Putting a Disaster in Context

[Tinoire]

December 29, 2004

A Wave of Questions
Putting a Disaster in Context
By MICKEY Z.

(snip)

Is the U.S. stingy?

Even if we were to trust the estimates of $1 billion in aid eventually coming from the U.S., that number pales in comparison to the tens of billions being spent in Iraq to keep the world safe for petroleum. At this writing, the U.S. has spent an average of $9.5 million every hour on the war and occupation of Iraq. In a global sense, the U.S. spends $1 million dollars a minute on war...a percentage of which helps create Third World

(snip)

Why was there no warning?

There was warning. Here's how the folks at Democracy Now describe what happened: "Within minutes of the tsunami forming on Sunday, U.S. officials at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii began tracking the waves. But the scientists claimed they had no one to contact in the Indian Ocean region about the possible danger. One exception was the British-owned island of Diego Garcia that houses a major US Naval base. The Independent of London reports that U.S. officials in Hawaii did warn Diego Garcia about the possible tsunami and the island suffered no major damage."

(snip)

Could any of the affected countries done anything?

It might have helped if U.S. scientists in Hawaii hadn't initially calculated the earthquake at a magnitude of 8.0 (ten times weaker than in actuality). "Based on it being an 8.0, we assumed the damage would be confined to Sumatra and would be a local tsunami event," said Charles McCreery, director of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, "one that strikes shore within minutes of the event." But even so, we must never forget that profits outweigh people. An official in Thailand's meteorology department told the Guardian of London, "A proper warning was not given. If we had given the warning and then it hadn't happened, then it would have been the death of tourism in those areas."

(snip)

http://www.counterpunch.com/mickey12292004.html

[NoFederales]

1. See?

Mother Nature as Corporate CEO. Inflict the damage, then exploit it. I'm gonna be sick--couldn't scare the tourists?

NoFederales

[Tinoire]

2. Can you believe! Here's more to put it in perspective $$$

Us, Stingy?
It's All Relative
By DAVE LINDORFF

Cost of one F-22 Raptor tactical fighter jet -- $225 million

Cost of the ongoing U.S. war in Iraq--$228 million/day

Amount spent by Kerry and Bush campaigns -- $400 million

U.S. aid to Yushenko camp in recent Ukrainian conflict -- $30+ million

Estimated cost of Bush's Second Inauguration and Ball -- $ 40+ million

Amount of U.S. tax cuts under Bush -- $1 trillion

Cost of the U.S. Iraq War in 2004 -- $147 billion

U.S. reconstruction aid budgeted for Iraq (though never spent!) -- $18 billion

Amount the U.S. initially in aid to Indian Ocean tsunami victims -- $ 10 million

Amount U.S. offered in tsunami aid after being chastised by UN official -- $35 million


http://www.counterpunch.com/lindorff12292004.html

[Nadienne]

4. $35 million....

That's pretty pathetic. I think they just said on ABC that Pfizer matched that amount... (It's a good thing health care costs so much in this country.)

[sushi]

3. I don't understand this

Since the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Honolulu doesn't have contacts in their address book for anybody in the part of the world (why not?) hit by the tsunami, couldn't they have contacted the State Department who surely has the contacts to call and warn? It's possible not everybody could have been saved, but I'm sure a great number could have fled to higher ground!

[Phoebe_in_Sydney]

5. They told Condi

But she just thought the warning was an historical document

;-)

[newyawker99]

8. Hi Phoebe_in_Sydney!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Phoebe_in_Sydney]

9. Someone who knows how to welcome an Aussie

...with a beer!

Cheers newyawker99. Nice to meet you.

:party:

[NoFederales]

6. No Profit In It

The great sadness is that we (as a technologically advanced country) require "returns" on our research and development--where is the profit in global warning systems? All $$$$$$ seem to go into R&D; there's little in the kitty for basic research until it begins to smell pharmaceutical or militaristic--gawd I love the smell of research in the morning.

NoFederales

[Squatch]

7. Third point:

It takes quite a bit of time to resolve the actual strength of an earthquake. The initial value can be adjusted upward or downward as data is analyzed.

[Stephanie]

10. You think they could have warned but did not?

You think they decided not to warn because it might hamper profits?

Oh god. It just keeps getting worse.