yet another reminder why natural disasters are deadly

Post by **Tiff** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 9:39 am

*Nods* They also said that the death toll would likely keep increasing due to disease.

mizangelamy · Post by **mizangelamy** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:06 pm

Tiff wrote:*Nods* They also said that the death toll would likely keep increasing due to disease.

That's terrible!! I always wonder why the poor has to suffer with these terrible problems?

jupiter23 · Post by **jupiter23** » Wed Dec 29, 2004 3:32 pm

My prayers go out to the now 77,000+ victims of this.

By the way, the Fox News Channel was going on about that Czech supermodel also, aside from the other people they were intervewing about this.

yoshmaster5 · Post by **yoshmaster5** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 3:36 pm

Fox news sucks, end of story. those little fucks need to be shut down.

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/200412 ... e&SEC=news

117,000 now... the way this is going, this will surpass Bangladesh's hurricane disaster.

doodlebuguk · Post by **doodlebuguk** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:04 pm

It's so terrible, everytime I check the news the death toll has gone up so much. I think it's now reached 125,000... this is awful, I can't remember a natural disaster this bad... I hope the aid workers can get out there as soon as possible.

yoshmaster5 · Post by **yoshmaster5** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:33 pm

Doodlebugunk-
*points to earlier post*

Hurricane in Bangladesh. Killed 300,000.

/off-topic

sheesh... and right now countries are donating even less than powerball winners get. *shakes head* this is why people need to realize that helping other countries is much more important than their own personal wealth. "it would cost too much to set up a warning system in the Indian Ocean" pffh. it'll end up costing more when a disaster like this does occur, like it's being shown.

Akarui Kibuno · Post by **Akarui Kibuno** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:21 pm

See, the problem is that warning systems are only thought of AFTER disaster happen.

Also, the fact that countries do not donate as much as we think they should isn't the problem, I think. The problem comes from countries who say they're gonna give something and then don't.

Something that would be nifty would be to use money from lotteries. Ever heard of "Euromillions" in Europe ? That's a lottery where you can win up to 30 million euros (a French butcher recently won that... yeah you heard me and he sold his store and will never work again). Well, if all lotteries in the world were willing to help I bet the money would be huge.

And of course, really wealthy people could help more. Unfortunately, I'm not one of these.

Dammit. It freaks me out to hear about that stuff. My "home island" is in the Indian Ocean and though tsunamis might not hit it, I'm so afraid something like that could happen... uuurghh...

*goes hide in corner and pray for those people*

Post by **AnimeGuru0** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:13 pm

Personally, I'm getting a little annoyed with the comments from media and left-wingers about how America and western wealthy nations should be ashamed for not donating more to help the relief effort. The simple fact of the matter is that these western nations (and wealthy far east nations like Japan) have done so freaking much to help third world nations on a daily basis that it's unreal. Yet, there's no appreciation, no thank yous. Nothing. That doesn't even count the individual donations that generous people from these nations give to the Red Cross and other charities like this to help in JUST A TIME LIKE THIS.

Now, this is just my opinion, but I don't feel America, England, France, Germany, Japan, Austrailia, etc owe Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, etc ANYTHING. It's not their obligation or their duty to help these countries that have tragically met with such horror. However, they help anyway. And what do we get out of it? We get the New York Times spouting off (as usual) about how horrible America is. *rolls eyes* Whatever. Arrogant jerks like the ones who wrote that article just make me think to myself "why should I even bother helping?" It helps nothing. It probably hurts the situation more than anything. Anger breeds Anger. Love, kindness, and charity breed love, kindness, and charity. What they should be doing is thanking everyone for every bit of help that they've given.

I'll stop now before I really start to go off.

On an unrelated note, the death toll has now passed 120,000. Sad sad state of affairs. Hopefully things will return to normal as soon as possible for those who are there.

Dinozore · Post by **Dinozore** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:45 pm

Animals and the tsunami
Interesting article someone posted on another forum...

Post by **Tiff** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:46 pm

AnimeGuru0 wrote:Personally, I'm getting a little annoyed with the comments from media and left-wingers about how America and western wealthy nations should be ashamed for not donating more to help the relief effort. *SNIP*

I agree. 100%.

