 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / January 2005(OT) Disaster Relief... Attention Canadians
To all Canadians: The Canadian military has a unit known as D.A.R.T. (Disaster Assistance Response Team). As the name suggests, they are a rapid deployment group with: Doctors, SAR Techs, water purification teams, mobile kitchens & shelters. In short, everything that SE Asia currently needs. They are still on the ground in Canada, while Our Minister of National Defence, Bill Graham sends observers to the affected area to 'a.ses the situation'. Hmmm, thousands will die from drinking contaminated water, we have water purification teams ready to go.... You can see how this would be a complex decision for him... :-( I URGE all Canadians to e-mail Mr. Graham ( Graham.B@parl.gc.ca ) And ask him why the D.A.R.T. unit is still cooling it's heels in Canada. Mabey if we light a big enough fire under his a.s, he'll let them go do what they're trained & ready to do. Thanks  SignatureMathew En Vino Veritas > To all Canadians: > The Canadian military has a unit known as D.A.R.T. (Disaster Assistance [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Thanks Yes - I heard him on the news. Said they wanted to be asked or some such thing. That it was an "elite" force not suitable for all circumstances. 125,000 dead people and massive devastation doesn't seem to be an appropriate use? I suspect that we don't have the planes to fly them over. I am concentrating my donations on NGO's. Susan M Otis and Chester > To all Canadians: > The Canadian military has a unit known as D.A.R.T. (Disaster Assistance [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Thanks > Yes - I heard him on the news. Said they wanted to be asked or some such > thing. That it was an "elite" force not suitable for all circumstances. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Susan M > Otis and Chester Yep, I suspect it's the planes. We usually have to charter planes or rely on the Americans to get our cargo anywhere. Sad. >> To all Canadians: >> The Canadian military has a unit known as D.A.R.T. (Disaster Assistance [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >> >> Thanks > > Yes - I heard him on the news. Said they wanted to be asked or some such > > thing. That it was an "elite" force not suitable for all circumstances. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Yep, I suspect it's the planes. We usually have to charter planes or rely on > the Americans to get our cargo anywhere. Sad. .... Apparenty you are right. A Co-worker told me, that he saw a little news blurb on it on CBC. Our 'rapid deployment' team, requires Russian Anitolov aircraft to move them around... Bloody Typical. Anyway, please still e-mail our Defence Minister, bug him about why our 'rapid' deployment team, can't rapidly deploy itself... & Give generously to the NGO of your choice.... SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas >>> Yes - I heard him on the news. Said they wanted to be asked or some > such [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > 'rapid' deployment team, can't rapidly deploy itself... & Give generously to > the NGO of your choice.... I would think that would be of great concern to Canadians as they could not be rapidly deployed even in your own country should the need arise! > "Bill Stock" <Me7@Privacy.net> wrote in message > > Yep, I suspect it's the planes. We usually have to charter planes or rely [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > blurb on it on CBC. Our 'rapid deployment' team, requires Russian Anitolov > aircraft to move them around... Bloody Typical seems like those large enough planes, and planes that can take the really long distances,are in great demand all over for all types of transport. One of those Russian planes are taking off from Sweden right now, bringing more freeze containers and coffins to Thailand, in addition to some sent already. Other plane problems here concerned transporting the more hurt survivors who could not take the trip back to Sweden sitting. The planes available here that could be modified with stretchers, MD 80s, need several stops and more than 20 hrs for a one way trip. :: lewe ------------------------------------------------------------- lewemi at yahoo dot se || cat pics: photos.yahoo.com/lewemi > Yes - I heard him on the news. Said they wanted to be asked or some such > thing. That it was an "elite" force not suitable for all circumstances. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Susan M > Otis and Chester Canada has no aeroplanes??? I think not. Try harder, I say. Tweed >> Yes - I heard him on the news. Said they wanted to be asked or some such >> thing. That it was an "elite" force not suitable for all circumstances. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Tweed The rubber band has broken and we're still waiting for the replacement. But we don't want any UK rubbers, after the sub incident. >> Yes - I heard him on the news. Said they wanted to be asked or some such >> thing. That it was an "elite" force not suitable for all circumstances. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Tweed I know my two cousins who flew for the Canadian Air Force were missed when they retired, but this is ridiculous. > Canada has no aeroplanes??? I think not. Try harder, I say. The government doesn't have ones big enough to transport the equipment this team uses. They need to either borrow them from allies, or rent them. Right now, every other country that wants to transport such large amounts to the devastated area is also trying to rent the same small number of superlarge airplanes. Moreover, there are bottlenecks at the few (or only??) airports in the area where these monster planes can land. I'm not convinced that sending that team in right now is necessarily the best use of the money. That doesn't mean I'm letting my government off the hook for their cutbacks in military spending, especially those involving helicopters, which are of far wider utility than oversized cargo planes. SignatureCheryl Well, this Canadian living in England has just emailed the political head of our DND, prompted not least by the extraordinary and unprecedented response of the sometimes insular and xenophobic British public. ?45 million raised already from public donations, to which another ?50m will be added by the UK government. Newsreel footage