Will Louisiana Receive UN and World Support in the Aftermath of Katrina ?

Remember the Asian Tsunami in December last year ? There was a major worldwide coordination and support and even mass appeal/concerts for the world to aid the victims affected.

The UN helped to coordinate aid effort to these countries. UN officials even criticized the "niggling" (note the quotes) response from developed countries.

Now that the most generous nation on earth has its own version of the Tsunami ( an entire city wiped out ), are we going to see the same world-wide sympathy for AMERICAN victims ? Will we see the same concerts to raise money ? Will we see the likes of Bono, Geldorf, Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie and the rest coordinating their efforts to aid AMERICAN victims ?

America has done her best to help the victims of the world. Now that we ourselves are victims, will we see the same response out of gratitude for what we did for others in the past ?

SEE HERE : http://junkyardblog.net/archives/week_2005_08_28.html#004728

When disaster strikes anywhere on the globe, America is usually the first to offer help. But when disaster strikes America, who helps us out?

So far, hardly anyone.

Israel is offering to help assess structural damage. And Canada is offering medical help.

Anyone else? Anyone?

UPDATE: Russia offers aid.

UPDATE: If you hear of any other countries offering aid, either email me a link or leave one in comments.

MORE: The Saudis are offering help. I'm hearing that Japan and France are offering support too, but no links yet.

As for celebrities helping out, Morgan Freeman has announced that he'll organize an online auction to raise relief funds. This weekend there will be a series of concerts on NBC and MTV to raise funds. Harry Connick, Jr., Wynton Marsalis and Tim McGraw, all Louisiana natives, will perform in the NBC concert, which is this Friday. Details on that and the MTV concert are here.

In fairness to both the international community and the celebrity culture, Katrina has been a slow-motion disaster. The staggering reality of what we're dealing with is only being understood around the world slowly--it seemed that the worst was over when the storm missed striking New Orleans directly, only to have things roll out of control once the levees broke and once the true extent of the damage along the Gulf coast was discovered. So it's not shocking that the world is somewhat slow to respond.

MORE: Venezuela offers fuel and food. Which shows if nothing else that even Hugo Chavez has a more finely tuned political ear than the American left, which is on a Bush-hate fueled compassion vacation.

ALSO SEE HERE :

http://www.lifelikepundits.com/archives/001400.php

Americans know that when crisis strikes in the world, we will do our best to assist. The fundamental basis of charity is to do so without expecting anything in return. We jokingly ask, "when will the world send us aid?" "When will Kofi get in front of the camera?" I appreciate the sentiment in criticizing the UN because of the arrogant assumptions they made during the Boxer Day Tsunami crisis. The UN scolded the United States and demanded charity.

But take a moment to see what nations are saying:

The fierce storm has left in its wake a still unknown death toll. In Mississippi alone it is estimated 125 people lost their lives in what French President Jacques Chirac called "terrible days" for Americans.

"In these painful circumstances, I wish to express the solidarity of the French people and my sincerest condolences for the tragic disappearance of so many of your compatriots," Chirac said in a letter to his US counterpart, George W. Bush, whom he addressed as "dear George".

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II voiced sorrow in a message to Bush.

"I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the deaths and injuries caused by Hurricane Katrina, and the scale of the damage and destruction now becoming apparent across the southern states," said the message made public by Buckingham Palace.

"My sympathy goes to you and the people of the United States, especially to the families of those who have lost their lives, to the injured and to all who have been affected by this terrible disaster."

An offer of support for the US rescue operation came from Russia's emergency situations ministry, which said it had two transport planes at the ready, together with rescuers, search helicopters and equipment for autonomous operations in a disaster zone.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah also assured Bush in a telephone conversation of the "support of the kingdom to its friend the United States during its misfortune."

King Abdullah said the kingdom, the world's top oil exporter, was prepared to "do everything that it can to help towards lessening the consequences of the hurricane."

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sent a brief message of condolence and support to Bush.

"Dear George, I am with you and the American people in this moment of distress," read the message released by Berlusconi's office.

Sympathy also came from the head of the Greek Orthodox Church in a message to Bush as well as from Greece's prime minister.

"Our thoughts go out to the relatives of the victims and to all those who are suffering the consequences of this catastrophe," said the Greek leader, Costas Karamanlis.

As rescuers search for survivors and officials begin to assess the massive property damage from the fierce hurricane, the Chinese government hailed the resilience of the American people.

"The American people will overcome the aftermath of the disaster and rebuild their homeland," Chinese President Hu Jintao said in a message.

Hu is set to hold talks with Bush in Washington next Wednesday on his first visit to the US as China's head of state.

The OPEC oil cartel also sent a message of condolence to the US government and people, vowing to do its utmost to ensure the stability of the global oil market in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families and friends of all those who lost their lives or who have been injured in this natural catastrophe of unimaginable dimensions," the organisation said.

from the CTV site:

Canadian forces on standby to help Katrina effort
CTV.ca News Staff

Canadian Forces are on standby to help the United States deal with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier announced Thursday.

Gen. Hillier said he spoke with his counterparts in the U.S., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers and commander of the U.S. Northern Command.

"Whenever there is a need ... they have but to ask and we in the Canadian Forces will have it rolling or sailing or flying southward as quickly as possible," he told reporters in Ottawa.

He also said the Disaster Assistance Response Team would be ready to respond as soon as it was needed.

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