An 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck in the Indian Ocean near Sumatra, generating tidal waves that devastated thousands of miles of coastline in South Asia, Indonesia, and as far away as East Africa. Over ten thousand people have been killed and thousands more are missing. :(

Hotpot, please check in and let us know you're OK... according to one news story, Mauritius seemed largely untouched by the post-quake surge, although minor flooding struck one of the outlying islands in the archipelago, Rodrigues.

Ditto! Everyone in that area check in with us....thoughts and prayers to all the losses and all those affected.

Yep, it's true. Now the death count stands at 12k! Damn!

Isn't that nuts? 12, 000 dead, and I'm betting most of them are from the tsunami. According to what I read on the NYTimes, most of those countries don't have an early warning system, so people out on the costal areas just got taken by surprise.

The Chuuetsu region of Niigata Prefecture, Japan is still trying to recover from the severe earthquake they had there about a month ago now. The scary thing is that the Tokyo area is said to be a bit overdue for a major earthquake... :eek:

19930 now, and some reports say as high as 23k

Hotpot....leave us a note when you can. Let us know if you need anything.

Thanx Aratinga and Raz for your concern.
I'm in the southern Indian Ocean, very far from the earthquake. We did get some pretty big waves on our shores, but no major flooding, thank goodness. The waves in South East Asia must have been really impressive. I hope there won't be many more casualties.
In fact I only learnt about the earthquake last night as I was out in the wild. It's hot and dry here as you can see. Those ATV's are loads of fun.

Thanx Aratinga and Raz for your concern.
I'm in the southern Indian Ocean, very far from the earthquake. We did get some pretty big waves on our shores, but no major flooding, thank goodness. The waves in South East Asia must have been really impressive. I hope there won't be many more casualties.
In fact I only learnt about the earthquake last night as I was out in the wild. It's hot and dry here as you can see. Those ATV's are loads of fun.I am so glad to hear that you are ok. I have to say that I was a bit concerned. I was telling my hubby that I hadn't seen any post from you and the news that we see is devastating. Again I am glad you are ok!

Excuse my puncuality:that was some crazy sh$t. The earth is rumbling..

So sad to see so many little children that never had a chance.

glad to hear your ok hotpot.

good to know you're ok, dude!

Goes to show how thin the line is between life and death...you really just never know...I hope those lost went fast with minimal suffering. God blesses all.

Anyone in San Fran worried?

I have not seen any Arab countries listed that wants to help the victims. Is that because our media is mostly US sources? Not sure but it will be interesting to note any country that does not help in some way. Things are very bad in Asia right now.

I read that the quake was so huge that one island was moved 100 foot. Also the earths rotation changed slightly due to the quake.

One million people homeless. Imagine all the fisherman that got killed at sea. Forget that cheezy perfect storm nonsense.

I read that the quake was so huge that one island was moved 100 foot. Also the earths rotation changed slightly due to the quake.

The Island of Sumatra is now 100 feet southwest of where it used to be. I've had CNN on all night and this morning; it's terrible how many innocent people have died.

I've had a recurring nightmare my whole life where I'm standing on a beach watching the waves, and then suddenly the water recedes far off into the distance, leaving rocks and sand exposed that normally are always submerged. Then, building at the horizon, I see a huge wall of water surging toward the shore; and I know that no matter how fast I run, there will be tons of water crashing into me in just a few more seconds.

This must have been the last thing thousands of people saw. It's terrible.

On another natural disaster note... mark Friday, April 13th, 2029 on your calendars. That's the day that an asteroid the length of three football fields has a 1-in-200 chance of hitting the earth.

Hotpot, I'm glad you're okay.

http://dr.dk/pubs/nyheder/template/...publicationID=1
Video of some of it. You can see people on the beaches just having sun time and BANG!! here come this really big wave and is all over with. Don't know where this is though. I can't get the thing to copy right. Try this one

http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?t=115064&page=1 Look for the B tapper comment, he has the video there of this. Wonder if this makes the news?

http://dr.dk/pubs/nyheder/template/lib/wmm.jhtml?mmID=101937&publicationID=1 Thanks Jason. This should work now. Its pretty sad to view this however. Be warned. This guy is not a reporter who took it

this sux.. they said that 2 americans in sri lanka died from the quake.. one of my best friends and his brother went there for the winter break.. i fear the worst..

I lived in Thailand for two years. I remember sitting on the beach all day during the weekends. If that happened when I lived there, I'd have died for sure. There just isn't any place to go when you're on the nice beaches (Think of how it looked on the movie "The beach").

It would have been better if the earthquake happened at 10pm instead of 10am :(

Very Very glad and relieved to hear that you're ok hotpot!

Kind of weird when you think about it, isn't it? Knowing that 22k (or was it 24k?) people died just like that. I guess I always thought we were connected in some way that we'd feel something if that many people died together.. but the day went on normally until I heard the news.

I lived in Thailand for two years. I remember sitting on the beach all day during the weekends. If that happened when I lived there, I'd have died for sure. There just isn't any place to go when you're on the nice beaches (Think of how it looked on the movie "The beach").

It would have been better if the earthquake happened at 10pm instead of 10am :(


I hope you would have ran when you saw the tide recede 1000 FT.

I heard children noticed the tide and ran out with it, picking up fish and playing around....sad :(

VmanX, the news report I watched stated that there where a handful of americans vacationing in Sri Lanka, and many more europeans there, lets hope your friends are among the lucky ones.

Kari, I too always thought we are all connected somehow, but yes, my day went as it always does, while elsewhere countless lives where lost, and many more changed forever. It's sad..

I hope you would have ran when you saw the tide recede 1000 FT.

I heard children noticed the tide and ran out with it, picking up fish and playing around....sad :(If the tide went in that far, I'd definitely have noticed it as being abnormal, but I can't say that I would have been alarmed (I was around 8-10 years old). At that age, where would I have gone anyway? The whole area was basically flat. We went to some of the more exotic locations (was about an hour or two drive from Bangkok), lots of sand, lots of trees, not much else.

Unless I'm mistaken, I heard that the water was moving at 500 mph? Is that even possible? I can't imagine it.

Soemthing move that fast, but it was slowed down a lot before it hit land. Maybe it is slowed during the actual wave making process. Or the "energy" of the wave moves that fast...not sure

I believe gravity's weight pulls the wave to speed. The more water, the heavier, so the faster it would move. As it nears land, the water gets shallower, causing the wave to fall down into itself, slowing it in the process. Each succession of sandbanks would also help this to happen, a sort of natural buffer zone. But for something this size, its uncomprehendible to me. I also heard stories of some people being dragged over coral by the water?

Yeah.... as the water goes out, you're pulled across the coral. Have there been any stories about people who got washed out who came back?

News said Sri Lanka was hit as well...

Any people know if Maldives is ok?

I want to go to Maldives again next year :o

News said Sri Lanka was hit as well...

Any people know if Maldives is ok?

I want to go to Maldives again next year :o

i heard some of the lower islands are completely gone, and almost all of them got washed over :(

News said Sri Lanka was hit as well...

Any people know if Maldives is ok?

I want to go to Maldives again next year :o

Many of the Maldives' smaller islands were completely submerged; some of them are only 8 ft above sea level at their highest point. The capital, Male, was flooded.

