View From Afar
Like many of you, I have been in absolute shock since the tragedy on December 26. Some of you have been proactive and sent me links and ideas about how to help. Many others have expressed relief that I am back in the Western Hemisphere. Still others have inquired about my friends and their well-being. I thank all of you for all of your thoughts and efforts. First, I don't know of any friends that were in Southern Thailand for the holidays. I have accounted for the two friends that were in Phuket when I left Thailand on December 14. Both had returned to Bangkok shortly before Christmas. For that I am thankful.
What of the thousands of others that are confirmed dead or are still missing and at this point presumed dead? I can only hope that their death was mercifully quick and that they are now at peace. So many of the dead in Thailand are tourists. People from all over the world flock to the beautiful beaches for sun and recreation at this time of the year. Such a terrifying end to a dream vacation. By now we have all read many accounts of the occurrences of that terrible Sunday. We have watched over and over again as the giant waves cleansed the earth. We have seen parents grieving for their lost children. We have watched lost children crying for their parents. We watched in horror as desperate parents tried to keep their children from being washed away. Today's technology has somehow given us a role in tragedies such as this. So close and yet still detached. So much destruction... so many lives were forever changed in such a short time. As always in terrible times, heroic stories emerge. Heartwarming stories emerge. Miraculous stories emerge. In the newspaper today, I read about the family dog that dragged a 7 year old child to safety. Times like these seem to bring out the best and worst in humanity. So far we have mostly seen the best. Perhaps this time will be different and the looters and profiteers will be shouted down.
What of the economy? Thailand will rebound. The government realizes the importance of tourism to the economy and huge efforts have been underway since day one to clean up and restore Phuket. No doubt Krabi and Koh Phi Phi will be the focus once Phuket is in good shape. Even the elephants have been called in to work. The hope is to salvage some of the high season at least. Other well known attractions such as Koh Samui, an island on the gulf (the other side of the peninsula), are reporting record numbers of visits as travelers divert from one destination to another. Even obscure attractions such as Phanom Rung (see my post of November 22) are seeing large increases in visits. Despite many cancellations, many other tourists are still in Thailand having simply adjusted their itineraries. There will be a very definite hit to the economy this year, the real question is will tourists be gun shy next year? Only time will tell.
What of the upcoming elections? Many people are calling for the upcoming elections to be moved back. The country is currently united to serve one cause. The time is not appropriate for political wrangling which this year would have been very ugly. It just makes sense to move it back a bit. Let all sides stay united until the things are restored. Let all sides stay united until the grief and shock abate. There ARE large issues to debate, important issues concerning the fate of the country. Tak Bai for instance has faded into the background. As it should. TEMPORARILY. Questions remain about the Taksin government's handling of all facets of the incident. Economic policies need to be discussed. Let's hope the Taksin government acquiesces to the forces requesting the election be postponed. Thailand deserves an election where the issues are not muted by grief and tragedy. The oppositon deserves to be heard.
Thailand is fortunate. They are in a much better position to respond and rebound than Sri Lanka and Indonesia. On that score they are certainly on a par with India. Thailand is a relatively westernized country with a strong economic base and a fair amount of wealth. Its infrastructure is much more solid than that of the other nations affected by the earthquake and resulting tsunami. For that they are fortunate indeed.
I won't post any pictures of the tragic events. We have already seen so many. Other pictures can be found:
http://www.phuketgazette.net/index.asp
Other local information can be read about in the Bangkok Post and The Nation:
http://www.bangkokpost.net/
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
I encourage any of you that can to contribute to the relief effort in whatever way you are able. Some of my friends have done some research and supplied me with the following links:
http://www.projectcure.org/
(thanks to Rick for this link)
1) Oxfam International
...is a confederation of 12 organizations working together with over 3000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering and injustice.
They are established in the regions and sent aid immediately...
Oxfam calls for a coordinated response as emergency aid flight leaves UK for Sri Lanka and Indonesiahttp://www.oxfam.org/eng/pr291204_tsunami.htm
To Donate:
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatyoucando/donate
2) Doctors Without Borders
EMERGENCY UPDATE: Doctors Without Borders Begins Providing Aidin Aceh, Northern Sumatra
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/pr/2004/12-29-2004.shtml
To donate:
http://www.doctorswithoutborders-usa.org/donate/
3) Mercy Corps
according to their website... their golbal emergency team is on the ground delivering lifesaving aid and assistance.
http://www.mercycorps.org/splash/
To donate:
https://ssl.charityweb.net/mercycorps/giftbasket/donation.htm?pDonorIntent=SoutheastAsiaEarthquake&Custom15=wm
4) AmeriCares
An AmeriCares airlift has left Amsterdam and will arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday, bringing 30,000 pounds of medical relief to aid the millions of people affected by Sunday’s earthquake and tsunamis.
http://www.americaresfoundation.net/default.aspx
To Donate:
https://www.americares.org/donate/?id=South%20Asia%20Earthquake%20Relief%20Fund
5) Save the Children Federation
...is mobilizing a response and has begun to coordinate with local and international aid agencies...
To donate:
https://secure.ga3.org/01/helpasia?stationpub=hp_radio_asia_earthq
6) Care USA
CARE's emergency response will include provision of items such as food, water purification tablets, soaps, shelter materials, basic medical supplies and cooking supplies.
http://www.careusa.org/newsroom/pressreleases/2004/dec/20041227_asiaquake.asp
To donate:
https://donate.care.org/05/20130000/?source=170570020000
7) International Red Crescent and Red Cross
www.ifrc.org
Thanks to Jan for these last 7 links.
