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If this happened in America, Americans would say it's the worlds greatest tragedy... But since it didn't, all it gets is 2 minutes on CNN after Britney Spears.

I'm glad to see at least some people here care.

Last edited by koi keeper at 30-Dec-2004 08:29

Well, I found out my company, GM, was matching donations for those given at the Red Cross through their website. I had already donated some to Doctors without Borders, but directed more at Red Cross so it could be matched.

Very, very sad! I cried that morning, seeing all those parents holding the lifeless bodies of their dead children
I will also be making a donation as every little bit helps.
It's nice to see my little town all banding together arranging shows and places to donate money to this appeal.

Again I wake up greatful to wake up where I am and to have the people that I love with me.

[link=http://www.digitalglobe.com/tsunami_gallery.html]http://www.digitalglobe.com/tsunami_gallery.html" style="COLOR: #87B8DF[/link]
It becomes a lot more "real" when you can see it for your self...

Over 114,000 now and rising by tens of thousands.

I've got lots of Christmas bills, but I'm making a donation today. It will hurt, but nothing in comparison to what people are dealing with over there.

I have been around people who are sulking over this or that during the holiday season. Some are down over poor health, like my mom (understandably), but she has a new outlook. If something like this doesn't help us to get perspective, I don't know what will.

The stories of survival, as few as they are, bring some hope and awe in such tragedy.

- A mother interviewed on CNN had to choose between letting her 5 year old sun go or the 20 month old baby. All three would have died, otherwise. She let go of the 5 year old hoping he would at least have a chance. Happily, all survived. The 5 year old found a door and clung on for dear life. He was reunited with mom and brother.

- A 3 year old boy found in a tree, 50 hours after the flood, broken up, but alive.

- a 20 day old baby found floating on a mattress, alive and well.

Then there are the stories of people setting aside their differences to help each other survive:

- From todays Detroit Free Press I read that thousands of Catholics in a low lying area aided by Bhuddists in a temple high up on a hill. Their pastor told them to run uphill to the temple and the Bhuddist priests opened their doors and are now housing some 4000 homeless people, most of whom are catholic.

- An Indonesian family, whose home was spared, opened their doors to a family of tourists. The man interviewed on Fox said he was so touched by their hospitality after the grandmother insisted on sleeping on the floor so his children could have her bed. He said they would give the last loaf of bread to them and suggested we could all learn by their example.

Maybe these are the things we should focus on, in addition to giving to a charity in which we trust.

I'm off to Doctors without Borders

EDIT: Oops! Server's down again. I guess sites like this have been so inundated, they can't keep up. I suppose it's time for the 888 number


Last edited by Cory_Di at 30-Dec-2004 10:04

Thanks Koi >.<

The death toll is now over 70 K

*tries to not cry*

This is a warning post.

Do not discuss politics.

Refrain from subjects intended to provoke a reaction and no trolling mmmmkay?

I will shut this down in half a heart beat if you guys can't be nice.

This IS a post to reflect on a very sad tradgedy. Just this paticular tradgedy. Others have been discussed in posts before you can't compare this with other tradgedies. Apples and oranges.

Koi Keeper

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

nope, I'm going to delete it all. The attitude still makes me sick, but I know who'll get attacked for what I wrote, and it wont be the people who deserve it.


https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

please give as much as you feel able.

Last edited by tiny_clanger at 30-Dec-2004 05:28

-------------------------------------------------
I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

Unfortunately it's going to climb further. And if action is not quick it could spiral out of control.Diseases like, Cholera and Typhoid are on the way and unavaiodable. This is the tropics. There are 30,000+ rotting corpses littering a relatively small area. The area is practically inaccessible , except by air. The Indonesian government is ill prepared for what's happening now. Unfortunately a corrupt beauraucracy such as they have here is also an inefficient and inept one by nature.The support of the international community is needed quickly before the whole thing spirals into a holocaust of famine and disease. Already people are starving in this, ironically, one of the most fertile places in the world.

I have lived here for 4 years and I am humbled by the reaction of the normal Indonesian guy in the street. There has been an unprecdented outpouring of genoristy and desire to help in what is normally quite a selfish society.I have seen people who struggle to survive on a few dollars a month hand over what little money they have to charity NGO's. If we, the better off Westerners, can't match that -shame on us.

Debates on over population or nature taking revenge can wait.Action is needed now. If you can spare it please try to donate something thru the Int'l Red Cross - so far they are all these people have.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

*send best of wishes out to all in the Indian Ocean Area*

Tidal Wave Hits South Asia




I know my betta breeder Wasan's website is down. He is in Thailand. I emailed him to see if he was ok and so far no responce.

Edit: HOLY CRAP! It's up to 23,680

Last edited by Booger at 27-Dec-2004 11:50

Son of a .........the number is over 50K now

Wasan emailed back and let me know, he IS ok. He lives like a hundred miles from the coast so he did not get any damage.

not as many people would have died if it weren't populated like that

A bit obvious and over simplistic. Like saying not as many people wouldn't have died in 9/11 if they didn't work in offices.

Whatever your feelings on overpopulation, you have to understand the causes. Overpopulation is direct result of poverty. These people don't have many children for fun - it's because of poverty and desperation. As fellow humans sharing this planet we bear some responsibility for that too.

It's impossible to understand poverty and it's effects until you have seen it, felt it, smelt it and lived it. I have lived in Asia for many years now and have seen first hand the grinding poverty and it's effects - it's beyond the comprehension of most people living in the west. Very easy to harangue about overpopulation, but you got to understand the reasons it happens.

Yes thing like this happen, always have and always will, it's the natural order. But as human beings we have an obligation to help our fellow man in whatever way we can at times like this. To stand idly by and shrug and say it's over population, nature or whatever is a cop out.

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I actually thought the same... for a moment BUT then wondered how different it would be if it was any of the coasts of North America? or Australia? or even in the middle of Europe? It could have killed thousands there as well.
The other reason the death toll was so high is that it hit so many islands. I particularly feel sorry for the little islands with small comunities totally wiped out

If you can't feel the slightest bit of symathy for something like that then I also feel sorry for you

nature has a way of fixing overpopulation...i'm not saying the tsunami was a DIRECT reaction to overpopulation, but not as many people would have died if it weren't populated like that

i'm sorry, it's sad that all those people died/are going to die of malaria/cholera/ect, but that's what happens. Welcome to the real world.




Last edited by Lindy at 30-Dec-2004 03:52

"Morning walkers on Marina Beach and residents in the Foreshore Estate slums almost abutting the sea got a rude shock when waves leaping up to 30-40 ft crossed the beach and slammed into the houses nearby, catching people unawares. Most of the victims were women and children who could not get out of the way. "

I used to work here until last year, it used to be a very romantic place to go for a walk. Dont think it will be the same again.

*refrains from very unpopular comment that i truly believe*