Canada comes through
Canada announced today that it has raised its contribution for tsunami relief to $40 million dollars ($33M USD)
Ottawa pledged another $36 million to help the relief efforts in Southeast Asia in the wake of the deadly tsunami, Defence Minister Bill Graham announced Wednesday, bringing Canada’s total to $40 million.
Graham also announced that a 12-member reconnaissance team will go to the devastated area to make recommendations on whether Canada’s rapid disaster response team should be deployed.
A planeload of relief supplies will go to Indonesia, the nation hardest hit by the earthquake and resulting tsunami, Graham said.
He said the advance team will be made up of personnel from Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), Foreign Affairs and the Canadian International Development Agency.
Congratulations Ottawa, you’ve now contributed $1.33 for each Canadian resident. The US, however, has contibuted about 12 ¢ per resident and George has been overly silent regarding this tragedy. I guess none of his big contibutors lost anyone close to them in this tragedy so it just didn’t get his attention.
Update: January 3, 2005
The United states has so far pledged $350 million and Canada has upped its ante to $80 million. For the US that is now approximately $1.25 per capita (based on 280 million people) and for Canada it is approximately $2.50 (based on 32 million people)
Related posts
Comments
Comment from Yule
Time: 1/1/2005, 10:23 pm
Right; there probably is an element of “this is what’s needed” (i.e., megadeaths to “cull” the population). But I think it’s also a case of Christian fundamentalism of a certain ilk: the belief that these sorts of disasters are somehow “part of the plan,” and that the end is near, and that it’s ok since the “saved” will be “raptured” to heaven anyway.
And let’s not forget that if you then create a “coalition of aid” with a couple of countries, you can create a wedge with which to split the UN into bits and pieces, too. Indeed, why not use a natural disaster for the political end of destroying the UN?
Ugh, I hate what Bush and Co. are doing.
Comment from Yule
Time: 1/3/2005, 9:13 pm
Doug, I’m so pissed about the Dubya administration that I sometimes don’t do the math, but are you sure about the 12cents? That doesn’t add up if the US Gov’t contribution is $350 mil., does it?
Comment from Doug Alder
Time: 1/3/2005, 9:18 pm
Sorry Yule - when I posted that the US was only pledging $35million and Canada was at $40million
Comment from Yule
Time: 1/3/2005, 9:32 pm
Ah, ok, my mistake — your entry is from the end of December, when the US contribution was the pitiful amount it was, and now we’re into January 3, when (around Jan.1 or Dec.31) the US contribution was suddenly multiplied tenfold or so. Your point(s) stand(s) — it wasn’t enough.
Comment from Yule
Time: 1/3/2005, 9:33 pm
Doug, we just cross-posted! I see your response — all clear, yes, the US was being really chintzy. Wow, 12 cents per person — no wonder Egelund said what he did!
Comment from Stephanie McDowall
Time: 12/29/2004, 11:21 pm
I am not surprised the U.S. has given so little. Most of us are aware of comments by Henry Kissinger, the Club of Rome,even Prince Phillip and many other prominent individuals/organizations discussing culling the world’s population. Should hundreds of thousands die from hunger, thirst, disease….might that not accomplish a partial cull….especially of Moslems. Should some of the countries hit by this tragedy have governments that have not been particularly cooperative with the IMF, World Bank and the U.S. is this not a perfect way to bring about the overthrow of governments….when the people rise up in rage over their conditions and the inability of their own governments to relieve their suffering?