There is a liveaboard dive boat in the Maldives, the MV/Manthiri, that many of my friends have been on. They've always said what a wonderful friendly crew that boat has, and I've always had it on my list of places I must visit someday. The MV/Manthiri was scheduled to leave the port of Male on December 24th, and return on Jan. 2. According to the boat's website, (http://liveaboard.org/manthiri-schedule.htm) that trip was full -- sold out.

There has not been any updates on the website to indicate what happened to the Manthiri, her passengers, or her crew.

Oh no :o

We went to Maldives - Kani for our honeymoon. It is absolutely beautiful, it is certainly less than 8 ft above sea level.

.... or was very beautiful. :o

I am feeling very sad at the moment :(:(

Only left is our memories and my website for our honeymoon (http://www.step-hen.com/wedding/honeymoon.htm)

from http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041228/D878DN100.html

Late Monday, Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla was quoted as saying he believed the toll in the country could be as high as 25,000, that would be 20,000 more deaths than confirmed there so far and push the overall death toll to 42,000.

Sunday's massive quake of 9.0 magnitude off the Indonesian island of Sumatra's northern tip sent 500-mph waves surging across the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal in the deadliest known tsunami since the one caused by the 1883 volcanic eruption at Krakatoa - located off Sumatra's southern tip - which killed an estimated 36,000 people.

A large proportion of southern Asia's dead were children - as many as half the victims in Sri Lanka, according to officials there. A bulldozer dug a mass grave in southern India for 150 young boys and girls, as their weeping parents looked on.

Damn, I'm getting shivers just thinking about the catastrophe. If my island was somewhere closer to Sumatra, we would have been wiped out in a matter of minutes.

my dad is involved in the rescue down there.....he says the numbers will definitely climb up to 70k maybe 90k :-(

my dad is involved in the rescue down there.....he says the numbers will definitely climb up to 70k maybe 90k :-(

Wow. I hope your dad is wrong.

Mother nature has a funny way about population control. Disease and natural disaster. Man's is worse by far: war.

Wow. I hope your dad is wrong.

Mother nature has a funny way about population control. Disease and natural disaster. Man's is worse by far: war.I don't follow what you're saying. War doesn't kill all that many people. Just look at how many are killed each year just in car accidents. Then look up heart attacks.

I'm talking about big time events: See Bubonic Plague, WWI & II, then this Earthquake

Bam Iran's recent quake had a death toll over 30K, but this is insane. I heard estimates of upwards of 80,000 would be dead by the end of the tallying.

There was one fellow I saw a picture of, and he was bruised all over. Sounded like he was German. Looked like someone had taken a baseball bat to him...

VERY relieved to see you are okay Hotpot. :)

On a side note, your ATV wildernesss trip looked like a genuine BLAST!! Got more pictures of your journey? That's awesome...

(as per Yahoo news)
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia - Mourners in Sri Lanka used their bare hands to dig graves Tuesday while hungry islanders in Indonesia turned to looting in the aftermath of Asia's devastating tsunamis. Thousands more bodies were found in Indonesia, dramatically increasing the death toll across 11 nations to around 44,000.


Emergency workers who reached Aceh province at the northern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra island found that 10,000 people had been killed in a single town, Meulaboh, said Purnomo Sidik, national disaster director at the Social Affairs Ministry.
More than 18,700 people died in Sri Lanka, more than 4,000 in India and more than 1,500 in Thailand, with numbers expected to rise. Scores were also killed in Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Maldives. The giant waves raced nearly 3,000 miles to east Africa, causing deaths in Somalia, Tanzania and Seychelles. The Indonesian vice president's estimate that his country's coastlines held up to 25,000 victims would bring the potential toll up to 50,000. :(

I still don't see Arab countries helping one bit in this massive disaster.

I still don't see Arab countries helping one bit in this massive disaster.

So what. Why do they have to help. Most of them have enough problems at home to deal with, without sending foreign aid. The countries which are helping, like the US and Canada are fortunate to be in such a position. Don't judge the other countries because they aren't helping. I havent seen a list of those countries aiding the rescue and cleanup but I would be it is small compared to the 193 or so countries on this planet.

So what. Why do they have to help. Most of them have enough problems at home to deal with, without sending foreign aid. The countries which are helping, like the US and Canada are fortunate to be in such a position. Don't judge the other countries because they aren't helping. I havent seen a list of those countries aiding the rescue and cleanup but I would be it is small compared to the 193 or so countries on this planet.Oh, you mean the countries who get billions of dollars a day from oil money are too busy trying to fund terrorists to help other muslim nations? Gotcha.

Oh, you mean the countries who get billions of dollars a day from oil money are too busy trying to fund terrorists to help other muslim nations? Gotcha.


guys a tragedy has occurred here why all of a sudden are we pointing fingers at who isnt dropping everything to help here, instead of being thankful to every country that is helping you're attacking those that don't. if you want to attack those countries that are not helping do some research and find all countries that havent contributed, otherwise you are being quite biased. There are plenty of islamic countries helping already, the red crescent has been mobilized and pakistan has sent helicopters, food and aid already.

So what. Why do they have to help. Most of them have enough problems at home to deal with, without sending foreign aid. The countries which are helping, like the US and Canada are fortunate to be in such a position. Don't judge the other countries because they aren't helping. I havent seen a list of those countries aiding the rescue and cleanup but I would be it is small compared to the 193 or so countries on this planet.

They can send manpower can't they? They are just sucking up the oil and sitting on their asses. You never see them help. ever.

Just because they have the means to help, doesn't mean they have to help. You should be focusing your attentions on the tragedy at hand and those who are helping, not trying to generalize nations into good and bad guys based on their willingness to help.

They can send manpower can't they? They are just sucking up the oil and sitting on their asses. You never see them help. ever.


put your money where your mouth is, give me a list of every country that has contributed manpower/money/food/aid and give me a list of those who haven't and stop generalizing. This is a tragedy for god sakes focus on that please.

It's at 50k and counting as of now.

Besides the condolences from the secretary Powell, and some of Bush's aides, I'm surprised that Bush wouldn't jump at a chance like this to make himself look better to the world by offering US support in this situation. Out of all the countries in the world, you would think the US would do something much sooner.

I love how Fox TV news stations only shows about 1 minute of this tragedy, then the next minute showing what the latest Paris Hilton hair style is like. Just great... Gotta love Fox News.

Your going to make me do work... go find me some arab countries that help out and I'll come up with my list.

Edit: I struck a nerve because I just remembered your nationality. I apologize but prove me wrong. The Philippines is helping and they are a third world country.

Edit: I struck a nerve because I just remembered your nationality. I apologize but prove me wrong. The Philippines is helping and they are a third world country.

the Philippines also just got struck by 4 typhoons in a row with approx. 500 ppl dead from landslides and floods...i know cuz i was there during the time the 4th typhoon struck...i was stranded due to extremely high winds and couldn't start my island hopping adventures for another day...500 ppl sure seems tiny compared to 50,000 people

and yes they are helping even through what they've just been through

The Philippines is helping and they are a third world country.

I don't want to take away from what the Philippines is doing, because it certainly is appreciated, but they are right next door to Indonesia. I don't doubt that there fates are intertwined, I doubt they have much choice but to help third world or not.

