The Current Events/Issues Thread - Read the First Post

[cattwoman98111]

Amid all the terror, violence and death, here is a small story my GF forwarded me.



www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/07...index.html

Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear.

[urnofosiris]

From BBC news

Quote:

---

Sea surges kill thousands in Asia



The waves carried devastation far inland in Sri Lanka

Thousands of people have been killed across south and east Asia in massive sea surges triggered by the strongest earthquake in the world for 40 years.

The 8.9 magnitude quake struck Aceh in Indonesia, sending a wall of water across thousands of kilometres of sea.



At least 1,500 died in Sri Lanka and more than 1,000 were killed in India.



Casualty figures are rising throughout the region including in the tourist resorts of Thailand, which were packed at the peak of the holiday season.



DISASTER TOLL

Sri Lanka: 1,500 dead

India: 1,000 dead

Thailand: 100 dead

Indonesia: 400 dead

Malaysia: 7 dead

Source: Government officials





UK rescuers fly to quake zone

In pictures: Quake disaster



At least 400 people died in Indonesia, but exact numbers for people killed, injured or missing in the countries hit, are hard to confirm.



Hundreds are still thought to be missing from coastal regions and, in Sri Lanka alone, officials say more than one million people have been affected.





Click here for map of affected area



Severe flooding hit the low-lying Maldives islands in the Indian Ocean, more than 2,500km (1,500 miles) from the quake's epicentre.



Harrowing reports of people caught in the devastation and dramatic tales of escape from the waves are emerging from around the region.



A resident of Kakinada in India's southern Andra Pradesh province, P Ramanamurthy, said he saw fishermen clinging to upturned boats being swept out to sea.



"I was shocked to see innumerable fishing boats flying on the shoulder of the waves, going back and forth into the sea, as if made of paper," he told the Associated Press news agency.



Resort 'wiped out'



In Thailand, hundreds of holiday bungalows are reported to have been destroyed on the popular Phi Phi island.





The beach in India's Madras was packed when the waves hit

Resort owner Chan Marongtaechar said he feared hundreds of people may have been lost.



"I am afraid that there will be a high figure of foreigners missing in the sea, and also my staff," he told AP after telephoning employees from Bangkok.



There has been little news from Indonesia, particularly the strife-torn region of Aceh thought to be at the heart of the earthquake, but one caller told a radio station he had seen people killed in floods, AP said.



Panicked people reportedly fled their homes in the towns of Medan and Banda Aceh, the capitals of two of Sumatra's provinces.





It's terrible - the rain and the wall of water and the horrific shaking; in so many years of living here I have not ever seen anything as terrible as this



Kareemoff Sumyun Gy,

Jakarta





Tell us your experiences

Electricity and telephone networks in the area have stopped working, making it difficult to confirm the extent of the damage, the BBC's Rachel Harvey in Jakarta reports.





Hundreds more people are hurt or homeless across the region.



In Sri Lanka, President Chandrika Kumaratunga declared a national disaster and the military has been deployed to help rescue efforts.



Indonesia's location - along the Pacific geological "Ring of Fire" - makes it prone to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.



Sunday's tremor - the fifth strongest since 1900 - had a particularly widespread effect because it seems to have taken place just below the surface of the ocean, analysts say.



Bruce Presgrave of the US Geological service told the Reuters news agency: "These big earthquakes, when they occur in shallow water... basically slosh the ocean floor... and it's as if you're rocking water in the bathtub and that wave can travel throughout the ocean."

---

I know we have board members who live in this region of our world and others probably have family and friends who either live there or are there on vacation. I hope they are ok, I wish everyone would be ok, but clearly that is not so.

[cattwoman98111]

Garfield,



I cannot even begin to say how horrible this is.



My thoughts are with all the kittens, their families and all involved.

Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction.

