POLL: what are you doing

[eits]

what are you doing?

 

[EatSpam]

Aren't all those options pretty much the same?

Money is absorbed in "administrative" costs.
Politicians don't listen/care.
Nothing to pray to/praying solves nothing.
All the same as doing nothing.

So option 4 it is for me - less effort, same end result!

 

[Proletariat]

Nothin much I can except pout.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: EatSpam
Aren't all those options pretty much the same?

Money is absorbed in "administrative" costs.
Politicians don't listen/care.
Nothing to pray to/praying solves nothing.
All the same as doing nothing.

So option 4 it is for me - less effort, same end result!

Yeah, I guess the question is, what can we really do? Are there any good options for those of us here?
If someone in the region discovers oil, well then sure, we'd have thousands of troops over there overnight. No such luck though.

 

[Orignal Earl]

These guys have a 1/2 hr show here every Sunday morning. Broke my heart watching this little boy telling how his family lives off swamp rats. You should see the shack his family lives in

Feed the Children

 

[eits]

you can write letters to get humanitarian aid until we're ready to ACTUALLY do something about it. you can donate money to funds that are dedicated to feeding and helping the people in the camps.

 

[nageov3t]

i'm a self-absorbed, lazy american... so.... nothing

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

The EU & American big corps are wating for Sub-Saharan Africa to die so they can have
controll of all the resources. Drought, aids, civil war and crappy goverment are doing
the work for us. Oil is a primary concern in centeral Africa.

Cynical...Yes..But true.


...Galvanized

 

[jackschmittusa]

I'm all for fixing our country first. Too much needs to be done here to be distracted by far away things that have little or no effect on us. If that earns me a "cold and callus" label, so be it. If we don't help ourselves soon, we will not be in a position to help anybody else in the near future.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
I'm all for fixing our country first. Too much needs to be done here to be distracted by far away things that have little or no effect on us. If that earns me a "cold and callus" label, so be it. If we don't help ourselves soon, we will not be in a position to help anybody else in the near future.

Exactly. And we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. The world hates us either way so we might as well save a boatload of cash and fix the problems here. Let Darwin sort out the bad places in this world. Artificially propping up places that have no hope of ever becoming much is a waste of resources and rather cruel in a way. Better off to let nature takes it's course. The world is overpopulated anyway. I know I am evil but I am tired of this country taking the bad rap all over the world yet there is not one other first world country that has done so much for so many for so little in return. My tax dollars are better spent helping people in the US.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
I'm all for fixing our country first. Too much needs to be done here to be distracted by far away things that have little or no effect on us. If that earns me a "cold and callus" label, so be it. If we don't help ourselves soon, we will not be in a position to help anybody else in the near future.

very good argument.

 

[Aimster]

I dont know what is going on there...

I read something about 180,000 dead.. civil war.

Most Americans like I probably don't have a clue.

It only made the cover of the news today .. something about sanctions.

 

[whistleclient]

Originally posted by: eits

Originally posted by: jackschmittusa
I'm all for fixing our country first. Too much needs to be done here to be distracted by far away things that have little or no effect on us. If that earns me a "cold and callus" label, so be it. If we don't help ourselves soon, we will not be in a position to help anybody else in the near future.

very good argument.

not really. our country will never be fixed or perfect. we're the most prosperous country in the world, which is a huge blessing but it's also a curse, because it means we have (in my opinion) the obligation to further humanity as a whole by stopping genocide, exploring space, curing cancer, etc.

isolationism is an easy road to take. everyone feels better about building bigger fences, higher walls. but if 9/11 taught us anything, it's the folly of thinking we can hide, that those oceans can't be crossed, fences climbed. if we let africa burn it will only become afghanistan times ten, an ideal breeding ground for fundamentalism and the perfect training ground for future terrorists.

in my opinion it is imperative we engage them, give them hope, help them help themselves, and bring them into the global community so that future generations don't have to fight dirty wars in far off places.

 

[ECUHITMAN]

The argument we should 'fix' our country first to save a boat load of cash is ridiculous. As most republicans and libertarians would agree, the government should not spend money on anything close to social programs (you know, learning to read, write, not be poor, drug rehab, mental health, health plan, etc..). If it were up to them, these social programs should only be funded by private charities and by giving tax cuts to the super rich so they (the rich) can (I stress, can, not will) fund these types of programs. Now I am not saying the democrats are the save all for all social programs and social problems, but at the moment democrats are not a majority so I can't blame too much on them, yet. When/if they are they majority and nothing gets done except a lot of spending I will blame them just as much.