I don't want to take away from what the Philippines is doing, because it certainly is appreciated, but they are right next door to Indonesia. I don't doubt that there fates are intertwined, I doubt they have much choice but to help third world or not.

lol, the Philippines and Indonesia is separated by about 1500km of water..."next door" is India and the Middle East

I don't want to take away from what the Philippines is doing, because it certainly is appreciated, but they are right next door to Indonesia. I don't doubt that there fates are intertwined, I doubt they have much choice but to help third world or not.

That doesn't really go back to what you said earlier though. Closeness was not an issue -

"Most of them have enough problems at home to deal with, without sending foreign aid. The countries which are helping, like the US and Canada are fortunate to be in such a position. "

What I don't get is this..

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=516&ncid=731&e=6&u=/ap/20041228/ap_on_re_as/quake_un

We've given the most in contributions so far and they're calling us stingy??? WTF?
The guy who said it is an asshat! Sure we have the highest GNP/GDP in the world but we have to not only feed ourselves and everyone else and their mom and all the bottomfeeders out there, and we still don't get any appreciation from it, and they call us stingy... oh ya, we're in debt here? Assholes!

PS, I don't mean those people suffering in this catastrophy, just the one saying the US should give all their money to the poor nations asshats.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/27/quake.aid/index.html

heres an article i found detailing who has already donated help so far
US
EU
Italy
France
Pakistan
International Red Cross and Red Crescent
UNICEF
Australia
Russia


add the phillipines there...yes no arab countries on there, but not that many countries at all on there yet either relief for a tragedy like this is going to take a while and a large effort so just keep your eyes peeled.


Since you and we all are concerned with relief getting to the affected people i found a site (below) linking a number of charities that are mobilizing now and i implore everyone to contribute in any way they can every thought counts. Lets stop pointing fingers at who isnt helping and start helping people ourselves
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/27/quake.aidsites/index.html

guess I should have mentioned the very countries and groups like Syria, Iran, (Saudis perhaps, but not sure) and others that call us and everyone else "infidels" can sit back and watch this disaster unfold without lending a dime or any manpower. The victims are Muslins too. I just want to remember that while the Iraq war goes on and OBL puts out stupid messages for Iraq to boycott the elections, that there are other world concerns going on like this disaster and the US (the major infidels) and others are helping in many ways. There can be lots said about this but like Jason is saying, everyone should focus on all the help that is going on and not on the ones who do nothing and will do nothing. We are not the infidels when the US and other countries pitch in and help countries that call for help in a disaster like this. We are responding in a helping way despite what old OBL and others say about us.

Watch out sending your money to relief agencies folks. Although the Red Cross is helping they do take a sizable share of donations and keep it themselves. I think perhaps its better to help out with clothes and articles rather than money until you research the agency that is asking for money donations and find out what percent they take out for themselves before the money goes to help others. The same sort of stuff happened with 9/11 help and only after some of these help groups were brought into the media constantly did they finally back down and gave 100% of the donations away. Just keep this in mind if any of us send money to help in this crisis.

Watch out sending your money to relief agencies folks. Although the Red Cross is helping they do take a sizable share of donations and keep it themselves. I think perhaps its better to help out with clothes and articles rather than money until you research the agency that is asking for money donations and find out what percent they take out for themselves before the money goes to help others. The same sort of stuff happened with 9/11 help and only after some of these help groups were brought into the media constantly did they finally back down and gave 100% of the donations away. Just keep this in mind if any of us send money to help in this crisis.

Well, I wouldn't expect all relief agencies to give out 100% of the donations because they would always be in the red and increasing if this happens. Remember there's always transportation cost for all the goods donated to the agencies as well, goods has to be shipped somehow, someone has to pay for the gas. All volunteers has to get to the disaster area somehow, all equipment has to get there somehow, they have to pay for the phone lines, rent for offices, electricity, all those has to be paid somehow otherwise those agencies wouldnt be running.

Well, I wouldn't expect all relief agencies to give out 100% of the donations because they would always be in the red and increasing if this happens. Remember there's always transportation cost for all the goods donated to the agencies as well, goods has to be shipped somehow, someone has to pay for the gas. All volunteers has to get to the disaster area somehow, all equipment has to get there somehow, they have to pay for the phone lines, rent for offices, electricity, all those has to be paid somehow otherwise those agencies wouldnt be running.


That's true but some take a large share to do the admin work and pay some very high salaries for the executives. Just something one should keep in mind is all. Some are less in taking a share while others have a higher %. I would say if they are taking 50% thats too high.

People should less worried about who is not helping and be more concerned on how they themselves are helping. Start with yourself then worry about others.

As for Red Cross, admin cost is high. Nothing is free in this world, especially good talent. You want good talent running your organization, you need good incentive. I'm sorry but a good cause is not a strong enough incentive. BTW by contributing money you eliminate transportation cost, because it allows these organization to buy supplies locally, which not only eliminate transportation cost (and other associated costs) but also stimulates the local economy. Stimulating the local economy is definitely something these devastated areas need right now.

The World Health Organization warned on Tuesday that disease in the aftermath of southern Asia's tsunami disaster could kill as many people as the deadly waves and earthquake have. Wow! that could develop into 88,000 deaths or more.

btw, the Saudi's just announced they have 75% more oil than previously though. This and other factors are going to drop gas prices again... it's now expected we'll have more than enough oil till 2100.

in my area gas prices have already dropped if you want to use "US Gas". $1.85 for premium $1.65 for regular. the major gas companies are still 20 cents behind.

I am not seeing the relationship of the supply of oil and price reductions with a humanitarian crisis.

tayninh, we were discussing who was giving aid, and it was mentioned that fellow muslims were not helping, meanwhile the united states was. I simply pointed out that there are vast fortunes being made by a very small few who have no money problems at all who aren't helping.

Ok, I see it now. That's how I see it too. Some are riding in the desert with BMWs as dune buggies while the rest of the world helps in a crisis like this. In times like these the world see's who responds to a world wide issue. Then how can these countries who don't help anyone but themselves can call us Evil? Interesting. I think in the next several days we will see some Arab countries help out like the United Arab links but you will not see anything from others but yet the world listens to their rhetoric.

add germany :-)

tayninh, we were discussing who was giving aid, and it was mentioned that fellow muslims were not helping, meanwhile the united states was. I simply pointed out that there are vast fortunes being made by a very small few who have no money problems at all who aren't helping.


it was mentioned that arabs weren't helping not muslims...muslims are helping plenty already, pakistan has put together a big relief force who are already working on helping people on the ground

what i know that the saudis are going to help.... but i think thats a completly nonrelevant question if arab countrys help or not....dont let us make a political discussion about that this horrible tragedy. what we can do is give some money for the red cross ore others....

Where's the oh so great OBL organization helping in all this though? What's the contibution $$ so far for all the countries that helped?

the most money is used and needed to buy medicine and stuff.... i know because my dad is involved in the rescues down there tomorrow my mum will also fly to bukek...

Where's the oh so great OBL organization helping in all this though? What's the contibution $$ so far for all the countries that helped?


All OBL can do is spread terrorism. He's useless to help out in anything like this crisis. I think the US is going to pluck down big bucks to help with the relief efforts. I think I saw somewhere this is worst since 1790s something. So this is going to be a real bad one and the number of deaths is going to increase. This could go to 100,000 including those who will die from disease. There's rotting people as well as dogs, cats, farm animals, zoo animals. Its pretty much a hugh mess. There's dead people floating in the ocean too. They might be the thousands that were washed out to sea.

u guys watch to much fox

The pictures/photo/media is really gross. And I don't really want to dig up the really nasty stuff that is sure to pop up on the net. I'm probably going to have to look at it to shake myself up.

