Where is OUR support?

Saudi Arabia ready to help

Saudi Arabia said it is prepared to help the US in any way it could to ease the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the official SPA agency reported.

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Venezuela offers aid, oil, food and equipment

Mass of International Aid offers

As the toll from Hurricane Katrina continues to climb, more than 20 nations and the United Nations have offered assistance to the United States, a country more often seen leading aid efforts rather than receiving help.

While seemingly reluctant to accept foreign offers for help, saying that the US could "take care of it", US President George W Bush readily called on his father, George Bush Snr, and former president Bill Clinton to drive private fundraising initiatives.

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Are you supposed to provide a LINK to post on this particular forum? Is that a rule? Just wondering.

We have about 10 threads or more going right now just for the purpose of bashing....most by the same people.

NothingButTheBlood said:

I personally don't think we should take any outside help. At least not the Government. If private agencies want to take donations that's no problem.

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Yeah, you go ahead and tell the people down in LA/MS/AL this.

Seriously people, open your eyes. There was news reports days ago indicating that numerous other countries are offering to help. If that's not good enough for you, dig into your pockets and give a little more than the five bucks you gave at the grocery store that's collecting for The Red Cross.

What I'm seriously peeved as is after 9/11, this governement has nothing in place for distasters/emergencies, etc. They're at a loss about what to do and how to do it. If that doesn't open up the eyes of people in this country, I don't know what else will.

Every time I listen to NPR or read CNN or the BBC, I get so angry. I'm so frustrated. I wish there was something I could do to help asside from giving lots of money, which has already been done. I wish there was something available where they would say, hop in your cars, drive to this city and you can tangibly HELP. I feel so useless up here in the midwest.

Caelda said:

Yeah, you go ahead and tell the people down in LA/MS/AL this.

Seriously people, open your eyes. There was news reports days ago indicating that numerous other countries are offering to help. If that's not good enough for you, dig into your pockets and give a little more than the five bucks you gave at the grocery store that's collecting for The Red Cross.

What I'm seriously peeved as is after 9/11, this governement has nothing in place for distasters/emergencies, etc. They're at a loss about what to do and how to do it. If that doesn't open up the eyes of people in this country, I don't know what else will.

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So you don't think the American people will come through for their own? Shame on you.

SackLunch said:

I'm very angry right now. We are the wealthiest nation on earth and we can't even provide for our own people. NBC Today show was just airing reports on how horrible the conditions are at the New Orleans Convention Center, and how they STILL have no food or water. People are DYING. The NBC Today Show news anchor just said he saw THREE people dying JUST THIS MORNING.

What the HECK is going on? What if this were a terrorist attack? We'd be screwed! And Bush is supposed to be the protector of the people? Obviously he's proven to be the complete opposite. Worse, the official word from the White House is that we are NOT REQUESTING the aid of other countires. Canada, France, Venezuela, Russia - all have offered help. But we rejected it. Why?

Why can't we care for our OWN PEOPLE here in the RICHEST COUNTRY ON EARTH!!

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1. We have 3 states that need aid. Not the typical one or 2. Not the typical
few towns in those states either. We have wide spread disaster in all 3.
2. We have a town that is still filling with water. Diverting resourses from
relief effort.
3. We have people that are shooting at and looting relief efforts.
4.We have areas that can not be reached except by boat or helicopters, and a limited supply of them.
5. We are talking about 30-50,000 people in need of aid. When in our history have we had this many people spread over this much area?

I will agree, we should accept help that can get to the victims fast.
I question that Russia and France could get help here very fast, but help should be accepted. This is alot bigger then anyone was ready for.

We need troops, aid workers, construction crews and medical assistance to
rush into the areas. Everyone in the area should have water and food in their vehicles. But then they are at risk of being attacked or robbed. So we would have to have an armed escort.

BIG QUESTION:
The news person said they saw 3 people dying, Did they offer aid to those that needed it or did they just describe the conditions.

Reporters seem to be well nurished and well hydrated. If the reporters can get in and out, why can't they(the reporters) bring food and water in?

The press is good at showing poor conditions, but it seems that they are
walking through the devistation with a cold coke in the drink holder, and a candy bar in the glove box.

Anyone near this area should be getting people out or getting food in.
Not telling how this poor person lost everything in the hurricane and is slowly dying because they can't get a drink.


It's easy to point a finger at how things could be done better, how about gettng off you easy chair, and leave that climate controlled office and help out.
COmplain later, and figure out how to do it better later.
People are suffering. Talk won't help. Action is needed. Food is needed.
Water is needed.
We need relief workers are needed. Anyone to clear roads, man boats,
screw the goverment, If you can help go down there. If you go take more food and water then you can use.
I am volunteering with the VA I work at. Haven't heard if we are going yet.

