Western greed and cheapness at the peak?

GOG · Dec 31, 2004, 03:24 AM

I saw this list over at BBC's website, it shows how much money each country is willing to aid to rebuild the affected countries after this horrible disaster in South East Asia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4136153.stm

World Bank $250m
UK $96m
EU $44m
US: $35m (The total cost of the war in Iraq is around 4000 times this and counting...)
Canada: $33m
Japan: $30m
Australia: $27m
France: $20.4m
Denmark: $15.6m
Saudi Arabia: $10m

Earlier today my own gvernment announced that Sweden is sending 500m SEK in aid as a first step. This equals $74m in US currency. We only have 9m inhabitants for Christ's sake, if we can give this amount of money, there should be lot more to get in that list.

Just for the sake of it, I divided the figures with the population of each country ($/inhabitant), this is what I came up with:

Sweden $8.22
Denmark $2.99
UK $1.63
Australia $1.45
Canada $1.08
Saudi Arabia $0.47
France $0.34
Japan $0.24
USA $0.13

I know that you can't tell your respective governments what to give or not (well you can, but not in time). What we CAN do is to skip that burger or those beers ONE week and aid the money instead. And when we're at it, there are other countries needing aid too.

Just because our politicians are cheap doesn't mean we have to be.

Necrosis · Dec 31, 2004, 03:29 AM

I think you answered your own statement.

US: $35m (The total cost of the war in Iraq is around 4000 times this and counting...)

Warpy · Dec 31, 2004, 03:34 AM

Ummmm How odd, I dont see China or North Korea on that list.

pr0digal jenius · Dec 31, 2004, 03:49 AM

china, by default, would have some phenominally small per capita donation, simply because of having, like, 1/8th of the world's populace...lol

Warpy · Dec 31, 2004, 03:52 AM

Ummmm.... perhaps they can flog one of their nuclear reactors to their buddies in the East?

The_Neon_Cowboy · Dec 31, 2004, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOG

I saw this list over at BBC's website, it shows how much money each country is willing to aid to rebuild the affected countries after this horrible disaster in South East Asia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4136153.stm

World Bank $250m
UK $96m
EU $44m
US: $35m (The total cost of the war in Iraq is around 4000 times this and counting...)
Canada: $33m
Japan: $30m
Australia: $27m
France: $20.4m
Denmark: $15.6m
Saudi Arabia: $10m

Earlier today my own gvernment announced that Sweden is sending 500m SEK in aid as a first step. This equals $74m in US currency. We only have 9m inhabitants for Christ's sake, if we can give this amount of money, there should be lot more to get in that list.

Just for the sake of it, I divided the figures with the population of each country ($/inhabitant), this is what I came up with:

Sweden $8.22
Denmark $2.99
UK $1.63
Australia $1.45
Canada $1.08
Saudi Arabia $0.47
France $0.34
Japan $0.24
USA $0.13

I know that you can't tell your respective governments what to give or not (well you can, but not in time). What we CAN do is to skip that burger or those beers ONE week and aid the money instead. And when we're at it, there are other countries needing aid too.

Just because our politicians are cheap doesn't mean we have to be.

Yes you right about the populace and forgot something

corprate and personal donations millions are funneling in thew 10's if not hundreds of millions in donations to organizations like the red cross

.
So thier giveing aid all right... the people them selfs....

How many others contries sent and a AIR craft carrier and is moveing troops there to assist in recovery and rebuilding operations. Flying air craft dropping supplies etc out of other countries etc...that costs money too

Iraq is a while nother story

and actully and offtopic debate all to it self

BTW: the 35 million more then the US had to pledge you guys over there have alot of nerve eh? Since when do we have to help! No were is it writen we have to donate even $1 to aid others but we do. Heck we appear to do more then any other country in terms of assistance / aid yet that isn't enough

OldBuzzard · Dec 31, 2004, 05:02 AM

And now for the REST of the story...

President Bush made it VERY clear that the 35 Mil was just a start and that more would be given as necessary. Why didn't you add that to your initial post? Because it didn't fit your agenda?

And there is also a LOT of private aid coming from the US also as in this from the Fox news web site:

The final tally was yet to be known, but it's clear the Red Cross and other aid groups were experiencing perhaps the largest surge in donations since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks or the string of hurricanes that hit Florida and the Caribbean this summer.

"The volume (of donations) that they're seeing in the last few days is several times what they saw during the hurricanes, which was several times what they see on a normal day," said Charlie Cumbaa, a vice president at Blackbaud Inc., which makes software used by the Red Cross and many other aid agencies to process donations.

Among the biggest corporate givers are Pfizer Inc., which is donating $10 million in cash and $25 million worth of drugs to relief agencies; The Coca-Cola Co., which is donating $10 million; Exxon Mobil Corp., which is giving $5 million; and Citigroup Inc., which is contributing $3 million. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $3 million.