Even tons of sea animals also perished. Were talking beaches full of all this dead animals and humans.

You are right czr about dead sealife on the beaches. What a mess. The Secretary of State said the US is going to put $ Billions into the relief effort once its all over.

u guys watch to much fox

Agreed....just do your part. It doesn't matter if Arab countries contribute or not. I really doubt the victims care whether the Arab countries contribute to helping them or not somehow reaffirms moral clarity of other nations.

Just help the best you can and leave the politics aside. Heck Pakistan is helping India!

BTW Taiwan and China is also sending aid to these region, but they weren't listed on CNN. Tzu Zhi, a buddhist charity organization based in Taiwan, is contributing to the effort, but they aren't listed. So what....

I have not seen any Arab countries listed that wants to help the victims. Is that because our media is mostly US sources? Not sure but it will be interesting to note any country that does not help in some way. Things are very bad in Asia right now.

Money and Power, thats all they care about. Stupid corrupt leaders.....

When I lived in Samoa back in the 70s there was a 7.9 earthquake centered 200 miles away in Tonga. Everyone was expecting a Tsunami, and we spent the next day watching the ocean from our house which was 100 yards from the beach. It never came thankfully.

Back in 1964 there was a 9.0 in Alaska, and it caused a Tsnami down the West Coast and in Hawaii. The water was 3 ft. deep in Crescent City CA according to some (older) friends of mine. There were stories from Hilo HI of what was mentioned above - the whole bay emptied out, and people went down to collect the fish ans shellfish. Then a huge wall of water came and wiped them all out.

Today in Hawaii along the coast they have these big sirens on top of telephone poles. If a Tsunami warning comes, the sirens go off and you're supposed to tune in to the radio (or TV). That's what's missing in all these places.

When you say "the water travelled at 500 mph" that's not quite true. A wave in the ocean is like a sound wave, it's a compression wave. Ever seen one of those really long springs? Or think of a line of people. Someone comes from behind and give a good shove to the person at the back of the line. Each person bumps into the person in front of him, and the wave travels up the line, but each person isn't really moving but a foot or so. You can think of pushing water in the bath tub, but in this case, your hand would be many miles across, and move 100 ft forward. That's a big push.

When you're out on the ocean, in a boat, you'd probably not notice when a tsunami passed. The boat would rise a bit but you couldn't tell. It's when it reaches shallow water that it rises up, sucking all the water from each side to make this mountain of water, then when it gets top-heavy, it crashes. That's the bad part.

The pictures I saw on TV didn't look very devestating, but those were taken by people who survived. With all that water going in, the worse part is when it comes back out, like some kind of rip tide. That's always the things they tell you at the beach to look out for. And in this case it's not just taking you out to sea, but everything else - cars, buses, buildings, etc - you gotta worry abouy getting hit with all that stuff, so being a good swimmer isn't much help.

With all those dead bodies and destroyed water supplies, I think the worst is yet to come. They're talking a lot about cholera and other diseases like that. The thing they're saying they need most is water - fresh drinking water, equipment that produces it. I don't think they need clothes - they don't look like they're wearing much in those pictures. They also need food, medicine and shelter - tents. It's a lot more efficient to do this by getting money and buying the stuff there. The Red Cross is not the most efficient of the NGOs, and maybe there are others who might be better to give money to - CARE, Catholic Relief Services, etc. but if you give money there's a much better chance that at least some of it will end up somewhere useful and not in a warehouse somewhere.

I just made a donation to CARE to help the victims of this disaster. I think we should stop bickering about which countries are sending aid and which aren't, and do something ourselves instead.

So, everyone here who is fortunate and wealthy enough to afford an RX-8, please consider parting with a tiny portion of your income to help innocent people who have lost literally everything. There are multiple organizations you can donate to, but if you'd like to donate to CARE here's the link: https://donate.care.org/05/170420990000/?source=170570020000

And for Doc and the others who only do things if there's a direct benefit to themselves, it's a nice year-end tax writeoff.

And for Doc and the others who only do things if there's a direct benefit to themselves, it's a nice year-end tax writeoff.

:)

As long as aid is going to the right people. Any means necessary....

And for Doc and the others who only do things if there's a direct benefit to themselves, it's a nice year-end tax writeoff.heh. You're talking down to a doctor about helping others? You do know that republicans donate more than democrats, don't you?

it was mentioned that arabs weren't helping not muslims...muslims are helping plenty already, pakistan has put together a big relief force who are already working on helping people on the groundI was speaking in context of previous posts - "fellow muslims" meaning the Saudis, among others.

Red Crescent represent!

God damn Arab countries :

Qatar is sending $10 million to the victims while the United Arab Emirates has directed the country's Red Crescent Society to send emergency aid to the disaster-hit areas.

Kuwait's Red Crescent Society has launched a fundraising campaign after the government said it was sending $1 million to help the victims.

I just made a donation to CARE to help the victims of this disaster. I think we should stop bickering about which countries are sending aid and which aren't, and do something ourselves instead.

And for Doc and the others who only do things if there's a direct benefit to themselves, it's a nice year-end tax writeoff.And I guess you are donating just so you can brag about it on the forum.....

How about if I just assume my tax dollars are funding a greater proportion of US aid than you? ;)

Al'Jazeera has just released a video of Osama Bin Laden claiming responsibility for the earthquake (http://www.rx8club.com/member.php?userid=9185)

Fox ?

Worse.

I've had a recurring nightmare my whole life where I'm standing on a beach watching the waves, and then suddenly the water recedes far off into the distance, leaving rocks and sand exposed that normally are always submerged. Then, building at the horizon, I see a huge wall of water surging toward the shore; and I know that no matter how fast I run, there will be tons of water crashing into me in just a few more seconds.
Wow.... i have a 90% similar dream....that’s quite weird
Did anyone video tape/picture the actual wall of water coming, I've never been able to fathom something like this. They say if there is a mudslide in the Canary Islands, which has happened before and if it falls into the sea will generate a wave 1500ft high. Which will engulf NYC as well as 3/4 of NJ and will affect every part of the eastern seaboard. But I just can't picture a wave 1500ft high, that’s why im interested in a video of this one, even though it was only 13meters.

As for the terrorist thing i acually thought about that soon as a heard the news, something like Osama might say he exploded a bomb under the sea but its a crock of shit.

even though it was only 13meters.

13 meters = 42.6 ft.....impressive enough

13 meters = 42.6 ft.....impressive enough
dont forget 800 miles long, nowhere to run

I was watching video of ... not sure where it was from, but giant waves were hitting the shore, they had a camera crew recording the people - who were running out into the water then running back as the waves hit. They were grinning and laughing. Another channel showed a woman holding her child, and a guy on a building trying to pull them in. He lost the grip, and the water moved so quickly that they started spinning faster and faster in the water, then they went under and vanished.

Did you guys read about the train that got washed away?

