Category: Let's talk
I'm sure we have all read, or at least heard fragmented news, about the earthquake that rocked south-east Asia on boxing day of all days. In truth, I only realised the truly shocking magnitude of this disaster when I read my Daily telegraph today for the first time since 22 December. The paper contained about a dozen articles on it: quite apart from the tales of the devastation brought to britain by the accounts of returning holidaymakers, some of whom had lost all their clothes and shoes and returned wrapped in airline blankets and wearing only socks plus the clothes they were wearing at the time, there were articles written by journalists in the countries most gravely affected - Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. It's only when you read about the Indian fisherman no longer able to support his one remaining son because of the loss of his home, family and tools of trade, about the man near Mhadrass who grabbed his eldest son from the crumbling wreckage but in so doing sacrificed the rest of his family, about the thousands of fishermen missing in Sri Lanka and about many other horrors such as this, that you realise how trivial losing aall your shoes etc. really is. Given that, in particular, there are some zoners who come from the affected region, I thought it would be nice for us to give them all our support, if only on an internet message board. For my part, I really hope that the international community can begin to rebuild the devastation as quickly as possible, and I have nothing but admiration and support for those who dwell in the affected part of the world and I wish them the best of luck.
Well said Lawlord. I wish all the best.
The death toll has now risen dramatically, numbering some 69000. Indonesia and Sri Lanka seem to be the most dramatically affected countries, but we've got something to be thankful for amidst the devastation at least: apparently, an evacuation as far afield as Kenya saved hundreds of lives. Meanwhile, glad to see britain and the USA leading the field in the international aid that is being sent to the affected region, and I hope the rest of the world who are able will climb aboard quickly and help sort this appalling tragedy out.
I wish all of them the best, and hope that none of our fellow zoners were hurt.
I just cannot believe this has happened listening to the huge numbers of dead and missing is inordinately painful... the worst aspect of earthquakes is their unpredictable habit of shooting off repeated tremors ect once the plates have become significantly unstable, sadly there's no way of knowing if this will happen again its more a question of when.
thanks for all the support to us. me, Season, Raining, bee_songkran, Cill Bot and other zoners are glad enough that we are not effected from the huge wave. the number of people who dead in south east and south Asia, is nearly 90000 now and what we believe that the number will keep growing up after the huge wave and earthquake. maybe some of you can't really imagine how worse the damage at here in south east Asia but however, i wish and hope that every.zoner will pray for us. no other things that i can said. thank you, thank you and thank you.
Jermaine. appreciate all of the zoners
Snowflake. I cannot believe this tragedy Thailand is a beautiful country and the Thai people Iv'e met have been friendly and very charming you are all in my thoughts
take care .
Alex
It's truly shocking, but I read today in the newspaper an article about how many local families sacrificed an awful lot to help British tourists, and I daresay tourists from other regions, to safety. so as well as my sympathy which I expressed last night and which grows as I hear more about this, you guys also deserve congratulations and unqualified admiration for the courage you have shown and are showing, and doubtless will maintain in the future, for helping not only your own, but also complete strangers to safety notwithstanding the dangers.
ones again, thanks for all the care and support to us in south east asia. alot of things have just started and come to worse is, don't know when is the end of it. after the earthquake and the tiger wave, we are going to face lots of huge problems. about the huge number of dead bodies, the damages, and many more. like what my friend Jermaine had said early on, hope all the zoners will pray for the land of south east Asia and even Africa. ones again, we really thanks for the support and the care that all the zoners give to us the land of south east asia. thanks alot.
I had heard this story about a man who was in a hotel when everything happened. He said the hotel was filled with water, and then said that a mother and her small son floated passed him. He was able to grab the child, but unfortunetly, not her mother. She perished. When things like this happen, you realize how valuable a life really is when they are there one second, and with in the next, they are gone. You are in our hearts and prayers. May peace be with you and to yours.
it is so unbelieveable that things like this can happen. We have all this technology, we build the greatest buildings, design the greatest computer systems, make the greatest medical advances, and yet the forces of nature will always be greater than the forces of man. My heart goes out to those in South East Asia, to all of you who may know someone who has been affected by this terrible tragedy. There are no words that can express what anyone of those people out there is going through right now. All we can do is keep them in our thoughts, and for those of us who can afford to, make a contribution to the many appeals that have been set up in this country, and no doubt across the world, to help the people who have been victims of one of the world's most powerful natural disasters.
thoughts and prayers are with everyone over there. Season and co, please keep us up to date. i must admit I don't keep up to date with news all the time cos it depresses me too much. :(
Well, my opinion is that everyone should keep up with the news as best they can, for although it is depressing, it may inspire you to make a difference one day, or at least donate to charities relieving disaster zones of their burdens.....but back to the topic: Miha Bos, writing in the Telegraph today, highlights the fact that although the tidle waves hit Indonesia nearly two hours before they arrived on the Sri Lankan coastline, no warning was passed to the authorities. sugarbaby quite rightly talks about technology, and perhaps the silver lining to this very, very dark cloud is that the citizens of this region of the world will be far better protected in future from disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis by a far more advanced early warning system. I really hope that both Asia and the rest of the world get behind the implementation of such a system, then perhaps technology might be a stronger defensive force in future battles.