of aid flying out yesterday (mostly in Russian Antonovs for some obscure reason) must have helped, and the usually sensationalist and trivia-obsessed press are genuinely getting behind the effort. Well done, UK. Come on Canada. The debt moratorium is a start, but as you rightly say, Mathew, it won't provide drinking water tomorrow. May I offer another suggestion, perhaps Utopian, but not unreasonable, that all shareholders and major customers urge the multi-national oil companies to pledge that all aviation, marine and road fuel used in the relief effort will be provided for free? I can't provide any useful links, but those of us who qualify should not have too much trouble making ourselves heard. A Happy New Year to you all, Ian > To all Canadians: > The Canadian military has a unit known as D.A.R.T. (Disaster Assistance [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Thanks It's difficult for a xenophobic Brit like myself to say this, but http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4138763.stm - Thank you USA, you have risen to the challenge. I salute you. SignatureZ 51? 37' 23" N, 3? 56' 27" W > It's difficult for a xenophobic Brit like myself to say this, but > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4138763.stm - Thank you USA, > you have risen to the challenge. I salute you. Z-- Every now and then we do something right. Thanks for acknowledging it. (I am not one of those simpering softies but I actually boo-hooed out of the blue today watching a CNN report about the tsunami. It is too horrible, too tragic to really grasp.) > It's difficult for a xenophobic Brit like myself to say this, but > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4138763.stm - Thank you USA, > you have risen to the challenge. I salute you. Thank you for the kind words. I have read of several other countries stepping up to the plate, but I have not yet seen anything about contributions from the oil-rich awash in cash countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait or from China, with its booming economy. I don't know if that is because of a bias of our U.S. news sources or because they have not chosen to join in. I'm watching for a response from the U.N. as well. Has anyone seen any reports regarding these countries and that organization? My heart goes out to the victims and the survivors of this terrible event. I'm gratified to see the U.S. take a large part in the recovery. Annie >> It's difficult for a xenophobic Brit like myself to say this, but >> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4138763.stm - Thank you USA, [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I'm gratified to see the U.S. take a large part in the recovery. > Annie I know they've pledged some and I know that Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has ordered a delegation from the Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation to Thailand to assist. Now how much that includes, I don't know. I found that out from the racing trades. Also racing Magnate Frank Stronach has donated $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross and for one week, beginning on Friday, Ashford Stud in Kentucky, Coolmore Australia, and Coolmore Stud in Ireland will accept bids for nominations to each of their stallions, including Sadler¹s Wells in Ireland, Fusaichi Pegasus in Kentucky, and Encosta de Lago in Australian with all proceeds to go to the tsunami victims which should pull in a good bit. > Thank you for the kind words. I have read of several other > countries stepping up to the plate, but I have not yet seen [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > of this terrible event. I'm gratified to see the U.S. take a > large part in the recovery. I heard that the first contribution amounts from us were low because it wasn't yet apparent the sheer amount of damage and loss of life. I'm also glad it went up to 350M. I heard today that Japan has contributed the largest single donation from a country - $500M. My heart goes out to them, too, and I just can't listen to some of the news reports anymore. Kripes, now they're reporting that some tourists are sunbathing on the beaches again rather than pitching in to help cleanup. Argggg.. SignatureCheryl >> Thank you for the kind words. I have read of several other >> countries stepping up to the plate, but I have not yet seen [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > tourists are sunbathing on the beaches again rather than pitching > in to help cleanup. Argggg.. But the Thais want and need that. THey are desparately afraid people will stop coming and that is their main industry so it will cost them even more if they lose that industry (height of the season) and those resorts are not damaged. Some of their sites are pleading to please change your reservations to another resort if you were scheduled for one of the ones that were damaged or destroyed. I think it would be very hard, but the locals depend upon the tourist industry. >>> Thank you for the kind words. I have read of several other >>> countries stepping up to the plate, but I have not yet seen [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > damaged or destroyed. I think it would be very hard, but the locals depend > upon the tourist industry. I understand that completely. They *do* rely on the tourist industry. I'm sorry about this but I wouldn't put my life on the line to support their tourist industry just now. Not for about two years actually. Even then it would be unlikely. To be realistic, their tourist trade will be gone for a long time. Would you fly out to one of the affected countries tomorrow for a holiday? I wouldn't. Call me chicken if you want. Tweed > >>> Thank you for the kind words. I have read of several other > >>> countries stepping up to the plate, but I have not yet seen [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > I wouldn't. > Call me chicken if you want. Why? Because you think it would happen again? I highly doubt that. It would not happen again in the same place. And what's the point in waiting for 2 years, it could happen after that too. It could happen anywhere, any time. The only way to be safe is to never go anywhere. But then you could have a major earthquake right by your house too! I know how much Thailand relies on tourism. I have lived here for 4 years. But I still think it's awful for people to lounge on the beaches that are close by to where the damage is. I think they should go to resorts on the other coast and let the rebuilding begin. I know Thais and I'm sure that they will have it all fixed up by next year and I know tourists will come back. It's too great of a country to stay away :-) > Why? Because you think it would happen again? I highly doubt that. > It would not happen again in the same place. And what's the point in [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > and I know tourists will come back. It's too great of a country to > stay away :-) I think the really awfull thing is the reports of some tourist complaining about the service since the tsunami. