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[Lizzie_Zoom]

To Donate to the earthquake appeal ring:

[size=24]0370 60 60 900[/size][/b]

 

[Nickbat]

I find these two responses to the disaster most telling:

The US
"Within hours of Port-au-Prince crumbling into ruins, the US had sent in an aircraft carrier with 19 helicopters, hospital and assault ships, the 82nd Airborne Division with 3,500 troops and hundreds of medical personnel. They put the country's small airport back on an operational footing, and President Obama pledged an initial $100 million dollars in emergency aid."

The EU
"...the European Union geared itself up with a Brussels press conference led by Commission Vice-President Baroness Ashton, now the EU's High Representative – our new foreign minister. A scattering of bored-looking journalists in the Commission's lavishly appointed press room heard the former head of Hertfordshire Health Authority stumbling through a prepared statement, in which she said that she had conveyed her "condolences" to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, and pledged three million euros in aid."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/7005887/Haiti-response-shows-the-difference-between-the-EU-and-a-superpower.html

This highlights the fact that transnational institutions are inherently slow, cumbersome and frankly ineffective in dealing with situations like this. Nation states, on the other hand, can react far more speedily. Well done, the US.

[Kevin Wood]

I find these two responses to the disaster most telling:

The US
"Within hours of Port-au-Prince crumbling into ruins, the US had sent in an aircraft carrier with 19 helicopters, hospital and assault ships, the 82nd Airborne Division with 3,500 troops and hundreds of medical personnel. They put the country's small airport back on an operational footing, and President Obama pledged an initial $100 million dollars in emergency aid."

The EU
"...the European Union geared itself up with a Brussels press conference led by Commission Vice-President Baroness Ashton, now the EU's High Representative – our new foreign minister. A scattering of bored-looking journalists in the Commission's lavishly appointed press room heard the former head of Hertfordshire Health Authority stumbling through a prepared statement, in which she said that she had conveyed her "condolences" to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, and pledged three million euros in aid."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/7005887/Haiti-response-shows-the-difference-between-the-EU-and-a-superpower.html

This highlights the fact that transnational institutions are inherently slow, cumbersome and frankly ineffective in dealing with situations like this. Nation states, on the other hand, can react far more speedily. Well done, the US.

Indeed. The self-licking lollipop that is the EU has a very busy tongue at times like this. 

Kevin

[Chris_H]

Nick I wholeheartedly endorse your praise for the fast and sizeable response by the US.  As for bashing the EU, they are located some miles from the problem!

Before you think I'm standing up for 'our' (European) response I must say that the attitude on BBC News 24 has staggered me on more than one occasion - appearing to try and tell aid agencies how they should be tackling the problem.  The journalists in the studio didn't seem to have a clue about the real problems being faced by rescuers.  Questioning having a curfew on rescuing during hours of darkness for one!

I felt they were trying to build news rather than be part of the solution.  I know that's a very strong accusation but I was very uncomfortable with some of the lines taken.

[Nickbat]

Nick I wholeheartedly endorse your praise for the fast and sizeable response by the US.  As for bashing the EU, they are located some miles from the problem!

Before you think I'm standing up for 'our' (European) response I must say that the attitude on BBC News 24 has staggered me on more than one occasion - appearing to try and tell aid agencies how they should be tackling the problem.  The journalists in the studio didn't seem to have a clue about the real problems being faced by rescuers.  Questioning having a curfew on rescuing during hours of darkness for one!

I felt they were trying to build news rather than be part of the solution.  I know that's a very strong accusation but I was very uncomfortable with some of the lines taken.

Although I didn't see the BBC item to which you refer, It doesn't surprise me in the slightest. BBC News has become a shabby, agenda-driven, shadow of its former self. I no longer regard it as a public service.
 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

To Donate to the earthquake appeal ring:

[size=24]0370 60 60 900[/size][/b]

 

Indeed Nick the USA have made a great effort to assist their neighbour, although the very difficult situation has made it extremely difficult for even the United States to organise the huge relief effort without very regrettable delays in getting aid to the people and helping the international aid organisations to do their job.

Help is however starting to get through and the UK relief fund, which I again advertise the telephone number for above, has raised £23 million which is being used to provide clean drinking water equipment amongst other things.

[size=24]Now is the time for action, not words[/size][/b], so once more the donation line is:

[size=24]0370 60 60 900[/size][/b]


God help them all!

 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

[STMO999]

God, I hate preachers trying to nibble at MY conscience. You do as you like, and leave me to do as I like.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

God, I hate preachers trying to nibble at MY conscience. You do as you like, and leave me to do as I like.

We know you will anyway, and in this instance I don't care a jot about how you or others feel! I will say what I feel is right!   

[STMO999]

God, I hate preachers trying to nibble at MY conscience. You do as you like, and leave me to do as I like.

We know you will anyway, and in this instance I don't care a jot about how you or others feel! I will say what I feel is right!   

No rather change there then.

I will choose to try and ignore you, as usual.

[cleggy]

America is putting in a sterling effort...... If it doesn't then it will be invaded by Illegal immigrants, just like the Clinton administration did with the Cubans. Miami is pretty overrun at the moment, so politically Obama is pulling out all the stops. Mind you it's in a good cause, whatever the motivation.

[Chris_H]

God, I hate preachers trying to nibble at MY conscience. You do as you like, and leave me to do as I like.

We know you will anyway, and in this instance I don't care a jot about how you or others feel! I will say what I feel is right!   

He's weakening Lizzie!  He reckons he has a conscience!!!!

23 Million GBP and counting eh?  May God bless such generosity and make every penny of it count.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

God, I hate preachers trying to nibble at MY conscience. You do as you like, and leave me to do as I like.

We know you will anyway, and in this instance I don't care a jot about how you or others feel! I will say what I feel is right!   

He's weakening Lizzie!  He reckons he has a conscience!!!!

23 Million GBP and counting eh?  May God bless such generosity and make every penny of it count.

No chance of that Chris!  Hell will freeze over first!  

As for "every penny" we can only trust in God that it will...........in fellow man........forget it!  There will always be a 'percentage' that is 'wasted'!!

[STMO999]

God, I hate preachers trying to nibble at MY conscience. You do as you like, and leave me to do as I like.

We know you will anyway, and in this instance I don't care a jot about how you or others feel! I will say what I feel is right!   

He's weakening Lizzie!  He reckons he has a conscience!!!!

23 Million GBP and counting eh?  May God bless such generosity and make every penny of it count.

Who?   If there's a god, why did he create earthquakes?

[Dishevelled Den]

 I would certainly hope that all this money raised by way of appeal can be fully accounted for, that it is indeed used for the purposes of relief and is not subsumed by the ever demanding charity infrastructure.

[Markie]

I agree with RICHIE & PETE, I am also fed up with being bombarded with texts from Orange, and Emails asking me to donate. I will contribute when they empty Baby Doc's Swiss bank account, he and his father ruined this French colony. We really do have enough problems in our own country.
They'll want us to help Rhodesia next, and save the starving after Mugabe, and his cronies have raped the country, and furnished their nests.
CYNICAL ? ABSOLUTELY !
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.

Seconded, thirded and fourth`d here  :-/

Whilst my heart goes out and wouldnt wish it on anyone and take no consolidation or pleasure charity does begin at home and i really really resent being pressured to donate.

Even paypal are emailing directly asking for funds from members - that is a basic infringment.

If there are superheroes and do gooders with a kinder heart than me that want to their bit i sincerley applaud you all. But its not me.