The train had nearly reached its destination Sunday when the tsunami struck -- a wall of water some 30 feet high, enveloping the Queen and lifting its cars off the track into a thick marsh, killing at least 802 people.Entire families vanished.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-quake-train,0,2458716,print.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

Latest news says 60k people dead: http://reuters.myway.com/article/20041228/2004-12-28T190406Z_01_N28714679_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-QUAKE-DC.html

One country near the center of the quake has only reported 90 people dead, but it's expected that they really had tens of thousands. Also there are several remote areas where entire villages are gone, which will increase the toll.

Queen of the Sea was the name of the train, that is kinda ironic.

Here are some first-hand accounts from BBC reporters
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4129521.stm

76000 people dead and counting. - http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20041229/ap_on_re_as/quake_tsunami
That is nearing atomic bomb proportions. Good God!

I really wish that I had more of a connection to these people so that I could feel more about it. All it is to me right now is a figure in my head, not countless thousands of individuals.

I really wish that I had more of a connection to these people so that I could feel more about it. All it is to me right now is a figure in my head, not countless thousands of individuals.

Your definately right. It feels like some sort of thing you watch in the movies. It's like the impossible happened; Just like the WTC, it's there one morning then later on it's gone.

76000 people dead and counting. - http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=1&u=/ap/20041229/ap_on_re_as/quake_tsunami
That is nearing atomic bomb proportions. Good God! 8.6 earthquake has enough energy to equal 60,000 hydrogen bombs.

I really wish that I had more of a connection to these people so that I could feel more about it.Be careful what you wish for.

powerpoint that has before/after sat photos:

http://www.kuntes.net/images/ts2004.pps

videos:

http://video.contemporaryinsanity.org/

I really wish that I had more of a connection to these people so that I could feel more about it. All it is to me right now is a figure in my head, not countless thousands of individuals.

Those photos they show on the internet and on the new channels are very compelling. I don't know if I can take anymore pictures of orphans and parent greiving for their dead children....

Death toll at 100,000

http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/15630695?source=Evening%20Standard&ct=5

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia said it would contribute $10 million in emergency funding.

The following is a selected list of contributions pledged:

AUSTRALIA: $27 million, five air force transport planes with supplies and medical teams as well as team of police.

BRITAIN: 15 million pounds ($29 million).

CAMBODIA: $40,000.

CHINA: 21.6 million yuan ($2.6 million).

CZECH REPUBLIC: A plane sent to Sri Lanka with drinking
water. Officials said aid worth $444,400 would be sent.

EUROPEAN UNION: Ready to release up to 30 million euros ($41 million) on top of 3 million euros already allocated to IFRC.

FINLAND: Pledged 500,000 euros to the IFRC. Local
aid organisations have contributed another 75,000 euros. The Finnish Red Cross has sent a field hospital with 15 staff to Sri Lanka.

FRANCE: 100,000 euros earmarked, 16 rescuers sent to Thailand and 10 tonnes of aid to Sri Lanka.

GERMANY: 2 million euros. Three German planes to be dispatched to Phuket.

INDIA: Has promised over $23 million in monetary aid besides sending warships and aircraft to distribute food, medicines and blankets to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

JAPAN: $40 million pledged and three navy vessels sent to Thailand.

KUWAIT: Supplies worth $2 million pledged and $100,000 sent.

QATAR: $10 million

SAUDI ARABIA: $10 million package pledged, half to be distributed via the Saudi Red Crescent, and half for international aid groups.

SOUTH KOREA: $2 million.

TAIWAN: $5.1 million.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: $2 million.

UNITED STATES: $35 million and 12 vessels to region.

Look at the billions being spent every year for AIDs. Yet Malaria kills more people, and is easily CURED (when was the last time you heard of someone dying in the united states from it?).

Money is being tossed around without any true regard for life. It's all about feeling good about yourself for sending money.


Also, read this interesting short article:

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan wildlife officials are stunned -- the worst tsunami in memory has killed around 22,000 people along the Indian Ocean island's coast, but they can't find any dead animals.

Giant waves washed floodwaters up to 2 miles inland at Yala National Park in the ravaged southeast, Sri Lanka's biggest wildlife reserve and home to hundreds of wild elephants and several leopards.

"The strange thing is we haven't recorded any dead animals," H.D. Ratnayake, deputy director of the national Wildlife Department, told Reuters Wednesday.

"No elephants are dead, not even a dead hare or rabbit," he added. "I think animals can sense disaster. They have a sixth sense. They know when things are happening."

At least 40 tourists, including nine Japanese, were drowned.

It's all about feeling good about yourself for sending money.

Exactly!!
My sister went to a soup kitchen on christmas day this year and served homless people a christmas dinner. She was telling me that I am not a compassionate person and I don't appreciate what I have because I didnt go. I told her she only went to make herself feel good, otherwise she would do it all year round. She didnt argue with that.

Money is being tossed around without any true regard for life. It's all about feeling good about yourself for sending money.

Are you refering to those countries sending money to Asia for the people? Or something else?

Are you refering to those countries sending money to Asia for the people? Or something else?

Don't listen to them. They must have lived life far too long and been screwed over by too many people. They are obviously jaded and bitter at humanity, in general. ;)

Wow, can you believe we actually spent more money on President Bush's first inauguration than we are giving in aid to this horrible tragedy? Just kind of shows you what our priorities are. And apparently 20 million of our aid is in loans. I really hope that this is just a starting amount. Our image in the world needs all the help it can get

Wow, can you believe we actually spent more money on President Bush's first inauguration than we are giving in aid to this horrible tragedy? Just kind of shows you what our priorities are. And apparently 20 million of our aid is in loans. I really hope that this is just a starting amount. Our image in the world needs all the help it can get

Think again, "Powell said U.S. assistance for this week's earthquake and tsunamis alone will eventually exceed $1 billion. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&e=12&u=/ap/stingy_americans

Wow, can you believe we actually spent more money on President Bush's first inauguration than we are giving in aid to this horrible tragedy? Just kind of shows you what our priorities are. And apparently 20 million of our aid is in loans. I really hope that this is just a starting amount. Our image in the world needs all the help it can getSince you're just repeating crap other people are saying, I can repeat the typical reply to that statement.

Eight years ago, Clinton spent more than that on his inauguration (by over a million dollars). Given that Bush has to put more money and time into security, you can see that Bush isn't going overboard. So naturally you are pissed off at Clinton, not Bush, right?

the real tragedy here is that this thread has erupted into a political fracas when everyone should be praying or thinking for those who have lost so much...can we end the money conversation and focus what we as individuals can do to help these people?!

the real tragedy here is that this thread has erupted into a political fracas when everyone should be praying or thinking for those who have lost so much...can we end the money conversation and focus what we as individuals can do to help these people?!

There must be some online orgs that make it possible for us to donate money for those people.

www.mercycorps.org

I gave them my money

The world will see that its the US that responds with money, equipment, military, ships and many aid workers. I'm sorry I am not going to say this anymore, but I don't see any Arab countries yet to help out with this disaster. Enough said. Its going to be the biggest human effort in history so many countries will chip in. In the end the world will see who gave and how much and perhaps judge from that. Then, how soon people forget everything. There is no warning system for the Atlantic so I can imagine some countries will get together and install one. The Pacific already has one.

I don't know if Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are Arab countries, but I think they are and they are donating. As well the United Arab emirates is donating.

