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Dec-26-2004 17:22

Just wanted to put out my thoughts and prayers to family and friends of all those lost, and suffering loss of life, home and general safety due to the Earthquake and folowing tsunami and aftershocks of Sundays (Sumatra time) (8:00 p.m. EST Saturday evening).. which is about 6pm sleuth time I think.

Anyway Delvin is in Singapore and he should be safe, but usually logs on daily and I haven't heard from him, and he does know people that would have been in effected areas.

So any good thoughts you want to send him, or people there feel free to add on to my posting.

HOPE if anyone else here lives in SAsia or SW ASIA are safe and everyone they know are also.

Again Prayers and my good wishes to those in that part of our world.

Rivergallery.

Dec-28-2004 10:20

15 million is that all that Bush could miss? A lot of waaaay smaller countries are already donating more.

Glad to have you back Delvin!

Dec-28-2004 10:24

Something bugs me terribly, angers me BIG time. When I see the news, I see all the tourists en masse stepping in to choppers and planes. Getting out.

While you see the locals either walking around in shock. Or helping out.

I have made to the majority of places hit, and was actually supposed to be there on the day. And if I required not hospitalization, I would have stuck around and help. And not bring my white ass back to the comfort and safety of my own home.

I may not have a medical degree. But I can organize people and stuff, I can write newsletters to increase donations, I can clean, and I can dig holes for corpses that are now a health hazard.

How on earth, can people just turn their back, if you are actually *there.*

Dec-28-2004 10:29

jstkdn its maybe right for most of the tourists but not all. My parents have 4 couples they know who are there on vacation. they were suppose to fly back the day after, but now they decided to stay and help. and those ppl are over 60! they survived cause they were on a boat while it happend. apperently u feel it less if u r deep into the sea.

Dec-28-2004 11:00

Sure, I can understand that. I don't mean the elderly, or people with kids, people whom are physically or mentally unable to help etc. But I see a lot of abled bodies stepping on planes, and talking to the press up on return.

Dec-28-2004 12:04

I'm from Thailand and our whole nation is in mourning at this moment. I was gonna travel to the South of Thailand on another coast on Sunday night. I had already say goodbye to my agency members, shortly afterwards, the news came on. I was horrified and devastated, to say the least. This is the most tragic catastrophe our country has ever experienced. My hearts go out to all the victims, locals and tourists. There are still those unaccounted for in remote islands but everyone is doing their part to help in any way possible.

Though I was not personally affected by this disaster since I live in Bangkok and no friends or family members were in the area but it is still close to home. Most of the resorts I've been to in Phi Phi Island, which took a direct hit, were completely wiped out. It was surreal watching everything washed away. Not only do the locals lose their lives and their business, with the coral reefs and surrounding environment completely gone, the number of tourists are likely to decline and there won't be much work left for them to do. Even though this is supposed to be a festive season, I don't think anyone in the right mind are in the mood to travel or can possibly enjoy themselves. To make it worse, we lost a beloved member of the Royal Family. The King's grandson is also a victim of the tragedy so the atmosphere is very depressing here.

All my prayers go out to those affected by this disaster and thank you all for your well-wishing.

Dec-28-2004 13:00

Lady K- my thoughts and prayers are with your nation, how sad to loose a "future leader"!

jstkn-Earlier today US more than doubled the amount now going to aid.. to $35million.
I can't seem to find an online source outlining how much each nation has pledged, the closest nation to the US, even in the US's initial pledge of 15mill was the AUS with $10million these are in USD.

Dec-28-2004 14:47

LadyK, I thought so. I was pretty sure there was someone from BKK in here. But I was wrecking my brain who. Glad you are OK, and your family too. Your country is in my prayers!

River, comparative foreign aid spending by percentage of national income is honestly nothing to boast about since the Bush administration. Shameful, particularly comparative to other countries.

As you are interested:
Our initial pledge is 2 million and they plan to up it more as they are awaiting what further needs are. The Netherlands has a GDP (purchasing power parity) of $461.4 billion, not much but since there only 16 million of us Dutchies. As for future donations, the government has stated "Money will be no object."

The US GDP is $10.99 trillion, a populaton of 293 million.

This is however government spending, I know the American people itself are putting their coins and efforts together to help people out. So will the American red cross, American NGO's, other aid groups. I am also 100% sure, that many Americans will make wonderful gestures, as the American people as people, often do (Hey, I'd be speaking German right now. If it wasn't for you guys.)

I wish your government would follow that lead though. It bugs me that Bush is sitting there with a smug face, in a disaster like this, pretending to be o so helpful. Not the time, and elections are over, enough already. I don't think Bush doesn't have much more money to spend abroad though, the budget for Iraq is 147 billion and counting (fast.) http://costofwar.com/

But don't feel bad, I am sure my government has spent more then 2 million on the Iraq war as well.

Dec-28-2004 15:00

In short, River, don't give a damn about what Colin Powel say and Bush. They are currently spending 9 billion a month on Iraq. That is 2,25 billion a week. That is more then 321 million a day.

Dec-28-2004 15:07

So the donation is approximately the cost 2 hours and 35 minutes of war.

Dec-28-2004 15:35

I can't comprehend the lose and suffering. My prayers go out to all. I read today 30,000 are missing in India, one of our members is from there and I only pray that he is ok.