I'm all broken up over what happened to Thailand

[chiefwiggum]

I didn't know Iraq was in Thailand. I have to agreewith LD, blah blah, this isn't the thread to be posting about another disaster. Feel free to delete your post, it doesn't belong here.

Agreed....

BBB, I too am against the U.S. invasion of Iraq, but your thoughts here are out of place.

Rex Murphy was on CBC National tonight, and he said the one thing about this disaster was that it was absolutely free of politics. So true.

It's not your opinions that are in question, it's your timing.

These people, through no other reasons than being where they are, in some of the poorest regions on Earth, and vulnerable, now face calamity beyond ANYTHING we could ever imagine.

That is the point.

Save your challenges to the Bush regime for another time...they will be needed. For now, show some dignity and respect.

 

[JoeDick]

A lot of beatiful people there in Southeast Asia. My heart goes out for them.

 

[luckydog71]

Tragic!

Best way to help is to donate

I've contributed and challenge all other PERB members to give what they can!

HFS

HiFi – I took up your challenge and made a $50(CDN) donation to the Canadian Red Cross towards the SE Asia relief fund.

I appreciate the time you spent to check out the organization and pass along your review for the rest of us.

I now challenge my American friends on this board to do the same. The Canadian Red Cross is a separate organization from ours and I trust HiFi’s assessment that they do a good job. So click on Hifi’s link and make an on line donation.

BTW this donation came from my secret pooning fund account, so you know it has a special meaning for me.

 

[luckydog71]

I grew up in Richmond...
it's what now...12 feet or so below sea~level?

The other problem with deltas is during a violent earthquake the ground can liquefy. Richmond would not need a Tsunami to flood, just a major breach in the dyke

 

[stryker]

Blahblah,,,,,,just a little side note,,,I'm sure many people here on this board are in tune as to what is going on in the world,,,It's here,in black and white,,,,,,,My self,,I read al-jazeera,Bagdad burning,Hammorabi,Healing Iraq (very well written)as well as a few other Iraqie blogs,,,,,,as well ..I HAVE DONATED FUNDS TO THE CANADIAN RED CROSS IN BEHALF OF THE IRAQ RELIEF EFFORT,JUST AS I AM DONATING TO THIS CAUSE,,,,,,

This is the wrong thread to be jumping on,,,,and may I reiterate

I THINK YOU SHOULD PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(stupid phuck)

sorry kidds,,had too let it out

carry on

 

[stryker]

Thanks Grendleaxe,,eloquently said

 

[SirLoin]

Hey Massagegirl
The guy from Calgary....are you refering to the shaved head guy with a goatee from Princess' dive shop? I was just there (last two weeks in Nov...probably same time as you) and went out to Maya Bay and to coral off Phi Phi Ley with them. I hope they weren't around that side, which is where the tsunami came from.
This is thoroughly depressing....the casualties obviously, but also all those poor surviving villagers that rely on tourism to provide for their families. Phi Phi truly was a little paradise...I hope they can recover from this.

 

[yogi]

Please donate to Mercy Corps. They are a Portland group, a lean & mean INDEPENDENT operation where you can be assured the money will go where they say it will. 91% of the $ goes to the actual program, extremely high by charitable standards. The US government tried to control & co-opt them by offering them a grant for ops in Iraq, but with many conditions that suited US propaganda & foreign policy. They refused the offer & got the grant (no strings attached!) anyway.
http://www.mercycorps.org/home/

Unless you have equipment to donate for sanitary, water-purification, or medical, they need MONEY!

How about some SP's & agencies stepping up & offering to donate 10% of all receipts on a designated day?

 

[Maury Beniowski]

Phi phi is history now. Almost all that were on the island were swept off by the second wave. The damage the tsunami did to the coral structures will take years to recover. I fear it may become a ghost island for years to come. Phuket will recover rapidly as there was a lot of foreign money backing it up to begin with (major hotel chains, newer infrastructure, etc...). Some parts of the island like Khao Lak took a fatal blow, with all the hotel guests perishing. However, the overall topography and location of this resort island will insure its survival in the long run. The real big losers in all this were the Indonesian province of Aceh, Sri Lanka and the coastal regions of India. This tragedy is worse that the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 when close to 40,000 perished.

 

[Massagegirl]

Hey Massagegirl
The guy from Calgary....are you refering to the shaved head guy with a goatee from Princess' dive shop? I was just there (last two weeks in Nov...probably same time as you) and went out to Maya Bay and to coral off Phi Phi Ley with them. I hope they weren't around that side, which is where the tsunami came from.
This is thoroughly depressing....the casualties obviously, but also all those poor surviving villagers that rely on tourism to provide for their families. Phi Phi truly was a little paradise...I hope they can recover from this.

