Tsunami Earthquake Appeal

[Celtic]

I noticed that nobody has mentioned the devastating tsunami that hit Asia on 26th December so I'm taking the lead here.

It's the story that's been dominating the world for a week now and as the days unfold all that seems to change is the number of dead or missing. The total at the moment is 125,000 dead but that's expected to rise with some estimates saying it may well reach 150,000. The number of missing spans many countries and is in the thousands.

I've been lucky enought to have visited Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives and feel shocked to the core that at least one hotel that I stayed at no longer exists after this devastating natural disaster. I only returned from the Maldives a month ago and feel ashamed to say that I thank God I wasn't there when the tsunami hit. Unfortunately there are 150,000 people who were standing in its wake.

So many people in so many countries have been devastated by this disaster that I feel that now more than ever we as a people need to rally together and help those who need it most.

I've seen how generous you guys have all been when Luke has needed some contributions to keep UD on the go. I hope that anyone who can will consider contributing whatever you can to whichever aid organisation you feel happiest dealing with to help the victims of this unprecedented disaster. These poor people have lost their families, their homes, their livelihoods and they are the lucky ones because they survived. If anyone who can afford it could give even $1 it would make all the difference.

For those of you in the UK I'm sure you've already heard of the The Disasters Emergency Committee (www.dec.org.uk) which is accepting donations on behalf of it's member organisations who include the British Red Cross, Christian Aid, World Vision, Care International. Conern, Oxfam to name but a few. Check out their website to donate online.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the tsunami in all countries. May God bless them and protect them.

[Isidour]

that's true:

The US have allways said than their people is kind to others.
what the news had showed us it's like a cold shower than far from make people to feel sorry about this persons it's just news because of the turist.
someone said to me that day"If the deaths were just asian guys nobody would care"
I don't like to belive that,please show me than that are not fairy tales and help our asian brothers.

don't think in what your goverment is doing,instead ask yourself what are YOU doing to help them

[I am the Doctor]

It hard not to be moved by the pictures of the devastation in Asia from the tsunamis and earthquake. Governments from around the world are donating large sums of money for relief efforts. We as individuals need to do our part to help those in need-and with the internet it is so easy to help. Most aid organizations are taking donations over the internet-just visit your favorite or go to amazon.com's home page and donate to the red cross. Remember-every little bit helps!

[Prince Adam]

My thoughts and prayers, as well as some financial contributions, are with all of those who suffered losses and devastations during the tsunami and its aftermath.

However, I must say I'm a little disappointed with the news coverage: here in Canada, everyone seems so worried about the Canadian tourists. Hello: they can leave, but what about those people living in the villages that were washed away? Don't they deserve something?

I'm ashamed to say that I doubt people would care as much if it hadn't been for the numbers of North American tourists.

[orestes.]

I'm from Ontario too but I have seen tons of news coverage and it's not just Canadian tourists. then again I don't usually watch the general 6 o'clock newscasts. I watched CBC Newsworld and they go much more in depth and while they do talk about Canadian tourists they touch on everything and spend some time on it. I've been more satisfied with their newscasts more than CNN, which actually seemed late reporting the disaster. Hours after it happened CNN was reporting on something else while the tsunami was all over CBC Newsworld. I love CBC Newsworld because they play the BBC World News too. I prefer to get my news from CBC and the BBC rather than CNN.... blech.

This is a worse disaster than 9/11 but yeah the news doesn't focus on it as much.

Sorta reminds me of this Scott Peterson story. In the US, CNN is wild over the story but as the CBC pointed out, in Canada it's barely news and they pointed out the same fate that befell Laci happened to a Latino woman around the same time. Identical situation but the news seemed to ignore her.

[Celtic]

Yeah I find it very disappointing that the US media isn't featuring it as a story much. We get Fox News here and I've seen the tsunami be mentioned for about a total of 10mins in the last week. Sky News (UK news channel) has 24hr coverage and has reporters in the north and south of Sri Lanka, on several of the Thai resorts and they even managed to get somebody to Bandar Aceh in Indonesia. I'm sure it's got something to do with the fact that the places hit hardest are tourist destinations for masses of Europeans but I don't care what the reason is....all that matters is that the areas affected are getting the news out that they desperately need help and people are responding. The UK government has pledged £50 million in aid and the British public have contributed another £60 million in donations. I think it's a fantastic response and hope that it continues long into the new year.

The tourists will eventually leave but the people left behind will still need all the help they can get trying to rebuild their lives. So if you can.....give generously!

[Sh00tingstar]

yeah, it makes me so mad to see these tourists staying to continue their holidays-

i mentioned the tsunami and donations on the new years thread, but i was anxious not to offend or bait anyone here- i do know that alot of americans visit these threads and there seems to be either bitterness that the disaster is being compared to 911 or simple arrogance that the govt has donated more money- i could go into all of these issues but they arent really important

donation and prayers are important- as i said in the new years thread- $1 can go a hell ova long way

[2099net]

No one should be looking or comparing what govenments are providing, Isidour. After all, money isn't the answer to everything. The aid workers also need the means and equipment to distribute the aid, which is being provided by countries and their armies. America, although most would say is already stretched by the war in Iraq is donating lots of vital equipment as well as money. As regular readers will know, I'm no fan of the current American administration, but I have no complaints about what they have provided so far (and remember; it could, and most likely will; go up over the coming months and even years). Now is not the time for cheap point scoring.

Secondly and most importantly, no matter what is provided by govenments, it will never be enough. The only concern people should have is how much they can give themselves. Personal donations are much more important than any state sponsored donations. While no time is "ideal", at least now we all have Christmas bonuses and money, some of which I'm sure we can spare for the appeal.

As an aside, I've been able to watch Fox News this holiday (normally I can't, but my Parents have Sky) and their level of coverage, while not up to the BBC's (which, dare I say it, could be classed as overkill by some) is more than adequate. I'm no fan of Fox News either, but I can't really critisise the extent or content of the coverage I have seen.

I do find this, on CNN, who I had a much higher regard of, as mildly offensive though:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/1 ... index.html