katrina

[swaytosway]

I started to cry over my coffee and newspaper this morning. The pictures of human devestatation, the pain, and I only saw a few pages in my paper.
I made a $50 donation to the red cross shortly after that. It's something I suppose, I don't know what else I really could do.
My thoughts are with anyone who lives in that direction, or has friends and families there. one love.

[Mr. Cleanface]

Yep, I donated 50$ yesterday too. Every bit helps. It is really incredible how fukked up the stiuation is down there....so sad...smileys/smiley19.gif

[Vanessa27]

Why is our Government not helping these people?????!!!! WTF!! You mean to tell me they can't get enough planes and boats, or even drop bottled water and food from planes!? I am ashamed. Women, children, the elderly living in filth and sewage, dehydraded and dying. This is fucking America and it is not acceptable that these people are still stranded. Bullshit.... I am pissed.

[Mr. Cleanface]

I agree 100% Vanessa.


The whole thing is confusing...people shooting guns at rescue helicoptors??? WTF is wrong with them? Armed gangs of thugs rioting, robbing housesand looting? Murders, rapes etc...I can understand looting for medicine and food, but stealing TV's and stereos is BS! Where are they taking them?


Also...serious question...why are all the refugees/stranded folksblack??? Is it just because they didn't have the means to leave? Seriously, I have not seen any white people at all...maybe 5%.Didn't they get the same info as everyone else afew days ago...LEAVE THE CITY, IT"S FLOODING!!! WTF?!?! The whole thing is so so bad.

[john]

I totally aree with you Mr. C and with you to Vanessa.I also gave a donation and 3 cases of water and also joined the Red Cross I start my training soon.

[the duke]

I've donated shitloads of $$$ to world vision and the red cross and oxfam. And it makes me cry...I see the footage from the floods and the tsunamis and i cry. It's devastation I hope I never have to experience ever.


But that's what happens when there's a massive natural disaster. Not sure how much coverage you got of the Tsunami's in December, but that's what happened. Whole countries were flattened, and people looted etc etc.


People go into "survival" mode...and that's what it creates. I guess you'd see it differently if you were in it.

[ben04]

the school I work at is going to start come kind of drive. Maybe "adopt" a school down in the area and help them get back on their feet. it is so horrible!!!

[Chyla]

I have donated my chunk of change (all I can afford until tomorrow), called my congressman and shed tears (four times today just listening to the radio). I am now in planning stages (have to talk it over with my bf) to offer housing to anyone who wants to come this far.


If anyone out there is interested, the link is www.hurricanehousing.org (http://www.hurricanehousing.org).


I don't know if my house is too far away, but it's the least I can do. We can take a family of up to 6 if we stretch, we have lots of little kid things, and the elementary school is just down the street. My mom freaked and said I could get rapists or murderers, but would I want people thinking that way if I were in need? Hell, no. We just can't operate that way, otherwise it would be everyone for themselves.


And yes, it is shameful that there are so many dark faces down there, and that babies and elderly are dying, and the rescue efforts are being postponed because the government doesn't have enough help down there to keep order in the streets. And good ol' Dubya hasn't even been there yet. Imagine that. Well, at least he cut his vacation short by two days. Even if he did piss around until now to do anything. IMO, he should have been off his damn ass the second they predicted it was going to hit and LED HIS DAMN COUNTRY. Sorry, angry and emotional here. Let someone help those poor desperate people out of that hellhole.

[the duke]

IMO, he should have been off his damn ass the second they predicted it was going to hit and LED HIS DAMN COUNTRY. Sorry, angry and emotional here. Let someone help those poor desperate people out of that hellhole.





Yes, but how did he react during september 11??


IMO i think you letting people into your home is a great idea...these people have nothingany more.I'd probably do the same, and you're right, you'd want people helping you as much as possible, so you can't be narrow minded about it all.


You're great Chyla, and it'sincredible to see how everyone feels some sort of pain and compassion for the people who are hurting the most.

[Chyla]

Yeah, I here ya about 9/11...at least this time he wasn't reading abouta damn goat when it happened. LOL. Which I think was actually a great achievement for him, reading that book. Ok, cheap shot but I'm so angry. He just doesn't seem to care...remember his lack of reaction to the Tsunami? It was shameful!


I am feeling so much pain and compassion right now...mostly I think I can credit it to my motherhood...I just know how helpless I would feel if I couldn't even provide my son with milk or water, let alone toys and clean diapers. It's appalling. I wish I could go there right now and take people in my arms and bring them home with me. I feel so helpless, I'm just doing what I can. I feel like I have to. And it does scare me a little in the back of my mind to think about having strangers in my house with my children (here and unborn) but I think of those desperate mothers down there, holding their crying, hungry, filthy babies, maybe even some don't know where their children are, and the least I can do is offer a place of peace for them to recover their wits and feel clean, fed and safe. And regroup.

