Tsunamis Kills Thousands -- Discussion and Relief Efforts

[Aelia Jusa]

Originally posted by Sir Goulum: quote: Originally posted by T-D-C: It would be great if all the big hollywood stars put up some money. With the amount of money they get paid it should be a no brainer for them to assist. Same with all the big sporting stars all over the world. With the size of some of their contracts it should be easy for them to help out.

Same with Donald Trump and Bill Gates. I'm sure they could survive to part with a billion or so each for a good cause. [/QUOTE]The vast majority of celebrities, and Bill, at least, dunno about Donald, are very active in donating their own money, or fund-raising, for charities all the time. I have no doubt that a lot of money and/or time will be or has already been spent by Hollywood stars for this cause.

John Howard has announced a one billion dollar aid package to help Indonesia rebuild Aceh. Yay us

[T-D-C]

Yeah I heard that this morning as well.

Go Australia with a 1 Billion dollar aid package.

[Ladyzekke]

Originally posted by Absynthe: quote: Originally posted by ladyzekke: I saw footage earlier of some people saving a dolphin. It was in a large pool of seawater and could not get back to the ocean. They took a tarp and wrapped it around the dolphin and about 8 of them lifted it up and ran toward the ocean to set it free. It was a very heartwarming sight to see. These people lost everything, you'd think they'd say "oh forget about the stupid fish" but instead they cared despite their own losses, and saved it.

I saw mention of that story online somewhere earlier, and I think there was a smaller dolphin involved also, possibly a mother and calf? I jst glanced at it quickly so I'm not sure... Apparently they were discovered by people searching for bodies. I'm glad they got them out. I imagine that for many of the people on the scene, any kind of positive occurence is welcome. I can't imagine the effect of recovering corpses day after day.
I've tried to picture walking through my hometown and picking up the corpses of the people I've grown up with... what a nightmare for those poor folks.

EDIT: Here's a link to an article about this...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6780685/ [/QUOTE]Thanks for the link Absynthe. [img]smile.gif[/img] Nice to read they also treated a few of the dolphin's wounds, and it was swimming about happily once back in the ocean and seemed to be doing OK. Sad about the calf, poor thing. Cute dolphins too, didn't know they were rare.

I, like you, have tried to picture myself in that situation, how I would feel, how I would cope. I honestly think I'd just break down, do not know if I could handle it if I lost my entire family, no home or anything left, starving amongst the dead. I'd like to think I could eventually rise above, as many have, and carry on, but I don't know. It's just terrible even thinking about it, nevertheless actually living it, and these people actually are living it. Bah, sometimes I gotta take a break from watching CNN, it really can get to you if you watch too much of it.

[Cloudbringer]

Very much YAY you, Aussies! I heard that the Australian military who were in Aceh had actually restored clean water a few days ago!

[T-D-C]

Yeah they have 3 or 4 water purifiers (sp?) that they are using to provide clean water from all the dirty water.

[General Nosaj]

Does anybody know how much money is required by the effected countries for aid? Are we still miles off the amount they need or what?

[johnny]

Well, for starters...Thailand announced that the last thing they need right now is money. Thailand isn't exactly a third world country, as some people may believe, but they are one of the richest countries in Asia, and quite capable of taking care of themselves. They DO need professional aid however, medical teams, coastal protection specialists, stuff like that. Money is not the answer to all problems in some cases.

In Indonesia's case, they need supervision, people who see to it that the money goes to the right places and the right people. Indonesia is a thoroughly corrupted nation, and if nobody sees to it, none of the donations will reach it's intended destination.

Blindly dropping money on the affected countries isn't working, didn't we learn anything from the past ?

[wellard]

Bowling for Colombo .... Raises over 14 million dollars (10 million US) to help the victims.

I was stunned by the amount raised


Coupled with the Billion dollars (750 million USA) the Aussie government has pledged on top of the practical aid in military and health workers and equipment that are already there, we are certainly doing our bit. After all we are only a nation of 20 million people

[ 01-10-2005, 11:35 PM: Message edited by: wellard ]

[T-D-C]

Couldn't reach the link you posted Wellard.

Add to that the 15 million (AUD)that was raised in the telethon & concert on Saturday night and the 14+ Million (AUD) raised from the cricket match yesterday the aussie spirit is certainly digging deep.

[General Nosaj]

I agree with Johnny. Although it is great that so many people have donated in order to collect this substancial amount of cash I feel that the real issues can be forgotten. Hopefully this time the money can be put to good use in order to rebuild what has been destroyed. Be it lives or infrostructure.