You're right.n_v said:
Still a nice contribution but not the incredible gift I thought it was.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1104443723554_8?hub=Canada
The World Contributes to Aid for Asia
- Thread starter onthebottom
- Start date
Still a nice contribution but not the incredible gift I thought it was.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1104443723554_8?hub=Canada
'The Deeeep South!' might have tipped him off.Necromancer said:bbk, what makes you think I am American? Talk about cement heads!
For your info, BBK, China’s 2.5 million USD pledge was just the start. It has now upped its pledge to 500 million RMB, or over 60 million USD as the severity of the disaster is being unfolded. In addition, there are many millions more from private donations out of China. In HK alone it is reported that in the last few days, donations to Red Cross, UNICEF, World Vision and other charity organizations have exceeded 20 million USD.bbking said:Martin like Bush was on vacation but has done several question and answer sessions with the media and several policy statements have been made by the PMO. It is not a scorecard otherwise I would be getting after the "China is th next economic superpower crowd" for China's 2.5 million pledge to aid it's next door neighbors - a far cry short of the 8 million raised by ordinary Canadians to date. But I'm a big guy so I won't mention it.
bbk
I’m disturbed by the debate on this thread regarding which country is more generous than the others. Seeing the international communities, regardless of race, religion and political agenda, working together to offer a helping hand is the only consolation to this catastrophic tragedy in Asia.
Regardless of the amount, each donation is a display of the human kindness that God has created in us (though I’m puzzled as to why our supposedly loving God would bestow such unkindness to so many innocent people - which is another debate for another day).
I also think we also have to consider other forms of contribution. Canada was unable to mobilize the DART team ... for many reasons. Whereas, other nations have been able to make a physical presence. Kudos to those nations and/or international organizations that have mobilized teams and have had an immediate effect.
Wrong. In fact, I've been an advocate of US democracy and western values. Instead, I’ve been a respondent to those slamming China for no reason. This said, I must emphasis my position that despite China’s recent achievements, it has committed many sinful acts. I would only sympathize communism in China with recognition of the country’s disastrous misery not too long ago, which is not generally understood by the western world until perhaps by some, and recently.bbking said:Only responding to those people who are slaming the US for no reason. The fact that China's 2.5 million US was it's initial response says a lot about China - they have a better prespective than we do of the magnitude of the disaster and yet this country with the fastest growing economy that lots of people say will pass the US soon at yet they show little or no concern for their neighbors at least at first. I will say they have steped up to the plate but I think it is more that started to understand that to be a regional leader it must step and be noticed. Personally I really don't care as long as something is being done.
bbk
I, for one, have posted under other threads that despite China’s purportedly fastest growing economy, will not surpass the US - not in the foreseeable future; probably not at all.
As to your other criticism of China, isn’t this a case of “damn if you pledge; and damn if you don’t�? Another example of bashing a country, should it be directed towards China, the US, Russia …., for no reason?
Firstly let me clarify that the 500 million by China is 500 million RMB, which approximates only 60 million USD, thus no comparison to Japan’s generous pledge of half-a-billion.n_v said:Where is there a link to point out that China is contributing 500 million? I only heard that was true of Japan.
This is widely reported in the HK media. If you read Chinese, you can find the info under http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/new...ines&type=headlines&date=2005-01-02&id=783698
I’m not aware of any reporting in the western media.
Not true. There is a recong. team finding out where exaclty to put the team and in what capacity it should be used in SEA.ToronToto said:I also think we also have to consider other forms of contribution. Canada was unable to mobilize the DART team ..
At the risk of paraphrasing Billary "it's the victims stupid".
Anyone have a private fund they would suggest?
OTB
Anyone have a private fund they would suggest?