The world will see that its the US that responds with money, equipment, military, ships and many aid workers. I'm sorry I am not going to say this anymore, but I don't see any Arab countries yet to help out with this disaster. Enough said. Its going to be the biggest human effort in history so many countries will chip in. In the end the world will see who gave and how much and perhaps judge from that. Then, how soon people forget everything. There is no warning system for the Atlantic so I can imagine some countries will get together and install one. The Pacific already has one.

just what is an arab country if saudi arabia, kuwait, qatar, UAE are not??? be direct in your insinuations.

The fact that you Tayninh pick out the Arab countries out of so many countries in this world and critize them for not donating anything ( which i just showed how 4 Arab countries donated millions and help teams ) seems racist.

I don't know if Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are Arab countries, but I think they are and they are donating. As well the United Arab emirates is donating.

Obviously they are.

lol, I thought so, but then i just wanted to cover my bases. I didnt need to get smoked again :p

Think again, "Powell said U.S. assistance for this week's earthquake and tsunamis alone will eventually exceed $1 billion. "

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&e=12&u=/ap/stingy_americans


I read the article, it says nothing of the sort. Powell said that there will be billions given in aid, and the US will be part of that. Nowhere in the article did Powell or Bush pledge a figure.


J. Hamilton, Bush's first inauguration cost 10 million more then any of Clinton's. And word is that this one will cost even more. My comment wasn't intended to be a Clinton/Bush/Reagan comparison or anything, I was just trying to show how little 15 million gratis and 20 million loan really is by relating it to how expensive our spectacles are.

How about taking this to another thread?

Since we're being called stingy. Anyone know offhand how much other countries gave to us during our hurricane disasters, or any other american issues?

Lets not forget that the americans don't help others - forgetting 40% of worldwide aid is paid by americans.

You probably earn as much PER MONTH as all the people in a village (COMBINED! IN A YEAR!) in Sri Lanka.

So shut up. You have 200 millions people owning half of the world ecomony.

You probably earn as much PER MONTH as all the people in a village (COMBINED! IN A YEAR!) in Sri Lanka.

So shut up. You have 200 millions people owning half of the world ecomony.But it doesn't cost 1/10th what it costs here to just get the basics.

Check your computers, how many items in it are american made? Look at walmart, 80% of the products there are made in China. Look at India, their population is much better educated than us.

America isn't going to be king long.

btw, I lived in that area of the world for many years, don't start to lecture me about life.

I like to think that if something like this happened the rest of the world would come to our aid. As far as foreign aid we have received, i'm not sure. I remember after 911 Saudi Arabia sent 10 million in aid and we refused it. Not sure about anything else.

As far as places to give, so far I have seen
Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp
Americares: https://www.americaresfoundation.net/donate/default.aspx?id=South%20Asia%20Earthquake%20Relief %20Fund
Direct Relief International: https://www.directrelief.org/sections/support_us/d_donate_now.html
Medecins Sans Frontieres Internationa (Doctors without Borders)l: http://www.msf.org/donations/index.cfm
Oxfarm: https://secure.ga3.org/02/asia_earthquake04
Sarvodaya: http://www.sarvodaya.org/
and UNICEF: http://www.unicefusa.org/tsunami


You can goto www.charitynavigator.org if you want to do some research on them.

Well there are always the other parts of the country helping "your mates" in the first world. I am sure there were appeals for the florida hurricane, were they?

Lucky we do not have much bad luck down under (touch wood). I remember of the Canberra bush fire there was a big appeal all around the country - setting up funds to rebuild people's homes.

I don't think a big portion of those funds are going to the Maldives --- then. Coz they are much richer than the neighbouring countries.

You have 200 millions people owning half of the world ecomony.

That's a surprising amount. Please reference. Thanks

I just read that the latest estimate of the dead is over 120,000 (30 Dec). My prayers go out to the citizens of every country affected, and especially to all the victims and their families. Let's all give what we can to ease their suffering.

Well there are always the other parts of the country helping "your mates" in the first world. I am sure there were appeals for the florida hurricane, were they?

Lucky we do not have much bad luck down under (touch wood). I remember of the Canberra bush fire there was a big appeal all around the country - setting up funds to rebuild people's homes.

After the Florida hurricanes, I remember seeing convoys of Canadian electric company vehicles heading south to assist. Thank you Canada! :)

After the Florida hurricanes, I remember seeing convoys of Canadian electric company vehicles heading south to assist. Thank you Canada! :)


plus we threw tens of billions of dollars of relief at florida after the hurricanes, not much more other countries can contribute.

Here's a first hand account from someone in Thailand, he describes things very well, and includes a half dozen photos:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=198944&messageid=1104318227

worth reading.

Jason, I'm very pleased to see your interest in the quake aftermath. I thought that conservative Americans were not very outward-looking types. Thanks for showing concern.

I couldn't agree more. Anything that we can do to help is something positive in the wake of this disaster.

Jason, I'm very pleased to see your interest in the quake aftermath. I thought that conservative Americans were not very outward-looking types. Thanks for showing concern.


hotpot! that baby found the shades i lost in lake michigan!

Jason, I'm very pleased to see your interest in the quake aftermath. I thought that conservative Americans were not very outward-looking types. Thanks for showing concern.It's hard to display one's feeling on their sleeve in an online forum. I tend to pick the topics I reply to because there is something I want to say, not because I want to share my innermost thoughts. I guess there is a thin line between the two.

I lived in Thailand for 2 years, and Singapore for 8 years, plus visits to surrounding areas.

It looks like Singapore was shielded pretty well. Do you know if Singapore has any protection in place in the event of a massive tidal wave? Since it's such a small country, it would seem they could put up those big blocks on the ocean bed around the country that would break up the waves.


btw, conservative tends to go hand in hand with religious, and they donate more money to charitable causes than anyone else in this country.

I'd gladly help in any way I could. My problem is which relief agency to trust? With recent scandals rocking the Red Cross and Salvation Army since 9/11, it's difficult feeling comfortable writing a check to anyone, for fear of the money going to projects or causes other than the one you intended it for.

Any input to help me determine which organization is the best for helping the victims of this disaster would be appreciated. I've pretty much donated to every other disaster relief campaign I can think of.

report this morning now has the total dead at 118,000

Even as nations and relief agencies around the world provide an immense outpouring of aid to the South Asian victims of Sunday's earthquake and tsunami, the governments of Sri Lanka and India are turning down some offers of assistance.

Israel cancelled plans to send a 150-person rescue mission to Sri Lanka after the devastated island objected to the military composition of the team.

The delegation, which included 60 soldiers, was replaced by a smaller group that will escort a convoy carrying emergency supplies, Israeli officials said.


What is wrong with their governments to refuse aid like this? Oh come on!! It’s going to be one of the largest disasters in recent times and they are turning away help? Can't they put politics aside?

Even as nations and relief agencies around the world provide an immense outpouring of aid to the South Asian victims of Sunday's earthquake and tsunami, the governments of Sri Lanka and India are turning down some offers of assistance.

Israel cancelled plans to send a 150-person rescue mission to Sri Lanka after the devastated island objected to the military composition of the team.

The delegation, which included 60 soldiers, was replaced by a smaller group that will escort a convoy carrying emergency supplies, Israeli officials said.


What is wrong with their governments to refuse aid like this? Oh come on!! It’s going to be one of the largest disasters in recent times and they are turning away help? Can't they put politics aside?

Your kinda late on the news racist :

Sri Lanka asked Israel to scale down a proposed 150-strong
medical team, saying it had enough doctors and rescue personnel, but welcoming urgent Israeli supplies.

