As an Australian, I'm ashamed.

[Matthew]

I know theres a thread about the flooding of New Orleans.

I'm embarrassed and ashamed to be Australian. When the tsunami happened, we all felt like we should help Indosesia. But when this disaster struck New Orleans, nobody cares. Why? Becuase it's America? So we should help a country who really doesnt help us in Indosesia, but just turn the other way when its a close ally in America?

Thats pathetic. For the first time, I openly admit I donated money to charity. And for the first time, I'm ashamed to call myself Australian. Those people who think we shouldn't help becuase America is rich and a super power? That means we shouldn't expect help if we get invaded or attacked or face a tragedy.

America, imo, should never again offer any help to any country. Fuck them all, and that includes here. Actions speak louder than words.

[Stevesanity]

You do know that only some countries are gifted with wealth, Im sure the people of Somalia would love to give their money too if they had any.

[Jackal]

He didn't mention Somalia. He mentioned Australia. In other words he's disgusted richer countries didn't offer more help.

Somalia...

[Riot]

I'm pretty pissed off at it too, Matt. Not only are the other countries not doing anything but where the hell is the United Nations? America is wealthy but we have our damn money problems (billions being spent on the war daily).

Once again, in a face of a tragedy America seems alone. It's sad really that people take America for granted but we need help just like everyone else needs help.

With that said, America is too damn proud to accept help from other countries.

[J@3]

We did give them $10 million... it's not quite the 1 billion Indonesia got, but then again this hurricane/flood hasn't destroyed an entire country, just a city.

[Riot]

It destroyed more than just a city, it destroyed a whole state. It's just New Orleans is the only place getting the attention.

But you are right, the tsnaumi was worse than this.

Jae, I can't remember and I'm too lazy to look it up. How much money did Australia give America after 9/11?

[J@3]

I really don't know (btw ignore my ignorance on the state/city thing, I don't think $10 mil is enough personally) ... I might look it up.

Edit: I can't find anything about it but I'm positive we would've donated something. Our Prime Minister's virtually in love with the USA so he is willing to give whenever it's needed.

[Riot]

I'm really surprised Canada isn't doing much of anything to help America. Obviously, I haven't heard a word about the donations from other countries so I can't comment on who donated and who didn't but from what I know Canada hasn't done anything. Of course, on the news all they are showing is the relief efforts and the horror and not who is donating to America.

With that said, a lot of sports franchises and athetles are pledging money to the Red Cross.

[J@3]

I think everyone is deserving of help... whether it's the poorest country or the richest. I think the whole Tsunami thing got way out of control over here, to the point where the UN said too much was being given too soon but I would be really shocked if there wasn't some form of huge fundraiser in Australia sometime soon to get some money for this particular incident.

[Riot]

Jae, can you link me to an article that says the Tsnaumi Relief was getting too much money? I can't find one on google and I know you are right I just need to find an article to show someone.

[Matt]

I'm surprised too that theres not enough done about this.

I just got my TIME South Pacific in the mail today and NOT A WORD ON THE FLOODS. I mean shit, they covered every tragedy but this seems to be given a miss.

[J@3]

I can only find the British ones, I've tried looking for the quote from the UN guy but I can't seem to find it

Here's some that say things along those lines though...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4265261.stm

Some UK charities have admitted they are struggling to spend the large sums of money donated to the tsunami appeal.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0, ... 64,00.html

But the British Red Cross has told The Times that it may have difficulty responsibly spending the £60 million raised so far and is considering whether it can divert some money to other causes.

Also this thread might help...

http://www.nbaliveforums.com/sutra234462.php&highlight=

[Riot]

Thanks for the links Jae.

[cklitsie]

I'd be ashamed if I were Australian too.

[Riot]

Congress will be passing a bill today to send $10 billion to the relief efforts in NO. The bill should be on Bush's desk today or tomorrow.

