The Earthquake in China & The Cyclone in Myanmar

[AGBF]

There has been an elephant in the living room. As we discussed how many more delegates Barack Obama picked up in a primary or who John McCain might pick as a running mate, we were all reading about the mounting death tolls from the devastating cyclone that hit Myanmar (formerly Burma) and then the 7.9 point earthquake that hit China.

As of now, 135,000 are confirmed dead in Myanmar and 68,000 in China. An additional 20,000 are missing in China, so the death toll from that quake is sure to rise (as it seems to every few hours). I cannot even wrap my mind around numbers like that.

I thought that there needed to be a thread aout these events here, lest we just bury our heads in the sand while the world went on without us.

Deborah

 

[Erin]

I think that''s why it''s hard to talk about. The soccer stadium at Rio de Janeiro seats 200,000 people. Even knowing that, it''s hard to imagine how many people that is. It''s too bad we don''t see more Americans pulling together to organize aid/relief. If we don''t do anything to help, we''re basically just sitting on our hands saying, Oh, that''s awful. What should we do, Pricescope members?

 

[AGBF]

Date: 5/28/2008 9:14:09 AM

Author: Starset Princess

What should we do, Pricescope members?

This Google blog is a possible starting point. It lists several groups working in Myanmar and in China to which members could donate money and it also posts news updates.

http://blog.google.org/2008/05/responding-to-cyclone-nargis-in-myanmar.html


Deborah

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Date: 5/28/2008 9:14:09 AM
Author: Starset Princess
I think that''s why it''s hard to talk about. The soccer stadium at Rio de Janeiro seats 200,000 people. Even knowing that, it''s hard to imagine how many people that is. It''s too bad we don''t see more Americans pulling together to organize aid/relief. If we don''t do anything to help, we''re basically just sitting on our hands saying, Oh, that''s awful. What should we do, Pricescope members?

I think this is very complicated by the governments involved, Starset. We aren''t just allowed to run in there and set up aid.

As sick as I am about the China situation, I really fear that the people in Burma are going to be more at risk of disease and futher crisis due to their government''s lack of concern for the people.