[Shinnen]

We here in Malaysia got it bad... considering it's a first time. Willowfan7 who's in Penang... one of the islands north of Malaysia... is okay... but her island was hit quite bad by tsunami. My parents slightly south felt aftershocks and tremors. Me here further south in the capital, felt aftershocks twice. At the scale of 8.9 and death tol increasing rapidly with people still lost. My aunt's friend and his family are currently lost. Malaysia is very lucky as Sumatra is blocking most of the waves.



CNN Asia



I hope everyone within the affected areas are safe and well.

CheerZ

Shinnen



She's the most amazing girl in the whole world. She's the only girl who makes my heart beat faster and slower at the same time. When I'm not with her, I'm not living. I'm not existing until I can hold her in my arms again.- hence i'm not here now

[skittles]

Glad to hear that you are fine... also that Willowfan7 is ok, too.



We were worried.

skittles



Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more… He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew.. and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!

[urnofosiris]

I find it incredibly hard to understand that in this day and age with computers, internet, mobile phones, satelites and all sorts of technical goodies, that the coastal areas were not warned that a tsunami was coming. I find it very difficult to accept that one would need special monitoring stations to deduce that such a huge earthquake like that under water will generate a tsunami. It did not take place somewhere halfway in the Pacific ocean where no one was around to feel it. Not that it does much good to dwell on that, it does not help anyone right now. They have started fundraising in the Netherlands to collect money to help the vicitims, I hope they will raise a lot. I think they will. Water and wind are the only real natural threats to my country. We don´t get earthquakes, well only a few teeny tiny ones here and there, no volcano´s, big storms, but no real hurricanes or tornados. The last lethal flood to hit this land took place 51 years ago. I can´t even imagine what this must be like. Other than run for it there is no stopping it.

Edited by: DrG at: 12/27/04 11:30 am

[xita]

Earthquakes are the one thing I fear, well that's a lie but it's one my biggest fears. I was 4 years old in the earthquake of guatemala that killed 22,000 people. It's something that stays with you. I was also a few miles away from the epicenter of the Northridge earthquake and that kind of violent shaking stays with you.



This earthquake was so powerful, luckily not under a city neverthless the tsunami is so destructive.



I feel deep shame for a world that cannot take care of its people. I feel bad that people in my neck of the woods would have a tsunami warning and we wouldn't have so many deaths. It's unfortunate to think that so many countries don't have the infrastructure for a proper warning system, something that wouldn't cost a lot of money. Of course scientists knew of it, but they could not get the information out. Unfortunately, so many countries are in that position, I know many countries in the Americas that would suffer much the same fate. I feel like the world needs to help in setting something up. Three hours warning, anyone could have used a 10 minute warning but it would take money and manpower to have such a system running 24 hours a day in places where people don't have telephones perhaps. I still feel its preventable and that makes it hurt.



Glad to hear you are ok shinnen.

- - - - - - - - - - -
"Trust is a risk masquerading as a promise."

Edited by: xita  at: 12/27/04 11:47 am

[shnofie]

This is just so sad. My prayers are going to everyone affected. BBC news have just said that the number of deaths is now somewhere over 23,000 which is just horrific.



x

[oneyedchicklet]

My thoughts and prayers are also with those affected by the devastation. When I turned my computer on Thursday, the news flash said there was an earthquake off the coast of Australia. Shouldn't this have been some sort of warning? I'm sure that it was the start of it all.

Shinnen, I'm glad that you and yours are safe. I pray so hard that the death toll does not get any worse.



Love to All,

Barb

Now serving Bitter, party of one. Your table is ready.

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



What's truly terrifying is the scope of the affected area. I doubt there has been a tsunami in living memory in Somalia. Then there is the scope of the quake. All of this happening in one of the most populated regions in the world is just the first part. Now comes the race against water borne diseases, hunger, and aftershocks. Good luck and my prayers for all the SE Asia Kittens!





Jixer

[emma peel]

The tragedy is truly devastating. I copied the following from somewhere on today's cnn.com:



"The U.S. State Department said an additional $20 million in aid will be added to the $15 million the United States has already pledged for nations hit by the tsunamis."



