Massive earthquake hits Indonesia, Tsunami kills thousands.

[Mels]

Mulboyne:

I read about this yesterday. Incredible survival to say the least.

[dimwit]

From the Guardian Unlimited

Japan tops donor list with $500m

Justin McCurry in Tokyo
Monday January 3, 2005
The Guardian

Japan has become the biggest donor country with a pledge of $500m (£260m) to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunamis.
Its largesse is part of wider efforts to be regarded as a benign force in the region, but is also born of empathy: the Japanese know all about the tragic consequences of earthquakes and tsunamis.

Though it is expected to cut its foreign aid budget again this year, Japan is a prodigious donor, spending $8.9bn last year, second only to the US.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tsunami/story/0,15671,1382482,00.html

My worry, due perhaps to my cynicism, is what is the money going to used for? Usually Japanese aid goes into building pointless/environmentally damaging construction projects. I guess Phuket and Sri Lanka can look forward to lots of beautiful 'safe shorelines just like we have in Japan.

[AssKissinger]

Is it just me or did this thread get shorter?

[jingai]

AK, check "Beyond Fucked" for the GG character bashing.

To the idea that global warming will stop when we simply run out of oil and gas, this ignores the massive coal reserves which exist around the world. From the same New Scientist article excerpted earlier:

Defending their predictions, scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change say they considered a range of estimates of oil and gas reserves, and point out that coal-burning could easily make up the shortfall. But all agree that burning coal would be even worse for the planet.

So it looks like we're not off the hook yet!
Now getting back to the topic at hand, under moderate global warming scenarious, large chunks of the Indian subcontinent may become uninhabitable (underwater/threatened by severe storms/poisoned by salt). The current head of the IPCC, Rajenda Pachauri (a former oil exec.) talks about unchecked global warming leading to 150 million environmental refugees, more than all the wars of the 20th century. How many more disasters will the developed world really help out with before donor fatigue sets in?

Global Warming: the politics:
http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/12/15/emissions_must_be_cut_says_chief_un_scientist/
By the way, I'm working on the New England power plant cap-and-trade system mentioned in this article.

Impacts on the poorest countries:
http://www.neweconomics.org/tex/news_upinsmoke.aspx
Direct link to "Up In Smoke" (not Cheech and Chong) report here:
http://weblog.greenpeace.org/climatesummit/archives/upinsmoke.pdf

[GuyJean]

[DJEB]

To the idea that global warming will stop when we simply run out of oil and gas, this ignores the massive coal reserves which exist around the world. From the same New Scientist article excerpted earlier:

Defending their predictions, scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change say they considered a range of estimates of oil and gas reserves, and point out that coal-burning could easily make up the shortfall. But all agree that burning coal would be even worse for the planet.

Yeah, surely the world will switch back to coal (and all its pollution problems) when oil and natural gas become too expensive - it's too efficient an energy source to pass up.

Maybe we'll be driving one of these:

[vir-jin]

Is it just me or did this thread get shorter?

yep! somebody cleaned up before getting all other posts infected. Thanks!

[vir-jin]

I AM BROKE! ALL RED BANKACCOUNT! DONATE FOR ME TO SRI LANKA!



conbini bag, invented and produced yesterday, is made from white plastic lace tablecloth
I dedicate it to GomiGirl, who hit this page with tsunami power!

wealthy FG's donate for me and it is yours.
I raise AK's ghost, purchase the most fashionable conbini bag ever in JAPAN for Mrs AssKissinger, spend all your money and donate for me to Sri Lanka!
as soon as you agree to donate for me, how much belongs to you, this bag will be send to you immediately.
Note:This is not a joke

[mas]

Ignorant of Plate Tectonics, Pastor Fred Phelps Holds God Responsible for 200,000+ Tsunami Deaths

[quote]The lands affected by this judgment from God aren

[jingai]

Hmm, then why did God kill all the little boys and girls, too?

[mas]

Hmm, then why did God kill all the little boys and girls, too?

[quote="The Good Pastor Phelps"]Filthy fags and pedophiles have been going to Asia for many, many years to have sex with little children - and suddenly you're worried about children? Shame on you. It is God's prerogative to kill children to punish their evil, Godless, vile, filthy parents and others who were raising them for the devil anyway]

Say what you will about the man -- he's got his schtick down cold.