But if you live nearby get in there. Transport food, water, tools anything to clear roads or help people. The Goverment is us, we the people,
Police and soldiers aren't going to stop people helping out, ecspecially if they are busy keeping the peace.
If you are like me, live to far away, find out how to get supplies together
for these victims. Anything and everything is needed.

Stop saying "why" and ask what we can do to help.
Hate the President later. Promote your politics later.

diamond717 said:

The point is the other nations do not seem to care about us, and definitely not the same as our country cares about others. We are EXPECTED to help out in disasters around the world, and give our all. It should be a "two-way street" .... or are we actually the lesser citizens of the world? The scope of this disaster is phenomenally huge, and while there are thousands of rescues that have gone on since the devastation, there are thousands more to be done. The neighboring countries' silence in this is deafening. They have yet to even say a word of condolence!

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What news reports have you been watching and reading, nations all over the world have offered their condolences... there is no deafening silence..perhaps a hearing aid is in order

Billnew said:

I question that Russia and France could get help here very fast, but help should be accepted.

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Actually France has already gathered aid on one of its islands, much closer to the US, the Martinique.

Sorry, I don't think this kind of help was offered, though.

wanderingone said:

You can't just show up, you become another body that has to be looked after by the limited law enforcement down there now.

Unless you have specific skills that organizations can use and can tell you exactly where you can go it's not reasonable to jump on a plane and head to that area.

I believe the red cross has listings of organizations that will take your information and contact you if they can use your skills.

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Specific skills like, having a car, being able to drive? I've heard almost enough complaints, not from you personally, but complaints that people were stranded waiting for busses made by people who, since they can afford a computer and internet, probably have a car and can drive...

I live near Houston and the Astrodome can no longer take individuals from New Orleans.

I wonder if these people will just stay in Houston? How in the world does one start over with nothing? It's like turning homeless in an instant.

Ginny said:

I live near Houston and the Astrodome can no longer take individuals from New Orleans.

I wonder if these people will just stay in Houston? How in the world does one start over with nothing? It's like turning homeless in an instant.

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A woman with apartment buildings in Houston is ofering to house vicitims free for several months to get them a start. She has also found places willing to donate furniture. I will look for a link. She is working with other apartment owners to do the same since those apartments are empty anyways.

Ginny said:

I live near Houston and the Astrodome can no longer take individuals from New Orleans.

I wonder if these people will just stay in Houston? How in the world does one start over with nothing? It's like turning homeless in an instant.

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Exactly the problem, these folks are for the most part are people who were already having a difficult time making ends meet. It will be years before New Orleans can recover in a meaningful way. State governments should have an estimate of how many citizens they can absorb. States that currently take refugees from other countries have plans every year for how many they can accept... some have a plan for less than a dozen, and some can take thousands. We already know how to plan for the impact of an unexpected influx of new residents we should be able to plan for the relocation of our own citizens.

I cannot imagine facing such a crisis... I've lived paycheck to paycheck, I've been really down and out, but I've never had to face wondering where I could get food for my kids or a clean drinking water.

Does the Red Cross need blood in this crisis? During 9/11, they asked for blood because burn victims need lots of it, but once they knew they probably weren't going to find people alive, they stopped asking for blood and just asked for money. In situations like this, if you can't afford to give lots of cash, blood is usually a welcome donation.
kamikat

Ryder said:

Specific skills like, having a car, being able to drive? I've heard almost enough complaints, not from you personally, but complaints that people were stranded waiting for busses made by people who, since they can afford a computer and internet, probably have a car and can drive...

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Thousands of people are looking for a way out... go ahead and drive your car into that without a plan or supervision... and choose who you'll help... you can't just show up, you add to the chaos...like I said I believe the red cross is a contact for information on how to offer tangible aid.

can you imagine going there offering a ride, and having someone pull a gun on you telling you that they will be the one to get in?

(YIKES)

He is very mad, too.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katrina.nagin/index.html

Ginny said:

can you imagine going there offering a ride, and having someone pull a gun on you telling you that they will be the one to get in?

(YIKES)

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That's what I'm talking about in terms of offering help. Imagine you are a woman with small children who haven't had clean drinking water, formula diapers, food for hours or days... and somebody shows up to offer a ride? I'd like to believe I'd act appropriately, but I might just beat up anybody who tried to get in the car ahead of me. I'm not excusing the lawless behavior, but there are some behaviors I get.

hippie said:

Get mad at NBC and the other networks. I've seen the nightly news for a couple of days now and on each broadcast there are newscasters reporting on the suffering but it doesn't appear as if they are doing anything to help. All I see/hear are complaints about how the government isn't doing enough!

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