tsunami money

[drussila]

What i would like to know about the tsunami disaster and all the money that is being donated, is who thinks that the western world would have been so genorous if it wan'st for the fact that alot of the victims were white Europeans,call me a cynic if you want!

[Clanad]

I certainly can't speak for European donors, however, for the US, precisely the opposite is true.  It's because of all the people unable to provide for themselves (who, for the most part, were poor to begin with) in this disaster that the effort is being made. I don't know of anyone that's even given a thought to non-natives that may have suffered.  In fact, the pictures of some of the callous vacationers who simply weren't going to let a little thing like this spoil their holiday and went back to sunbathing, etc., that brought the most ire... most of these appeared to be "white Europeans"...

[Zen]

Wow,thought I was a cynic,but you outdo me.

[Peter Pedant]

You could be right Drusilla

The problem is that one cant repeat the experiment, in mexico or new england. I think that the generous impulse was so large because so many people have positive associations with Thailand

[OBonio]

I think you'll find that the large proportion of victims were not white europeans but were, in fact, inhabitants of the countries effected.  A cynic and an exaggerator.

[libertie]

Don't think that people were so generous because of the fact that many "White Europeans" were involved - they were after all in the minority. I think a lot of people - myself included - felt compelled to help partly because it was Christmas and we felt a little guilty at having so much, when so many others were having their lives changed forever!

[littleoldme]

As OBonio rightly says, the vast majority of the victims were in fact Indonesian, Indian, Sri Lankan or Thai, not white Europeans at all. National papers concentrate on stories of citizens of their own countries, which blows things out of proportion.

While I can be quite a cynic at times, I think the level of donations from the western world (I'm talking about ordinary people, not large companies or governments) is a touching display of genuine human compassion for those in a time of crisis. When I heard that we had raised �60million in one week, I felt tremendously proud of the British people.

BTW, excuse a little personal indulgence, but I have finally found out today that my Sri Lankan friend and her family are all safe and well. Sincere condolences to all those who have not had such good news.

[Corkyb]

Cynical is not the word!! 

While I realise that there were a large number of holidaymakers killed and many more are still missing (presumed dead) the vast majority of those killed and made homeless were the people of the 11 countries that were devastated by the tsunami.

This link has the number of 'foreign' visitors that have died or are missing

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/world/050105/w0105102.html

 

Just scroll down the page; the casualty figures are listed by country. It is thought that the USA could have as many as 5000 people still missing .

 

This site lists figures for the confirmed dead in all 11 countries   Click-here 

And don't forget the millions that have no homes, no way to earn a living, no food, no water.

If those of us that are safe with our families and loved ones can't show compassion and generosity, can we really call ourselves a civilised society?

[buchanan]

Suspend cynicsm drussila, at least just for the time being: we are responding to a gobal catastrophe which is not about ethnic origin - its about trying dealing with the practical implications of tens and tens of thousands of people who died just like like that - in an instant. Plenty of time for smart arsed-ness when bodies have been buried and survivours fed.  Have you donated anything worth having or is it all too political?

[drussila]

 I would like to state that i was asking a question not stating an opinion when i said would so much money have been donated if alot of the victims had not been european! And yes I and members of my family have donated to the appeal.

[OLIVEBUS]

I think if the poverty in Africa had occured in a 5 minute period with camcorders to follow the event the same amount of money would have been raised.Sadly that is an ongoing nigthmare which we put to the back of our minds. Call me a dreamer but i do not think the colour of skin made any difference although the familiar sites of sun loungers etc probably did