If you want to fix America, you will have to figure out how to change people and that will take a long time. Can we sit back with the resources to help and not do anything while we try and figure out our problems? Well the answer is yes we can, but should we? Should the richest country in the world completely turn its back on the rest of the world? Some people bring up fundamentalist groups that sponsor terrorism as a valid means to get your message across and the fact that if we don't do anything about them they will take control of these trouble spots and it will breed more terrorism. While I agree that is likely, what can we do about it? It seems every place we go we breed a lot of hatred and discontent with the US sometimes as a result of just being there or pulling out too quickly. This country has ADD and every 2 years or so people lose focus and demand that our troops, money, etc be put somewhere else. As soon as things get tuff people want to run away. While I do not agree with the reasons we went to war in Iraq, we are now there and if we leave right now what is happening in Darfur will happen in Iraq.

I don't have an answer to fix the problems, and I am not George Clooney so I do not have the money and power to really get things going so as far as the question: what can I do? I have no idea. What am I doing: nothing. I am waiting for SOMEONE in power to do something I can get behind and support. Charity organizations are great, and I am sure donating money to them is helpful, but are they big and strong enough to fully address the problem? I am not so sure.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Just heard on BBC News, that rations will be cut in half for lack of funding.

"And so it goes." Linda Ellerbe


...Galvanized

 

[BeauJangles]

What am I doing? I help run http://www.standnow.org , I wish a lot more people would get involved. And to those who say we should fix our own country - are you serious? Do you not understand that this a genocide, where nearly 400,000 people have died and over 2 million are displaced? The government of Sudan is using attack helicopters, planes, and machine guns on its own civilians and you want the United States, supposedly the country that upholds freedom throughout the world, to turn a blind eye?

Here is a bunch more pictures taken from the region - http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/alert/darfur/steidle/

This is government sponsored genocide and you are turning your back? Shame on you and any morality you claim to have.

 

[Ronstang]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
What am I doing? I help run http://www.standnow.org , I wish a lot more people would get involved. And to those who say we should fix our own country - are you serious? Do you not understand that this a genocide, where nearly 400,000 people have died and over 2 million are displaced? The government of Sudan is using attack helicopters, planes, and machine guns on its own civilians and you want the United States, supposedly the country that upholds freedom throughout the world, to turn a blind eye?

Here is a bunch more pictures taken from the region - http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/alert/darfur/steidle/

This is government sponsored genocide and you are turning your back? Shame on you and any morality you claim to have.

Blah, not my problem and don't try to use guilt like you are to make me feel any different. It has nothing to do with shame on me or anyone else who simply doesn't care. We can't save the world when it doesn't want to be saved. This has nothing to do with morality or lack thereof. We didn't cause the problem so why should we fix it? The sad fact is that region currently is of no economical importance to the US so we are not going to do anything about it and I support that view. If it bothers you so much then you need to donate more of YOUR money rather then trying to guilt people into helping.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
The sad fact is that region currently is of no economical importance to the US so we are not going to do anything about it and I support that view.

What do you mean? Thar be oil there

Since 2001, the Bush administration?s priority in Sudan has been to end the more than two-decade-long war between the southern-based Sudan People?s Liberation Movement (S.P.L.M.) and the Arab-chauvinist rulers in Khartoum. The resulting ?stability? in Sudan would allow Washington to lift existing sanctions and permit U.S. oil corporations to return to southern Sudan.

Sudan: Western Oil Greed Trumps ?Genocide? Concerns

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Ronstang

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
What am I doing? I help run http://www.standnow.org , I wish a lot more people would get involved. And to those who say we should fix our own country - are you serious? Do you not understand that this a genocide, where nearly 400,000 people have died and over 2 million are displaced? The government of Sudan is using attack helicopters, planes, and machine guns on its own civilians and you want the United States, supposedly the country that upholds freedom throughout the world, to turn a blind eye?

Here is a bunch more pictures taken from the region - http://www.ushmm.org/conscience/alert/darfur/steidle/

This is government sponsored genocide and you are turning your back? Shame on you and any morality you claim to have.

