New Orleans

mags · Banana Republic

New Orleans

motema2004 · Tonight

The UN has also offered assistance. I didn't know President Bush has refused aid. Unbelievable, deplorable, disgusting, there are no words for this tragedy. Living in DC we feel helpless. It would be around 20 hours by car or bus to get there, and I guess 4 or 6 by plane. Moving people around doesn't seem sensible, just fix things where they are, FAST! Not just New Orleans but out in the rural areas. It's incredible no one planned for this. Ted Koppel on last night's "Nightline" on ABC News posed valid questions to his FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) guest. At least the man had come on TV, even though he did not really give good answers. President Bush is difficult to understand, as, to my knowledge he hasn't even addressed the nation and is only today going to view places; but he managed to be on a morning talk show! He is, to me, very strange. Luckily Houston is helping out and people down there are even offering to take some folks into their homes. Where will the refugees live, work, receive mail? So many questions besides those. We are also hearing about the tourists' problems.One Australian couple has been hiding under a bridge for 3 days & stealing water.WE in the US, the regular citizens, are pretty amazed and angry. Poverty in the area will only get worse, too.

Tango · In the Long Grass

its all over the news here.the thing is cos the water isnt flowing back out, its difficult to get any aid in at all.however i did notice on the news clip the bottles of water were evian not just any old brand

it showed the woman in her wheelchair just covered in a single yellow sheet.its awful

franna · V Deep

New Orleans' Mayor speaks out: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katrina.nagin/index.html

If it's true that Brits were being attacked simply because they were white, I'd think it's probably an isolated incident. (And by the way, why on earth didn't they get on a plane before the storm hit?)

As far as the reports of violence taking place inside the stadium are concerned, I'm sure that there are some incidents, but I would expect that the number of people making trouble are a small minority, and they are people who have not had food, water, electricity, bathrooms or medical attention in five days. I'd expect that might push people over the edge.

Lots of people have died and have simply been left. There is no place to put them at the moment, and besides, dealing with the living is a higher priority.

There were reports of aid offered by many countries. All I know about Bush's response was that this morning he was asked something like "Do you expect aid from other countries?" and he replied "No, I don't expect much because we haven't asked."

Anyway, this afternoon, it looks like some help is finally arriving.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/national/nationalspecial/02storm.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/national/nationalspecial/02cnd-storm.html?hp&ex=1125720000&en=c39cf45e7f030e63&ei=5094&partner=homepage

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/national/hurricane-resources.html?ex=1141099200&en=69d89047c73c778a&ei=5087

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/national/nationalspecial/02discrim.html?incamp=article_popular

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/01/opinion/01thu1.html?incamp=article_popular

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/02/opinion/02krugman.html?incamp=article_popular

Tango · In the Long Grass

atleast helps getting thru now

motema2004 · Tonight

Finally, in Washington DC here tomorrow (my hometown) we will be welcoming refugees to our DC National Guard Armory, and we will be really excited to see them!! Hurray!! Better late than never, but the unpreparedness and seeming lack of attention by supposedly emergency planners who are educated for this work has been deplorable. At least now something good is happening but they needed it several days ago.

franna · V Deep

The website for the local New Orleans newspaper *The Times-Picayune": http://www.nola.com/hurricane/katrina/

Reports that Bush has refused aid are apparently incorrect, according to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's press conference this afternoon.

New Orleans' historic wooden buildings are starting to catch on fire, with no way to fight those fires. The streets are flooded, making it hard to get fire fighting equipment in. You can't use the flood water to fight the fire, because it's got floating oil and gas, which would only accelerate the fire. Not good.

Although there was a big show of arriving troops and supplies this morning, I haven't heard anything more about the progress of getting food and water to the survivors, or how quickly the evacuation is going. Maybe it's not being covered because it's finally starting to work, I can only hope so.

Great. Now a bus supposedly carrying evacuees to Dallas has flipped over near Lafayette, LA. (I'd always wanted to go to Lafayette to learn to do the Cajun two-step.....)

