Myanmar

[Dave Lobster]

i really feel for the people on the street - it must be absolute hell there. the military govt though is typical of all dictatorial military govts - full of their own importance and self-satisfaction.

It's not just military governments.

[Number One]

it is all a very sad state of affairs but what I find really sad about too is that USA has been soo quick to jump onthe bandwagon and offer aid when they haven't yet really sorted out their own house after Katrina.

Bet all those still suffering the effects feel a little miffed that their govt is so concerned about being seen to be helping out overseas when it took them so damn long to swing into gear and sort out their own people when that devastation hit...yet they were channelling so much resource into their WAR effort.

Disgusting actually!

[Jiminy]

I've never been there, and have no idea of what the situation in Myanmar really is after the recent events, so I can't judge or advice anyone. However, keep in mind that a sudden import of foreign help might destroy local support networks based on extended family and tradition. Short-term relief can sometimes prove worse in the long-term.

Whatever your conclusion is, don't take the news report at face value, but make your opinion after considering different views.

My 2 cents.

[Swoop]

it is all a very sad state of affairs but what I find really sad about too is that USA has been soo quick to jump onthe bandwagon and offer aid...

One of the functions of a US CBG (Carrier Battle Group) is aid and relief in a disaster zone. The nearest CBG is normally on standby when information of a disaster comes in.

[Number One]

One of the functions of a US CBG (Carrier Battle Group) is aid and relief in a disaster zone. The nearest CBG is normally on standby when information of a disaster comes in.

Fairy nuff

Still think it's a sad state of affairs when they can 'afford' to help other nations around the world when they do a seemingly crap job of taking care of their own.

Agree too with what someone else said that their (Myanmar's) government stance on whatever shouldn't mean that the innocent and suffering public should go without help

[Hoon]

I was part of the relief efforts for the Western Province earthquake/Tsunami last year. The locals are just innocents trying to live their lives and probably have nothing to do with the political situation. They need help.

One of the functions of a US CBG (Carrier Battle Group) is aid and relief in a disaster zone. The nearest CBG is normally on standby when information of a disaster comes in.

In Western Province a US Marine Expeditionary ship came in and flew us around (yay Blackhawk rides!). One thing that really annoyed me was that the various relief organisations don't co-ordinate their efforts. One day we'd take Red Cross people out to some area and drop off supplies to the villages (clean water, rice and biscuits). The next day we might be escorting AusAid or Oxfam etc and they'd want to go to the same area and drop off more stuff even though we'd tell them they were already sorted. It was like it was just a big race to tick off as many villages as possible instead of getting relief to the places that needed it asap.

no amount of $$$ aid is going to help though - it has to come in the form of physical aid.

Money and international assistance is exactly what is needed. Everything cost money. You need foreign help to bring in all the aid. Even in the Solomons planes were flying non-stop and that was just a fraction of the size of Myanmar. The scope of what needs to be done there just boogles the mind.