[Bunnyears]

I just heard 60,000 bodies counted, and thousands more still missing. They also expect the death toll to rise if any of the epidemics that result from the breakdown of the water systems and septic systems occur. There is also the problem that results because it will take so long to bury the bodies. By the time this is over, I wouldn't be surprised if the death count rises to 100,000. This is the type of tragedy that would have been memorialized by a myth in the past. When you lack the knowledge and technology to explain something like this, it becomes easy to think that you have offended some deity.

NBC: more than 60,000 dead, and disease and starvation may double the number of dead

On Sumatra Island there are not enough survivors to bury the dead.

1/3 of all mortalities are children.

 

[Snake]

Hmmm

This isn't "bickering", it's a healthy discussion. I don't believe that this is unusual; we were doing the same thing not long after Sept. 11th.

How could this happen? What could we have done to help prevent it?

In this case it is a natural phenomenon and no prevention is possible. BUT a reduction of casualities probably could have occurred with some simple measures by the governments of the area - measures which probably should have been there in the first place considering past circumstances.

It is a form of disgust. A sad disgust at the terrible, horrible loss of life and an angry disgust in the knowledge that some may have been able to be saved if only a few things had been done prior.

And, for me, that's a very righteous angry.

 

[gsferrari]

Snake - to get a better perspective of the way things work outside USA you have to be there.

Let me tell you one thing -

The government doesnt care
The government doesnt budget for these disasters that dont have a history
The government is based on an archaic constitution drafted by a geriatric society

I am going off-topic again...

I should be the prime minister of India for there to be any sort of progress...well maybe not me per-se but someone young, educated and with a vision...

Seriously - visit these places to see how everything works. Getting water to your home (government controls water supply) is a lifelong ordeal for some. We still dont have a "government" telephone at home...applications were made in 1972

and followed up every 3 months (you cannot view application status for 3 months because it takes that long from the time you file an appeal until you get a response...)

Trust me - India is not a developing country...it may be developed in a few key areas. It is a specialist economy that provides specific services to the world economy...

Think of it as a resource...a dipping pool for the other nations of the world. On its own - India has not progressed since the 1900's - we are still in debt, still bursting at the seams with the population and still electing 60+ year old morons into the government...the government is controlled by a religious mafia and Hindus and Muslims are at each others throats at every opportunity and people use this "volatility" to achieve their personal goals or just for fun...


I am ashamed of my country

I am not ashamed to abandon it in favor of a country that values an individuals achievements and gives the individual the opportunity to shine.

I am ashamed that the Indian government has to beg for support to cover these tragedies - it has the money - just doesnt want to use it...but to ignore this tragedy is not possible by the more "caring" people in the world...who will pay up...

Dont believe me? My dad is giving me up to date information about what is going on in Chennai and neighbouring villages (he is a doctor - paediatrician - and has opened up a few booths for administering medication and dressing wounds...whatever he can afford).

My father had to start a new born ward in a government hospital, beg volunteers to offer their services, beg for funds from private organizations...completely ignored by the government...

Why?

More new born children were dying at this SOLE government hospital than all the other private hospitals combined. 99% of the population cannot afford to go to a private hospital - they rely on these government hospitals and you will be SHOCKED to see the state of affairs here!!

The hospital is dirtier than a new york subway station - dont believe me? I will try to get pictures...

My father started a new born ward with just 8 lakh rupees (about 20,000 usd) and the services are free...poor people (people from those very villages - fishermen etc. - come here with their new born kids for monitoring and medical assistance).

Government contribution to a ward in its own hospital = 0.00

The government's apathy to all humanitarian services is unbelievable. Do you remember the thread I started to complain about the law and order situation? That cops beat up up with sticks, make you walk naked on the road (I have been through this) and humiliate you?

I am not sorry to be out of that hole.

I am waaaaaay off topic now but my anger and feelings of hate for my government is at an all-time high right now and I will stop for now before I blow my fuse...

 

[Snake]

No, gs, go ahead! That's what I'm saying! Along with other governments of the region India is well aware of SOME of the hazards and problems that their suffering people are susceptible to.

But most often they don't do a squat thing about them.

And that's what fired off my own comments about this issue. I KNOW the historical precedent about how things are generally handled over there.

POORLY. And that is using PC wording. Non-PC wording can be much more colorful.

Once again thousands have DIED because of general inaction by bureaucrats when some type of action was open to them in the past. And I hate to say it but it can almost make one fuming mad. And this is (somewhat) on topic because those thousands of innocents died when some - at least a few - could have been saved.