If people outside the US wish to contribute, it is suggested that donations be made to the Red Cross Katrina relief fund.

More recent news: http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/katrina.response/index.html

The entire country is outraged at the way this crisis has been handled.

MJ · Tonight

franna wrote:

Reports that Bush has refused aid are apparently incorrect, according to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice's press conference this afternoon.

I guess it depends on your definition of "refused". Our Prime Minister called Bush and listed to him what we could do to help, including specially trained personel and stockpiles of rations, beds, water purifying tablets, etc. Bush's response? We'll let you know. From what I read on different international news pages, leaders of other countries pretty much heard the same response.

Tango · In the Long Grass

yeah but journalists always try to express either an unbiased or downright negative look on things so its hard to believe anything

mags · Banana Republic

See Bush has climbed down from his pedestal. He has finally asked for help from the E.U. This was offered on the first day but his pride must have taken over and he thought that America can deal with anything.

If he had taken up any or all of the offers of help from all the countries, would a lot of lives been saved?? Will we ever know?

I love my country as much as the Americans love theirs. But pride before a fall!!

Cazzy · Tonight

yeah i'm finding it really upsetting seeing the corpses on the telly, i found it particularly hard when i saw that some one in a wheel chair had been covered up cuz they were dead. just thinking about a person who couldn't walk not being able to move at all to get food and stuff just dying there still hoping to be found makes me feel physically sick

camilladk · Tonight

Yeah your right. It's wrong

motema2004 · Tonight

Everyone in the US is appalled by the situation. Ordinary citizens and humanitarian groups are waiting to help out. Thank you, forum readers, for your thoughts and prayers.

Tango · In the Long Grass

atleast theyv got help now and hopefully theyll be out of there soon

spc1970 · Rat Trap

mags wrote:

See Bush has climbed down from his pedestal. He has finally asked for help from the E.U. This was offered on the first day but his pride must have taken over and he thought that America can deal with anything. If he had taken up any or all of the offers of help from all the countries, would a lot of lives been saved?? Will we ever know? I love my country as much as the Americans love theirs. But pride before a fall!!

Is it Bush's pride or you and your country's envy? I tend to think that the leader of the world's most powerful country (militarily, economically, socially, and morally) is openly attacked by people of lesser country's because:

1) They are ashamed of the fact that the USA had to save them from defeat in some past war

2) The USA is by far the most charitable country in the world and thus they realize that their country's contribution to "fixing" the world's problems is negligable, or

3) they are terrorists.

Come on in someday and we'll show you how the better half live.

Cazzy · Tonight

....

well didn't you notice that there are loads of countries that are nearly in poverty themselves trying to help america, when america has treated them like **** in the past

Tango · In the Long Grass

and now theyr forcibly evicting people.i spose it makes sense in many respect however, they could have just provided them with aid until they could clear the area.but the american love for guns and violence got in the way again

motema2004 · Tonight

In the US we are still shocked by most of it but have to concentrate on rebuilding, cleaning, etc, relocating people and animals. Some places looked OK and some not. When the congressional inquiries begin, we'll hear more as to WHY help was so late. All Americans do not carry guns by the way!

spc1970 · Rat Trap

Cazzy wrote:

.... well didn't you notice that there are loads of countries that are nearly in poverty themselves trying to help america, when america has treated them like **** in the past

Please provide a list of countries that the USA has treated like " **** " in the past. Oh yeah, also include a reason why they were treated like " ****."

spc1970 · Rat Trap

Tango wrote:

and now theyr forcibly evicting people.i spose it makes sense in many respect however, they could have just provided them with aid until they could clear the area.but the american love for guns and violence got in the way again

I really wish you would make a coherent statement. What do you mean by your statement?

franna · V Deep

Tango wrote:

and now theyr forcibly evicting people.i spose it makes sense in many respect however, they could have just provided them with aid until they could clear the area.but the american love for guns and violence got in the way again

Forcible evictions occur because some people do not want to leave, and rightly or wrongly, the government has decided the residents MUST leave for their own safety. Therefore "provide[] them with aid until they could clear the area" is an absurd argument. The area would never have been cleared.

