Global analysts dispute perceived US generosity

[joeunderdog]

LONDON -- The US government is contributing $35 million of the half-billion dollars that the world's developed nations are donating to the tsunami relief effort, and many Americans believe -- as President Bush put it earlier this week -- that their country is being its typical ''generous, kindhearted" self.

But both on a per capita basis and as a percentage of the nation's wealth, America's emergency relief in Asia and development aid to poor countries actually ranks at the bottom of the list of developed nations, some of the world's top economists and analysts of international development aid said yesterday.

The world's Asian relief effort -- the largest in history -- and the enormity of the disaster have put into sharp focus an intensifying debate over what it means for a country to be generous: how much should wealthy nations pledge for relief from natural disasters, and how much should those governments donate for development in poorer nations?

As of yesterday, the amount the United States has pledged is eclipsed by the $96 million promised by Britain, a country with one-fifth the population, and by the $75 million vowed by Sweden, which amounts to $8.40 for each of its 9 million people. Denmark's pledge of $15.6 million amounts to roughly $2.90 per capita.

The US donation is 12 cents per capita.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2004/12/31/global_analysts_dispute_perceived_us_generosity/

One hour of destruction in Iraq... $8Milion
One US Donation for Tsunami Relief... $35Million
Your reputation in the Global Community...Priceless

[sam sarrha]

1. When will they realize Bu$h is just a privilaged F'n Moron, wet brain

alocholic

[Moderator]

2. Locking

dupicate story.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1107276