TSUNAMI - PR OR NOT?
We've had a week of 'heavy media' coverage and multiple news forums regarding the Tsunami disaster.
I believe ; it's unfortunate this disaster has happened and the victims of the disaster should be mourned. It's a trajedy and at most so devasting to all the countries and the people who are suffering.
On the other hand; here's my problem with this 'overwhelming PR campaign: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, and numerous of the islands and other countries included -- there are no 'apples to apples' trying to compare and equate the amount of $$ to donate and / or provide to the 'third-world' relief aid / global funds.
First, the capital cities (Jakarta, Kuala Lampur, Bangkok, Singapore, etc) -- have the most lavish and expensive 'high-rise buildings, airports, roadways, business districts , residential, office spaces, etc, etc, --which I consider 'major collateral'. --On the other hand - the victims , (suffering) from poverty are the one's mostly hit and their previous lifestyle isn't anywhere near the $$$ they now need.
(no one has mentioned that the 'higher-end collateral were damaged ; airports, high-rises in the inland areas) and/or each countries military involvement. ??
For the most part, the fishing villages, bamboo huts and make-shift residences are no where near the $$ collateral - in this event. --So I don't undertsand -- why if their lifestyle was already considered 'below poverty' --why is that the 'collateral doesn't match the relief $$ required'...?
Each of these countries --should be providing their own victims (with $$) to rebuild and reconstruct --other than the death count --I don't see the 'collateral damage'. = the millions they are talking about.
If the hotels and business districts are to rebuild --they should have had this already planned --and not out for 'aid funds' --if in the event of a disaster. ---
I've been to Jakarta, Indonesia and most of those islands --and I don't see how they can complain about money??? --They have the most elaborate airports and hotels and business districts --except for the 'poor' --who live on the seashore / fishing villages --and most are unemployed already. --If the death count adds to 'collateral damage' --then this is still yet to be determined. --It must be the 'tourist' trade and the other source of revenue of their infrastructure making the demands --it would be unfair then.
It's the government in these countries - i.e.(Philippines) -- that keeps the wealth and gives nothing to the 'unsocial classes) --this is why they have asked for help. --Only those 'relief aid sources' are making the plea'.
The emperor of Indonesia lives in a 100K square foot palace -fenced off by white stone and hundreds of guards--and has over 200 guest/servants and drives 5-10 stretch limos --and own almost all the high-rises in downtown Jakarta. --(reminds me of Fernindad/Marcos of Philippines)
I still don't believe the amount of $$$ = the 'collateral damage'. and makes for a "PR campaign' if not true.
If this is an opportunity to 'replenish the global relief aid fund'. it couldn't of happened at a better time'.
Well let's see........
The RNC website had NO link for viewers to contribute money for tsunami relief. They do have a story about W called "The rising tide".
The DNC DOES have a link to provide aid.
Falwell's website......NOPE
Pat Robertson's........NOPE
Once again the party of "Moral values" shows their true colors.
Spirituality exists without organized religion
brian@takebackamerica.us
Don't worry. Mister Morality
Don't worry. Mister Morality Falwell says they were asking for it, with all that Swedish sex-trade and stuff, just ask cokemonkey's bro Neil. God smote them. Yeah, in fact, I'm sure the tens of thousands of dead and orphaned children were involved in it somehow....
Keep the media busy
The corrupt RNC wants to keep the People's minds on this tragedy and just give their hard-earned $ to Tsumani victims - maybe the funds go to them or maybe it goes to "administrative costs" - either way it keeps the media and the People's minds on this and Lord knows what this clown is up to in the white house while our minds are preoccupied on the tragedy. The taxpayers here can't think about their own problems here; insurance, unemployment, 401K's, taxes, the stolen elections, SOCIAL SECURITY, etc. Bet bu$h didn't give a dime of HIS MONEY to the poor, he's busy stealing our money and rights.
WEAPONS OF MASS DISRACTION
Here are some issues to consider.
There are many things that won't surface as 'issues' until more time has passed. But consider the long term cost of the following:
* Ecological impact
Can you imagine what is in the Indian Ocean other than victims bodies?
* Mental health impact
The term 'tsunami generation' describes the psychological problems these poor people will suffer from quite well.
