Relief? Anyone?

[Deacon]

Well, what kind of numbers are you looking for? Are we totaling up dollars donated to the UN, food and other material aid, tsunami donations, etc? Or what?

[Springy]

I think you guys should all know that a whole bunch of countries *have* offered aid. I live in Toronto, My mayor, premier, and prime minister have all called our neighbors to the south and offered out help. So far nobody has returned our calls. If you watch CNN a scrolling banner at the bottom was just displaying the names of countires that have offered to help. So don't sit here bitching that the rest of the world isnt trying to do something.

[tankkisankari]

indeed
http://washingtontimes.com/world/200508 ... -8161r.htm

Countries from Russia to Venezuela offered assistance for victims of Hurricane Katrina yesterday but said they will wait to hear from the United States what is needed before they send the aid.

The American Red Cross said it had heard from sister organizations in several countries, although aid is not expected for another couple of days.
"We've been in touch with national Red Cross societies, and they tell us that private citizens are inquiring about sending donations," said Nadia Mitchem, an international disaster fundraising officer.
U.S. officials and foreign diplomats said the widely shared sense is that as the world's richest country, the United States can cope with the aftermath of natural disasters and does not need help.
They said that was the reason for the lack of specific offers, although the European Union -- as well as Britain, Germany and other individual members -- informed President Bush and the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama that they are ready to help with whatever is necessary.

It's been, what two days after the windy weather, what the hell do you expect?
So sucks to you sir.

[Arc Orion]

[quote="Deacon";p="539261"]Well, what kind of numbers are you looking for? Are we totaling up dollars donated to the UN, food and other material aid, tsunami donations, etc? Or what?[/quote]How about all of them?

[StruckingFuggle]

Well, for starters...

[Arminius]

The flood in Nouvelle Orléans is a disaster that touch me as much as many others Americans living there, just in a different way. The city has been founded by the French in 1718. We're losing a part of the French heritage in North America, history, culture, architecture.

What a loss.

[The Cid]

Not only that, Arm, but we're losing a lot of American culture too.

Don't say there's no such thing. New Orleans was a hotbead of the First True American Music (jazz), being home to so many legends.

[BadMonkey]

"Germany Prepared to Help the US"
However, in the article itself:

Germans donated in record numbers in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami eight months ago. But the situation is different today: the US government has made no call for international aid, and German charity organizations have so far not pledged financial aid for the hurricane-affected regions.

"We are at the moment planning no call for help," said Fredrik Barkenhammar of the German Red Cross.

According to Barkenhammar, the American Red Cross is financially very well positioned and has, therefore, not asked for outside help. Should the German Red Cross receive any public or private donations for the American disaster relief, the money will be transferred to the US Red Cross, he said.

Also..

The State Department welcomed both the willingness of foreign nations to help and their plans for coordination with the American federal and state governments.
It said it had received more than a dozen "offers of government assistance to aid in the search as well as reconstruction efforts."
"We appreciate each and every one of them, and we are going to work in the coming days and weeks with foreign governments to see how we can best channel these offers of assistance," spokesman Sean McCormack said.
The American Red Cross said it had heard from sister organizations in several countries, although aid is not expected for another couple of days.
"We've been in touch with national Red Cross societies, and they tell us that private citizens are inquiring about sending donations," said Nadia Mitchem, an international disaster fundraising officer.
U.S. officials and foreign diplomats said the widely shared sense is that as the world's richest country, the United States can cope with the aftermath of natural disasters and does not need help.
They said that was the reason for the lack of specific offers, although the European Union -- as well as Britain, Germany and other individual members -- informed President Bush and the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama that they are ready to help with whatever is necessary.

This is a very different situation to the Tsunami, although the destruction is horrible, the US is possibly the most well equipped country to deal with this tragedy in the first place.

[The Cid]

BadMonkey, that's a good point. The US is the most well-equipped country to deal with this. Unfortunately, being at war, the resources are stretched thin. So help is appreciated, and like the OP of this thread, I had yet to hear of any such contributions when I made my post.

[Martin Blank]

Washington Post:

In a turnabout, the United States is now on the receiving end of help from around the world as some two dozen countries offer post-hurricane assistance. ...

With offers from the four corners of the globe pouring in, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has decided "no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday. ...

Offers have been received from Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, Jamaica, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, NATO and the Organization of American States, the spokesman said.

Lots of countries volunteering aid. The US is best equipped to handle this, yes, but some aid will most certainly be appreciated, particularly cash donations as well as search and recovery teams once the waters have been pumped out of New Orleans. Such teams may be useful now in Mississippi, though.

[Roma]

The United States can handle this all on her own. True. However, when something happens in other places of the world the US is expected to give great amounts of aid. I'm not arguing that the US can't handle this situation or has the resources to handle it but it's simple courtesy. Just because it happens in the US doesn't mean this isn't a tragedy. I mean, the double standard here is ridiculous. The US is *expected* to help everyone and anyone, but the US is also *expected* to help themselves all on their own? Ridiculous.

I know other nations will offer aid, but that expectation is terrible.

[peter-griffin]

Or that the US never really gives two shits about other countries. I don't recall the US jumping in right away to help out in any of the world wars, or the genocide in Rwanda.

are you fucking retarded? do you realize what the political mindset was in those days about either world war? and everyone but the belgians were guilty in rwanda, not just the US, so i guess the next time a natural disaster happens in europe we'll just tell them to fuck off because they didnt help in rwanda and both world wars originated there.

[Springy]

are you fucking retarded?

I think enough people in this thread have questioned me enough on this subject

I'm giving my response to the original question. Whether your opinion of the situation differes from mine or not, it does not make me "fucking retarded" thank you very much.

so i guess the next time a natural disaster happens in europe we'll just tell them to fuck off because they didnt help in rwanda <i>and both world wars originated there</i>.

So I guess when hundreds of people in my country died of SARS and you didn't employ a D.A.R.T team to help aid us in our little disaster was just because we burned down your Whitehouse in the War of 1812? kidding

Maybe my example of the US not giving two shits wasn't the best one to use. *shrugs* But hell, do you think I'd be more able to learn from my mistake if you didn't personally insult me?

***

Back to Roma's recent post. I really don't see how the US is *expected* to give aid anymore than other countires are. I don't see Bono theatening to kick Bush's arse
The reason the US may be *expected* to give more aid then say, Poland, is because you seem far more capable of giving such aid. Instead of complaining that you're expected to give aid, be proud that your country has so much to offer the world.

[Toons]

[quote="Bigity";p="539184"]Yea, I mean we're only most charitable country in the world. Let's stop giving it away and apply it towards our own needs eh?[/quote]


No, your not. You just have a shit load more money than a lot of other countrys.

After having a quick look, the ammounts donated by corporations and individuals by about the 10 of jan. from the US was about $322 million in cash and goods, from australia $64million.

Now consider the population of the US (295,734,134), compared to australia (20,393,678), gee is there a little difference there. I think it works out to about $1.10US/person, $3.20AUS/person.

[Makh]

My girlfriend and I wish to give a donation for Americans. We will give money to the red cross.