Americans are BASHING our government for not helping New Orleans. We have the coast guard and Navy there since day 1 helping the rescue efforts. The local government is to blame, they simply weren't prepared for this when they knew this day would eventually come.

But this isn't a politcal debate. We have to save those lives that are stranded.

[Riot]

Sorry for the double post but I found this article. Apparently, a lot of countries are calling Washington trying to donate money and what not. Here is a list of the countries.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L02304097.htm

[End Boss]

I know theres a thread about the flooding of New Orleans.

I'm embarrassed and ashamed to be Australian. When the tsunami happened, we all felt like we should help Indosesia. But when this disaster struck New Orleans, nobody cares. Why? Becuase it's America? So we should help a country who really doesnt help us in Indosesia, but just turn the other way when its a close ally in America?

Thats pathetic. For the first time, I openly admit I donated money to charity. And for the first time, I'm ashamed to call myself Australian. Those people who think we shouldn't help becuase America is rich and a super power? That means we shouldn't expect help if we get invaded or attacked or face a tragedy.

America, imo, should never again offer any help to any country. Fuck them all, and that includes here. Actions speak louder than words.

what a total crock of shit.. what you're asking for is equal consideration for two unequal events. Yes a big deal was made of the Tsunami in the Australian media, more than 200,000 people died. More Australian citizens died in the Tsunami than have currently died as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Should relief efforts and public concern be proportional to the impact of the disaster, the loss of life, and the affected country's ability to financially handle the disaster? I think they should.

It's terrible that any one of these events has happened, but them happening in seemingly rapid succession unfortunately does give way for direct comparisons to be made. I think you're misinterpreting broadcast media equating for the scale of disasters (just like 911 overshadowed the bali bombings in terms of media coverage in australia) for Anti-Americanism, which is largely a non issue.

[cyanide]

Jae, can you link me to an article that says the Tsnaumi Relief was getting too much money? I can't find one on google and I know you are right I just need to find an article to show someone.

I can't find you the link, but I can tell you that I read this in my local newspaper, and in my university newspaper.

With that said, America is too damn proud to accept help from other countries.

I might have to agree with you there

Personally, I find that America is able to sustain itself in an event of a natural disaster, and if they're getting support from a bunch of nations (via Riot's link), as Britney Spears would say, "this shit adds up!" So yeah, America's getting help, not as much as the tsunami disaster, which I also thought was way overboard, but the thing is, Singapore's not going to be able to sustain itself since it is a third world nation. It's the ugly truth, but really, if you compare a third world nation and a superpower facing a natural disater, the third world nation won't be able to sustain itself as well as a superpower. Both countries got the help they needed, so there's no need to be ashamed.

[Matthew]

I know theres a thread about the flooding of New Orleans.

I'm embarrassed and ashamed to be Australian. When the tsunami happened, we all felt like we should help Indosesia. But when this disaster struck New Orleans, nobody cares. Why? Becuase it's America? So we should help a country who really doesnt help us in Indosesia, but just turn the other way when its a close ally in America?

Thats pathetic. For the first time, I openly admit I donated money to charity. And for the first time, I'm ashamed to call myself Australian. Those people who think we shouldn't help becuase America is rich and a super power? That means we shouldn't expect help if we get invaded or attacked or face a tragedy.

America, imo, should never again offer any help to any country. Fuck them all, and that includes here. Actions speak louder than words.

what a total crock of shit.. what you're asking for is equal consideration for two unequal events. Yes a big deal was made of the Tsunami in the Australian media, more than 200,000 people died. More Australian citizens died in the Tsunami than have currently died as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Should relief efforts and public concern be proportional to the impact of the disaster, the loss of life, and the affected country's ability to financially handle the disaster? I think they should.

It's terrible that any one of these events has happened, but them happening in seemingly rapid succession unfortunately does give way for direct comparisons to be made. I think you're misinterpreting broadcast media equating for the scale of disasters (just like 911 overshadowed the bali bombings in terms of media coverage in australia) for Anti-Americanism, which is largely a non issue.

