Comments on: New Cyclone Forming Off Myanmar Coast
New Threat Looms As Victims Remain At Risk; Junta Says It's Under Control, No Help Needed
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- Burmese cyclone victims got the rotten food? This is a sensational story created by the regime opponents (based on their experiences from the late 1970s) to feed the Western media that is looking for the heart-breaking, sensational stories to report. Here is what happens (my version of events, take it or leave it).
In the 1970s and 1980s, under one-party socialist regime with centrally-managed, state-controlled economy, only the state-owned enterprises can do business in Burma. In rice trading, those enterprises usually store the rice in the warehouses like any other business. The warehouses in Burma were constructed such a way that the materials closer to the entrance were taken out and then refilled more frequently, leaving those further inside to be rotten. It is those rotten materials that were distributed to the public as rations and food aid in case of natural disasters because these two activities demand to empty the entire house. Such is our experiences in 1970s and 1980s and such is the experiences of the regime opponents who grew up in the 1980s and who are leading the political activities currently. From those unpleasant experiences and memories arise the sensational stories of rotten food (wet rice). - Reply to this comment
- Posted by martin9p2 at 11:04 AM : May 14, 2008
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New Orleans had been pounded with aid..money and all form of support..the only thing needed is for the liberal media to move on and the liberal masses to stop whinning.
these poor people in myramar would had seen serveral cyclones and the liberals WOULD STILL BE whinning about new orleans.. - Reply to this comment
- I''''m glad the burmese junta didn''''t try to force aid into Louisiana and Alabama after Katrina. If Burma says they don''t want aid, then let''s not give any aid. If Iraq didn''t request a new government, we didn''t have to give them one anyway. If the US forces aid on Burma, it must be for an ulterior motive. What is it? (Serious question). Is the West interested in taking over their rice paddies?
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- I think it was unfair to blame Hurricane Katrina on "the government", and maybe by the Burmese standard of living (which is lower than in the West), it''s equally unfair to blame "the junta" for all storm-related difficulties.
On the flip-side, the US government was perceived to be doing a pretty miserable job in the aftermath of Katrina, so who are we to be complaining about "the junta" in Burma?
I''m glad the burmese junta didn''t try to force aid into Louisiana and Alabama after Katrina. - Reply to this comment
- That pesky Burmese military dictatorship (the likes which Liberals love and adore and hope for here) are stealing the aid being donated by other countries!
But.....G-O-D-D-A-M-N BUSH AND FEMA FOR KATRINA! THEY ARE THE WORST GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD!
You Liberals are just sickening.
Posted by ddhinnyc
What the he11 are you blathering about. A military junta is as far away from a liberal''s idea of perfect government as you can get.
Conservatives such as you are just dumb. - Reply to this comment
- "Everything is fine" in Burma?
Didn''t monkey-face Bush say that about New Orleans?
I guess all leaders like to say things are fine.
Maybe "the junta" is no worse than Monkey-Face, except that a Western Press is even more harsh on Burma than they were on our Bush. - Reply to this comment
- The materials you sent to make tens will NOT be wasted though we won%u2019t use them for shelter. They will be used to store water [as you use similar materials for swimming pools]. The upcoming rain is a double-edged sword: it is going to make the cyclone victims%u2019 life miserable and cold but allow them to store and have some clean water. The rain water in a country like Burma without much industrialization is the water as pure as you can get.
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- IF YOUR UNWILLING TO RISE UP AGAINST YOUR GOVERNMENT THEN YOU DESERVE TO DIE.....Posted by bondshomo
That might be just a LITTLE bit strong...maybe deserve to suffer the consequences, ya think?
Peace - Reply to this comment
- How long must we sit idly by while our mother continues to suffer ...Posted by AL2008
Oh please, AL. Have you hugged all your trees today?
Chill out, buddy.
Peace - Reply to this comment
- Why don''t we let our SEALS earn their keep, send in a couple of teams (Just to make sure. I know it would only take one team), and take out those ridiculous idiots that are running the country? Then, either we run the place for them until things are back under control, or we let someone with some common sense take over, and we get our guys the hell out. Too simple, right? Just my opinion.
Peace. - Reply to this comment
- I%u2019m appalled at the administration*s lack of response to the global warming hurricanes, and cyclones as well. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate the effects of these cyclones, and mother earth continues to suffer while the administration refuses to go forward and do what%u2019s right for mother earth.
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How long must we sit idly by while our mother continues to suffer from the warming taking place at a feverish pace? How long must our mother suffer before we have proper c02 taxes put into place? How long must the destruction of mother earth take place before we finally put responsible plans into action? How long must we wait until we beef up our corn ethanol production? At least Obama wants to cut c02 pollution by 80%; he is definitely our best hope.