Blah, not my problem and don't try to use guilt like you are to make me feel any different. It has nothing to do with shame on me or anyone else who simply doesn't care. We can't save the world when it doesn't want to be saved. This has nothing to do with morality or lack thereof. We didn't cause the problem so why should we fix it? The sad fact is that region currently is of no economical importance to the US so we are not going to do anything about it and I support that view. If it bothers you so much then you need to donate more of YOUR money rather then trying to guilt people into helping.

So it wasn't your problem that 11 million people were killed by the Nazis? You would be fine if the US had stayed out of Europe in WW2? You are okay with the fact the US stood by during Rwanda and watched as thousands died there?

I'm not guilty anyone into helping. Most people couldnt point out where Darfur was on a map, no less what is going on there. Last year US cable news dedicated a total of 8 minutes to Darfur coverage all year. There is no guilt involved here - nearly half a million dead, nearly 2 million displaced. All in the span of three years.

You're right, we didn't cause the problem, but that hasn't been a problem in the past. The US consistently has gotten itself involved in situations it didn't create. The fact is, we could end the genocide in darfur next week, if the US would only expend a little political capital. This wouldn't have to be another Iraq or Somalia or anything like that. To end the genocide would involve putting 25,000 UN troops on the ground. That's it. Over.

We don't do anything because there is little economic value in Sudan. But honestly, wouldn't you choose to stop the deaths of innocent people if you could? Especially if it required placing no US troops on the ground?

I just can't understand your indifference, and quite frankly, I find it appaling.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: Orignal Earl

Originally posted by: Ronstang
The sad fact is that region currently is of no economical importance to the US so we are not going to do anything about it and I support that view.

What do you mean? Thar be oil there

Since 2001, the Bush administration?s priority in Sudan has been to end the more than two-decade-long war between the southern-based Sudan People?s Liberation Movement (S.P.L.M.) and the Arab-chauvinist rulers in Khartoum. The resulting ?stability? in Sudan would allow Washington to lift existing sanctions and permit U.S. oil corporations to return to southern Sudan.

Sudan: Western Oil Greed Trumps ?Genocide? Concerns

BINGO! Link read in total. TY Earl :thumbsup:


(Off topic but to be considered during a quiet time. As an old fart,59, I remember who was the first in after the end of hostilities in Vietnam. The 5~7 major US based oil corps because Vietnam's continental shelf has sweet crude as Indonesia does. They had already divided up the coast amongst'em. It was all hushed up in less than 30days. Some know THE Golden Rule )

...Galvanized

 

[Jaskalas]

We have poverty right here in America, or do you think we?re all rich lazy ********? Let's clean up our own home first.

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: eits
what are you doing?

Same thing the UN is nothing.

That being said if there is anything at all that the UN should be able to be useful for, it would be something like this.
But once again it is proving how inept it is.

 

[tommywishbone]

They ain't got no oil... they don't get no democracy. Sorry.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Originally posted by: daniel49
Same thing the UN is nothing.

That being said if there is anything at all that the UN should be able to be useful for, it would be something like this.
But once again it is proving how inept it is.

One of the big problems right now is money

The United Nations plans to cut individual food rations to six million people sheltering from violence in Sudan by half, saying it cannot afford to give them all a proper daily ration.Citing "donor fatigue," Christiane Berthiaume, a spokeswoman for the UN's World Food Program (WFP), said her agency was cutting daily rations to an average of just 1,050 calories per person, half a normal daily diet tally of 2,100.

"This is one of the hardest decisions I have ever made," said WFP chief James Morris. "Haven't the people of Darfur suffered enough?"

Canada is among the countries which have slashed funding for emergency food aid in Sudan. Last year, it gave over $20 million. This year the figure is just over $5 million.

Liberal and Conservative MPs have been calling for more aid to Darfur.

The U.S. has been the largest donor so far, giving $188 million US, Reuters said. U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to meet with Darfur advocates Friday afternoon.

*spits on the floor at Canada's response*

What needs to happen is getting some of those pics like BlinderBomber has on his site and tons more footage on the news. Then * we the people * (the ones with hearts and morals anyways) will get horrified in response like what happened with Ethiopia and the donations will come pouring in

 

[Orignal Earl]

Originally posted by: tommywishbone
They ain't got no oil... they don't get no democracy. Sorry.

Sudan- Oil - proved reserves (bbl)-1,600,000,000