Tsunami warning halted ‘for 'tourist industry'--------Humanitarian Aid Centers------more....

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http://207.44.245.159/article7569.htmSwedish paper reports tsunami warning halted out of concern for tourist industryTsunami warning halted ‘for tourist industry’12/28/04 -- This from the Swedish paper Expressen. Just minutes after the earthquake in the Indian Ocean on Sunday morning, Thailand’s foremost meteorological experts were sitting together in a crisis meeting. But they decided not to warn about the tsunami “out of courtesy to the tourist industry,” writes the Thailand daily newspaper The Nation.The experts got the news around 8:00 am on Sunday morning local time. An hour later, the first massive wave struck. But the experts started to discuss the economic impacts when they discussed if a tsunami warning should be issued. The primary argument against such a warning was that there had not been any floods in 300 years. Also, the experts believed the Indonesian island Sumatra would be a “cushion” for the southern coast of Thailand. The experts also had bad information; they thought the tremor was 8.1. A similar earthquake occurred in the same area in 2002 with no flooding at all.One expert The Nation spoke with also noted that the department had only four earthquake experts among their 900-strong meteorological department. A second told The Nation that a tsunami warning was discussed but that because of the risk, they opted not to issue a warning.“We finally decided not to do anything because the tourist season was in full swing,” the source said. “The hotels were 100 percent booked. What if we issued a warning, which would have led to an evacuation, and nothing had happened. What would be the outcome? The tourist industry would be immediately hurt. Our department would not be able to endure a lawsuit.” This story was first noted and originally translated at Democratic Underground.(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Information Clearing House has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is Information Clearing House endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)******************************************************************************Death toll reaches 100,000 : The death toll in the tsunami disaster soared past 100,000 today - and is set to climb higherhttp://snipurl.com/bnmz===Picture of some of the Tsunami"s victims http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4132761.stm===Swallowed up by the savage sea : There is even less dignity in death for the poor than in life.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4130129.stm===Germany Calls Suspension of Indonesia Debt : German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder called on creditor nations Wednesday to suspend debt repayments from Indonesia and Somalia to help in their recovery from the quake-tsunami disaster.http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4699510,00.html===Mickey Z: A Wave of Questions Putting a Disaster in Context : The recent earthquake/tsunami in Asia raises more questions than answers. Here's a start: http://207.44.245.159/article7571.htm===Grief, relief, and the stingy West : The horrific aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami has revealed what many in the world have known for a long time: Western nations are eager to exploit the under privileged, but slow to lend a helping hand in times of crisis.http://207.44.245.159/article7572.htm===Please consider donating to either of these groups. Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres 1-888-392-0392 http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/- American Friends Service Committee (AFSC Crisis Fund)1-888-588-2372http://www.afsc.org/**************************************December 29, 2004 As-salamu Alaykum Dear Readers,With the death toll climbing toward 100,000 across 12 countries in South and Southeast Asia, the Tsunami tragedy looks to be one of the most terrible natural disasters in memory, with countless numbers of people homeless, threatened with disease, and without food or drinking water.The humanitarian need is obviously huge.Below is a list of humanitarian relief agencies collecting donations for the tsunami victims. Please give generously. The list is also located at:http://www.muslimwakeup.com/blog/archives/2004/12/tsunami_relief.phpPeace, and Prayers for an end to the suffering,Ahmed NassefEditor-in-Chief------Islamic Relief USASoutheast Asia Earthquake EmergencyP.O. Box 6098Burbank, Calif. 