Oh New Orleans....

[Formendacil]

Watching the news lately has been quite depressing. I think it is pitiful that our governments response to this disaster has been so slow and so lacking. We seem to do better helping people halfway around the world than we do helping people in our own country.

And the only country that I have seen offer to send help is Venezuela? What is up with that? Not that others may not have offered, but the news doesn't seem to have covered it. But how ridiculous is it that the only guy to offer help is one that was recently targetted for assassination by an american religious figure?

Venezuela is not the only country offering help. Canada, at least, is sending aid. Quite frankly, the response in my hometown is quite similar to the response to the tsunami in December. As a country, I know that Canada is sending over 1000 troops on ships to the Gulf of Mexico to assist in disaster relief.

The sympathy of your northern neighbours, at least, goes out to you as it did four years on 9/11, as it did to the people of Indonesia, India, and Thailand on December 27th, and- hopefully- as it will continue to do whenever there is a need.

[ottoatm]

I actually felt similiar to Troy about countries offering aid, but today I was listening to NPR and found that many countries were indeed beginning to offer all sorts of different aid to the US. Of course, since we are a superpower and all that these days, I imagine we won't get tons and tons of help, and we'll even turn some of it down, but it's really nice to see our allies showing sympathies.

You can see/hear the story I did (about foreign aid) at NPR (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4829440)- they have a LOT of coverage and details about Katrina... it's really an awesome source of real, up-to-date info.

[Nick]

So Venezuela was the only country to help? Well, being the most powerful country in the world, I don't think you should scold at the lack of aid. With the human and technological recourses you possess you really could have saved many more lives. But the government's slow response was very pitiful, as Troy said.

[ottoatm]

So Venezuela was the only country to help? Well, being the most powerful country in the world, I don't think you should scold at the lack of aid. With the human and technological recourses you possess you really could have saved many more lives. But the government's slow response was very pitiful, as Troy said.

This is not appropriate, and shows you don't know much about the situation.

[Nick]

Well, I haven't been watching the news recently, so I dont know much, just the general information.

This is not appropriate

Why? I was simply saying that America has enough resourses to aid itself in case of a disaster.

[Troy]

Why? I was simply saying that America has enough resourses to aid itself in case of a disaster.

And it is because of this attitude that I was initially upset. NOBODY is prepared to handle such a situation. Surely the government could have handled it better. But it would have been nice to see more international aid initially as well.

I have since seen that atleast 40 other countries have offered to send aid, and this is great news. Our status as a superpower should not prevent others from sending aid. The fact that we have been so open in sending aid to others in the past should count for more.

Troy

[Graynar]

The fact that we have been so open in sending aid to others in the past should count for more.

I agree. Canada has also helped aid other countries in the past. If something were to happen to them, I hope those countries would return the favour.

Graynar

[wlister]

I just want to point out that Canada did in fact offer aid almost immediately. Well before Troy made his initial complaint. I just wanted to clarify that Canada was one of the first to offer aid.

As mentioned, 1000 troops are being sent as well as water purifiers and several other very needed comodities. We have also offered RCMP officers and Firefighters have been volunteering to help as well.

Ours prayers are with the victims and their families.

Will

[Nick]

I just want to point out that Canada did in fact offer aid almost immediately. Well before Troy made his initial complaint. I just wanted to clarify that Canada was one of the first to offer aid.

Well, what else would one expect from Canada? The immediate and only neighbour is America, and keeping friendly relations is quite desirable.
It's funny (sad as well) that Canada offered help before the American government did.

[The Hordesman]

Only so you all know, Swedish help to the area has been blocked by the US Government, I do not know any details about it yet.

[Lord_Of_The_LEGO]

This thread has become dangerously off-topic. Locked.