It makes me f***ing furious that from reports I read a few days ago that Bushco and Company will be spending up to $40 MILLION on his inauguration (even though it's being paid for by private donors).

Leaving now for fear of going on a ranty, truly vulgar tangent.

[urnofosiris]

40 million? What the hell kind of party has to cost that much. Nevermind, let´s not even go there. The number of casualties is mindboggling, the number of people missing, hurt, who have lost everything even greater. Those millions are just a teeny tiny start of what is needed.

[Kieli]

I think it took balls for the UN Finance Director to call the other nations "stingy"....He's right and I didn't think he should've apologized for speaking his mind. $40 million large is NOTHING in the grand scheme of this country. We're sinking more money into a pitifully pathetic losing war in Iraq. At least we could do SOMETHING good to help others in need without there being political motivations behind it

We kissed for hours, wrapped around each other in the dirt, immersed in the heady, religious world of deep sex.
It's not the pace of life that concerns me, it's the sudden stop at the end.

[Triscuit7]

I don't think there are words to describe the horrors of this catastrophe. Incomprehensible devastation and enormous loss of life don't begin to come close to the reality of the images that I've seen. The images from hurricane-hammered Florida certainly pale in comparison.



And like other Kittens I can feel only disgust at the thought of how little the US is doing.



Shinnen and Willowfan, I'm very pleased that you're ok and I hope that any friends and family who are missing may be found safe and sound.



Melissa

******************



Do something totally irrational and let the enemy think himself to death. (Pyanfar Chanur)

Edited by: Triscuit7 at: 12/28/04 5:34 pm

[skittles]

I read the reports. I see the pictures. I hear the stories.



I know that a catastrophe has occurred. Thousands, upon thousands are dead &/or missing. My mind has trouble grasping the enormity of it all.



People walking out of towns where they have to climb over bodies, piles of bodies of the dead, to get to safety. Children without parents, parents searching for their children.... families completely gone. Some people will never be accounted for.... entire villages destroyed.



This is beyond what I can understand & yet, it happened. And I have to understand.

skittles



"The problem with political jokes is how often they get elected."



"Closed minds always seem to be connected to open mouths"

[Lil Miss Kitten]

I saw it and cried. Which isn't like me. Not like me at all. I've always said (rather selfishly and stupidly) that natural disasters and are Mother Earths way of thinning out overpopulated places. Now I feel like a bitch for ever saying that. Because it sux. I could be a little more articulate about it...but I won't because I just drained from watching this stuff on TV. It really just sux.





And then to make matters worse....



Over 100 whales and dolphins died after beaching themselves in Tasmania. Another died in a beach 15mins drive from my home in New Zealand. And there are all these scientists and marine biologists trying to figure out WHY this is happening...with some really bizarre theories being published.



HELLO! Excuse me MR and MRS Science-whizzes! Do you think the big huge 9.0 earthquake in the middle of the ocean might have something to do with it? Could it POSSIBLY be that huge mother of a Tsunami that just ripped apart peoples countries and homes? What if these creatures beached themselves in reaction to the events...either through, panic, fear or simple confusion (their navigation systems got thrown off and sonar went haywire). Hmmmm...not one mention of it anywhere from these so-called "professionals". Smart people.



Almost as smart as the people who decided NOT to have the warning equipment in place that could've saved thousands of lives in the past couple of days. And you know what makes me REALLY SICK? It was quoted in a newspaper by an indian government official that this Tsunami detection equipment was and is TOO EXPENSIVE for their government to purchase and maintain. The equipment itself costs approx $320000

or $200 000 USD. Ummm hello! What's a quater million dollars if it saves half your country from a tragedy like this! It makes me mad. Then I wanna cry again.



Like I said...it sux.



Im not much for praying these days. But for anyone reading this who needs it I pray for your friends and family who are among those affected by this tragedy.



Take care everyone.

[Gatito Grande]

While it's easy (and of course, FUN) to bash Bush, I can't help but remember just over 3 years ago: 9/11. A few thousand people die (and it was known to be under 10 thousand within a week), and all those H'wood stars put on that telethon. Why the F*ck aren't they doing something like that (and more) now? Just because there were only a few Americans killed?