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. > > Why? Because you think it would happen again? I highly doubt that. > > It would not happen again in the same place. And what's the point in [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > I think the really awfull thing is the reports of some tourist > complaining about the service since the tsunami. Seriously??? That's horrible! It's bad enough that they are lying on the beach right near where they are still cleaning up bodies, but to complain about the service is downright evil. I don't want the tourism industry ruined in Thailand and I think tourists should continue to come, but there are plenty of unaffected areas that are not close to the disaster zone where people can go. If they want to go right to the disaster zone, they should be helping out, not lounging. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > > > Why? Because you think it would happen again? I highly doubt > that. [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > -- > Britta I agree completely! Joy > Call me chicken if you want. > > Tweed No, we just call you the chicken lady. ;-) SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. > But the Thais want and need that. THey are desparately afraid > people will stop coming and that is their main industry so it [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > damaged or destroyed. I think it would be very hard, but the > locals depend upon the tourist industry. The news story said the complaints about tourists not helping came directly from the victims. SignatureCheryl > The news story said the complaints about tourists not helping came > directly from the victims. I'm always a little reluctant to generalize on the basis of a single, or even a few, media reports. I never know how many people - victims, in this case - were interviewed, what they were asked, and how the choice was made of which ones to include. There may well have been victims expressing every opinion, from wanting the foreigners to help to wanting them to stay and employ people who have lost everything. For all I know, those 'tourists' might have been relief workers taking a break - or people who have no useful skills, not even the ability to speak the local language, who can't get out and who are nervous about being indoors. I tend to be a bit cynical and suspicious about media reports that aren't strictly factual, as in 'I saw a plane land and I was told it carried relief supplies' or 'One person I asked really resented those tourists lying about'. SignatureCheryl > I'm always a little reluctant to generalize on the basis of a > single, or even a few, media reports. I never know how many > people - victims, in this case - were interviewed, what they > were asked, and how the choice was made of which ones to include I know, Cheryl. That was my whole point, that I don't even like listening to the news updates anymore. The media come up with stories like this just to report on something. Any something. SignatureCheryl > I know, Cheryl. That was my whole point, that I don't even like > listening to the news updates anymore. The media come up with stories > like this just to report on something. Any something. I guess I should have read what you wrote more carefully. I certainly agree with you on that. SignatureCheryl > > It's difficult for a xenophobic Brit like myself to say this, but > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4138763.stm - Thank you USA, [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I'm gratified to see the U.S. take a large part in the recovery. > Annie I heard on the news that Shrub & Kofi Annan have had a meeting. The UN (as ineficient as they are) Are currently working on co-ordinating their relief efforts with the various Govt. forces & NGOs allready arriving in the reigon. SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas > I heard on the news that Shrub & Kofi Annan have had a meeting. The UN (as > ineficient as they are) Are currently working on co-ordinating their [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat > En Vino Veritas It's good to read that this really is a world-wide effort to send relief. I guess it's asking too much for world leaders (including my country, the U.S.) to realize that having worked together on this tragedy, they actually could work together for other positive outcomes wherever people are suffering. Annie > to join in. I'm watching for a response from the U.N. as well. > Has anyone seen any reports regarding these countries and that organization? > My heart goes out to the victims and the survivors of this terrible event. > I'm gratified to see the U.S. take a large part in the recovery. > Annie I know the UN is already in action. There was some concern as to whether the new US-led committee would be just adding another layer of bureaucracy to the already-existing and already active UN procedures for dealing with logistics. A Canadian government spokesperson assured the media that this new group would be working *with* the UN, not duplicating their efforts, or slowing things down. I haven't heard about the other countries you mentioned, but I get the impression that everyone is helping - the reporters aren't listing specific countries, but saying things lik 'aid pouring in from around the world'. Unfortunately, they are also reporting on the difficulties of actually getting aid in when most of the infrastructure is destroyed and in some areas most of the local government officials, who would normally be in charge of organizing things and who would have invaluable local information, are dead or missing. SignatureCheryl >> It's difficult for a xenophobic Brit like myself to say this, but >> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4138763.stm - Thank you [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > I'm gratified to see the U.S. take a large part in the recovery. > Annie I haven't seen anything on the news about aid offered by the countries you mention, but it probably wouldn't be mentioned in the UK, anyway. We are kept aware of what other European countries are contributing, and also the USA. Even though our Govt has upped the ante, the British public have beaten them again by today. I'm proud. I hope it might shame the government to give even more, particularly in the person-power department, they seem to be short of that right now. Tweed <-- so lucky to be safe > I haven't seen anything on the news about aid offered by the countries you > mention, but it probably wouldn't be mentioned in the UK, anyway. We are [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > particularly in the person-power department, they seem to be short of that > right now. Finns have also donated more privately than our government. The news told about one person donating 350,000 euros (about 474,000 USD). In her traditional new year's speech on TV, our president didn't speak of anything else but the catastrophe. Usually, the president's new year's speech lists things that happened in the past year and what is going to happen in the new year. We had a day of mourning here in Finland yesterday, with flags at half-mast all day. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki > Finns have also donated more privately than our government. The news > told about one person donating 350,000 euros (about 474,000 USD). > In her traditional new year's speech on TV, our president didn't speak > of anything else but the catastrophe. Usually, the president's new > year's speech lists things that happened in the past year and what is > going to happen in the new year. We had a day of mourning here in > Finland yesterday, with flags at half-mast all day. Maybe it was pre-recorded. The announcer said our equivalents (the Governor-General and Prime Minister's New Year messages) were pre-recorded, but it still seemed kind of odd not to have a message of sympathy included, although I knew the reason. Of course, separate official messages had been made. SignatureCheryl >>Finns have also donated more privately than our government. The news >>told about one person donating 350,000 euros (about 474,000 USD). [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > sympathy included, although I knew the reason. Of course, separate > official messages had been made. Umm, what I said was, she only spoke of the catastrophe, and nothing else. She also extended her condolences to everyone who lost someone close to them. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki > Thank you for the kind words. I have read of several other countries > stepping up to the plate, but I have not yet seen anything about > contributions from the oil-rich awash in cash countries such as Saudi Arabia > and Kuwait or from China, with its booming economy. By coincidence, the latest radio news in Canada reported on an interview with a doctor with a Chinese field hospital which is one of the first to actually get set up where needed, so China is certainly contributing. The rest of the report was on the difficulties in getting aid where needed,a report on a miraculous survival of one victim, and reports that some sales of food have begun, at least in one major city, Banda Ache (not sure of the spelling). SignatureCheryl > > It's difficult for a xenophobic Brit like myself to say this, but > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4138763.stm - Thank you USA, [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > I'm gratified to see the U.S. take a large part in the recovery. > Annie I thought I saw on CNN Asia that China is donating 60 million. This was a few days ago. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > I thought I saw on CNN Asia that China is donating 60 million. This > was a few days ago. > -- > Britta Thank you for your input and for a regional point of view. It must be hard knowing you have just returned from a trip. I hope you get some good news about your dive team. Annie > > I thought I saw on CNN Asia that China is donating 60 million. This > > was a few days ago. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > about your dive team. > Annie Well, we are feeling very lucky to have not been in the area when it happened. It's weird, Dennis and I have been so very lucky in so very many ways. Not in the lottery winning way of being lucky, but in the way that things go smoothly for us and our plans work out. <knocking on wood> It is something to be grateful for. And we did hear about the dive team. They are all fine, the boat is ok and so is the shop in Khao Lak. Woo hoo! They plan to be open for business in 2 weeks. Although I doubt they will have many customers. -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > Well, we are feeling very lucky to have not been in the area when it > happened. It's weird, Dennis and I have been so very lucky in so very > many ways. Not in the lottery winning way of being lucky, but in the > way that things go smoothly for us and our plans work out. <knocking > on wood> > It is something to be grateful for. I understand your feelings about this, Britta. I have often felt the same way. Some people ask "Why me?" when things don't go their way. I don't know how many times I've wondered "Why me?" because mostly good things happen to me and bad things don't. True, my husband and my father both died the same year, but even there, it could have been much worse. Neither of them suffered very much, and neither of them had Alzheimer's. There have been changes in my life - good changes - in the 18 + years since then that probably wouldn't have happened otherwise. I feel blessed. Joy >> It's difficult for a xenophobic Brit like myself to say this, but >> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4138763.stm - Thank [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > the survivors of this terrible event. I'm gratified to see the U.S. > take a large part in the recovery. Annie I heard Japan gave $500million, I don't know what this works out to per head of population but it sounds pretty good to me. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.