[the duke]

That's amazing Chyla. People are more afraid of what "could" happen to help, rather than just taking it as it comes...


And GW's reaction to the tsunami was typical (IMO!!!) because it didn't happen in his country...even though it wiped out so many little countries, why should he care??? LOL at least they're trying to re-build.


It's just a shame that Thailand keeps getting hit with floods and earthquakes and stuff...I had a mate who got caught and washed awayin the tsunami, and another mate caught in the recent floods...they're both ok, but still...I know how frightening these things can be...glad you're helping out even if it's only small.

[Chyla]

Ok, I've posted my housing offer. My bf was totally all for it, in fact, he'd been thinking the same thing all day. He cried at his register today (at Costco) because two ladies in a row donated $100 dollars to the Red Cross. He canvassed the public all day today while he was ringing up groceries. I love my man.


So, I don't know if anyone will take me up on it, but I hope I can help.

[Chyla]

Okay, so I've done my bitching about my bf"s mom, but she also posted her house, and so did his sister. I feel better about humanity today.


My aunt and uncle live in Houston, they will be taking in some people very soon.


My thoughts go out to those in dire need today...please let nomore people die needlessly.

[swaytosway]

I've done no lit search to back this up, but I feel the environment is becoming more and more unstable due to global warming. There are more and more catastrophic natural events (it seems, no stats). The governments need to start investing in prevention against these disasters by taking care of the environment, trying to restore the equilibrium. I know these events happen anyway, but it seems to be on a steady climb. Governments as well as individuals need to sacrifice more. Humans are so short sighted and self serving, it makes me crazy. no forest, only trees.

[T_Norway]

All I can say is: Amazing, Chyla! You made me feel better about
humanity today too! Good luck with your guests! I'll start spreading
the link (http://www.hurricanehousing.org/)

[RathaBSurfin]

if yall have a spare 12 mins, go over to CNN.com and listen to mayor Nagins speach. He puts Bush and a lot of other people in their place.

[LipstickVogue]

i was thinking of trying to sell my g silkscreens so that i could give the money from them to the relief fund, but i dont know if i need G's permission first, since its his image and all. what do you guys think? i feel like i should be doing something to help, but i dont even have an extra 10 bucks right now.. so i thought selling my art would be a good way to get money to donate providing i could find a proper avenue to sell them, and acctually get people to buy them.


i just feel for those people, its so awful that i feel like i should do something. maybe i can get my school to do some kind of benefit.

[Chyla]

I heard Nagin's speech, and man, was it scathing. And deservedly so. That man sounds so despairing and exhausted. What a horrible responsibility to have.


More good things...my Costco donated $12,000 worth of water to the Army today, it went out on planes tonight. It's only a drop in the bucket, but it made me feel good to work there. We didn't leave any to sell to the public, and I was almost wishing someone would bitch about it, so I could put them in their place. I've got so much anger over this and nowhere to go with it...


LsV, the GoodWill is asking for new socks, underwear, shampoo, and soap...maybe you could get your friends to all buy some and donate it...small things but a clean pair of panties could mean the world to someone right about now. And they don't cost much.

[Mr. Cleanface]

That's all great to hear Chyla! The people of Houston and Texas in general should be very proud of themselves. This coverage is wearing me out...I can't even watch TV anymore...although it seems to be getting better...finally.


Up all night, bum bum bum...up all night, bum bum bum. I get to work this great Labor day weekend, a few hours both Sat. and Sun...smileys/smiley7.gif But I didn't do shitt Mon. or Tues. so it all evens out. Anyway..back to Katrina...

[LipstickVogue]

well, i just kept hearing on the news and all that, that its better at this point to donate money for a variety of reasons.


i was also thinking that if i got my school to do something it would contribute a hell of a lot more than i can alone, and i dont have friends here right now... not yet anyway. but yeah, im thinking of asking the college to organize some fun thing or another, make people pay, give that money to the relief efforts.

[john]

Thats a great idea LSV.

[greengirlie]

I was thinking of offering my apt up--- but i would only have a couch to offer. plus my two roomates werent crazy about the idea. i want to talk to my parents tho b/c they live in houston and have a 6 bedroom house and only my little sister has a room in the 5 upstairs.... so thanks for the link!


and at a party in austin the other night..a friend of a friends cousin was staying with them b/c he lived in new orleans. he was stranded on his rooftop for 4 days and had to eat like cold chicken noodle soup. he saved a dog and was transported to houston and then his cousin got him---but omg these pictures on his digital camera crushed me! smileys/smiley19.gifi just couldnt deal with it...slipped him the last $60 i had and hope it helps---its not a lot but its something.

[john]

that was really nice greengirlie.

[the duke]

Well, from a world perspective...it's good to see that the US is finally allowing financial aid from other countries...


Apparently we've donated 10 million...or something like that. Kinda weird, since we're still trying to help rebuild in asia, but still...at least we can help, because a human in need is a human in need, no matter where they live...right?? smileys/smiley1.gif