OTB
Why isn't anyone bashing the Muslim nations for lack of responce.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Toronto/Bob_MacDonald/2005/01/02/804492.html
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Toronto/Bob_MacDonald/2005/01/02/804492.html
<SARCASM>Booya said:Why isn't anyone bashing the Muslim nations for lack of responce.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Toronto/Bob_MacDonald/2005/01/02/804492.html
Because that would be politically incorrect and offensive
</SARCASM>
Because only America can be bashed, it's a TERB guideline;-) The next post will say that Muslim Americans are not giving enough, that will allow the bashing to begin in earnest.Booya said:Why isn't anyone bashing the Muslim nations for lack of responce.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Toronto/Bob_MacDonald/2005/01/02/804492.html
OTB
And with the weakened dollar it's getting more expensive to take the harem to London shopping.bbking said:....because they need the money to keep their leaders in power.
bbk
OTB
From today's USA Today:
Helicopters help relief operations gain momentum
By Donna Leinwand, USA TODAY
U-TAPAO AIR BASE, Thailand — Within 12 hours of arriving here from their base in Japan, 10 U.S. C-130 cargo planes began ferrying tons of supplies from warehouses in Bangkok and Polonia, Indonesia, to coastal zones.
U.S. military pilots flew 37 sorties that carried 280 tons in the first four days of operations, Air Force Col. Rod Gregory said Sunday. U.S. aircraft evacuated more than 120 injured people and delivered teams of soldiers to assess the damage and identify the dead. (Related story: Rescuers set to call of search)
While aid began flowing to the stricken region last week, officials say it is only in the past two days that the relief effort has gained organization and momentum.
"The first two days were tragedy, death and destruction," said Tim Gerhardson, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. "The third day all of the supplies came in, but they were only getting into major cities."
Finally, on Saturday, he said, water, body bags and food started to reach victims. "Now it's all about getting the people fed and getting people water."
The operation has barely begun.
In the next week, the U.S. relief effort is expected to ratchet up exponentially. At least 700 soldiers and 15 C-130s are en route, Gregory said.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said on CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday that the United States has "something like 10,000 to 12,000 military that are involved now" in disaster relief.
The challenge will be getting vital supplies to people who live in the least accessible areas. Because the C-130s require long runways, survivors in remote tsunami-struck areas must await deliveries from helicopters carrying smaller loads.
Military helicopters, which can hoist about 14,000 pounds of supplies, began delivering aid over the weekend to places where bridges have been washed out and supplies cannot be driven over land.
"Helicopters are invaluable, especially helicopters coming in from the sea, where they can be refueled and resupplied out on our carriers, and are not taking up space at airfields or putting a logistics base at airfields," Powell said.
U.S. Marine Maj. Dwight Neeley, who is coordinating the Marine assessment team with the U.S. support group in Indonesia, said they are poised to get supplies to small towns by flying helicopters in from the USS Abraham Lincoln anchored nearby.
When a Navy helicopter landed in a remote area in Indonesia on Saturday, hungry residents rushed at the crew, arms outstretched and clamoring for food, Marine Col. Medio Monti said.
"There is some concern about crowd control," Gregory said. U.S. officials are working with governments in the stricken countries to bolster security and ensure an orderly distribution of the aid.
A feared threat from separatist rebels on the Indonesian island of Sumatra has not materialized. "There have been no disturbances (from the guerrillas). Right now I think everyone is still in shock," Gerhardson said.
Hangars in Thailand and Indonesia are stacked floor-to-ceiling with supplies. The airfields and runways are so clogged with traffic that at least one unidentified country asked the United States to fly its relief missions at night to relieve the congestion, Gregory said.
"There are all kinds of supplies piling up in warehouses," said Monti, chief of staff for the task force running the U.S. humanitarian mission. "Getting them to the people, there's our challenge. ... And you've got to do it fast, because they need help now."
In the staging area at U-Tapao, U.S. soldiers were still stringing up Internet cables, so Gregory was scratching out plans on a legal pad while his laptop sat idle.
Cargo planes have been delivering food, water, shovels, picks, blankets and medicine to survivors and body bags and dry ice for the dead.
On the return flights, the planes are carrying refugees and injured.
One plane that went into Banda Aceh evacuated the Yemeni ambassador and 25 other survivors, Gregory said. Another plane brought out 14 European victims, including two critically injured, from Phuket, a resort area in Thailand, he said.
Phuket is where a U.S. forensics team, normally deployed to find and identify the remains of soldiers missing in action, is hunting for tsunami victims. The team is digging out bodies and trying to make identifications before the corpses are too decayed, said Marine Capt. Michael Craighead, leader of the forensic analysis team.
Other countries' militaries are taking part as well. A 90-person Australian army medical group arrived Sunday in Thailand to set up a field hospital.