UNICEF is another organization that has been mentioned in the Denver Post. I do not personally endorse or vouch for any of these since I have no personal knowledge of exactly what they are doing, but all are legitimate. I encourage you to make a choice and make a difference.
All for now... next time back to more pleasant topics I hope! As always your questions and comments are welcome at : andym528@hotmail.com
What of the thousands of others that are confirmed dead or are still missing and at this point presumed dead? I can only hope that their death was mercifully quick and that they are now at peace. So many of the dead in Thailand are tourists. People from all over the world flock to the beautiful beaches for sun and recreation at this time of the year. Such a terrifying end to a dream vacation. By now we have all read many accounts of the occurrences of that terrible Sunday. We have watched over and over again as the giant waves cleansed the earth. We have seen parents grieving for their lost children. We have watched lost children crying for their parents. We watched in horror as desperate parents tried to keep their children from being washed away. Today's technology has somehow given us a role in tragedies such as this. So close and yet still detached. So much destruction... so many lives were forever changed in such a short time. As always in terrible times, heroic stories emerge. Heartwarming stories emerge. Miraculous stories emerge. In the newspaper today, I read about the family dog that dragged a 7 year old child to safety. Times like these seem to bring out the best and worst in humanity. So far we have mostly seen the best. Perhaps this time will be different and the looters and profiteers will be shouted down.
What of the economy? Thailand will rebound. The government realizes the importance of tourism to the economy and huge efforts have been underway since day one to clean up and restore Phuket. No doubt Krabi and Koh Phi Phi will be the focus once Phuket is in good shape. Even the elephants have been called in to work. The hope is to salvage some of the high season at least. Other well known attractions such as Koh Samui, an island on the gulf (the other side of the peninsula), are reporting record numbers of visits as travelers divert from one destination to another. Even obscure attractions such as Phanom Rung (see my post of November 22) are seeing large increases in visits. Despite many cancellations, many other tourists are still in Thailand having simply adjusted their itineraries. There will be a very definite hit to the economy this year, the real question is will tourists be gun shy next year? Only time will tell.
What of the upcoming elections? Many people are calling for the upcoming elections to be moved back. The country is currently united to serve one cause. The time is not appropriate for political wrangling which this year would have been very ugly. It just makes sense to move it back a bit. Let all sides stay united until the things are restored. Let all sides stay united until the grief and shock abate. There ARE large issues to debate, important issues concerning the fate of the country. Tak Bai for instance has faded into the background. As it should. TEMPORARILY. Questions remain about the Taksin government's handling of all facets of the incident. Economic policies need to be discussed. Let's hope the Taksin government acquiesces to the forces requesting the election be postponed. Thailand deserves an election where the issues are not muted by grief and tragedy. The oppositon deserves to be heard.
Thailand is fortunate. They are in a much better position to respond and rebound than Sri Lanka and Indonesia. On that score they are certainly on a par with India. Thailand is a relatively westernized country with a strong economic base and a fair amount of wealth. Its infrastructure is much more solid than that of the other nations affected by the earthquake and resulting tsunami. For that they are fortunate indeed.
I won't post any pictures of the tragic events. We have already seen so many. Other pictures can be found:
http://www.phuketgazette.net/index.asp
Other local information can be read about in the Bangkok Post and The Nation:
http://www.bangkokpost.net/
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
I encourage any of you that can to contribute to the relief effort in whatever way you are able. Some of my friends have done some research and supplied me with the following links:
http://www.projectcure.org/
(thanks to Rick for this link)
1) Oxfam International
...is a confederation of 12 organizations working together with over 3000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering and injustice.
They are established in the regions and sent aid immediately...
Oxfam calls for a coordinated response as emergency aid flight leaves UK for Sri Lanka and Indonesiahttp://www.oxfam.org/eng/pr291204_tsunami.htm
To Donate:
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/whatyoucando/donate
2) Doctors Without Borders
EMERGENCY UPDATE: Doctors Without Borders Begins Providing Aidin Aceh, Northern Sumatra
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/pr/2004/12-29-2004.shtml
To donate:
http://www.doctorswithoutborders-usa.org/donate/
3) Mercy Corps
according to their website... their golbal emergency team is on the ground delivering lifesaving aid and assistance.
http://www.mercycorps.org/splash/
To donate:
https://ssl.charityweb.net/mercycorps/giftbasket/donation.htm?pDonorIntent=SoutheastAsiaEarthquake&Custom15=wm
4) AmeriCares
An AmeriCares airlift has left Amsterdam and will arrive in Sri Lanka on Thursday, bringing 30,000 pounds of medical relief to aid the millions of people affected by Sunday’s earthquake and tsunamis.
http://www.americaresfoundation.net/default.aspx
To Donate:
https://www.americares.org/donate/?id=South%20Asia%20Earthquake%20Relief%20Fund
5) Save the Children Federation
...is mobilizing a response and has begun to coordinate with local and international aid agencies...
To donate:
https://secure.ga3.org/01/helpasia?stationpub=hp_radio_asia_earthq
6) Care USA
CARE's emergency response will include provision of items such as food, water purification tablets, soaps, shelter materials, basic medical supplies and cooking supplies.
http://www.careusa.org/newsroom/pressreleases/2004/dec/20041227_asiaquake.asp
To donate:
https://donate.care.org/05/20130000/?source=170570020000
7) International Red Crescent and Red Cross
www.ifrc.org
Thanks to Jan for these last 7 links.
UNICEF is another organization that has been mentioned in the Denver Post. I do not personally endorse or vouch for any of these since I have no personal knowledge of exactly what they are doing, but all are legitimate. I encourage you to make a choice and make a difference.
All for now... next time back to more pleasant topics I hope! As always your questions and comments are welcome at : andym528@hotmail.com