RPing in the real world

[Meteorola]

As much fun as politics and disasters can be when we go around role playing, we all need to remember that these events are a source of an unimaginable amount of suffering. Although my job brings me into constant contact with this, it is easy for all of us to forget the implications of the events that get played out as 'just a game'.

 

Support -whether it is time or money- the aid that is now flowing into the nations around the Indian Ocean.

 

EDIT: This will be the most expensive disaster- natural or man made in the history of the world.

[Stoned Smurfs]

here's some numbers that will make you stop and think too...

 

77,000 dead and expected to rise.

1.3 million homeless or misplaced due to massive destruction of villiges and coastal towns.

25,000 of the dead are expected to be under the age of 16.

millions of people, cities and towns without food, water or electricity.

 

these are some horrible times but it does seem good that nations, dispite polictical differences, are coming to aid. i have a friend in Sri Lanka that has yet to email or contact me. may God or who/whatever you believe in be with you at this time of need.

 

 

A very somber,

~Pot~

[ellezelles]

in my opinion it will go up at at least 125.000 persons. And the reason why so many kids are killed is because of their speed is slower than adults, When running away from something wich might kill you, youngster will be overrun by adults.

[Byzantium Nova]

125.000 may be right. But it is just beginning. If the disease epidemies will spread there will be another 100.000 or more dead.

 

Btw. Did anyone notice the other earthquake in Antarctic which was nearly as big. There was nobody to get hurt though.

 

Hopefully your friend is only unable to contact anyone Pot.

[ellezelles]

125.000 may be right. But it is just beginning. If the disease epidemies will spread there will be another 100.000 or more dead.

 

Btw. Did anyone notice the other earthquake in Antarctic which was nearly as big. There was nobody to get hurt though.

 

Hopefully your friend is only unable to contact anyone Pot.

That number I mentioned was indeed just the people killed by the tsunami itself, npt by his sideeffects.

I did not notice the one in Antarctica.

 

Best wishes for your friend pot, and indeed, let's just hope he has just a communicating problem.

[Lord John]

My Kids have already started collecting money around town for the victims.

@ Pot: Hope your friend's OK. I got a friend vacationing in Thailand, haven't heard from her yet either. Like an awefull lot of other people I'm hoping it's a communication problem

[Tamurin]

Here's a question:

 

Do you think that the rest of the world would care so much, if there hadn't been so many dead tourists? About 1000 Germans died there and I think, that a great deal of the attention here only exists because of these 1000.

[Phil VII]

1000 germans? thats quite alot for tourists, only about 20-30 brits died... but yeah, i do see what you mean, although i'm pretty sure its one of the biggest disasters ive ever heard of, last count i heard was yesterday evening was of 100,000 dead, and thousends more unaccounted for...

[Stoned Smurfs]

well its 119,000 dead now and this is from the wave only. i did read an article about the mass movement of animals to higher grounds within the hours of the wave. even a animal reserve reported animal movement in the park before the wave hit. also read about a guy who lobbied for funding in 1999 to set up a quake warning system in the Indian Ocean but failed to get enough. haven't heard of alot of americans casualties but bush has opened his pockets, one of the very few smart moves he makes.

[ellezelles]

well its 119,000 dead now and this is from the wave only. i did read an article about the mass movement of animals to higher grounds within the hours of the wave. even a animal reserve reported animal movement in the park before the wave hit. also read about a guy who lobbied for funding in 1999 to set up a quake warning system in the Indian Ocean but failed to get enough. haven't heard of alot of americans casualties but bush has opened his pockets, one of the very few smart moves he makes.

He is not opening his pockets that far.

[Orioni]

1000 germans? thats quite alot for tourists, only about 20-30 brits died.

Sweden seems to be missing 1.600 compatriots.

 

haven't heard of alot of americans casualties but bush has opened his pockets, one of the very few smart moves he makes.

Bush said he would donate $28 million. That's about $28 for everyone without a home. (Wanna see how much Dubya is spending on Iraq?)