Helping people is great and all..and it benefits, and it's a lovely thing to do. But for crying out loud..we DON'T owe anybody anything. Just as they don't owe US anything.

I often wonder that if we had some sort of national disaster..would they be there to help us? Would Europe jump to our aid? And hell, countriesl ike Thailand wouldn't be ABLE to, so it's not like we would get upset at them for not doing so.

-_-;

RoastedTwinkies · Post by **RoastedTwinkies** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:37 pm

Tiff wrote:I agree. 100%.

Helping people is great and all..and it benefits, and it's a lovely thing to do. But for crying out loud..we DON'T owe anybody anything. Just as they don't owe US anything.

I often wonder that if we had some sort of national disaster..would they be there to help us? Would Europe jump to our aid? And hell, countriesl ike Thailand wouldn't be ABLE to, so it's not like we would get upset at them for not doing so.

-_-;

I hope someone doesn't call me an evil Nazi for this, but....

I also agree 100%. Last I heard, Canada was putting something like $100 million, I forget, into the effort. However, while the intentions are good, I think we're spending far too much money and resources on these third world countries. It's not that I don't think it's important, but our government is stupid because they keep cutting back on our military, forcing them to fly our helicopters and other military equipment dated back to WWII. Our government keeps putting our military people's lives at risk, needlessly. All I can say is that if our government wants to cut back on our military, then keep our military home. Stop wasting money and putting lives at risk needlessly. We need to shape up and stop hiding underneath the American military umberella. I'm sure you guys resent that our government has been doing that for so long, and I can't blame you for that.

Post by **Tiff** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:45 pm

RoastedTwinkies wrote: I hope someone doesn't call me an evil Nazi for this, but....

Nope. Your opinion is justified, and your backup for this opinion is logical.

Sailorasteroid · Post by **Sailorasteroid** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:14 pm

I must also sound my agreement, and I think this needs to be said too: having monetary donations is good, but it's useless without things for that money to buy. It's those Western, modernized countries that develop and provide the technology to medicate the sick, to purify water for drinking, and to make food that doesn't spoil. It's Western helicopters and trucks that will get those things where they need to be. If there are to be measurements of generosity, I think Canada, France, Japan, the UK, the US, and all the countries accused of stinginess have done more to save lives in the affected areas simply by existing and producing than all the international organizations will by managing and distributing.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:51 pm

I, too agree with the rest of the above. Not much I can add though.

RoastedTwinkies

I also agree 100%. Last I heard, Canada was putting something like $100 million, I forget, into the effort. However, while the intentions are good, I think we're spending far too much money and resources on these third world countries.

Maybe Paul Martin will donate some of the billions of dollars he stole from us before we elected him as our leader. -_- I want him to die.

Post by **Tiff** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 11:46 pm

yoshmaster5 wrote:Fox news sucks, end of story. those little fucks need to be shut down.

ADMIN MODE:

and you need to calm down. Seriously. Stop getting so worked up over everything.

And really, you guys. This is the MEDIA we're talking about. It's their JOB to find out if there were any celebrities or well-known individuals involved in that disaster, and report on it. What did you expect?

It really irritates me when people continue to support celebrities by buying their movies, listening to their music, etc, but when somethingl ike this happens..it all of a sudden becomes: "WHY THE FUCK ARE THEY REPORTING ON HER?! 100,000 PEOPLE I DON' TKNOW DIED! OH MY GOD, HEARTLESS SOULS."

This may sound horrendously heartless, but...I didn't know any of those people. Therefore, their deaths don't mean much to me.

It's a horrid disaster, it's devastating in its magnitude, but...if I died tomorrow, would that mean anything to THEM? No. They don't know me. They've never seen me.

People knew this Czech model becuase she was famous. She was a celebrity. Therefore, people would want to know if she died.

If an American movie star or the president died, would you be as annoyed if they reported on it?

*shakes head* Her life isn't any more worthless becuase she's a celebrity.

Akarui Kibuno · Post by **Akarui Kibuno** » Fri Dec 31, 2004 6:13 am

Hmm, now that I read my message again and that I read the answers... it really makes me think about what I said.