GG Well, duh: we all know the answer to that one. Out

[urnofosiris]

Oh that is just crap, if that is really what it costs then of course they could afford it, but I really don´t believe that such a device was needed in this case. That is no excuse. It was clear a tsunami would happen, this was not a hidden anonymous earthquake unfelt or undetected in the depths of an ocean. It was the biggest earthquake in 40 years and it happened under the ocean floor close to land. That device would mean nothing without a good warning system to warn the people it actually affects and evacuation plan. Even without such things, I still cannot believe that people were not warned this was coming. They could have run for it when they still had hours to do so. Nature is indiscriminate in where it strikes and who it affects and of course not everything can be predicted, but when you can the autorities should make sure people are prepared so they at least have a fighting chance. Not for the first time it takes a horrible disaster as a wake up call.

[oneyedchicklet]

On the History Channel, there is a program called "The Wrath of God". I remember seeing an episode about a Tsunami that hit Asia and Hawaii in the mid to late 40's. They said that since then, a warning system has been put into place to help save lives. I want someone to explain to me like I'm a two year old how something of this magnitude can not be detected. This is the 21st century. Our technology had greatly improved (or so we thought). We can put a man on the moon. We can track hurricanes from their start. They had warnings with another earthquake on the ocean floor days earlier. I also read the article last month about all the beached whales. Shouldn't this have sparked some sort of warning that something big was about to happen? We've all seen what kind of distruction and loss of life an earthquake on land can cause. I just can comprehend this at all.

As for the $40 million that Bush is spending on his Innaguaral Bash. That's a bunch of crap. Why so much, because the twins are old enough to drink this time? There are so many other things the money can be spent on. Don't even get me started on Welfare. We give people money to basically have more children that will end up being neglected. I'm a firm believer that Welfare should be a hand up, not a hand out.

My company is a multi billion dollar, world wide company and we work very closely with the United Way. So far, my company has donated $1 million in relief efforts and has agreed to match dollar for dollar any donations employees can raise. I was very happy to sign over a good chunk of my paycheck. I just wish there were more I could do except pray.

I've rambled long enough...Sorry, I was on a roll.



Love to All,

Barb

Now serving Bitter, party of one. Your table is ready.

[kukalaka]

The thing is, according to an article I read today it was detected (and really, how can you miss a quake like that). And there were warnings of Tsunamis. On the webpage of the US Geological Service five clicks into the site. They knew. (As did others, I'm not looking for a scapegoat here.) But appearantly nobody knew who to call. They don't have any entries in their address books for that part of the world (that's what one of them said). It really makes you wanna cry...

---

"[...] it is the inalienable right of every sentient being to live free, to pursue their dreams, to address wrongs within their own society without fear of retribution, to believe as their conscience requires in matters of faith, but also to respect the rights of others to believe differently or not at all." G'Kar (Babylon 5 - 5x01 - No Compromises)

[xita]

The thing that bugs me is that they only increased their contributions when they were criticized by the UN. Not only that, it's pretty clear their generosity is being driven by a political need to prove they aren't anti-islam.



And yes I agree about the "celebs" who should be jumping on this opportunity to help these people.



Also, yeah detection wasn't the problem it was how to propagate the information. I still agree that some television or radio station could have helped many people. It's terrible and I hope it never happens again.



On the other hand, I think there wasn't enough education about tsunamis. I know because I just worry about all natural disasters. I never walk on any beach here in southern california without thinking about what I'd do in case of tsunamis. I doubt that before this quake people would have worried about a tsunami but if you live in a coastal town and feel any kind of shake, you don't wait for a warning. You get away from the shore. Tsunamis can arrive within minutes or hours. You don't wait. Living in Los Angeles, we train for earthquakes all the time but there has been no tsunami education.

- - - - - - - - - - -
"Trust is a risk masquerading as a promise."