Just saw the latest news, ant the estimated death toll is now above 80,000 and expected to rise to around 100,000. I didn't truly realize the magnitude of this disaster until I thought about how many people were effected. Not to minimize September 11th, but the death toll for that catastrophe was under 5,000. Wow...
September 11th is incomparable with this disaster because of course it was manmaid, an act of terrorism etc. but more importantly, in my view, because despite the amount America suffered and was traumatised by the events of that day, it is a rich country able to get back on its feet with comparative ease. This terrible natural disaster has hit some of the poorest nations in the world with some of the largest populations. I agree with you SS, one doesn't realise the magnitude of this catastrophe until one thinks of the death toll which rises at present inexorably. it trrebbled overnight I noticed when I woke up this morning, and I hope the same doesn't happen again.
season and snowflake, and everyone else affected on here, My prares and thoughts are with you guys. I couldn't even amagine what all of you are going through. Like others have said, keep us updated.
amen to that, I say. The death toll is now over 122000 apparently, and the UN says that £68 million will be necessary to provide temporary help. £35 million has now come from the british government and public, so hopefully the target will be easily exceeded.
the latest number of dead people in Sunomis wave and the earthquake are nearly 120000. they are much more people will dead if they are lack of food. and yet, this start to happen in country like Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.
To Season in particular due to the fact we have talked so often, my deepest thots are with you as well as the relief of hearing from the others of the region affected that have posted, until this horrendous diaster I had not realized how many were from this area.
Why keep posting the death toll..LL do you think that's a compassionate thing to do hmm?
Goblin, I would encourage you to take up any issues you may have with lawlord, off this topic. This isn't the place. As rdfreak pointed out, some people don't keep up with the news so perhaps it is indeed helpful in some way.
My prayers and thoughts are with everyone suffering as a result of this dreadful tragidy. I am glad that our fellow zoners appear to be safe and prey that it stays that way.
My brother and sister's dad lives in Thailand and we havent' heard from him. I hope and prey that he is safe and well and that, god forbid, if he is not, we will be made aware of that fact. The waiting is awful. I may not be related to him, but that doesnt' stop me caring.
When September 11 happened, it was amazing the amount of people who were affected by loss. Considering the enormity of this dreadful nightmare, I wouldn't be surprised if, somehow, we might all know of someone who has been caught up.
Please everyone, find it in your hearts to donate as much as you can. Every penny, cent, etc, counts. These people need our help. Help save lives! Please!
Firstly Re the death toll: I post it for information purposes only because, as Rdfreak says, some people aren't able to follow the news. It also helps put things in perspective. It was under no circumstances meant to be dispassionate, the very reason I created this topic was because I thought zoners should have a forum to post their sympathies. Nevertheless I apologise for any offence it may have caused and repeat that it was for information purposes only. Secondly, Sugar I sympathise with you as some of my aunty's family are in Penang, Malaysia, and it wasn't until a day or so ago that we heard from them. Just keep hoping and praying as we did, and with that you do as much as you can in one stroke.
I hope everyone is OK!!
everyone definately isnt ok!
Issues?....No I don't have any thankyou I just thought that repeatedly posting the death toll might upset some Zoner's from the affected countries....forgive me for thinking about my fellow human beings..
No need to be quite so petty, goblin, your point was made, and your point was taken. I have had nobody else complaining, and indeed some have said privbately that they don't see a problem with my posting such details. Nevertheless to those whom it might have offended I have already apologised; surely that should be the end of the matter, but I am prepared to apologise personally to any people from the affected region if posting the death toll offended them, just send me a message to that effect.
Sorry pal this whole disaster has really affected me like no other.Last night they showed a group of people in Sri Lanka who fled to the hills and they were sitting blank eyed staring at the sea, they daren't take their eyes off the waves, but those eyes portray no emotion its almost as if your looking in to death itself..
it's affected us all. It's how we respond to that which now matters.
And for further information, sri Lanka have, I understand, cancelled new year's celebrations and replaced them with a national day of mourning and prayers. again, all credit to the region for the real unity it is displaying at the moment. And it's also good to know that Brittons have given £1 million per hour for the last two days to contribute to the international relief fund.
Okay guys, a bit of further information that some of you may find useful: firstly, for UK residents, if you want to donate to the disaster fund you should call 0870669900. For those outside the UK if your own countrie don't have a system for donations already, you can log on to www.dec.org.uk and donate that way I believe.