AFP photo
Artist Sudarshan Patnaik of India completes a sand sculpture in memory of the victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia. The tsunami-torn Asian nations need all the help that they can get. Even the Bush regime's pledged $350 million -- which, after worldwide outcry over the Bush regime's stinginess, was upped from $35 million, which had been upped from the pathetically originally announced $15 million -- is only a small fraction of what the devastated Asian nations need.
HELP!
I was making light of the disaster in Asia at work this past week -- it's my gallows humor, which I fine-tuned as a hospice nurse in the '90s -- and my co-workers chided me.
"There's nothing that I can do for them from here," I defended myself, and although that's how I felt at the time -- helpless to help -- I just now I gave $25 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies* for Asian tsunami relief. (Paradoxically, I highly doubt that any of my politically correct co-workers will donate a fucking penny. That's how it always works -- Americans are generous with their words of sympathy, but not with their pocketbooks.)
The Asian nations that were struck by the earthquake-caused tsunami can use every dollar they get; rebuilding after the worst natural disaster in decades will cost billions.
(To get an idea of how comparatively paltry the $15 million that the Bush regime originally announced that it was going to give to Asia for tsunami relief, U.S. corporations are planning to spend between $40 million and $50 million on Bush's inaugural ceremonies this month! [And I'm sure they'll get nothing from BushCheneyCorp in return!] And had the world not accurately called the Bush regime "stingy," the Bush regime most certainly would not have broken down and decided to give a more reasonable amount of $350 million. Of course, even $350 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the billions and billions of dollars that the Bush regime has spent to destroy Iraq. The Bush regime finds unlimited resources with which to destroy nations, but has to be pressured to help nations.)
While I was at it, I gave the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies $25 for humanitarian aid in Iraq. I figured that it was the least I could do, given the fact that my nation is the cause of the humanitarian crises in Iraq, even though I opposed the Bush regime's illegal, immoral, imperialistic and unprovoked March 2003 invasion of Iraq even before the invasion began (it was crystal clear in the months leading up to the invasion that the Bush regime, while it was making its "case" to the United Nations, was going to invade Iraq no matter fucking what).
I'm not rich, but I could afford to give $50 to those who need it more than I do.
I encourage you to do the same, if you can.
Links to some organizations that are helping the Asian tsunami victims are here.
*"The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions," the organization's Web site states.
"Founded in 1919, the International Federation comprises 181 member Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, a Secretariat in Geneva and more than 60 delegations strategically located to support activities around the world. There are more societies in formation. The Red Crescent is used in place of the Red Cross in many Islamic countries.
"The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. Vulnerable people are those who are at greatest risk from situations that threaten their survival, or their capacity to live with an acceptable level of social and economic security and human dignity. Often, these are victims of natural disasters, poverty brought about by socio-economic crises, refugees, and victims of health emergencies."
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