Yes that's him!! About 30, real friendly, I just called him cowboy, did you catch his name?? I finished the course about Nov 8th, so I just missed you. That's why I am worried, I think the wave would have broken over Phi Phi Leh on the south side so it just depends where exactly they were at the time.

I have been searching the net for word and found one lady whose dive class at Phi Phi Leh noticed the visibility worsen, then felt they were being sucked down, before their dive instructor signalled them to surface. They just saw lots of garbage, then bigger pieces of flotsam, and then they finally saw bodies floating by. Another witness claimed to be in a group of snorklers at phi phi leh and only one person was sucked away but was later found. So that is good news that they had a chance. Every day that I saw, they went to Phi Phi Leh, did you ever see them go elsewhere?

I heard they evacuated 1,300 people, with 300 confirmed dead(many more still missing), but the locals were left behind to salvage what they could of their lives, so I believe they will rebuild. However, even though the paradise quality of it is somewhat tarnished knowing what happened there, I will still go back. It is still beautiful, reports are saying, but I imagine they will be finding broken glass on the beach for years to come.

Here are some links
Railey beach
Phi Phi
Diver

 

[timec]

Of course it’s tragic --- but in relative numbers, Thailand’s current confirmed reported deaths @ 1657 (Reuters) is significantly less than the respective death counts from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India… that certainly doesn’t diminish what’s happened in Thailand.


(countdown.msnbc.com – Keith Olbermann) More terrifying still is the growing realization— reported sporadically in South Asia and Europe but almost unmentioned here— that some percentage of these deaths could have been prevented by timely warnings, but were not, out of fear of damaging tourism.

Bangkok's newspaper The Nation reported that Thailand's Meteorological Department, which supervises the country’s Seismological Department, was conducting a seminar at the hour the earthquake struck, Sunday morning, prevailing local time. Told the initial Richter Scale measurement was 8.2, a leading member of that department reportedly concluded there would be no tsunami, because another 2002 earthquake in the same Sumatra region that had measured 7.6 had produced no tsunami. The meeting devolved into the pros and cons of hurting the nation’s huge tourist economy in the event a warning proved unnecessary.

At the time the Thai experts reportedly concluded they would threaten the nation’s economic health by alerting the public, the tsunami was still more than an hour away from hitting Thailand’s coast. It appears that most of the fatalities there could have been averted had the victims merely been told to walk about a mile inland, which they could have done, leisurely, in 45 minutes or less.


.

 

[edmontonexplore]

I wouldn't donate cash because it only feeds the execs in charge of the so-called non-profit agencies. What these people need is the basics. Clothing, shelter, fresh water. Canada has donated chump change. $40 million. What the hell is your $500 going to do? Sorry, but I may be disillusioned having worked in that part of the world. My advice is donate tangibles, not cash.

 

[Jodie]

Please donate to Mercy Corps. They are a Portland group, a lean & mean INDEPENDENT operation where you can be assured the money will go where they say it will. 91% of the $ goes to the actual program, extremely high by charitable standards. The US government tried to control & co-opt them by offering them a grant for ops in Iraq, but with many conditions that suited US propaganda & foreign policy. They refused the offer & got the grant (no strings attached!) anyway.
http://www.mercycorps.org/home/

I strongly recommend making donations to the Red Cross (www.redcross.ca), which is an established, reputable and neutral organization, devoid of any religious affiliations. Here is a small exerpt from the Red Cross website, explaining the seven principles on which they are founded:

Red Cross Fundamental Principles

Our network is vast, but our approach is simple. All Red Cross programs and activities are guided by the Fundamental Principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. These principles allow us to provide help immediately to whomever needs it, wherever they are, whatever their race, political beliefs, religion, social status, or culture.

Humanity
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, co-operation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Impartiality
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality
In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence
The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Voluntary Service
It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Unity
There can only be one Red Cross or one Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Universality
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is world-wide.

Unless you have equipment to donate for sanitary, water-purification, or medical, they need MONEY!

I must agree with Yogi's assessment about the need for money - donate money, not goods. It is far too difficult to transport the goods to these countries in a timely manner; it is much easier to allow the aid organizations to purchase the necessary items locally. We should allow the professionals and volunteers who are actually on the scene to allocate our funds as they see necessary.

How about some SP's & agencies stepping up & offering to donate 10% of all receipts on a designated day?

Personally, I think it is in bad taste to use a global tragedy for personal gain. To attempt to attract clients by broadcasting that XX% of my escorting income will go to help tsunami victims seems like more of an advertising ploy than a selfless, charitable act.