Lt. Col. Georgina Whelan, commanding officer of Australia's 1st Health Support Battalion, said her team had given up a four-week Christmas holiday. "It's fine," she said. "It's what we do."
OTB
Helicopters help relief operations gain momentum
By Donna Leinwand, USA TODAY
U-TAPAO AIR BASE, Thailand — Within 12 hours of arriving here from their base in Japan, 10 U.S. C-130 cargo planes began ferrying tons of supplies from warehouses in Bangkok and Polonia, Indonesia, to coastal zones.
U.S. military pilots flew 37 sorties that carried 280 tons in the first four days of operations, Air Force Col. Rod Gregory said Sunday. U.S. aircraft evacuated more than 120 injured people and delivered teams of soldiers to assess the damage and identify the dead. (Related story: Rescuers set to call of search)
While aid began flowing to the stricken region last week, officials say it is only in the past two days that the relief effort has gained organization and momentum.
"The first two days were tragedy, death and destruction," said Tim Gerhardson, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. "The third day all of the supplies came in, but they were only getting into major cities."
Finally, on Saturday, he said, water, body bags and food started to reach victims. "Now it's all about getting the people fed and getting people water."
The operation has barely begun.
In the next week, the U.S. relief effort is expected to ratchet up exponentially. At least 700 soldiers and 15 C-130s are en route, Gregory said.
Secretary of State Colin Powell said on CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday that the United States has "something like 10,000 to 12,000 military that are involved now" in disaster relief.
The challenge will be getting vital supplies to people who live in the least accessible areas. Because the C-130s require long runways, survivors in remote tsunami-struck areas must await deliveries from helicopters carrying smaller loads.
Military helicopters, which can hoist about 14,000 pounds of supplies, began delivering aid over the weekend to places where bridges have been washed out and supplies cannot be driven over land.
"Helicopters are invaluable, especially helicopters coming in from the sea, where they can be refueled and resupplied out on our carriers, and are not taking up space at airfields or putting a logistics base at airfields," Powell said.
U.S. Marine Maj. Dwight Neeley, who is coordinating the Marine assessment team with the U.S. support group in Indonesia, said they are poised to get supplies to small towns by flying helicopters in from the USS Abraham Lincoln anchored nearby.
When a Navy helicopter landed in a remote area in Indonesia on Saturday, hungry residents rushed at the crew, arms outstretched and clamoring for food, Marine Col. Medio Monti said.
"There is some concern about crowd control," Gregory said. U.S. officials are working with governments in the stricken countries to bolster security and ensure an orderly distribution of the aid.
A feared threat from separatist rebels on the Indonesian island of Sumatra has not materialized. "There have been no disturbances (from the guerrillas). Right now I think everyone is still in shock," Gerhardson said.
Hangars in Thailand and Indonesia are stacked floor-to-ceiling with supplies. The airfields and runways are so clogged with traffic that at least one unidentified country asked the United States to fly its relief missions at night to relieve the congestion, Gregory said.
"There are all kinds of supplies piling up in warehouses," said Monti, chief of staff for the task force running the U.S. humanitarian mission. "Getting them to the people, there's our challenge. ... And you've got to do it fast, because they need help now."
In the staging area at U-Tapao, U.S. soldiers were still stringing up Internet cables, so Gregory was scratching out plans on a legal pad while his laptop sat idle.
Cargo planes have been delivering food, water, shovels, picks, blankets and medicine to survivors and body bags and dry ice for the dead.
On the return flights, the planes are carrying refugees and injured.
One plane that went into Banda Aceh evacuated the Yemeni ambassador and 25 other survivors, Gregory said. Another plane brought out 14 European victims, including two critically injured, from Phuket, a resort area in Thailand, he said.
Phuket is where a U.S. forensics team, normally deployed to find and identify the remains of soldiers missing in action, is hunting for tsunami victims. The team is digging out bodies and trying to make identifications before the corpses are too decayed, said Marine Capt. Michael Craighead, leader of the forensic analysis team.
Other countries' militaries are taking part as well. A 90-person Australian army medical group arrived Sunday in Thailand to set up a field hospital.
Lt. Col. Georgina Whelan, commanding officer of Australia's 1st Health Support Battalion, said her team had given up a four-week Christmas holiday. "It's fine," she said. "It's what we do."
OTB
