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BaftaBaby 
"Always entranced by cinema."
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 Posted - 05/05/2008 : 17:32:50
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Oh, those poor people. Let's hope the world is generous in the next weeks.
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Edited by - BaftaBaby on 05/05/2008 17:33:39 |
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Sal[Au]pian 
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 05/05/2008 : 18:55:22
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As I understand it, only the regime favours the name Myanmar.
But yes, what a kick in the teeth for them. I hope that there are channels whereby aid can actually get to those who need it. |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 05/06/2008 : 07:28:03
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And all this, after the political unrest.
If you want to help, there are mailbox sites that collect funds to help with the relief efforts. My own organization has one here:
https://www.jdc.org/donation/CCard.asp
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w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
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Posted - 05/06/2008 : 22:56:18
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| I can't help but note the irony of George Bush urging the government of Myanmar to allow US aid workers to enter the country to provide assistance where it can. Wasn't it the same person who refused assistance being sent from countries like Germany and France, who wanted to help in New Orleans? Okay, yes, perhaps the US should have been able to do everything necessary to help at that time, but it didn't. And goodwill offerings of help in disasters is what helps define brotherhood and human compassion. Perhaps not so much irony as hubris. |
Edited by - w22dheartlivie on 05/06/2008 22:59:21 |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 05/07/2008 : 06:20:29
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To tell the truth, I can fully understand their hesitation to allow Americans into their country, even if they do say it's completely humanitarian.
Anyway, as you noted, Americans are hardly the world experts on disaster relief. And from our experience, some countries don't want even the most benign outside help. For instance, while we've had our Israeli Relief & Rescue team going all over the world to help out with all kinds of disasters, we weren't allowed to send anything but in-kind aid after the Tsunami, for instance. In the end, some people went anyway, but were only allowed in as individuals and not as a group/team.
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w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
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Posted - 05/07/2008 : 10:36:28
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I have a stupid question. How does one pronounce the name of this country? I've heard 3 different pronunciations in the last 30 minutes:
MEE-un-mar
MIE-un-mar
and now
mee-ANN-mar
I'm so confused. I pronounce it MIE-un-mar. |
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 05/07/2008 : 10:59:45
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quote:
Originally posted by wildhartlivie
I have a stupid question. How does one pronounce the name of this country? I've heard 3 different pronunciations in the last 30 minutes:
MEE-un-mar
MIE-un-mar
and now
mee-ANN-mar
I'm so confused. I pronounce it MIE-un-mar.
The BBC speaks to you:
Myanmar
Merriam-Webster REALLY speaks to you!
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Edited by - BaftaBaby on 05/07/2008 11:02:26 |
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Sal[Au]pian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 05/07/2008 : 16:00:42
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quote:
Originally posted by wildhartlivie
How does one pronounce the name of this country?
Bur-muh  |
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w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
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Posted - 05/07/2008 : 20:41:10
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Thanks Bafta!! And Salopian, ever the comedian.  |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 05/08/2008 : 07:36:58
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Actually, I thought that today it's pronounced:
dis-AS-ter. |
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Airbolt 
"teil mann, teil maschine"
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Posted - 05/13/2008 : 23:46:55
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It's incredible - thousands of their own people killed and many more in trouble. The military sits with its thumb up its ass while blocking supplies from the rest of the world. They are murdering their own people effectively.
Let in people they like - I dont care if they are suspicious of the US - there are other countries not aligned that would help. |
Edited by - Airbolt on 05/13/2008 23:49:00 |
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Sal[Au]pian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 05/14/2008 : 00:22:03
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| Yep, I haven't posted seriously in this thread because it's just too awful. The Burmese people must feel so abandoned by the regime. Surely it could allow aid via the U.N. or countries like China (although that has its own awful disaster to deal with now). |
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 05/14/2008 : 05:53:51
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Actually, my organization is one of the few that they let in. Myanmar doesn't want the UN in there at all - because they don't want the UN to see what they're doing there. They are allowing some (not many) Red Cross help and help from AJJDC in. Apparently, we are the first two humanitarian organizations that are got personnel in as well as supplies - and even so, it was only 1-2 each.
As for their feeling abandoned by the regime, I don't think these people ever thought that the regime gave a shit for them in the first place, and probably knew all along that if disaster hit, their regime wouldn't lift a finger to help them. However, I'm sure what they're really upset about is that their regime isn't allowing the rest world to come to their aid. I think that was the surprise. |
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Sal[Au]pian
"Four ever European"
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Posted - 05/14/2008 : 07:51:56
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
Actually, my organization is one of the few that they let in.
Thanks for the info. When you mentioned it before, I thought it was just gearing up in the hope of getting in. I might send them my donation then.
quote:
As for their feeling abandoned by the regime, I don't think these people ever thought that the regime gave a shit for them in the first place, and probably knew all along that if disaster hit, their regime wouldn't lift a finger to help them. However, I'm sure what they're really upset about is that their regime isn't allowing the rest world to come to their aid. I think that was the surprise.
Yep, sorry, I meant abandoned in general life by the regime and in the way you say. |
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BaftaBaby
"Always entranced by cinema."
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Posted - 05/14/2008 : 08:50:09
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quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
And all this, after the political unrest.
If you want to help, there are mailbox sites that collect funds to help with the relief efforts. My own organization has one here:
https://www.jdc.org/donation/CCard.asp
Sorry to be late replying to your post, CL - lotsa stuff to sort out here ... but THANK YOU so much for the link [actually I'd already donated elsewhere online, but it's such a great initiative by the jdc]
Also it gave me a chance to check out your website and get a better handle on the work you do. I'm sure I'm not alone here in feeling immense pride in you for the part you play in such a truly humanitarian organization. No wonder even the Burmese nasties can trust you! 
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ChocolateLady
"500 Chocolate Delights"
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Posted - 05/14/2008 : 09:26:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Salopian
quote:
Originally posted by ChocolateLady
Actually, my organization is one of the few that they let in.
Thanks for the info. When you mentioned it before, I thought it was just gearing up in the hope of getting in. I might send them my donation then.
There are several organizations that have, so far, been working towards getting aid in. They are: World Vision, Care, Save the Children, UNICEF and World Concern. Other organizations that have been getting into Myanmar are the International Red Cross and in particular, Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders-MSF). Donations to any of these organizations will be equally appreciated.
(They say that when people want to give for such things, there's always a list somewhere of organizations raising funds. Since our name begins with an "A" we're right there on the top of all the lists, and that's why we end up collecting an inordinate amount of money for these things. Of course, it helps that we are well respected and have one of the lowest percentages of money going for overhead of any non-profit organization world-wide.)
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Poor Myanmar [nee Burma]
