Haiti

[bust]

Back on track

[Coss]

The Thai government responds... donates $20,000. They seem to have forgotten the response the world gave Thailand a few years ago. $20,000. damn that's an insult.

 

Bangkok Post

20 Jan 2010

 

Govt orders increased Haiti aid

 

 

Thailand has boosted its humanitarian aid commitment to Haiti to US$100,000 (3.3 million baht) and will send at least 20,000 tonnes of rice to help the victims of the quake.

 

The additional financial assistance was approved at a government meeting yesterday during which Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya was criticised by cabinet ministers, a source at the meeting said.

 

Mr Kasit was blamed for making the government a target of criticism by previously approving only $20,000 for the West Indian country, the source said.

 

The earthquake, which hit Haiti on Jan 12, has killed between 100,000 and 200,000 people, according to Haitian government officials.

 

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters after the meeting the previous offer was made under a regulation which capped humanitarian aid given out by government agencies at $20,000. To contribute more money, cabinet approval was needed, he said.

 

PM's Office Minister Virachai Virameteekul has been assigned to set up a centre for contributions from the public to help Haitians rebuild their lives.

 

The prime minister called for people to contribute money to Haiti by donating to the Thais Help Haiti Victims fund set up by the government. Other agencies have also established funds.

 

In addition to rice and money, Thailand planned to send doctors, engineers and construction materials to the quake-hit country, Mr Abhisit said.

 

Permanent secretary for foreign affairs Teerakul Niyom said Thailand would consider sending soldiers to help the United Nations rebuild infrastructure.

 

The humanitarian aid money would be given to the Haitian ambassador to Mexico tomorrow by the Thai embassy based in Mexico City, Mr Teerakul said.

 

Mr Veerachai said the first batch of up to 3,000 tonnes of rice would be sent within this month.

 

"The rice will be packed in one or two kilogramme bags to make it easy to distribute to Haitians," he said.

 

Mr Kasit was slammed by some ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban during the cabinet meeting for the financial pledge of just $20,000. Mr Suthep said a number of people had criticised the government for contributing too little while private firms had been willing to do more by offering to give up to 7 million baht to Haiti through the government, the source quoted him as saying.

 

"The government should make clear what will be offered to Haiti," the deputy prime minister told the meeting.

 

After the cabinet approved the additional aid, Mr Kasit asked for two more days to coordinate Thai help with other international agencies. But Mr Abhisit quickly interrupted saying that would be too long, the source said.

 

The prime minister also was not impressed with the Foreign Ministry over its failure to communicate with the public about the role of the government in helping other countries.

 

"The Foreign Ministry is the main agency responsible for Thai assistance to other countries but the public does not know what the government is doing," Mr Abhisit said. "I want Mr Veerachai Virameteekul, the PM's Office minister, to help Mr Kasit," he said.

 

During the meeting, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti also offered to head a Thai delegation to Haiti to help.

 

But his offer was immediately opposed by Mr Kasit and other ministers. The delegation would only complicate coordination between aid organisations, the foreign minister said.

 

In Chumphon's Sawi district, the mother of three Thais who survived the quake said her children were safe.

 

Chaowanee Sophon said Thanin, 35, Soithong, 30, and Thanomsi Jeenchukaew, 38, ran a Thai food shop which had only been slightly damaged.

 

 

It's good to see they are going to send rice, but the money is minimal. I'd quite like to see what the sums were that Thailand received for the Tsunami.

 

Maybe this is just another case of Thailand trying to organize itself out of a wet paper bag.

 

By the time they have got their act together, it'll be all over.

 

Coss

[Coss]

not to make light of the situation but....

 

Link

 

BANGKOK – Responding to international criticism that its initial donation of $20,000 was insufficient, the Thai government has generously added 50,000 bottles of whitening skin cream to its aid shipment to earthquake-stricken Haiti.

 

“Thailand is a compassionate nation,†said Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. “We noticed in the news that the Haitians are all very dark-skinned. This is surely one of the reasons they are living in poverty. With lighter skin they could be more successful.â€Â

 

The donation is co-sponsored by Unilever Thailand Ltd., which has agreed to provide the 50,000 bottles of Citra Ultra White if the government provides shipping. Along with the whitening cream, there will also be 50,000 copies of Citra’s new brochure, explaining the power of Citra’s double-action anti-aging and brightening formula.

 

“Citra Ultra White lets you look and feel your best,†said Marlene Van Houten, Unilever’s regional marketing director. “Whether you’re standing in line for UN food shipments, or just sorting through the rubble of your devastated village, Citra Ultra White provides whiter skin and all-day UV protection.â€Â

 

The whitening cream represents the single-largest shipment of its kind ever to a disaster-zone. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the generosity of Thais was evident because so many people had encouraged the donation.

 

“Everyone kept talking about how black-skinned the Haitians are,†he said. “At every discussion about aid, the skin color kept coming up. I see now that the initial pledge of USD20,000 was very low because in the back of our minds we knew that these black people needed something more than just money.â€Â

 

Many people interviewed for the story seemed to agree with the PM.