Donate here :

Islamic Relief : http://www.irw.org/

International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies : http://www.ifrc.org/

Indian Muslim Relief Committee : http://www.imrc.ws/index.html

Right now the body counts are only for bodies FOUND. There are still many villages that they haven't gotten to yet that were completely wiped out.

Currently it is estimated that the dead just from the initial tsunami will be around 400,000 when all is said and done, but that doesn't count those who will be dead later from diease or other issues.

not sure if i can post this here, but this is an actual photo to give you an idea of the damage and the bodies that are just sitting around (not too graphic, but does show hundreds of dead lying with wreckage), and how horrible the cleanup is.

http://www.tubel.ro/tsunami.jpg

What is wrong with their governments to refuse aid like this? Oh come on!! It’s going to be one of the largest disasters in recent times and they are turning away help? Can't they put politics aside?

Sri Lanka has a lot of doctors and nurses. So many that they export them to the US. Same with India. I think it's kinda arrogant of Isreal to just send people without doing the assessment and figuring out what the need is. I'm sure their intentions were good. If this were an earthquake in a big city, a search and rescue operation with lots of equipment might be good, but they just need people to sift through the debris and carry bodies.

This really speaks to the need for some overall co-ordinating body. If Kofi Annan can come through and add value to the whole process, he may redeem the UN in some people's eyes. There is a role for the UN in this. Will they fill it?

i think now is the time for the world to unite and help each other out in this time of tradegy.. sheesh :rolleyes:

Floods kills thousands at a time. I honestly didn't think much of this tsunami when it first hit. It's not unheard of to have several thousand wiped out in India from a flood. But this started to get more and more serious as the true damage was assessed.

Now they think over 400,000 people in just one part of Indonesia alone.

The death toll in Acheh, the region worst hit by last Sunday's tsunami, may exceed 400,000 as many affected areas could still not be reached for search and rescue operations, Indonesia's Ambassador to Malaysia Drs H. Rusdihardjo said Thursday.

He said the estimate was based on air surveillance by Indonesian authorities who found no signs of life in places like Meulaboh, Pulau Simeulue and Tapak Tuan while several islands off the west coast of Sumatera had "disappeared".

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=111574
And the red cross thinks a million dead:
Red Cross is estimating the toll could shoot up to 1,00,000 dead (from the present 80,000) in Asia once more information comes in from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/975541.cms

http://www.latimes.com/media/thumbnails/photo/2004-12/15658680.jpg

nicobar and indonesia are getting 5+, even a 6.9 earthquakes earlier today. The whole area is still seeing issues from that 9.0 quake.

meanwhile in india, a volcano is erupting.

The url below will let you sign up to a mailing list so you will be notified about any earthquake 5.0 and larger. 120 earthquakes per week just a few days ago - its exploding with tremors and moderate quakes, circling around the pacific - up japan, across to alaska.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/recenteqsww/
http://sify.com/news/othernews/fullstory.php?id=13639719

This whole situation is almost like a poorly written action movie where the writers overcompensate for a poor plot by throwing every action sequence they can think of into the mix.

now that the situation is becoming clear, and a fair assessment can be made, the united states is going to give 350 million towards aid.

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20041231/2004-12-31T181456Z_01_N31655688_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-QUAKE-USA-AID-DC.html

I can't find any fault in giving 35 million when we thought there was 10,000 dead, and revising it to 350 million when it's apparent it's 100,000+.

500 million Euro are going by germany tomorow

$350 million dollars in aid is crap, i would expect more from the U.S.

$350 million dollars in aid is crap, i would expect more from the U.S.Don, tell us how much Palestine gave. Oh, right, you're still in the fog of denial thinking terrorists wear masks because it makes them look cool.

yeah jason!

i think half a billion euro is pretty much...
big great holy US cant give more than than pore little "axe of evil" germany ?

FYI all, the Red Cross (and others I suspect) have made it easy to contribute to the victims on-line; all it takes is a credit card and a couple minutes. :)

I heard Doctors Without Borders is no longer accepting donations. They now have more than they can handle. or more than they need.

I was buying some books at Amazon, and they have a link where you can give to the Red Cross on your credit card.

Total Collected: US $14,233,763.00
# of Payments: 175192

Jason, it doesn't matter what our motivations were for increasing the number it is the perception the rest of the world takes that matters. Had we come out, had a press conference and said that we were committed to doing whatever it takes to keep more people from dying, then later come out with 350 million we would appear more genuine.


As it is, it appears that we gave a pittance, then were guilted into giving more.


Also, considering that there is currently 80% unemployment in the Gaza strip, I think it's kind of unfair for you to expect them to donate. Sort of like asking those on welfare to give money to the homeless.


Now while I think we could have handled the PR a little better, I am very proud of how we've all come together and raised money, rising above our usual ethnocentrism.

i think half a billion euro is pretty much...
big great holy US cant give more than than pore little "axe of evil" germany ?What makes you say that? Japan was also our enemy in WW2. It sounds like you're grasping at straws.

Jason, it doesn't matter what our motivations were for increasing the number it is the perception the rest of the world takes that matters. Had we come out, had a press conference and said that we were committed to doing whatever it takes to keep more people from dying, then later come out with 350 million we would appear more genuine.Anyone who was paying attention would already know we said we were giving 35 million as a starting point, and would likely give far more once we were able to assess the situation properly.

I guess I have to repeat what I said in a previous post - initial reports said under 10,000 people died. As the days went on, the reports kept coming in with more and more dead. You only have to look at the first few pages of this thread in order to see that.

Funny how the people I disagree with always have a short memory span.

We raised the amount from 15 to 35 million (20 in loans remember) on december 28th, at which time there were 60,000 confirmed. Then the next day we took personal offense to the stingy comment, which really wasn't even directed at us, and said that more would be on the way, at that point there were 80,000 confirmed.

This is becoming so much political BS. No one knows what it will take to take care of this mess. Throwing out dollar amounts before you know what is needed is like saying my dick is biger than yours. It is a real tragedy but why arent the celeb's donating millions to the african kids with aids and other problems. Don't use a measured well thought out response by the US to make us seem not compassionate, just samrt in seeing what is needed first.

An Indian helicopter dropping food and water over the remote Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been attacked by tribesmen using bows and arrows.

There were fears that the endangered tribal groups had been wiped out when massive waves struck their islands.

But the authorities say the attack is a sign that they have survived.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4144405.stm

Now while I think we could have handled the PR a little better, I am very proud of how we've all come together and raised money, rising above our usual ethnocentrism.

How I think it should have been handled: No press conferences. Just start writing checks.

On the news report (PBS) tonight, an Australian corresondent on Sumatra said our boys (er sorry, people) on the Abe Lincoln are doing a great job. They're stationed off the west coast, and a lot of those villages are cut off by road, so helicopter is the only way to get there. He said it's amazing how the waves of helicopters just keep coming with tons and tons of food, and bringing back injured. Now there's a military I'm proud my taxes support.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4144405.stm
"Officials believe they survived the devastation by using age-old early warning systems."
Drums? Yelling real loud?
Some other news (ABC?) had a report about how a lot of animals sensed it and survived.

Well this should boost our low reputation in that part of the country. Then I see that once they rebuild and all is better than before the killer wave hit, they will forget the US help and again bash us like they did before.

