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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-29-2004 20:30

Anyone heard from Delvin?

Dec-29-2004 20:33

Oops, sorry, missed your post there, Delvin. Glad you are okay. Prayers and thoughts with all involved in this tradegy.

Dec-30-2004 01:21

I wanted to read all of what you were saying but, it's just TOO LONG.

I express concern and thank everyone for giving their prayers. The Philippines is fine but, I'm not sure about those living near the shore.

Dec-30-2004 06:33

As foreigner I don't think the Americans are misconstrued, but I do think that each American action is judged for it's merit, sometimes good, but also sometimes bad. Well unless you are a stupid uninformed foreigner. Terrorism is still rampant, not by Iraqi's, but by European born moslims. My country is still in upheavel, after Novembers terrorist attack over here.

The bottom line, in a disaster like this. Everybody comes together to help others. And leaves you to wonder, why don't we do this ALL the time. We think about Bangladesh for instance now, however the past years Bangladesh has suffered one catastrophy killing 1000s each year, over the past year. Even during my travels, I have seen kids and adults with swolen bellies from hunger even in the very same countries that are hit now.
For some reason the world doesn't come together, until there is a disaster of world scale. The world before WWII was a different place, then after. When people realized "a disaster like this can never happen again", the result of was decolonization, less power of the church in society, the principle of the UN, NATO. Also the majority of of human rights laws, were created shortly after WWII. Before that there was not much more then the Geneva Convention, regulating armed conflict instituted after WWI.

The power of that brings hope. The fact that we have not seen a WW since the last, is unique for history.

Now the world is coming together again on a massive scale, to help others. But even for a lot of us here in the west, it is an education. Some people would not even know in which country the island of Sumatra was, or point out a country as big as India on the map. Only good things can come out of that.

I hope, and I pray, once the first weeks are over. And this disasters disappears off our news. That we will continue to pray, and help even when the initial aid is no longer required, but aid to rebuild their economy is required.

Dec-30-2004 09:19

Thank you all for your concern and kindness. It's times like this that really bring people from all walks of life together.

Before this disaster struck, some provinces in the South of Thailand have been suffering from an ongoing civil war. But since the tragedy happened, the war has subsided and people put aside their differences to help those that are truly in need. Before, there were usually news about shooting or bombing in the south, now all I see everyday are news of people routinely bringing the victims or the volunteers truck load of food, clothes and other necessities and disappear before anyone could thank them. My university, now a temporary shelter for tourists whose loved ones are still missing or injured, is now packed with so many volunteers that they outnumbered the tourists already. For some reason, we feel responsible for the tragedy because people lost their lives in our country and we couldn't do anything to prevent it. My only wish right now is for those with missing loved ones to be reunited and for people who lost their livelihood to be able to regain their status soon. Even though financial damage can be fixed, the psychological damage is going to take a lifetime to heal.

Thank you all again for your concern and your prayers. It is comforting knowing that you are praying and wishing for us.

Dec-30-2004 10:25

Lady K,
What a wonder story of hope. I had been hearing on CNN & other media conglomerates, that these countries had put aside thier differences. That they began to unite & peacefully work together for the good of thier fellow countrymen. Taht is so wonderful yet so tragic that such an awful trgaedy has helped to heal political & ethnic wounds. My thoughts are prayers are with you.

Dec-30-2004 10:26

Jstkdn,
If you want to rant & rave about the war. Start a new post.

Dec-30-2004 15:15

So what if there isn't any clean water, steady food supplies, or electricity - isn't it such a relief to hear that the sunbathers are back on the coast?

Dec-30-2004 16:55

I didn't realize that $ is worth less if it a lower % of a countries income. I wonder if we take the % in humanitarian aid from the US government compared to that of other governments what it would relate to... and is it nessessary to give the same % if the money is so monumentally more?..... Currently though I do know the UK has pledged more than the US to this effort. Supplies and people etc hasn't been added into the US effort, so I wonder what the total "pledge" is. Also if a country pledges more is that more important than who is DOing more. The countries effected are doing much more than onlookers can because they are THERE.

Just wanted to mention that Since the US is one of the richest nations.... our citizens own corporations that can do things like Pfizer Inc. Which donated $10million and$25million in drugs to relief agencys. And CocaCola- who has a plant in India was delivering water in these days after the tsunami and also $10million in aid.
There are lots of online groups collecting donations even Google and Yahoo.. not to mention amazon.
Other companies are donating % of proceeds from sales of certain items.

I think one of the biggest issues is not what $ is promised but what actually gets to the people.

India is currently declining aid so throwing $ at them just isn't going to work.

One of the biggest helps right now are the actual people on the ground, which $ isn't going to help, it is more the people, planes, and boats etc that is needed right now, I think this is such a big issue for many all over the world, that we will not let a $ need pass.
Also in most cases initial $ isn't that important it is the ongoing longterm restabilization of the region... the ongoing $ that is going to become the issue. They have a lot of rebuilding to do. And I think the UN and the coalitions set up will be able to deal with that more effectively and put the money and resourses where they are the most needed, and where they are accepted.

Dec-30-2004 16:56

Also.... "don't look a gift horse in the mouth"