[Stoned Smurfs]

well i read that it was 35 mil and we all know about the price of war, we walked down that road many many times. 35 mil or 28 its better than nothing right? believe me i am the last one to defend bush but he is atleast tryin a tad. i know we are not among the top contributors but atleast we are contributing. other countrys have yet to step up.

 

Pledges of U.S. assistance remained at $35 million, but parallel Pentagon spending was spiraling upward and could not be calculated quickly. The relief included the arrival of four C-130 cargo planes in Thailand loaded with food, water and sheltering material, and a large supply of rice and other food and assistance was due to arrive in Indonesia by New Year's Eve, a senior U.S. official said.

 

 

Several European countries far outdistanced the United States in pledges. They include Britain, $95 million; Sweden, $75.5 million; Spain, $68 million and France, $57 million.

 

 

The World Bank announced it would make $250 million available as an initial contribution for emergency reconstruction. The amount is for the next six months.

 

 

During his visit to the Thai embassy, Powell spoke anew of the death and destruction spawned by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis. He told reporters that in the previous 24 hours, a half-dozen planes from the U.S. Agency for International Development had landed or were en route to nations hit by the tsunamis.

 

 

Powell also alluded to the roughly $35 million in emergency aid already committed as ``just a beginning.''

 

[Niederoestereich]

Well the Australian government is donating $60million plus various other aid at the momment. i.e medical teams, helicopters, 5 c-130s and a Naval supply ship. Plus the people here have donated alot. Still, they need all the aid they can recieve small or large.

May god rest the dead souls.

[Stoned Smurfs]

Still, they need all the aid they can recieve small or large.

May god rest the dead souls.

amen

[Tamurin]

Well, defense systems against natural catastrophes are only interesting AFTER one happened.

 

Think about defense systems against meteors. In theory, we could have one since we invented space rockets and nuclear weapons. But if a meteor shows up tomorrow, we have more or less nothing.

 

 

About Indonesia etc.: Let's just hope, that help will arrive soon; or we will see the whole region suffer from diseases.

[Stoned Smurfs]

Bush announced today that the US will contribute $350 million. he went a little deeper in his pockets eh? no amount of money will replace the loss of life.

[Lord John]

Bush announced today that the US will contribute $350 million. he went a little deeper in his pockets eh? no amount of money will replace the loss of life.

Had no choice even NGO's were donating more

Happy New year Pot

[Stoned Smurfs]

Bush announced today that the US will contribute $350 million. he went a little deeper in his pockets eh? no amount of money will replace the loss of life.

Had no choice even NGO's were donating more

Happy New year Pot

thanks john, happy new year too you too!

 

NGO's we're donating more than 350 million? didnt know that.

[Meteorola]

No aid is going to Africa- and they need some too. Not nearly as much as India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, but thier crys for help are not being heard by the press or worldwide governments.

 

In addition this is the wet season in Indonesia.

 

The death toll may hit 1/4 of a million people (250,000) from the wave alone.

[Lord John]

Bush announced today that the US will contribute $350 million. he went a little deeper in his pockets eh? no amount of money will replace the loss of life.

Had no choice even NGO's were donating more

Happy New year Pot

thanks john, happy new year too you too!

 

NGO's we're donating more than 350 million? didnt know that.

No no no what i ment was that NGO's were donating more than the original 35 mil.

Sorry bout the confusion.

i think it's time for me to put down the bottle

[Orioni]

i think it's time for me to put down the bottle

Yeah, that sounds like a good plan John.

[Lord John]

@Orioni

Yea party's over back to work. Over my head in Galvoades,guiduilles,and poutines.

 

[Mongol-Swedes]

The death toll may hit 1/4 of a million people (250,000) from the wave alone.

 

And just imagine what we'll get of the death toll from rampant spreading of diseases, 'cause you know that aid's gonna get hoarded. American charities do it all the time, anyway (Bush did request aid from the private sector on this).

[Phil VII]

hmm, we had 3 minites of silance today at noon, apparently they did it all over the EU

[Mongol-Swedes]

I think in the next room I heard something like they're going to have that over the 'America Family Radio'(Christian broadcasting syndicate) around noon, GMT minus 0600 hours.