I run a very busy image site and the people from every country (even the united states) bash the hell out of the united states at every opportunity. Even on images that are unrelated to anything, such as a picture of a chair, they turn into political commentary about how fat and dumb americans are, how we want to rule the world and how their countries are keeping us in check.

I have no doubt at all that our aid to the Tsunami victims will NOT help our image even slightly.

Here's an example image:

Well this should boost our low reputation in that part of the country. Then I see that once they rebuild and all is better than before the killer wave hit, they will forget the US help and again bash us like they did before.
So true. America, the feeding hand that gets bitten constantly.

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but I have a question. Weren't the countries affected 3rd world countries. I haven't really looked at the economies of these places, but how much can it really cost to rebuild these places?

I run a very busy image site and the people from every country (even the united states) bash the hell out of the united states at every opportunity. Even on images that are unrelated to anything, such as a picture of a chair, they turn into political commentary about how fat and dumb americans are, how we want to rule the world and how their countries are keeping us in check.

I have no doubt at all that our aid to the Tsunami victims will NOT help our image even slightly.

Here's an example image:

We just can't win. That's the price for being on top.

They also forget how we aid troubled countries not just financially but with manpower and resources. Well, now we answered both ways.

On top of their nightmare is the fact that right now many US Marines are ready to come on shore to help and they have refused their help because of Politics!! Muslims are having a hard time accepting help from the US and so they are just sitting out there ready to help those people and many are hurting and their own Govt is refusing to allow the US to help with Mil forces.

On top of their nightmare is the fact that right now many US Marines are ready to come on shore to help and they have refused their help because of Politics!! Muslims are having a hard time accepting help from the US and so they are just sitting out there ready to help those people and many are hurting and their own Govt is refusing to allow the US to help with Mil forces.

last time i checked there are more than just muslims in south east asia, especially in india, sri lanka, and thailand...where most of the help is currently going.

Ah I am pretty sure the complaints started from some militant group out in the jungles that had been causing trouble and they have some sort of peace accord and so they were worried that US troops would be on their soil. The Govt is walking a tight rope with relief efforts and that's sad.

Ah I am pretty sure the complaints started from some militant group out in the jungles that had been causing trouble and they have some sort of peace accord and so they were worried that US troops would be on their soil. The Govt is walking a tight rope with relief efforts and that's sad.

you'd think that a time like this would be an open armed invitation

Now I am seeing on the news the money abuse is already starting. Everyone knows there will be people within their Governements who will line their pockets from this disaster. Who is going to track the funds and how its used? Everytime a lot of money is involved (it happened with 9/11) someone puts their hand in the cookie jar for their personal share. What a shame.

I don't know... 9/11 had so many people donating money, the victim's families basically won the lotto.

As someone pointed out, the Saudi's have since given money to the tsunami cause, but if you compare it with the 150+ million the Saudi's gave to the suicide bomber families in 2004, it doesn't look very encouraging.

If George Clooney and other stars go on TV and ask you to give, then they had better be involved all the way down the line. Now I don't expect the celebrities to audit the books, but if problems are brought to their attention, they must help solve those problems.

Sending billions of dollars into chaotic areas is fraught with danger, even if is the right thing to do. Americans must demand reasonable accountability. We expect some of the money to be stolen or wasted. But we also expect American authorities to hold people accountable and to let us know if bad things are happening.

The American people are the most generous in the world. But whose job is it to make sure you are not taken advantage of.? We want the telethon to be a big success and we applaud the time and generosity of George Clooney and the other stars. But with power comes responsibility. And we expect all the telethon people to understand that.

A Houston-based evangelist is on a mission to rescue thousands of children orphaned by the tsunami disaster in Asia. This Monday, K.A. Paul, founder and president of Global Peace Initiative (GPI), departed from Cincinnati on his ministry's Boeing 747 with 76,000 pounds of antibiotics, food and water for tsunami victims in India and Sri Lanka. The flight complements an international relief response to the Dec. 26 tsunamis, including assistance from private organizations and U.S. military forces. The toll of confirmed deaths has reached more than 145,000 people, with at least 5 million left homeless, the Associated Press reported. "Our immediate goal is to rescue up to 2,000 children orphaned by the tsunami," Paul said. "Many of them are currently being moved into GPI emergency shelters scattered up and down the coasts of Sri Lanka and India.. ... With God as our help, we will see to it that every single orphan in all 11 countries struck by the catastrophe is adopted." Paul's Charity City, a children orphanage near Hyderabad, India, is considered the world's largest children's home. Funded largely by Cincinnati Reds owner Carl Lindner, GPI (www.globalpeacenow.com) established the home in 2000 and it currently houses approximately 1,000 orphans.

I can see how the guy wants to help, but I think it's premature to put the kids up for adoption. Imagine if your family was ripped apart, you can't find your kid, and suddenly he/she was put up for adoption in another country?

Agreed. Sadly pedofiles and pimps are out looking for young children all by themselves so they can capture them and put them into those trades. I can't amagine a young child who just lost both parents and along comes this person to take them away into a worst hell. That's like getting a double dose of emotional pain beyond anyone's understanding. That is really sad and horriable. Why is it that the young have to suffer like this in the hands of pimps?

Don, tell us how much Palestine gave. Oh, right, you're still in the fog of denial thinking terrorists wear masks because it makes them look cool.

Its hilarious how you bring Palestine up. What you said does not even make sense.
Lets take a look :

First you talked about the Palestinians not giving any money ( i find that so sad that you even brought that up knowing that they live in complete shit ), then you go to saying that im in the fog of denial thinking terrorists weak masks because it makes them look cool.

C'mon bro, don't even mention Palestine, your too ignorant to use the word.

First you talked about the Palestinians not giving any money ( i find that so sad that you even brought that up knowing that they live in complete shit )Why do you think that is?

Does Israel have oil and tons of natural resources?

then you go to saying that im in the fog of denial thinking terrorists weak masks because it makes them look cool.You may have changed screen names, but you are still the same person who made that statement. I just can't make this stuff up.

How do you do that 'quote' reply stuff? I usually copy the whole post and comment on that. I keep seeing others take individual post sentences and answer each statement. I would like to know how you do that isall. Sorry to confuse the discussions.

hit 'quote' then take the sentance apart. Add a [ quote ] to the start of a quote, and [ /quote ] at the end.

Why do you think that is?

Doesn't matter why, thats irrelevant, the fact is that they are poor.

Does Israel have oil and tons of natural resources?

I really don't care.

You may have changed screen names, but you are still the same person who made that statement. I just can't make this stuff up.

If i did say it, then im wrong, i could not say such a thing, i never asked the militants why they wear masks, i think its cool, i wear it too when im with friends.

i never asked the militants why they wear masks, i think its cool, i wear it too when im with friends.HEH.

Nuff said.

I hope thats the last of it, your getting boring.

Jason, I think it's pretty clear why Palestine is in such desolation, their economy was literally bulldozed and is now controlled by Israel. Now, sure, before the occupation they weren't a dominate economy, but they were very far from the current 80% unemployment rate. That's disgusting, and it has to stop. It is one of the biggest road block to peace in the region. Sorry to turn this into a palestine/israel thread.

Don't worry Zhizoe, you didn't turn it into a Palestine/Israel thread. Someone else already did.