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FGT
Joined: 14 Sep 2003
Posts: 762
Location: Turkey
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 Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:19 pm Post subject: Different Natural Disasters |
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Am I being horrible....?
I just went to Yahoo and saw a notice asking people to contribute to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina and my immediate reaction was "Let the world's richest country help their own."
It's not that I don't feel for them - who wasn't affected by the man on BBC World yesterday exclaiming that he couldn't find his wife's body?
It's not that I don't usually contribute, I was glad to be able to put my hand in my wallet (or rather credit card number on the net) last December for the victims of the Asian tsunami, and also to help to organise a Red Crescent collection in the school canteen; but that money went to help people in countries that lack the infrastructure and wealth to help themselves.
Furthermore, this hurricane MAY have been exacerbated by global warming, a phenomenon that Dubya denies. Isn't it time he woke up and accepted responsibility?
OK, I'm just being horrible but does anyone else see my point? |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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No, you are not being horrible. I see where you are coming from. Charity begins at home. However, developing countries can not help themselves. So give aid to them. I feel for the people of the Mississippi basin. However the world's richest country shouldn't be asking for aid.
I read somewhere that the biggest problem now is looting. Fellow citizens are taking advantage.
I just asked my flatmates and they agree.
Thank you for bringing this up FGT.
Btw if this was the UK I would have the same opinion. |
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TeachEnglish
Joined: 09 Feb 2005
Posts: 239
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes.. I think you are being horrible and critical and cynical. The world's richest country is not asking for help. The various charities are asking for help. There have been so many disasters recently that most charities are in need of help to help all places that have a disaster. It is not wrong for the charities to let it be known that they are strapped. I find it interesting how quick people jump on the band wagon with negative comments and opinions when the states are the subject. Today, you can be assured, the states don't need your help.. but for tomorrow..who knows. |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| most charities are in need of help to help all places that have a disaster. |
I see your point here but shouldn't the governments of rich countries be doing more to help their own countries?
| Quote: |
| I find it interesting how quick people jump on the band wagon with negative comments and opinions when the states are the subject. |
If you had read my last sentence I said I would have the same opinion if this terrible thing happened in the Uk.
I am sorry sorry if I came across anti-American, I did not mean to, as I am sure FGT didn't either.
If you want me to slag off the UK govt. I will be only too happy to do so. As probably alot of posters are. |
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FGT
Joined: 14 Sep 2003
Posts: 762
Location: Turkey
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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I'm also only too happy to slag off the UK. (there's a lot of scope!)
It's not an anti-US thing; it's wealthy v the rest.
Thanks dmb for reading between the lines and not jumping to conclusions. |
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Baba Alex
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 2411
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| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:25 am Post subject: |
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I for one am bored with people who accuse others of being anti-US at the drop of a hat. The disaster is something terrible, but comparisons to the Tusami are rubbish. The main issue at the moment is why more wasn't done to help people evacuate the area, it's being suggested that some people simple didn't have the money to evacuate.
Shocking |
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Golightly
Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 877
Location: in the bar, next to the raki
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| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| I might point out (and please correct me if I'm horribly wrong here) that IIRC Lousiana and Alabama are not only the poorest states in the US, but there are areas in them that were once defined by the UN as being third world status in terms of infrastructure, life expectancy, living standards and availability of resources. I may be wrong however. |
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Baba Alex
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 2411
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| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:05 am Post subject: |
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| Golightly wrote: |
| I might point out (and please correct me if I'm horribly wrong here) that IIRC Lousiana and Alabama are not only the poorest states in the US, but there are areas in them that were once defined by the UN as being third world status in terms of infrastructure, life expectancy, living standards and availability of resources. I may be wrong however. |
I think you're right, but that's freedom for you. |
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FGT
Joined: 14 Sep 2003
Posts: 762
Location: Turkey
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| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| State does not equal country |
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molly farquharson
Joined: 16 Jun 2004
Posts: 839
Location: istanbul
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| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:59 am Post subject: |
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| I think the worst part about the New Orleans disaster (besides the wiping out of the jazz quarter-- and did you know Fats Domino might have died in it?) is the looting and anarchy. That is pretty scary. I remember a few reports of looting here after the earthquake, but not very many. I hope that the mismanagement of it is reflected in getting the Republicans thrown out of office. |
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Golightly
Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 877
Location: in the bar, next to the raki
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| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 8:02 am Post subject: |
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| FGT wrote: |
| State does not equal country |
of course not, but shouldn't the federal government as a whole do something to aid and assist the poorer states in the union as a general principle? that, after all, would be in the spirit of the constitution. what this disaster has made appallingly clear, though, is the extremity of the division between the very richest and the very poorest within the US, at least on British TV. In my earlier post, I forgot to mention Mississipi. Look at California by way of contrast to these three: If it were considered as an independent nation, it would be, IIRC, the sixth wealthiest country in the world.
And it's ruled by the Terminator.  |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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Golightly
Joined: 08 Feb 2005
Posts: 877
Location: in the bar, next to the raki
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yaramaz
Joined: 05 Mar 2003
Posts: 2384
Location: Not where I was before
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| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| In case you were worried and wondering, Fats Domino is safe and out of the city though they wouldnt disclose his location. |
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dmb
Joined: 12 Feb 2003
Posts: 8397
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| Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2005 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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It reminds of the Tsunami when there was a report in the Arab Daily news that the it was caused by an American/Israeli pact. I cant remember how they were supposed to have done it though.
btw Golighty, how do you do that linking thing rather than write the url. |
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