Topic: International Assistance for Katrina Victims!
Nefret
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
For a Country, USA, that tells the World "we should all live like a family on this planet" why isn't the US accepting the gracious offers of assistance from other Countries?
Can we afford this arrogance? I think not but, I want to hear your thoughts on this.
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posted
I just heard that Afghanistan, of all places, has raised $100,000 to send to the US for the Katrina victims. THAT should be a really humbling experience I'm sure...
-------------------- "Everything dies, but not everything comes to an end..." - Rev. Thomas Martin, City of the Dead Posts: 293 | From: Toronto, ON | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
The British are sending help. Canada is sending help. France, the Netherlands, and Mexico are sending help. This was only the last I heard, and there may be more.
-------------------- "The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart."--Iris Murdoch Posts: 3307 | From: Charleston, WV | Registered: Oct 2002
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Diabolos
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
quote:Originally posted by The_Memorial_Storm: I just heard that Afghanistan, of all places, has raised $100,000 to send to the US for the Katrina victims. THAT should be a really humbling experience I'm sure...
And Sri Lanka is giving $25,000 which is very humbling.
I know that as of last Thursday or so the list is either up to or just over 50 foreign countries that are donating.
ETA: Another partial list that Joe Bentley had posted on another thread:
From CNN
Nigeria - 5 million to the American Red Cross.
China - 5 million in aid, rescue workers and medical experts.
Japan - 500,000 to the American Red Cross. 300,000 in emergency supplies.
India - 5 million to the American Red Cross and medical supplies.
Singapore - Loan of 3 Chinook heavy lift helicopters to the Texas National Guard.
South Korea - no offical numbers, but has expressed a pledge of aid.
Afghanistan - 100,000 dollars.
Sri Lanka - 25,000 dollars to the American Red Cross.
Taiwan - 3 million.
Canada - Has pledged support in "any way it can" including a ship full of disaster supplies.
Cuba - Offer of 1,100 doctors and 26 tonnes of medical supplies.
Mexico - 1 million dollars and 15 trucks of fresh water, food, and medical supplies. The Mexican Navy is sending two ships, two helicopters, and 15 amphibious vehicles.
Venuzula - Offer of inexpensive fuel, humitarian aid, and relief workers.
Australia - 10 million, most to the American Red Cross.
France - Mutliple teams of rescue workers, two cargo aircraft, and French Telecom Company NGO Telecoms Sans Frontieres has pledged support for restoring power and telecom infastructure.
Germany - Medical and transportation services, plus 2 million barrels of oil a day for 30 days from their own emergency reserve.
Italy - Aid and evacuation specialists
Netherlands - Teams for inspecting levees and dams.
Russia - No details or numbers, but a standing offer of help as needed.
Spain - No details or numbers, but a standing offer of help as needed.
Sweden - Water purfication supplies, medical and emergency aid.
Britain - Standing offer to aid "in any way we can."
quote:The British are sending help. Canada is sending help. France, the Netherlands, and Mexico are sending help. This was only the last I heard, and there may be more.
50+ countries so far, including Iran and Cuba, despite the US's bullying.
-------------------- All along the untrodden paths of the future, I can see the footprints of an unseen hand. Posts: 6912 | From: Flanders | Registered: Jan 2004
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Tony Blair is quoted as saying, 'We have offered any help to the Americans that they need, but so far there has been no request.'
Britain, the paper says, has offered to send experts in water-borne and insect-borne diseases, search and rescue equipment, marine equipment and high volume pumps.
Specialists trained in restoring oil, gas and water facilities were also being offered ... as well as disaster recovery teams.
It appears that the USA has not accepted any of these offers. True, the US may have all of this themselves, but surely extra pumps, etc, cannot go amiss.
-------------------- Andrew, Ware, England Posts: 1709 | From: Ware, England | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
The Bushies still seem unable to accept the generosity of our neighbors. If foreigners actually give us something it means we might have to reconsider the basic right-wing assumption that everyone is out to get us.
posted
Probably a good idea that folks from the Netherlands have offered inspection teams . Methinks they've had more experience at it.
-------------------- "You never know when you will be attacked by a wild tortilla" - José Zavala "Happiness isn't happiness without a violin playing goat" Be good and you will be lonesome Posts: 3569 | From: USVI | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
The Swiss Red Cross has 40 tons of supplies (blankets, tents, water-cleaning devices, medications,etc.), as well as a whole team of doctors and other specialists ready to go. Yet, they are still waiting for the White House's approval. It's been 6 days now.
How many people will die because those cretins in Washington are too bloody proud to ask for help ?
-------------------- Desperate, but not serious. Posts: 689 | From: Confoederatio Helvetica | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Major D. Saster: The Swiss Red Cross has 40 tons of supplies (blankets, tents, water-cleaning devices, medications,etc.), as well as a whole team of doctors and other specialists ready to go. Yet, they are still waiting for the White House's approval. It's been 6 days now.
How many people will die because those cretins in Washington are too bloody proud to ask for help ?
I am worried that more people will die because the present US administration has not yet approved the help offered by everyone thus far (for example,Canada'a offer has been accepted, we are sending three ships and a special urban search and rescue task force from Vancouver is already on the ground there, but has Iran's or Cuba's offer of help been accepted yet?) and more will die because of it.
Is this waffling due to the possible chance that, oh let's say, Iran came to help, then the present US administration would then feel obligated to play nice? Or if Fidel's offer of help was accepted, then the US administration would have to feel like it owed Cuba an end to the trade embargo? Just wondering...after all, how can you accept help from someone and then say later that after all that help, screw you guys we are not budging for our original position before we needed your help?
-------------------- "Everything dies, but not everything comes to an end..." - Rev. Thomas Martin, City of the Dead Posts: 293 | From: Toronto, ON | Registered: Sep 2005
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Joe Bentley
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
posted
Yeah I'm concerned with the lack of Washington's response to these aid offers as well, but like it or not there are political factors to consider. I don't want countries like North Korea or Iran to horde this over our heads. I do think that before we accept these offers we need to make clear that it doesn't change or political stances on things.
-------------------- "Existence has no pattern save what we imagine after staring at it for too long." - Rorschach, The Watchmen Posts: 8929 | From: Norfolk, Virginia | Registered: Jun 2002
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posted
Although I'm no fan of Fidel Castro, I must say that when he offered his help, he made perfectly clear he didn't want anything in return. Maybe his declaration wasn't broadcasted on US TV channels ? I don't know how far he can be trusted, but he sounded sincere.
My other theory is that maybe the US governement doesn't want foreign helpers to find out how bad the situation really is.
-------------------- Desperate, but not serious. Posts: 689 | From: Confoederatio Helvetica | Registered: Sep 2005
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Joe Bentley
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
posted
Okay something just occured to me.
Most of the purely monetary donations are being offered to the American Red Cross. Why is the government the one that has to accept them? The Red Cross isn't a government controlled organization. Can the government deny a private organization from accepting a donation from a foreign country?
-------------------- "Existence has no pattern save what we imagine after staring at it for too long." - Rorschach, The Watchmen Posts: 8929 | From: Norfolk, Virginia | Registered: Jun 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Joe Bentley: Okay something just occured to me.
Most of the purely monetary donations are being offered to the American Red Cross. Why is the government the one that has to accept them? The Red Cross isn't a government controlled organization. Can the government deny a private organization from accepting a donation from a foreign country?
International currency transfers are regulated by the government, especially when the transfers are to/from countries with which the government does not have good relations.
-------------------- "The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart."--Iris Murdoch Posts: 3307 | From: Charleston, WV | Registered: Oct 2002
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. Methinks they've had more experience at it.