I could go through nearly every sentence of your post and point out flaws. Actually, I think I will:

what a total crock of shit.. what you're asking for is equal consideration for two unequal events.

They are very much equal. You don't know how big of a problem this disaster was (is) and even so, people are in a desperate situation. Even if thats the only comparison, it's enough to warrant a similar reaction.

Yes a big deal was made of the Tsunami in the Australian media, more than 200,000 people died. More Australian citizens died in the Tsunami than have currently died as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Currently. People are dying and will continue to die if they don't recieve help. And how do you know how many Aussies have died? Just becuase they havent been discovered doesn't mean they aren't dead. Ignorance is a bliss isnt it?

Should relief efforts and public concern be proportional to the impact of the disaster, the loss of life, and the affected country's ability to financially handle the disaster? I think they should.

That's like saying, when a member of a middle class family dies, we shouldnt send them flowers, becuase they can financially handle it. We don't know the loss of live, and this disaster looks to be pretty bad at the moment (and its not getting better).

But hey, its america, we should just ignore it, becuase them be those rich folks.

America, in my honest opinion, should not help any country again. Ever. 1 Billion dollars to indosesia and 10 million to america? Thats 100 times less. What a joke. Sometimes, we forget who our friends are.

It's terrible that any one of these events has happened, but them happening in seemingly rapid succession unfortunately does give way for direct comparisons to be made. I think you're misinterpreting broadcast media equating for the scale of disasters (just like 911 overshadowed the bali bombings in terms of media coverage in australia) for Anti-Americanism, which is largely a non issue.

Dah de blah de dah blah. Blah blah blah. What the fuck are you saying? That this is only media hype? 9/11 didnt overshadow 9/11, and its pretty sick that you are here going "well 9/11 recieved one or two more days media coverage, fuck america". People are dying when they could be helped. America has helped alot of countries when they are in need. And now, America should be treated differently to other countries? I dont think so.

But hey its america, who cares? Lets just hate them becuase it's cool too. We dont have to think for ourselves anymore. Lets just follow the crowd. Its fun to be stupid.

Perception is not reality.

[Bang]

When it's much closer to home, of course you feel more obligated because you think "Oh shit, it might have happened to us." Plus the Tsunami was much bigger than Hurricane Katrina. (Not saying Katrina was a big disaster, but the Tsunami was MUCH bigger compared to Hurricane Katrina.) Furthermore, the countries that were hit by the tsunami were poor. America is not poor at all. They have the money to give all the relief they need. Seriously, just take 0.1% off the Iraqi "effort" and boom, you have enough money to provide sufficient relief. See this is the problem. The US uses all that money to finance killing instead of financing an effort to save lives. Do you know how much goes into the US army? It's most of their budget. If they aren't willing to cut some of that why should we? Have you considered what little percentage of their budget they actually use to help others? japan uses a much more bigger percentage of their GDP to help other countries, it's like 10% vs 0.1% or something. I know for sure that less than 1% goes to international aid! That's how little of their GDP they use to help other countries because most of it is used for WAR! Keep in mind that everything is relative. So in relative terms the US is just giving away measly crumbs while japan gives a whole slice of the pie.

The U.S. foreign-aid budget as a percentage of gross national product (GNP) ranks last among the world’s wealthiest countries (at about 0.1 percent). - http://cfrterrorism.org/policy/foreignaid.html

Plus the US does not really like getting help and IGNORES help from others. They always like the idea that they solve it themselves. Plus international countries are giving support to the hurricane. Where do you get the idea that no one is helping?

Sri Lanka said it was donating $25,000 (£13,500) to the American Red Cross, while Japan has pledged $200,000 and Australia, $8m (£4.3m), to the charity. - From BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4210264.stm

You know why you get the idea no one is helping? Because the US doesn't like the idea that other countries helped. They always seem to marginalize foreign aid given to their country. They always love the idea that they overcame everything themselves.

