If you want to help those in Asia/Africa affected by the tsunami....

[Guest slamminshaun]

Couldn't agree more. But its easy to get offended and feel the need to stick up for one's country when high ranking officials at the UN start this shit by making insane comments to begin with. Now we've got organizations like Greenpeace coming out and making the whole thing political. It just makes me sick that they don't keep their eye on the ball. 120,000 people confirmed dead so far, and they want to talk about how global warming caused this.

[Guest web_norah]

...you can make a tax deductable cash donation online to www.unicef.org or to any charity of your choice. Weather it's only $1, $25, or whatever amount, every penny will count in this disaster relief effort which has affected every coastline surrounding the Indian Ocean, from S.E Asia to the West Coastline of Africa.

Right now the best form of donating to this effort is by cash. Dry good donations take to long to reach these victims and cash can get them what they need faster. Especially clean food and water....($1 can buy 10 bottles of water at cost!)

So common guys if you can reach into your pockets (even if it's just coins) and take 45 seconds online, it will make a difference to the millions of people struck by this tragedy if we make a collective effort to help....

also, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS is a good place to donate money to, they're usually the first ones that go to disaster areas and help out.

www.doctorswithoutborders.org

[Guest obby]

I just read that donations from people throughout the world made to the American Red Cross, Amazon and many others are starting to exceed Government donations.

Awesome !!!!!!

[Guest swirlundergrounder]

Spain pledged $67 million dlloars...twice what the US has pledged so far

Isn't it nuts that this kind of "who pledged what" bickering comes out in this time of tragedy?

So stupid...

It is nuts to read and see. This is a dire situation that will more than likely go down as the worst natural disaster in human history. Everyone is getting involved financially. Yesterday Pepsi donated $5 million dollars so today Coka Cola donated $10 million dollars.

I think that a lot of people (especially in the UN) were just shocked at the US's intitial reaction. Since then the US has commited 20,000 troops and an aircraft carrier group to help in the relief efforts and that's worth millions right there alone.

But also charities are reporteing that people are donating in record amounts. One of the Chatolic charities that normally get $60,000 a month in donations are getting $100,000 an hour since the beginning of this ordeal. The Red Cross has already recieved something like $50 million dollars in public donations and so forth.

Even the worlds poorest nations who can barely sustain themselves are donating money.

But you're right. It's to bad that some of this has turned political. But with a disaster of the magnitude who would have expected it not to?

[Guest web_norah]

hey guys.....................

it doesnt really matter who donates whatever specific amount, the fact remains that this is a terrible disaster and however small the amount, it counts towards the relief of the thousands of victims

[Guest saintjohn]

while raising funds for the international relief effort is vital, it's worth remembering that money by itself isn't enough. for example, hurricane season may be over here, but many floridians are still suffering due to shortages of building supplies and a lack of skilled workers to make repairs. such logistical problems will be greatly multiplied in east asia.

simply throwing money at this crisis to demonstrate the depths of our compassion will only lead to waste, fraud, and abuse. while we're encouraging our elected officials and non-governmental organizations to do more (much more), let's also hold them accountable for the manner in which they spend those relief funds.

[Guest swirlundergrounder]

while raising funds for the international relief effort is vital, it's worth remembering that money by itself isn't enough. for example, hurricane season may be over here, but many floridians are still suffering due to shortages of building supplies and a lack of skilled workers to make repairs. such logistical problems will be greatly multiplied in east asia.

simply throwing money at this crisis to demonstrate the depths of our compassion will only lead to waste, fraud, and abuse. while we're encouraging our elected officials and non-governmental organizations to do more (much more), let's also hold them accountable for the manner in which they spend those relief funds.

St. John just took us all to school.............

[tgibson]

hey guys.....................

it doesnt really matter who donates whatever specific amount, the fact remains that this is a terrible disaster and however small the amount, it counts towards the relief of the thousands of victims

I agree 100%. Take the politics out of it and just donate something to someone...

I took Drs without borders...

[Guest pod]

That's the truth. The donations can't be measured by money alone. Most of the SE Asian governments are tinpot dictatorships and whatnot, and won't do jack with the money. Donate to an organization that will send material goods or personnel over.

That being said, the UN has no place being as critical as it is, considering the Western nations it is lambasting provide most of the financial support for it.

The UN is a relic anyways.

As for being the worst disaster in human history? Not even close. While this one was terrible, an earthquake in China last century took out 600,000 people, even though Mao and his cronies only reported 200,000 or so.