I have donated a generous sum of money to the Red Cross' relief efforts, and may choose to donate more in the future, depending on how the tragedy unfolds. The decision to donate has everything to do with my own perceived obligation to help those less fortunate than I am, and nothing to do with the success of my escorting business.

The reason you probably haven't seen any ladies offering to donate a percentage of their income to the relief effort, nor advertising how much money they have donated, is that they too feel it would be in bad taste to do so.

 

[rickoshadows]

The reason you probably haven't seen any ladies offering to donate a percentage of their income to the relief effort, nor advertising how much money they have donated, is that they too feel it would be in bad taste to do so.

What do you know, SP with more ethics than 90% of "legimate" businesses!

rickoshadows

 

[yogi]

OK OK, if you think it's bad taste for an SP to use this tragedy to promote business by giving 10% af a day's receipts, how about this:
Designate a day soon when ALL of a day's receipts will go to charity. That way, there's no self-promotion, it all goes to the cause, & most importantly, those in dire need can benefit, that's the only thing that really matters in the end, right?
There are benefit charity auctions all the time. I've happily donated goods & services for worthy causes. Yesterday I sold books, CD's, even an old cell phone, to get some $ to donate. Why should this be any different? Sheesh....
Is that pure enough for some of you?

 

[Jodie]

most importantly, those in dire need can benefit, that's the only thing that really matters in the end, right?

Agreed that the end state is truly the most important consideration with charitable acts, but I still believe there is a big difference in terms of ethics between giving in order to further one's own agenda or personal well-being versus giving for the sake of giving.

There are benefit charity auctions all the time. I've happily donated goods & services for worthy causes.
Yesterday I sold books, CD's, even an old cell phone, to get some $ to donate. Why should this be any different? [/B]

What you did is sell your personal belongings in order to raise money for a good cause. That is a purely selfless act for which you should be commended.

If I, or another SP, were to advertise "Come visit me and I will donate 10% of my profits to the tsunami victims," that to me would be exploiting a global tragedy for personal gain. Sure it would yield a substantial monetary donation for those in need, but is it really the right way to raise this money?

Better all of us should just reflect on how fortunate we are to have celebrated our holidays in Canada, free of political strife and natural disaster, and quietly donate whatever amount we can afford, out of gratitude, respect and empathy for our fellow human beings.

Anyway, that's enough morality preaching out of me!

Jodie out.

 

[Massagegirl]

I think we should all give what we can afford.

I'm sorry but I can't afford to give a full days pay to help, cuz I am broke after xmas and my trip drained my savings. I don't think any business could afford to do that.

I also think advertising to give 10% of a days pay is like being a charity and there are legalities involved in collecting for charity. I don't think any of us want to attract that kind of attention.

Everyone, please just give what you can afford, when you can, if you can.

I agree also that the numbers of dead are small compared to Sri Lanka, even counting the missing, but I wasn't in Sri Lanka 6 weeks ago and I didn't know people there. That is the only reason this thread is focusing on Thailand, and not because it has the most foreign fatalities either. 3,000 tourists from one resort were washed out with the wave in Koh Lak, which is almost the entire occupants of the world trade center.

 

[rickoshadows]

Thailand has refrained from asking for international relief because Sri lanka and especially Indonesia are in greater need. They are only now just getting to north west Sumatra and the devastation there is unbelievable.

rickoshadows

 

[Massagegirl]

I agree, for months there has been nothing but coverage of the war, or soldiers returning, but for some reason something bigger bumping it from the limelight has offended you personally, blahblah. Don't blame us for that!

Also 3,000 people being washed away from one resort, all in one wave is a tragedy, even if you can't seem to admit it. Why is that??? The people killed in the war knew they were in danger but these tourists were completely oblivious that death was rushing their way at 100 km an hour!

Stop and think man! This isn't the time or place for your tirades, start your own thread on Iraq and complain all you want! You'll have to get over the fact that your beliefs/feelings don't mean squat, either to us or in the scheme of things!! So if we don't give two shits about the lack of your preferred coverage, then you'll have to get over it.

 

[stryker]

BlahBlah,,,you just don't fucking get it,,must be the methane your sniffin,,I'm very well informed as to whats happening in OUR world,I'm probley MORE in touch with whats going on than 90% of the rest of the world population,,,,,Just because the attrocities in Iraq are being overshadowed at this time does not mean people don't care!!!!!I read blogs from all over the world because I like to get the OTHER SIDE of the story(thanks for coming out) I'm Not nieve,by any means and do see your plight for the middle east,,,,But this is not the thread to do it,,,,so,,,,,,as I said before,,,,(sounding like a skipping CD here),,Phuck,,,nevermind,,,,,Give's me a chance to practice my typing,,,,,(ya Stupid Phuck)