill Gates for what he does with his money (malaria treatment in Africa, relief for the tsunami, etc.)
At least the US has stopped making too much of an a** of itself. Our governmental donation is now only less than a thousandth of our annual defense budget, instead of a ten-thousandth.
P.S. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $3 million to relief efforts. You can't fault Bill Gates for what he does with his money (malaria treatment in Africa, relief for the tsunami, etc.)