It's hard to find many regimes in the world that are more despicable than the Myanmar junta. The people there are among the nicest on the planet but have the misfortune of being born under that dictatorship. The neighboring countries who could have influence are never interested in change as that might threaten their juicy business contracts. Unfortunately, the US and Europe do the same in other parts of the world. It's difficult to say how much of the aid will be skimmed off the top for the junta but let's hope enough makes it to the victims.
Commentary in the Myanma Ahlin newspaper said that while the country welcomed international aid, “Myanmar people are self-reliant and can stand on their own without foreign assistance.”
The state-run newspaper said that people in the delta could survive on “fresh vegetables that grow wild in the fields and on protein-rich fish from the rivers” if they could not get “bars of chocolate donated by the international community.”
The Red Cross estimated Wednesday that the cyclone death toll in Myanmar could be as high as 128,000 — a much larger figure than the government tally. The U.N. warned a second wave of deaths will follow unless the military regime lets in more aid quickly.
The grim forecast came as heavy rains drenched the devastated Irrawaddy River delta, disrupting aid operations already struggling to reach up to 2.5 million people in urgent need of food, water and shelter.
Last April was pretty much perfect, from the start to the finish but so far this April has been so-so. Since I have not yet made it beyond my coffee, here's a photo from the Luxembourg Gardens last April with my French godson, Pierre-Francois. Despite the look on his face, he hated to leave that merry-go-round. Every time it slowed down he would push it again, dive in and hold on for dear life. Over and over and over. Anyone visiting Paris with kids really needs to head into the park which was created for children. Besides the fenced in area with this fun stuff, they have pedal-powered go karts, pony rides, a pond with cute little sailboats and much more. Even for adults, it's the perfect spot for strolling through the gardens, reading or of course, people watching.
Reports continue to vary as low as 2,000 and the Telegragh is reporting up to 15,000 dead. Either way these are stunning numbers for an already troubled country. For the living, 3 million people are estimated to have been affected by the cyclone and are seeking assistance.
The tornado in Kansas this weekend totally destroyed the town of Greensburg. It's gone. Now the clean-up begins. But, that's being hampered by the war in Iraq:
The rebuilding effort in tornado-ravaged Greensburg, Kansas, likely will be hampered because some much-needed equipment is in Iraq, said that state’s governor.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius said much of the National Guard equipment usually positioned around the state to respond to emergencies is gone. She said not having immediate access to things like tents, trucks and semitrailers will really handicap the rebuilding effort.
This war has made Americans less safe in so many ways.
Andy Towle has a link to photos documenting the complete devastation.