[Ketou]

Filthy fags and pedophiles have been going to Asia for many, many years to have sex with little children

So that's where the Catholics were having their conventions!

[Mulboyne]

Japan Times: Dozens of English teachers still missing
More than 40 English-language teachers working in Japan who may have been in areas hit by the Indian Ocean tsunamis on Dec. 26 were still unaccounted for as of Saturday. The tally by The Japan Times was based on information provided by major English-language school operators and people teaching under the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, through which foreigners work in local government organizations throughout the country.
The whereabouts could not be confirmed of 40 non-Japanese teachers at Nova Co., the country's largest chain of private language schools, while officials at Geos Corp. and ECC Co. each said they had two teachers still unaccounted for

[DJEB]

[jim katta]

So let me get this straight, only the posts criticizing GG on this thread were removed?? Please tell me that isn't true. I just went back and it does look like Charles' posts criticizing GG have been removed. Look, I'm not co-signing the guy's posts, but all he did was voice his opinion, he didn't reveal someone's personal home address or something. No matter how much you might disagree with his opinion, simply censoring him is about as 'fucked' as it gets. I remember when that asshole hip hop guy came on here talking about his little japan sex exploits and his rapping skills, he was alllowed to go on and on with offensiveness. Never have I hated a poster more than him. But he was eventually banned (it's not even possible to write his name on this board now), and I thought that was a good decision based on his actions.

Although I don't think Charles' posts are deserving of deletion, I think it's better to simply ban someone rather than selectively censor and move around their words to another thread where they are unlikely to be seen (basically the same as censorship). To the moderator who moved the guys posts, I'd like to ask you to please post the list of veteran FG posters who are above criticism so we can all avoid saying anything negative about them lest we become subject to editing/censorship. Seriously, is there a list of who on this board is above critique?

(because I'm pretty damn well sure that if Charles had said those same things to me, for instance, his posts would still be where he put them in the first place)

[Kuang_Grade]

The mods didn't censor anything jim katta....they (rightly so in my opinion) moved the whole 'she's a ghoul/he's an ass' part of the thread to here in beyond f*cked forum, where this level of discourse is normal. The thread is titled "wanking over tragedy".

Beyond F*cked
Post all your NON-POLITICAL bullshit here. Do not read it if you are easily offended, stupid enough to respond to trolls or don't love pointless flamewars. Pleas for rationality will be ignored.

[GuyJean]

So let me get this straight, only the posts criticizing GG on this thread were removed?? Please tell me that isn't true.

Hey Jim, you can still join the party:

http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10024

I think when the topic of conversation moved from the tsunami to themselves, it was good someone did some house cleaning.

GJ

[GuyJean]

This video of Aceh is startling.. The street in motion..

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index&cid=968

the title "Video Shows Tsunami Roar Through Indonesia"

GJ

[Ketou]

Here is a link with quite a few videos of the tsunami.
http://www.asiantsunamivideos.com/

[Samurai_Jerk]

Before and after satellite photos:

http://homepage.mac.com/demark/tsunami/9.html

[uzaki]

I knew this news about massive tidal wave right after I came back to Japan from thailand.I was shocked and many worries, if my friends around there were ok, flitted through my mind with a stroke of the pen.
I phoned all of them and made sure they were fine fortunately.
Meanwhile, I knew the facts that thousands of people were injured or dead from news broadcasted everyday.

According to it, the area is very hot and infectious disease is spreading quickly, isn't it?
I hope the collateral disaster doesn't increase the number of casualty more.
I had the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake of 1995 in Japan when I was elementary school student. Fortunately, my family and all of my friends here were not done extensive damage, but never forget the fear then.


Actually, I am going to work in Thailand from this April as a Japanese-language teacher. It is not sourthern Thailand, but also Bangkok to which were not dameged by the tidal wave, however, I feel a littele bit scared although I am now in Japan and ache when I think of feeling of people there.

It is not easy to do that, but I wish I could support people in disaster area ,especially mentally.

Kanako

[GuyJean]

Actually, I am going to work in Thailand from this April as a Japanese-language teacher. It is not sourthern Thailand, but also Bangkok to which were not dameged by the tidal wave, however, I feel a littele bit scared although I am now in Japan and ache when I think of feeling of people there.

It is not easy to do that, but I wish I could support people in disaster area ,especially mentally.