[jixer]

Hello Kittens-



Earthquakes are never going to be predictable in our lifetimes. Outside of the geological time scale the forces involved dwarf our ability to even measure them, let alone make a working model. Our most fearsome weapons would be a fleabite compared to the power of strong earthquake. The best thing we can do is help the living, pray for those beyond our help, and use our brains. Be an advocate for a worldwide network of wave measuring buoys with an international tsunami emergency radio frequency so information can travel outside the official channels when lives are at stake. This time it was in the Indian Ocean. Next time it might be the long predicted Canary Island undersea landslide or an 8.0 in the Mediterranean.





Jixer

[urnofosiris]

Agreed, clearly there was not much that could be done for the people who were struck by the earthquake directly, but the people that perished due to the tsunami´s that followed hours afterwards thousands of miles away could and should have been saved had they been warned in time. Somehow I feel if this earthquake had hit the Mediterranean, the beaches and coastal areas surrounding it would have been warned and evacuated. Not in time for everyone no doubt, but better than nothing.

Edited by: DrG at: 12/29/04 2:16 pm

[Gatito Grande]

Many years ago, I read James Michener's Hawaii: the description therein of a tsunami has stuck w/ me ever since. To wit: if you are EVER on a beach or coast, and the tide suddenly goes out, then RUN!!! (inland, for high ground, like there's no tomorrow---or else for you, there might not be ). I've read reports that children went out to look at fish (either out of poverty or just curiosity) flopping about on suddenly dry ground: clearly, the lesson I got from a less-than-first-rate novel, had not made it to the educational systems of these coastal/island nations.



GG Lots of people in power---around the world---have got some Hard Questions to Answer Out

[demelzie]

i agree gatito; its amazing what practical information you can learn from awful books that you cant from years of education



and thanks for the tip btw! i shall remember that one

[MOUSE]

Every time I turn the T.V. on, or pick up a paper there are more horrific picture's and stories. This disaster is going to take months of aid from everyone around the globe, to even get close to getting some normal life back into those affected areas.

I urge everyone in the kittenverse to donate whatever they can afford. It doesn't matter how small, any amount is a help.

I'm proud to know our local bank opened an account for people to donate, and in one day they raised $160,000.

$10 000 in the first 45mins.

Forget about governments. As one victim said, they will only do something if they can get political milage from their actions.

Come on kittens. We have done so well in the past.

[Dave V]

Donations to either the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: www.ifrc.org/helpnow/donate/donate_response.asp



or



Médecins Sans Frontières

www.msf.org/donations/index.cfm



seem promising. From experience and from what I've been able to research, they are organizations that will bring aid to where it's needed most, without wasting too much donated money on overhead or administration costs.

Edited by: Dave V at: 1/2/05 8:08 am

[Gatito Grande]

For some amazingly scary pictures, look here.



GG Remember, folks: tide goes out suddenly, HEAD FOR THE HILLS! (and don't wait around to take pics, no matter how extraordinary) Out

[emma peel]

Holy crap! God bless Sandra Bullock!



WASHINGTON (AFP) - Actress Sandra Bullock (news) has given one million dollars to the American Red Cross (news - web sites) to boost its tsunami relief campaign, the organisation said.

The funds from the Hollywood actress will be used to provide relief supplies, financial support and technical assistance, the American Red Cross said in a statement.

"Bullock contacted the Red Cross last week to make this, her second million dollar gift, to the American Red Cross," added the statement.

The star of "Speed" and "While You Were Sleeping" also gave one million dollars after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.

"Sandra continues to enable our lifesaving work and is a model for personal generosity," said Marsha J. Evans, the American Red Cross president.

---------------------

WOW!! Gotta admire that woman!!

[urnofosiris]

Bless her, I wish all the multi milionairs of this world would give amounts like that. There are plenty of them and (exaggerating a little here) the rest of the world helps pay their sometimes obscenely high salaries by buying their products, watching their shows or movies etc. It seems that the least they can do is give some back when it is needed most. How many millions do you need to live your life in comfort anyway. Kudos to her for actually doing it.