Katrina- what does 95% of the planet think?

aflatoxin · Heavy Crude Joined: Jul 31, 2005 Posts: 246

Hopefully, not too OT:

What are the sentiments of the rest of the planet?

After 911, some mourned with us, others jumped for joy and handed candy to their children.

Are we crybabies with a splinter? A real disaster? Have we spent our goodwill? Does the rest of the world care about the US? (apart from the "consumer")

Just curious.

<shields full power>

idiom

Why does the director of FEMA hate the idea of tent cities so much?

Why can't a country with a $400 billion per year army not plug a dyke?

Why does Fox news think the world should divert aid money from Dafur to Louisiana?

Stuff like that.

savethehumans · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Oct 20, 2004 Posts: 1541

From an AP story on Wednesday:

1. Venezuela offered humanitarian aid and fuel. Citgo pledged a $1 million donation for hurricane aid.

2. Saudi Arabia says it's immediately able to replace any crude oil production lost. (Remember, though, it's sour oil.)

3. In Switzerland, individuals and institutions are calling the U.S. Embassy there looking for a way to donate to relief efforts.

4. Austria reacted to Internet reports about Katrina. They want to donate, too, but an argument goes on about whether a rich nation like the U.S. needs aid from outside. One poster replied (quite accurately!) that the U.S. poor who were victimized still needed support.

5. Canada's Red Cross is rounding up volunteers experienced in large-scale disasters.

6. The Netherlands, who know something about levees and flood protection wondered at why New Orleans system wasn't good enough to hold the waters back. They accurately also pointed out that plans for evacuation and protection were clearly not in place, and coordination is loosely set up even now.

Of course, the normal sympathies were extended by world leaders, the Pope is praying, the world's peoples are stunned. Of course, many are also pointing out that America's reaping what it's sown (which is a good point, but the survivors of Katrina can't live on philosophical arguments). Also, the global warming did/didn't contribute to all this debate rages on, as well (but the survivors of Katrina can't live on SCIENTIFIC arguments, either).

Especially poignant was a Romanian official's sympathies. Romania, as you know, has itself been under water from flooding. (It don't take no hurricane to cause floods, folks.)

Hope that helps answer your question, aflatoxin!

MacG · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 1169

Well, the actions and utterings from that president of yours has caused kind of a mental block in me. Sorry, but I cant say it better. The barrage of lies kind of shut down my emotions in a way I cant prevent right now. I know, the people struck by this disaster had nothing to do with all the lies and violence from your government, but I'm emotionally shut down. Sorry.

Jake

I feel for those people and think i would have misunderstood the threat and stayed with my home, so would probably be dead.

There is supprisingly less coverage on msm about the issue, which will affect us all more than 911 I feel. I suppose this is of course because its an in depth issue regarding climate change, city design etc.. Who do we blame? We could have a War on Natural Disasters I suppose but that would require lifestyle changes and not bombs.

Perhaps the empathy with those in NO is merely a projection of our own fear of this happening to ourselves.

Looters of anything other than food & water should be shot.

As a snapshot of the future it is a terrifying insight.

MrPC

Send David Hicks home, then impeach Bush over the Gitmo issue, and I might consider donating.

Til then, it's a shame, but I don't really feel like doing anything about it. New Orleans was perhaps one of the only liveable cities in the US south and it's worth rebuilding (either in its present location or elsewhere). However, sending aid and comfort to a beligerent nation that kidnaps Australian citizens and holes them up for years without trial, is simply unfathomable.

(If he was guilty, he would have been tried years ago in a real court with real presumption of innocence and overwhelming evidence).

If the US wants to go it alone in the court of public opinion, and defy the world, well, don't expect sympathy, respect or help when you or your voters might need it.

aflatoxin · Heavy Crude Joined: Jul 31, 2005 Posts: 246

aflatoxin · Heavy Crude Joined: Jul 31, 2005 Posts: 246

Please take my comments with a grain of salt.

I'm asking for it, but I really mean well.

MicroHydro · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Apr 10, 2005 Posts: 1286

Most people in NZ despise Bush and are becoming increasingly negative on Americans in general. However, nobody considers the flood victims on TV to be connected to the powers that rule the US. They are obviously people who have been abandoned and betrayed by their own country.
_________________
"The world is changed... I feel it in the water... I feel it in the earth... I smell it in the air... Much that once was, is lost..." - Galadriel

Barbara

- Why in Dresda 2003 and Praha floods there were no lootings but people helping each other?
- Why italian "Civil protection" can build a tent camp for 20.000 people in 24 hours offering shelter, warm food and free healthcare?
- Why people are trasported around in stadiums like Chile 1973?
- Why people was left alone with just some advanced warnings?
- Thank God we're not americans.

Things like these.
_________________
**no english mothertongue**
--------
Objects in the rear view mirror
are closer than they appear.

MrPC

Z

From what I see over here, people understand the gravity of the situation and its aftermath. I do no see people rejoicing over the catastrophe. We had two one-hour debate around the subject on national TV since two days ( plus news and other stuff I didn't watch ), so people are really taking notice.

Sending any kind of help is pointless, IMHO, as the USA is a big, rich and powerful nation. I doubt it would be accepted anyway. Nations have their pride. ( now, if Bush went to the UN and begged for help on his knees, that would be different, of course ).

From a personnal pov, I feel sympathy for those who suffer. I hope it will convince some people in the US that if we really are messing with the climate, it may have dreadful consequences and we'd better be safe than sorry on this subject.
_________________
Freedom is up to the length of the chain.

gego · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Mar 03, 2005 Posts: 1334

cheaplaughs · Tar Sands Joined: Aug 09, 2005 Posts: 50

Did anyone of you wonder how the victim's of the last
catastrophe on this planet voted I think not.I will make
this planet better as long as they think like me is bullshit.
People are dying not voting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.Let's blame america
for everything is crap.

Doly · Expert Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 4031

What I don't understand is the following: the storm began on the 23rd in the sea. It hit New Orleans on the 29th. By then they had time to figure out it was a big one, and evacuate, or at the very least let people know there were good chances it would get nasty.

Also, the time it took to get help together shows that there wasn't any plan in place in case things got as nasty as they did. And they could have been worse, because New Orleans didn't actually get a direct hit from Katrina. I'm amazed at the lack of preparation.

Also, I get the feeling that there's going to be very little international help because most people think the Americans can help themselves. And it doesn't look like that's true.