91510888-479-4968http://www.irw.org/asiaquakAction Against Hunger247 West 37th Street, Suite 1201New York, N.Y. 10018212-967-7800 x108http://www.actionagainsthunger.orgAmerican Jewish Joint Distribution CommitteeSouth Asia Tsunami ReliefBox 321847A Second AvenueNew York, N.Y. 10017212-687-6200 ext. 851http://www.jdc.orgAmeriCares88 Hamilton AveStamford, CT 06902800-486-4357http://www.americares.orgAmerican Jewish World Service45 West 36th Street, 10th FloorNew York, N.Y. 10018800-889-7146http://www.ajws.orgAmerican Friends Service CommitteeAFSC Crisis Fund1501 Cherry StreetPhiladelphia, Pa. 19102215-241-7000http://www.afsc.orgAmerican Red CrossInternational Response FundP.O. Box 37243Washington, D.C. 20013800-HELP NOWhttp://www.redcross.orgCatholic Relief ServicesTsunami EmergencyP.O. Box 17090Baltimore, Md. 21203-7090800-736-3467http://www.catholicrelief.orgDirect Relief International27 South La Patera LaneSanta Barbara, Calif. 93117805-964-4767http://www.directrelief.orgDoctors Without BordersP.O. Box 1856Merrifield, Va. 22116-8056888-392-0392http://www.doctorswithoutborders.orgFood for the Hungry, Inc.Asia Quake Relief1224 E. Washington St.Phoenix, AZ 85034800-2-HUNGERShttp://www.fh.orgInternational Medical CorpsEarthquake/Tsunami Relief1919 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 300Santa Monica, Calif. 90404800-481-4462http://www.imcworldwide.orgMercy CorpsSoutheast Asia Earthquake ResponseDept. WP.O. Box 2669Portland, Ore. 97208800-852-2100http://www.mercycorps.orgOperation USA8320 Melrose Avenue, Suite 200 Los Angles, Calif. 90069800-678-7255http://www.opusa.orgOxfam AmericaAsian Earthquake FundPO Box 1211Albert Lea, MN 56007-1211800-77-OXFAMhttp://www.oxfamamerica.orgSave The ChildrenAsia Earthquake/Tidal Wave Relief Fund54 Wilton RoadWestport, Conn. 06880800-728-3843http://www.savethechildren.orgUS Fund for UNICEFGeneral Emergency Fund333 E. 38th StreetNew York, NY 10016800-4-UNICEFhttp://www.unicefusa.orgStop Hunger NowSE Asia crisis2501 Clark Ave, Suite 200Raleigh, NC 27607888-501-8440http://www.stophungernow.orgWorld VisionP.O. Box 70288Tacoma, WA 98481-0288800-56-CHILDhttp://www.worldvision.orgWorld ConcernAsia Earthquake and Tsunami19303 Fremont Avenue NorthSeattle, WA 98133800-755-5022http://www.worldconcern.orgWorld Emergency Relief2270-D Camino Vida RobleCarlsbad, CA 92009760-930-8001http://www.worldemergencyrelief.org*****************************************************Asian Disaster May Affect Two Civil WarsBy Michael CaseyAssociated Press and Seattle Post IntelligencerDecember 28, 2004Article available on line at: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apasia_story.asp?category=1104 & slug=Quake%20Political%20Fallout and at: http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/123004Z.shtml JAKARTA, Indonesia - Two of the world's longest-running civil wars are being fought on land devastated by Sunday's earthquake and tsunamis. In one conflict, the tragedy showed hopeful signs of bringing the two sides together; in the other, it appeared to be hardening the divisions.Immediately after the quake struck, the warring sides in Indonesia's Aceh province agreed to put hostilities on hold, while government and rebel spokesmen in ethnically divided Sri Lanka accused each other of mishandling the response to the disaster.Aceh and Sri Lanka suffered the most from Sunday's catastrophes, which killed people in 11 countries from Asia to Africa. The dead included at least 27,000 people in Indonesia and more than 18,700 in Sri Lanka - a majority of the total death toll of at least 52,000.Indonesia's vice president said the count in his country alone could reach 50,000.In Aceh province on the northern tip of Indonesia's Sumatra island, insurgents seeking independence have been fighting government forces since 1976. The conflict has killed 13,000 people, including at least 2,000 in the past year.But after the weekend disaster, the rebel Free Aceh Movement ordered a cease-fire so relief agencies could deliver supplies.The government also loosened restrictions that for years have stopped aid agencies and journalists from operating freely in the province."We're holding back," said Lt. Col. Ali Tarunajaya, an Aceh police chief. "We're not going to arrest the rebels. They're looking for members of their families, just like many of our police members are looking for theirs. We're all crying together."In Sri Lanka, the response could not have been more different.Government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels, who have clashed since 1983 over the ethnic minority Tamils' claim for a homeland, refused to work together despite a massive humanitarian crisis.The Tigers control a vast part of Tamil-majority northeastern Sri Lanka as a virtual independent state with its own administration, police and judiciary. The government controls remaining areas.A cease-fire between the ethnic Sinhalese majority and the Tamils was brokered by Norway in 2002, but peace talks broke down more than a year ago."Ideally a national calamity like this should lead to greater flexibility by both parties to find a common approach to address the humanitarian needs of the people," said Jehan Perera, a political analyst from the National Peace Council.But a Tamil member of parliament, Joseph Pararajasingham, said government leaders discussing relief efforts "simply were not bothered about the plight of our people."Military spokesman Brig. Daya Ratnayake said the government and military were doing what they could in areas under government control in the northeast."Even from a disaster like this they are trying to score points," he said of rebel statements criticizing the government.President Chandrika Kumaratunga appealed for "all people across ethnic lines to unite at this very difficult time."On Tuesday, the rebels conducted separate relief operations in areas under their control and made a separate appeal requesting aid from donor countries and U.N agencies."Assistance channeled through the Government of Sri Lanka has failed to reach the displaced in the northeast," TamilNet quoted the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization as saying."The present resources available ... are nowhere near sufficient to meet the huge crisis that has arisen, and we are faced with the prospect of an ever-increasing toll of the dead, outbreak of epidemics."The situation is less tense in Indonesia, analysts said, because rebels control little territory and their shadow government has little say in the region.As a result, relief officials in Indonesia said they did not expect rescue efforts to be affected."The indication is that there shouldn't be a problem," said Michael Elmquist, who heads the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Jakarta. "We've been told that the vice president has instructed the air force to facilitate the arrival of foreign assistance."Analysts said the military could use the relief effort to try to win the support of the 4.3 million people in the province, where soldiers are known for alleged brutality.Ken Conboy, an Aceh specialist, said the disaster was unlikely to result in a resumption of peace talks but could provide opportunities for both sides to be more flexible.The rebels have "taken some very serious losses over the past year, and they may be looking for a reprieve," Conboy said."This also might provide an opportunity for the government to rethink their Aceh policy and come up with something that is a bit more cerebral, rather than continuing the policy of a civil emergency without any game plan." Sri Lankan Top Rebel Makes Plea for Aid By Krishan Francis Associated Press and The Guardian (London)December 29, 2004Article available on line at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4700506,00.html COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Sri Lanka's reclusive Tamil Tiger rebel leader made a rare personal appeal Wednesday to international aid donors and U. N. organizations to help ethnic Tamils affected by the disastrous tsunami waves that hit the island. ``I solicit the support and magnanimous assistance of the international community and the U. N. agencies to help our people in distress,'' said rebel commander Velupillai Prabhakaran in a highly unusual personal statement posted on pro-rebel TamilNet Web site. ``The devastation caused by this tidal surge has exacerbated the sufferings of our people already affected by a war that continued for over twenty years and has torn asunder our nation,'' he said. Prabhakaran has led a bloody civil war against the Sri Lankan state for two decades demanding a separate state for ethnic minority Tamils in the island's north and east. He rarely appears, speaks in public or releases statements to the media. His annual policy statements delivered every Nov. 27 draw much interest locally and abroad. In a gesture toward majority Sinhalese and Muslims, who are also a minority, Prabhakaran expressed his condolences to those who lost their families and property. Nearly 55 million Tamils living in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu share cultural and family ties with Sri Lankan Tamils. Many of nearly 7,000 people killed in India were from Tamil Nadu. Nearly 77,000 were killed across south and southeast Asia after the massive quake Sunday off the Indonesian island of Sumatra sent towering waves crashing into coastlines thousands of miles away. Sri Lanka was among the worst hit losing 22,493 people, including many thousands of Tamils from the north and east coasts. Sri Lanka's civil war began in 1983 and killed 65,000 people before Norway initiated peace moves with a cease-fire in February 2002. Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more. «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»Paranormal_Research - Scientific Data & Health Conspiracies Paranormal_ResearchSubscribe:... Paranormal_Research- Any information here in is for educational purpose only, it may be news related, purely speculation or someone's opinion, If health related always consult with a qualified health practitioner before deciding on any course of treatment, especially for serious or life-threatening illnesses.**COPYRIGHT NOTICE**In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. 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