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We the people call upon our leaders to implement a comprehensive antiglobal warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these cyclones and storms continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these storms cease. We need action now. - Reply to this comment
- What is it with the mud or clay-like looking stuff on their faces?
It''s called Thanaka (tan-a-ka). It''s actually a very effective paste for sun protection made from grinding a particular type of tree bark and mixing the dust with water. As far as I know it''s almost exclusively used in Burma. It''s primarily used by girls and adult women, but sometimes boys use it as well. Those who wear it usually create interesting patterns while the paste is still wet. - Reply to this comment
- I remember reading about Burma in Geography in the 50''s before the present "Junta" took over, and it was said to be a wonderful, and beautiful county, with many ancient sites of historical significance. I wonder how much of that is left today? There were several children''s stories were written about it, and the elephants that were there. Rangoon was said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and many of the worlds gem stones came from there. After the takeover, it became know as part of the Burmese Triangle, because of the extensive drug trade there in opium and heroin. The was much involvement by the CIA, in Burma, and it is said that much of the heroin that was on the streets of America in the 50''s and early 60''s was brought here by the CIA.
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- What is it with the mud or clay-like looking stuff on their faces? Is that to prevent sunburn? Is it a cultural thing? I would think it would not be comfortable and therefore a protective measure as opposed to simply a cultural tradition. Anybody know?
Posted by NonayaBiness
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I can''t speak with certainty, but that could very well just be dirt. After a disaster of that scope, clean water is in very short supply, and what is able to be found, is used for drinking water, not bathing. - Reply to this comment
- Please, powers that be...do the right thing, not the politically right thing!
Posted by msmellyme
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I am sure there were those who were asking for the same things after Katrina hit here in the United States. Though the death toll was not on the scale that it is there, many thousands of people were displaced, and nearly 2000 lives were lost in its immediate aftermath, with more deaths accountable to it over time. There is no doubt that it was one of the most ill-handled disasters in American history. There are those who are filled with greed, and self-interest, who prey on those who have been struck by disaster. Many people got rich off of the money that was appropriated to help those who had been affected by Katrina, and to this day only a few have been prosecuted.
It is a sad but stark reality, that not everyone cares whether others live or die, and because of that many die needlessly in any disaster that takes place. - Reply to this comment
- Heavenly Father, I pray for these people and their government. Please intervene so that they will receive the care that they need. Have mercy on all of these people and protect them from another possible storm. Provide food, clothing and shelter through the means of any assistance that will be allowed into Myanmar. Nothing is impossible with you, Father, so please reach down and show Your great power to this people. In Jesus'''' name. Amen
Posted by arbed4 at 03:32 AM : May 14, 2008------And Amen from me. That''s TWO. - Reply to this comment
- Wow! -- Another storm coming? -- Ouch. -- If the Junta does not take care of the survivors they have now, there wont be anyone left to strong-arm or ''rule''. -- Power is a tricky thing. -- It forces you to have responsibilities that you did not have before. -- If only the government can reach high ground, they will have no one to govern. -- Let us hope the Junta thinks better than to keep the ''good'' food to themselves. -- How low is that?
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- What was that story awhile back about the Russians saying that they could make a Cyclone? Can''t remember excactly, but I think it was to put out a fire or break a drought in that region. What are our interests there and what is theirs (Russians) in the fuel supply business?
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- What is it with the mud or clay-like looking stuff on their faces? Is that to prevent sunburn? Is it a cultural thing? I would think it would not be comfortable and therefore a protective measure as opposed to simply a cultural tradition. Anybody know?
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- This is a crime against humanity in my opinion. At what point do we become culpable in this crime against humanity for watching it happen, allowing their government to treat these people this way, and not forcibly taking action???
Don''t we teach our children that it is just as bad, if not criminal, to watch a crime and do nothing as to participate in the crime?
Why aren''t we and other governments just doing fly by drops of aid packages over Myanmar? If this country is so devastated, what can their government do to retaliate? Would they shoot our planes down? Would they dare? It sounds like the Junta is just the latest bully on the block in need of a good spanking.
A bigger question on everyone''s mind is...why would the Junta let this happen to their own people?
Is it because of pride, ego, vanity, greed, or lack of knowledge? Does any of this matter when people...children...are getting sick and dieing by the thousands from disease and starvation that COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED!
What are we waiting for? Permission from a corrupt government...that will never come?! God save our souls in our warm comfy beds tonight.
It is brave action, quick bold decisions, and lots of humanitarian aid that will save the people of Myanmar from certain death; not more long negotiations that fall upon a deaf and blind government.
Please, powers that be...do the right thing, not the politically right thing! - Reply to this comment
