Help me out here

[eleonora]

I need to know just how much aid each country is giving for the relief in Asia. I'm told by a repug the US aid of $15 million is only a down payment?
This is what he said:


I've heard that the $15 million is just a "downpayment"

If you think the "$15 million" is nothing than you'll like the fact that the 25 nation EU is giving $4 million. That's right $4 million despite the fact they have a larger overall economy than ours and they lost many more of their own citizens in this awful disaster.

I'm confident, The American people will find the ability to send their own funds to the helpless overseas...

~~~~~

I need to know the facts, help!

[NMDemDist2]

1. at this point, the aid is all "preliminary" as they get folks on the

ground to see where and what the needs are

there will be more aid coming from around the world as soon as they figure out who needs what

[tk2kewl]

2. here's a recent article

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/28/powell.aid/

we will ultimately give more, but the issue is the amount as it relates to overall GDP

[tk2kewl]

3. you could also point out that if junior really was a compassionate

conservative he would encourage his inaugural donors to give to the relief effort and scale back his party

[eleonora]

5. Yeah, that's what I said

How are they going to spend those $40 million by the way, anybody know?

[Hello_Kitty]

4. This is just the beginning

A disaster of the magnitude that this one is becoming will require everyone to pitch in a lot more money. The current death toll is of the people directly killed by the tsunamis. The destruction of fresh water capabilities will contribute to massive, widespread illness and infection.

Please don't forget these people a few weeks from now, as so often happens. I know many of us have donated to various relief organizations. When you do, sign up for email updates of situations throughout the world. You'll be saddened and amazed by how natural and man-made disasters can have a devastating effect on poor populations for decades. Victims of the Chernobyl and Bhopal incidents continue to suffer to this day with various cancers. Even if you don't make a lot of money, and I don't either, try to be as generous as you can. If all you can afford is $5, you'd be surprised how far it can go.

We can't rely on governments to help in many cases. It sucks, but the sad fact is most of them will spend billions on weapons and armies before they spend a dime to help people.