You guys actually have extremely valid points on how the Western countries don't owe anything to the countries that suffered from the tsunami. I also read that giving money is worthless if there's nothing to buy... because the Western countries are the ones supplying the equipment, if I read correctly.

Also, I don't think anyone should be labeled anything because of their opinions. After all, when you're not harassing, cursing, stuff like that, your opinion is as much valid as any other. Especially when I read messages like yours, Tiff, cause some people could think you have no heart and all but you have the most valid points: we don't know these people, and if the same thing happened to us they wouldn't care about what happened to us as individuals.

I mean I guess the reason why we're all kinda sad (for the ones who are) is more because of the number of people who died.

And about that money donating thing... I also read stuff about the military, and the fact that that donated money is a waste in relation with military money in the U.S. or something to that extent. Yeah, donating to another country when your own has problems is a bit stupid, too, cause it doesn't help to help a country and then find yourself in a difficult situation.

Ahem... I hope I read all the messages well. ^^;;

Post by **Tiff** » Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:12 am

Akarui Kibuno wrote:
Especially when I read messages like yours, Tiff, cause some people could think you have no heart and all but you have the most valid points: we don't know these people, and if the same thing happened to us they wouldn't care about what happened to us as individuals.

I mean I guess the reason why we're all kinda sad (for the ones who are) is more because of the number of people who died.

*Nods* Exactly.

How many of those countries JUMPED to our aide after September 11? Sure, not nearly as many people died..but it was a national disaster for us. We were attacked by terrorists. Many countries laughed at us, or celebrated. They turned their heads and didn't help.

Again, I don't expect countries like Thailand to have millions of dollars to provide. But on the same token..I didn't RESENT them for not doing so. So why are Americans resenting their own country for not donating more than they are? Or for reporting on super models, instead of continuing to rub in our faces that THAT many people died?

The reason that I find this disaster devastating lies purely in the fact that so many people died, and their homes and lives were uprooted from them...Not becuase I know each and every person individually.

Sailorasteroid · Post by **Sailorasteroid** » Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:58 am

Tiff wrote:So why are Americans resenting their own country for not donating more than they are? Or for reporting on super models, instead of continuing to rub in our faces that THAT many people died?

That may be rhetorical, but I'll answer it.

Because they have a nonunderstanding of basic economics, and think that money given for a good cause is somehow different from money used to support people's daily lives, and that if you donate the one, the other is left unaffected.

Because they have a utopian dream of all human beings sharing an equal philosophy of community, on the emotionally tainted thinking that if we can all shout that we love each other at the same time, the earthquakes and tsunamis and famines will give us a pass.

Because they want to throw the human soul over a psychological anvil and beat it with a hammer of guilt until the same base desires that make you get out of the way of a speeding truck to save your life will be spread to the lives of all the people of the world. They want to turn every person into a Borg soldier who will not only die to protect the collective, but (and this is a far greater perversion) live to serve the collective doing the same tasks of production and management and innovation that today demand great rewards.

These errors of thinking are understandable, and perhaps even forgivable, but they are so insidious and dangerous that they must be corrected at every opportunity.

LadyFlameSniper · Post by **LadyFlameSniper** » Fri Dec 31, 2004 3:06 pm

Oh well.. my family and I donated 30. So many thousands of people died and every bit helps. I guess it is because of the number why I feel this way... But at he same time, I don't feel the wealthier countires as a whole or anybody should be FORCED to donate.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Fri Dec 31, 2004 6:25 pm

I think America, as well as Canada and all other wealthy countries, don't receive recognition for their donations because no one actually sees them giving the money to another country. Most people will probably stop complaing about how "cheap and heartless" the U.S. is if they actually see some big, tacky ceremony broadcast on every station showing Bush handing over a check to a third world leader. Of course, you'd be naive to think that everyone would stop bitching. If there actually was a ceremony, most people would use that oppurtunity to go "Look at how 'High and mighty' the U.S. acts. They like to show off that they're better then everyone blah blah blah".

I guess what I'm saying is that when it comes to giving money, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't, no matter how you do it.