But we should end it here, for sure. It is unkindly maybe to even mention this when others still are coming here to grieve the suffering. I can just hope that for ONCE something will change after all this

 

[Jahn]

http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/...340781-8611156

 

[KR...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn http://s1.amazon.com/exec/varzea/ts/...340781-8611156

Can a mod make that into it's own thread and a sticky?

 

[shafu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snake Sorry. True. But then again it's called Civil Warning System, which many countries have, but this area was lacking. I'm just trying to place it in historical perspective (that disaster study interest again) (deep sigh) What can we do? Help pick up the pieces. But I'm just saying that with a touch more care, which should have been shown considering the historically known problems of the area, there would be a lot less pieces to pick up. I guess its a sadness over the loss but a bitterness over the fact that it could have not been as bad. I am not trying to insult or blame here, nor do I wish to inflame anyone. I guess I'm just angry over the fact that I knew that something like this could happen because in history similar circumstances have happened previously in the area but nothing was done to help in the future. And now we have tremendous suffering (by square area this will be probably the largest event of this century but by loss of life it seems to be the Ganges-Bramaputra river delta storm wave of 1970, with an estimated 500,000 dead) So pardon me everyone. Don't mean to seem mean

Got to keep in mind that governments everywhere have conflicting priorities and are only looking to fund those projects that are popular and are easy to identify with. Around here in the San Francisco bay area, there are massive mud slides and flooding of homes every so often with the heavy rains (el nino) that we get. The government still allowed people to live and build houses where they did. History repeats itself many times even with local tragedies.

 

[Twigs]

I dunno if anyone has posted this yet, but everyone should donate money to help with relief efforts. EVERYONE! the Red Cross takes donations.

 

[KR...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twigs I dunno if anyone has posted this yet, but everyone should donate money to help with relief efforts. EVERYONE! the Red Cross takes donations.

Just in case no one caught it before,

Amazon has set up a super easy way to donate money just go there and it's on the front page :

AMAZON

 

[Edwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeteeth Sorry Ed I didn't mean to appear to single you out. I wasn't. I was making a general population statement. Um...that India quote isn't from me. It's a quote from Snake. Heh I also was banned from outside though so... Totally worth it BTW.

We're all banned from Outside by default now.

Thanks for posting links to both international and US red cross.

Just remember that you attract more butterflies with sweet nectar, rather than vinegar.

But you do get the occassional wasp and bees......

-Ed

 

[tk_suki]

In Japan web site they mentioned, except for the shoreline fish, seems few wild animals were caught in the tsunami.

In Japan the research centers have some catfish hooked-up to electrodes to help monitor such events. Seems they are somewhat responsive? While far from scientific like a canary in a cave, might be curious if any of the survivors recall seeing any wildlife nearby?

Sorry, this may seem a bit OT, just trying to lighten things up.

 

[Flasken]

eyeteeth,

Thank you, you are so right.

*donates

 

[Nak Man]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk_suki In Japan the research centers have some catfish hooked-up to electrodes to help monitor such events. Seems they are somewhat responsive? While far from scientific like a canary in a cave, might be curious if any of the survivors recall seeing any wildlife nearby?

Yes they might have saved us by giving early warning. Maybe a bit difficult to put that into practice, especially in this country where 'natural disastruous area' are all over the map. That, plus worse-than-Indian-government who ruled for decades, somewhat guarantees that such early warning system won't be here for a long time. Heck we don't even have a decent transport system in capital city jakarta for its 9+ mn population. This is a resource rich country which pours all its wealth into a concentrated few. And I'm getting out of topic again ... thanks for the fish example though.

 

[BigD]

I didn't know this kind of catastrophe was possible today. I pray for the friends and families who lost their beloved. Well, I was sickened in my stomach when USA pledged 36 million dollars claiming that this is the most by a single nation. Please, where is the humanitarian cause and promise that our government cries each time we go to war?

$36 mil. is a F**KIN JOKE!!!

 

[bangraman]

I'd suggest that donations go directly to the ICRC and Medecins Sans Frontieres. I've worked extensively with people from both organisations, and they really do make a difference.


While things that only a state can provide (airlift, logistics, etc) are desperately needed, healthcare and aid will be the critical things in the next few months. The governments of the region are notoriously corrupt and any major funds channeled through them will simply get 'diluted'.