Friday, December 31, 2004
Tsunami Update of Sorts
A couple more tsunami items. I haven’t gone out of my way to cover it, apart from being one of the first blogs to note the event initially, courtesy of having been sleepless at the right time. Too many others are doing far more than I ever could. But still…
First, it doesn’t surprise me that Burma would be hiding the true scope. The government is of the irrational, hyper control freak variety. They’re in the right place to have damage and casualties as massive as some of the other countries.
With pictures like the top ones here, it would be no surprise if the deaths exceed 400,000 in just that one region. I’ve been surprised at how low the figures were running, at the risk of sounding morbid or unhopeful.
It’s interesting seeing this firsthand report from Helmut Kohl, who was in Sri Lanka when it hit.
For those who weren’t turned off completely from donating anything beyond tax dollars by Sri Lanka’s rejection of Israelis, Command Post continues to be as good a source as anywhere of links on how to help. They’re keeping that post locked at the top of the page. For other news and links, go to the main page and scroll past it. McGehee has a similar post, much briefer, that points to the Amazon donation page. That has just been amazing.
But then, Chuck can tell you in great detail how stingy Americans are not. Pay no attention to any daft pricks at the UN or in the communist organs somewhat left-biased major media.
Update:
There are some excellent on-site stories from the affected areas at India Uncut. I’m not surprised about the problem with excess clothing donations. That always happens in disasters. Usually the best thing is cash, unless there is a specific, requested need (from a source “on the ground” in the know), not stuff.