Do Americans understand how much of the U.S. budget goes to foreign aid?
No. A 2001 poll sponsored by the University of Maryland showed that most Americans think the United States spends about 24 percent of its annual budget on foreign aid—more than 24 times the actual figure. -http://cfrterrorism.org/policy/foreignaid.html

This is why people hate the US. You think they give and give...BUT THEY DON'T.

[Matthew]

Thats not true. The terrorist attack in that Russian school was the worst I've ever heard of (and thats despite some of my footy teammates being victims in bali). Just becuase you are so close minded to only be effected by things close to you doesnt mean the rest of us are.

Plus the Tsunami was much bigger than Hurricane Katrina. (Not saying Katrina was a big disaster, but the Tsunami was MUCH bigger compared to Hurricane Katrina.)

I see you have it all in perspective. The Tsunami was much "bigger", so therefore we must sit on our hands and not offer any assistance. Go fuck yourself . People are desperate and need help. Its irrelivent whether the Tsunami was "bigger" or not. If we (australia) are happy to call america our friend, we should be willing to help. Simple. Actions speak louder than words. And common sense and logic are somthing that will never be spoken from your mouth.

Furthermore, the countries that were hit by the tsunami were poor. America is not poor at all. They have the money to give all the relief they need.

Wow, u be so mert dere buddie. The fact remains that that should be irrelivent. Like i said before, it'd be like saying when a family member dies of a middle class family "oh we shouldnt send them flowers, they're rich enoughto buy their own".
America should never, ever help another country again. Simple.

Seriously, just take 0.1% off the Iraqi "effort" and boom, you have enough money to provide sufficient relief.

Infinite wisdom there "bang". Hold on.. wisdom.. hmm... wisdom kid? Nah couldnt be

See this is the problem. The US uses all that money to finance killing instead of financing an effort to save lives.

Finance killing? Yeah how DARE they get rid of Sadaam. And the terrorists are the ones doing the killing of civilians in Iraq.

Do you know how much goes into the US army? It's most of their budget. If they aren't willing to cut some of that why should we?

Every country has a budget. Whoa, Australia spends alot on taxes and the olympics. I guess, if somthing happens here, we shouldnt expect help, becuase if we cant save our own money, we shouldnt expect other peoples money.

Have you considered what little percentage of their budget they actually use to help others? japan uses a much more bigger percentage of their GDP to help other countries, it's like 10% vs 0.1% or something.

"or somthing"... The war on terror, as you so brilliantly pointed out, costs alot. This benefits america and ALOT of other countries. Of course, that would be reading between the lines and thinking for yourself to figure that one out, so we couldnt expect you to know that.. "or somthing".

I know for sure that less than 1% goes to international aid! That's how little of their GDP they use to help other countries because most of it is used for WAR!

"or somthing..."

Keep in mind that everything is relative. So in relative terms the US is just giving away measly crumbs while japan gives a whole slice of the pie.

No it isnt. Relative and perception are the most overated words in the history of the english language.

Plus the US does not really like getting help and IGNORES help from others. They always like the idea that they solve it themselves. Plus international countries are giving support to the hurricane. Where do you get the idea that no one is helping?

Compared to how much they help other countries, they really arent recieveing any help in return. "its all relative"...

You know why you get the idea no one is helping? Because the US doesn't like the idea that other countries helped. They always seem to marginalize foreign aid given to their country. They always love the idea that they overcame everything themselves.

Lol.. my god. This hate for america has to stop. "america is so selfish, they wont accept help from other countries and give help to them when needed, those bastards"

[Bang]

What the hell have they done with "the war on terror". Why did they spend so little time in Afghanistan then? How do you know if it benefits a lot of other countries? As far as I know, the East Asian countries aren't benefitted at all by the war on terror. You have to admit that the war on terror hasn't been too successful yet. WHERE ARE THE FRIGGIN WMDs for one thing. In fact, it has lessened the focus on North Korea, which is a big problem. How do you equate war on terror with international aid? So if we start invading Iran then that qualifies on international aid? Ok fine, I'll be precise since you hate "something" so much. You didn't click on the links did you?