The American love for guns and violence...yeah, I'm totally down with that. I'm polishing my weapons right now. Shiny and smooth. Can't wait to pull the trigger and kill. It makes me so hottttt.

How long were you in America? The amount you know about our culture really amazes me! You must be exceptionally well-traveled.

Tango · In the Long Grass

franna wrote:
The American love for guns and violence...yeah, I'm totally down with that. I'm polishing my weapons right now. Shiny and smooth. Can't wait to pull the trigger and kill. It makes me so hottttt. How long were you in America? The amount you know about our culture really amazes me! You must be exceptionally well-traveled.

sadly iv never been to america, ever.in fact i dont think anyone in my family has.not for ages anyway.i hope to go someday.i dont no whether you were being sarcastic abuot the culture thing, but anything i do no about america comes from my 'friend' who used to live here but lives in dallas now.she mithers me about her life continuously!

franna · V Deep

Yes I was being sarcastic.

If neither you nor anyone in your family has ever been here, you might try restraining yourself from making statements like "the American love for guns and violence" - a statement which appears as if you're stating a fact, when the truth is that you've no clue what you're talking about.

Do you spend your day saying "Cheerio, old chap?" No? It works both ways. Don't believe stereotypes about cultures with which you have no experience.

I have been to the UK, and it was NOTHING like I expected it to be.

Tango · In the Long Grass

geesh you guys cant take a joke can you?

Tango · In the Long Grass

in an attempt to prevent you hating me even more franna heres a pic of elvis

">http://www.sheringhamcarnival.co.uk/2004/images/superstar_pelvis_reaching_for_fans_md_wht.gifi[/img] or heres the link if you want it to see more http://www.animationfactory.com/brain/search.cgi?a=s&st=sbox&area=animations&term=elvis

-- Edited by Tango at 17:12, 2005-09-11

oshora · CRAZY

I don't think there is an American alive who is not deeply disturbed by the fall out from Katrina - well maybe some sociopaths as can be expected.

My husband collected funds at work to give to a church charity at his office that is working with residents in New Orleans in order to provide some sort of relief (money, clothing, food, shelter, etc). I gave funds to an organization to help with pet evacuation, feeding, and placement. I don't know anyone in my circle of family or friends who has not given funds, clothing, shelter, etc. for citizens in LA or MS. My company made a generous donation and accepted employees donations to forward to the Red Cross for Katrina relief. I'm not bragging, just stating that my husband and I are of the norm in the US regarding this crisis. Our country has pulled together in order to bring relief to all involved in the Katrina disaster. Not all has been perfect regarding the situation, but who am I to judge? It is incredibly sad to see that some people died who could not leave the area - despite warnings - because they had no transportation to leave. Those images are extremely sad and disturbing. It is just a reality that the ill, infirmed, and young are at high mortality for such a crisis. I do agree with many that the town mayor and state govenor should of had an evacuation plan in place. Many more would of been saved and the crisis would of been less traumatizing overall. I argue that pets should be allowed in shelters, city buses should of been available to evacuate the poor and infirmed, and that evacuation drills should of been performed at least once a year prior to the hurriciane season. These arguments seem common sense to me.

England had a similar response when they had the bombings on the subways last month - the country pulled together and some of the criminals were caught.

All great nations have the potential to work in this manner. It's encouraging to see it happen and live through it. It gives me hope for the future of this country and others.

Don't believe everything you read - the press cannot always be trusted to give the entire truth!

With respect to donations from other countires to the USA; I don't know of, nor have I read, that any offers from other countires have been outright rejected. I have read that President Bush has not known how to coordinate a nations offer with what we have, so he has put the offer on "hold" until he can figure out how to proceed with the nations offer. You have to remeber, the USA is used to providing charity, not receiving it.

Enough.

O'Shora