* Public health impact
Millions are extremely vulnerable to a myriad of diseases.
* Economic impact
The world relies on Sumatra for coffee. We rely on Thailand for manufacturing. Many international corporations rely on countries in the region for customer service outsourcing.
In other words because the global economies are so inter-connected there will undoubtedly be massive trickle down effect. All of the issues above will affect the global economy, productivity etc etc...
Admittedly, this list is extremely limited. But, given just these variables alone I'm not so sure the concept of 'collateral damage' is simple PR. Premature perhaps, but a definite reality.
There is a tsunami every week
Here is my take on this incredible relilef effort.
Ever since the tsunami swept in and drowned over 150,000 people the media has been 24-7 consumed with an outpouring of pleas and compassion. Now, money is pouring out of stingy bastards like sweat out of an overdue workout.
But ohhh how good it feels to shed some guilt.
But please, let’s not be reminded that there is a Tsunami of hunger happening every five days. Worldwide 25,000 people (175,000 per week) succumb to a slow death from hunger or hunger-related causes every day. Odd, but this weekly tidal wave of deaths hardly gets more than a 5 second bleep out of NBC, ABC CBS, and FOX every year.
Why do we react so strongly to one and so indifferent to the other? Is it because death by tidal wave is much more interesting than say ho hum, slow wasting away starvation? Or is it all about economics, a once in a lifetime tsunami event being within our global budget to solve?
When the USA detonated their own tsunami over Iraq, 100,000 or more citizens perished. But instead of announcing the death toll every five minutes, NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX has been very mute on the stats. Not appropriate to show compassion for the collateral dead, I guess. And I wonder, will world compassion and aid be coming to Iraq?
Perhaps if we had spent $200 billion fighting starvation and sickness throughout the world, the war on terrorism would have been peacefully won, years ago. But would the politicans, the Department of Defense and the pubic vote for that kind of stability? Of course not. Our latest strategy; if we send the tsunami victims (mostly Muslims) enough money they might think more kindly of us. It's a fresh start for peace and let's hope it works.
But I would like to know, is guilt bankrolling this tragedy or is this a turning point for world compassion?
It's kind of like people slow
It's kind of like people slowing down at the scene of a fatal car accident -- morbid curiosity. We have homeless and hungry people dying in the USA everyday, but if it makes the news at all, it's either on page F-44, or in an occasional "human interest" piece.
If there's a chance at instant publicity, the wealthy donors come out of the woodwork. Oh, and the war in Iraq? That's different see, because we are killing them for their own good. And besides, we'll give them beads, bibles, and bombs, in exchange for their oil, and they will all live happily ever after in democratic bliss.
You know, you're 100% right.
You know, you're 100% right. There are thousands dying of starvation everyday. You have presented an interesting moral dilemma. We could easily take every penny that is being wasted in Iraq and use it to transform our military into one of the largest and most sophisticated disaster relieving, genocide preventing armies in human history.
But I'm not convinced that guilt is the motivating factor, although I agree that our priorities are all screwed up. This is America right? If a problem isn't in front of our 'eyes' (i.e. television) then it doesn't exist. Sad as it is, you can't see 100,000 people starving and that's why you can't get anyone to give a rats ass about anything but crunchy cereal and new cars.
Starvation or tsunami, how the brain or media is wired
It must have to do with how people die and not numbers. If it’s by the hand of nature, like tornado, hurricane, tidal waves and weather related events it will make the news and many people will dig deep into their pockets. If it is say a cougar attack, for example, headlines will be slammed with the horrific nature of the event, guns will be loaded and the posy will be headed out at sunrise as every corpuscle of revenge begins to boil.
If it’s a new disease, say bird flu or mad cow it also will draw a car wreck of attention. Perhaps its how the media manipulates the attention of people but also it has something to do with nature, in which in these cases people are totally innocent victims.
If people die from starvations or an old disease like malaria (which kills many more than any tsunami) it’s more of a ho hum event. Heard about that, done that, been there, so let’s move on. Actually these are my rambling thoughts, I’m really just guessing but curious.
It its war, see Bill's comment above. We are doing them a favor.