Although this is a difficult time for Thailand, the Thai people are resourceful, resiliant, and strong. It will return to the 'land of smiles' soon enough.

And as far as supporting them mentally; you'll be there in April meeting, sharing, and learing with them.. In essence, supporting them. Maybe support them monetarily now, mentally later.

GJ

[DJEB]

[FG Lurker]

Spread of disease following tsunami shocks aid doctor
Gessho Kobayashi / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

Tatsuro Kai, a 54-year-old Japanese doctor, is treating victims in Banda Aceh at the northern end of Sumatra, Indonesia, whose shores were battered by tsunami caused by the Dec. 26 earthquake in the Indian Ocean.

Kai also helped treat those injured in the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 and worked as a doctor in Turkey in 1999, when a massive earthquake hit, and in Iraq during the war in 2003.

In Banda Aceh, infection is spreading quickly and some people have died from tetanus.

"The spread of infection is worse than I had expected. We must stop it somehow," Kai said.

[...]

(Full Article)

The predicted spread of diseases is happening. Hopefully all the promised aid arrives in time and helps keep this in check.

[kurohinge1]

Behold, the remarkable story of

Hamaguchi Gohei

[Taro Toporific]

Behold, the remarkable story of
Hamaguchi Gohei

As I read the story, I could tell it was a folk history of a real event, in this case I googled it as the Tsunami of 1854. It's called by the Japanese "Inamura no Hi."

Inamura no Hi [The Fire of Rice Sheaves]
Amongst all these tragedies, one incident involving the actions of an elderly man by the name of Hamaguchi stands out. Hamaguchi Gohei or Goryou (1) lived in the village of Arida-cho (now Hirogawa-cho) located on the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama prefecture, western Japan. This is a concise description of the events as described by different authors ...more...

[FG Lurker]

Talk about being fucked up...

Tsunami relief provided "wonderful opportunity" for US: Rice
Channel News Asia

WASHINGTON : Asia's tsunami disaster provided a "wonderful opportunity" for the United States to show compassion with relief efforts that reaped "great dividends" on the diplomatic front, Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice said.

[...]

Rice, the outgoing national security adviser, made clear in her opening statement Washington's hope of consolidating its influence in the region, following up on the goodwill generated by US military help and financial aid for tsunami victims.

"Our Asian alliances have never been stronger, and we will use that strength to help secure the peace and prosperity of the region," she told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that was expected to clear her nomination with little trouble.

I thought she was supposed to be intelligent?

[den4]

Dr. Rice isn't as bad as these folks...
http://in.news.yahoo.com/050116/139/2j1rp.html

Villagers furious with Christian Missionaries

Jubilant at seeing the relief trucks loaded with food, clothes and the much-needed medicines the villagers, many of who have not had a square meal in days, were shocked when the nuns asked them to convert before distributing biscuits and water.

I would be shocked too...

"Many NGOs (volunteer groups) are extending help to us but there in our village the NGO, which was till now helping us is now asking us to follow the Christian religion. We are staunch followers of Hindu religion and refused their request. And after that these people with their aid materials are leaving the village without distributing that to us," Rajni Kumar, a villager said.

So I guess if you're not Christian, then you don't get aid in southern India... They did mention it was an isolated incident...but that group is still out there...somewhere...."helping" their fellow humans....really a sad story...

[FG Lurker]

Dr. Rice isn't as bad as these folks...
http://in.news.yahoo.com/050116/139/2j1rp.html

I'd rate them about equally -- both are looking at it as a good opportunity to advance their agenda and manipulate people into doing things they wouldn't normally do.

I guess there is the difference of scale though: The religious nutcases are doing it village by village. The political nutcases are doing it entire countries at a time.

Can't say the US isn't being efficient about it!

[den4]

I'd rate them about equally -- both are looking at it as a good opportunity to advance their agenda and manipulate people into doing things they wouldn't normally do.

I guess there is the difference of scale though: The religious nutcases are doing it village by village. The political nutcases are doing it entire countries at a time.

Can't say the US isn't being efficient about it!

I suppose if those religious nutcases do get caught, they will merely say they were following orders from up above...really makes one want to send money to relief agencies...too bad some F'd missionaries now want to ruin another group of Indians, now that they've decimated the American ones....

Don't need no devil...mankind can create hell on earth without any supernatural help...