US only uses less than 1% of their GDP for international aid. It should be around .9%. Among the richest countries in the world, the US uses the least
Did you even read that?

Compared to how much they help? All those countries that are giving relief to the United States will probably give more than the 1% relief, not to mention the % of soldiers equivalent to help the war on terror. I know for sure Korea gives enough % of soldiers equivalent to the war on terror so that said, using your logic at least Korea has relatively helped enough of the world. I don't get how you equate war on terror with relief aid. One of my closest friends is in Iraq right now, but he isn't equating that to relief aid. In fact he doesn't want to be there really. He doesn't think the war on terror is a noble thing. He's just there to decrease his years of service in the army. Even he thinks the war is for oil.

This is making me very angry. People all over the world are helping others with no compensation whatsoever and you are equating this with a war. People are going to Africa trying to help the starving children and you are equating this to a war for oil. People are building houses to help lessen the pain of the Tsunami disaster and you are equating this to tanks and weapons. People are helping poor people get a better education and you are equating this to war. People are giving their lives away with no agenda whatsoever and you are equating this to what America has done to eliminate terrorism, which is the way I see it, minimal. But we don't know do we because we don't know how much terrorism has decreased. But equating that to a completely selfless act? How could you? That is just wrong. The war on terror isn't completely selfless. The US does benefit in a lot of ways. But my friend who went to South East Asia to build houses got no kind of financial benefit whatsoever. But my two friends who went to Cambodia to help the poor children are not doing it for oil. But I wasn't raising supplies to deliver to the Amazon to create a war. But one of my teachers wasn't risking his life and ended up getting malaria (but is ok now.) to fight some other people. But all these people who provide aid to others, they are doing it without compensation whatsoever. Even the tiniest of compensations. See the difference? War is War in any way. Yes it might benefit us...but to equate that to No matter how you look at it the war on terror is not such a selfless act. Plus wasn't the UN against it? It was the US's decision.

Maybe your wording was wrong. But your comparison of war on terror with international aid is just wrong.

[Riot]

What the hell have they done with "the war on terror". Why did they spend so little time in Afghanistan then?

America is still in Afghanistan. What have they done? They've shut down hundreds of terrorist training camps, knocked out the taliban from power in Afghanistan, rebuilt Afghanistan (still trying) and then they are trying to rebuild Iraq too. They've done a lot and they've made a lot of progress in the middle east.

How do you know if it benefits a lot of other countries? As far as I know, the East Asian countries aren't benefitted at all by the war on terror.

Actually, the war in Iraq and the war in the middle east has something to do with oil. Why are oil prices rising? Because China and the Asian countries are buying much more oil than they use to do. America is making sure that oil is distrubted fairly to ALL countries, especially Asian. Not only that, but they are securing oil fields. If the terrorists really wanted to screw up the world they would attack the oil fields in the middle east and that would throw EVERYONE off. America is doing the world a favor by stepping in and making sure that the oil goes to the right people.

You have to admit that the war on terror hasn't been too successful yet. WHERE ARE THE FRIGGIN WMDs for one thing.

Saddam had and probably has WMDs. What do you consider WMDs though? America has uncovered and thousands of pounds of ammo, guns, tear gas, missiles, and other chemical weapons. Saddam had something to hide, if he didn't why wouldn't he allow the inspectors to inspect everything they wished? Why wouldn't he allow us to see the video footage of him disarming his nuclear weapons?

In fact, it has lessened the focus on North Korea, which is a big problem.

America is talking to North Korea and North Korea is considering ending their nuclear program.

[Strike Freedom]

maybe they can make a movie for this and the money they make goes to donation.

[The Other Kevin]

Please say this isn't Frank Casssle. And if this is **StarBoy**, that may be the stupidest fundrasing idea ever. Gotta send it to the White House ASAP.