 

“I donated some money to help the Chinese after the Sichuan earthquake,†said office worker Vasana Prasarnmit. “But these Haiti people are so dark I don’t want to give them anything. Maybe if they were lighter, like Obama.â€Â

 

It is believed that the whitening cream can make the homeless, starving survivors of the earthquake look whiter and brighter in just 14 days, according to the Unilever brochure. It is hoped that by looking whiter, the Haitians might be able to secure more aid.

 

“White skin is the key to succes in life, whether it’s job interviews, finding a mate, or being elected to office,†said Chulalongkorn sociology professor Urmkit Srisomwattanathip. “There’s no reason to believe this is any different.â€Â

 

The Haitian government has tentatively accepted the donation, but has surprisingly appealed for more non-whitening aid.

 

“We have nothing,†said a local Haitian aid worker with the UN. “We need shelter, food, clean water. There are hundreds of children dying every day from dysentery. Please help us. For god’s sake, wake up and see the suffering.â€Â

[Flashermac]

Wonder if they are sending pla rah and nam prik maeng da to go along with the rice.

 

 

[Bangkoktraveler]

not to make light of the situation but....

 

Link

 

BANGKOK – Responding to international criticism that its initial donation of $20,000 was insufficient, the Thai government has generously added 50,000 bottles of whitening skin cream to its aid shipment to earthquake-stricken Haiti.

 

“Thailand is a compassionate nation,†said Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. “We noticed in the news that the Haitians are all very dark-skinned. This is surely one of the reasons they are living in poverty. With lighter skin they could be more successful.â€Â

 

The donation is co-sponsored by Unilever Thailand Ltd., which has agreed to provide the 50,000 bottles of Citra Ultra White if the government provides shipping. Along with the whitening cream, there will also be 50,000 copies of Citra’s new brochure, explaining the power of Citra’s double-action anti-aging and brightening formula.

 

“Citra Ultra White lets you look and feel your best,†said Marlene Van Houten, Unilever’s regional marketing director. “Whether you’re standing in line for UN food shipments, or just sorting through the rubble of your devastated village, Citra Ultra White provides whiter skin and all-day UV protection.â€Â

 

[color:red]The whitening cream represents the single-largest shipment of its kind ever to a disaster-zone.[/color] Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the generosity of Thais was evident because so many people had encouraged the donation.

 

[color:red]“Everyone kept talking about how black-skinned the Haitians are,â€Â[/color] he said. [color:red]“At every discussion about aid, the skin color kept coming up. I see now that the initial pledge of USD20,000 was very low because in the back of our minds we knew that these black people needed something more than just money.â€Â[/color]

Many people interviewed for the story seemed to agree with the PM.

 

“I donated some money to help the Chinese after the Sichuan earthquake,†said office worker Vasana Prasarnmit. [color:red]“But these Haiti people are so dark I don’t want to give them anything. Maybe if they were lighter, like Obama.â€Â[/color]

 

It is believed that the whitening cream can make the homeless, starving survivors of the earthquake look whiter and brighter in just 14 days, according to the Unilever brochure. It is hoped that by looking whiter, the Haitians might be able to secure more aid.

 

[color:red]“White skin is the key to succes in life, whether it’s job interviews, finding a mate, or being elected to office,â€Â[/color] said Chulalongkorn sociology professor Urmkit Srisomwattanathip. “There’s no reason to believe this is any different.â€Â

 

The Haitian government has tentatively accepted the donation, but has surprisingly appealed for more non-whitening aid.

 

“We have nothing,†said a local Haitian aid worker with the UN. “We need shelter, food, clean water. There are hundreds of children dying every day from dysentery. Please help us. For god’s sake, wake up and see the suffering.â€Â

 

 

 

 

 

Does Rush Limbaugh have Thai blood running thru his veins?

[Flashermac]

Nope. Only cold blood.

 

 

[Steve]

Being currently in Asia, I'm a bit removed from the constant news about Haiti. That has probably added to a bit too much indifference. I feel guilty saying that but its honest. I do get CNN and its on 24/7 and I only watch a smidgen. Too depressing. I feel badly for the people. There are a bunch of heartbreaking stories. This is in EVERY tragedy but in this tech age we see it instantly.

 

That said, I see CNN criticizing a lot of the aid process. In such a tragedy there will never be a good way of executing aid. There will always be snafus, mistakes, etc. There would be the same in the U.S.

There is just too many factors and tragedies are too unique to adequately repsond to everyone. 911 created a lot of problems locally in the hosiptals, etc. There was a certain amount of bedlam, but it wasn't reported. Understandably so, but in such a tragedy there was no way the police, fire and other groups to mobilize and act in concert. Initially you're reacting.

 

Haiti is even more unique because its a foreign country and the countries don't know the lay of the land and the nuances of the local areas.

 

There is also the crime and a bit of anarchy that comes along in some areas because of the tragedy. Safety is and should be an issue.

 

Still say the country is f**ked and will stay so after the tragedy. Hate saying it and hope I'm wrong but don't see much changing after. The country needs a complete overhaul in just about all aspects of society.