Pharmaceutical and health-care products companies were among the biggest givers.

Johnson & Johnson and Abbott Laboratories Inc. are each donating $2 million and sending drugs and other health-care supplies to the region. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. is donating $1 million in cash and $4 million in antibiotics and antifungal drugs. Merck & Co., Roche Group and GlaxoSmithKline PLC were also planning to donate supplies and/or cash.

Nike Inc., American Express Co., General Electric Co. and First Data Corp. are each giving $1 million.

For some corporations with operations in the countries struggling with the disaster, their far-flung enterprises are serving as quick supply routes for aid.

Drug makers with offices or plants in the region sent employees out with antibiotics, nutritional supplements, infant formula, baby food and other supplies. Employees of companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo Inc. and Marriott International Inc. hotels in the region are delivering bottled water, food and other supplies.

"They're sending whatever they can, as fast as they can," said Elaine Palmer, spokeswoman for PepsiCo, which rushed out Aquafina bottled water from one of its Indian bottlers and plans to contribute a minimum of $1 million to the relief effort.

Fresh drinking water is one of the items most needed. Many sources of fresh water, like wells, have been contaminated by seawater, debris and sewage.

In Thailand, Starbucks coffee shops are donating all of Wednesday's profits to the relief effort. The company also made an initial contribution of $100,000 and will donate $2 for every pound of certain coffees sold in January in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany.

Many companies are offering to match employee donations to aid groups and are making it easier for customers to donate.

First Data's Western Union is offering free money transfers from U.S. and Canadian donors to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Amazon.com had collected about 87,000 donations totaling more than $5.4 million for the American Red Cross as of Thursday afternoon.

Wal-Mart Inc. is setting up collection containers at all of its stores, in addition to a $2 million donation from its foundation.

Google Inc. has put a link on its home page to relief groups, and America Online is encouraging members to donate to Network for Good, an online charity the Internet-service provider founded along with Cisco Systems Inc. and Yahoo! Inc.

AOL members donated more than $1 million in less than 48 hours, according to spokesman Nicholas Graham.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes sir, we are a stingy bunch.

ToshiroOC · Dec 31, 2004, 05:10 AM

These are all valid comments; those numbers only account for cash donated by the government, not the nation's overall donations including private individuals, and not food or medicine or other non-cash aid provided by the American government. Of course, the claim that the US government itself is being stingy can probably be made... but don't paint the whole nation with the same brush.

OldBuzzard · Dec 31, 2004, 05:30 AM

And, as for the World Bank...The US supplies 'roughly' 16.39% of IT'S money, so add another 40 mil or so to our total...dang, we just get stingier, and stingier.

I think it fair to tell you the the US, in FY 2004 provided roughly 40% of ALL disaster aid for foreign countries, and if we follow the same pattern, you will see that in the end, that this 35 mill will be a drop in the bucket compared to the final total that we will contribute to this disaster.

TJ- · Dec 31, 2004, 07:38 AM

blah blah blah......................................

Sandok · Dec 31, 2004, 07:42 AM

Dude the US doesn't give that much mister OLD buzzard. The goverment officially has given 35m. Point. When more money goes, then it'll be in the OFFICIAL statistics. Whatever your saying might be right but till it gets accounted for, it ain't right!

Razgriz · Dec 31, 2004, 07:54 AM

when was the last time you heard sweden getting into a war....

Ever think that maybe swedens government has less debt, and less expenditures. Like military, social security, stuff like that?

OldBuzzard · Dec 31, 2004, 09:54 AM

sandok, heres a link for you. It's for 2003.

battleaxe, YOU may want to take a look at the sections on AFRICA, which you seen to think the the US cares nothing about

http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humani...pdf/AR2003.pdf

Just because I'm OLD doesn't mean I'm senile. Age does have it's advantages. One of which, is that my experience at doing research, allows me to easily find FACTS that show how silly , and wrong your immature little rant was.

Just remember, Youth & skill are no match for Old Age and experience.

lenchmob · Dec 31, 2004, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOG

I saw this list over at BBC's website, it shows how much money each country is willing to aid to rebuild the affected countries after this horrible disaster in South East Asia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4136153.stm

World Bank $250m
UK $96m
EU $44m
US: $35m (The total cost of the war in Iraq is around 4000 times this and counting...)
Canada: $33m
Japan: $30m
Australia: $27m
France: $20.4m
Denmark: $15.6m
Saudi Arabia: $10m

Earlier today my own gvernment announced that Sweden is sending 500m SEK in aid as a first step. This equals $74m in US currency. We only have 9m inhabitants for Christ's sake, if we can give this amount of money, there should be lot more to get in that list.

Just for the sake of it, I divided the figures with the population of each country ($/inhabitant), this is what I came up with:

Sweden $8.22
Denmark $2.99
UK $1.63
Australia $1.45
Canada $1.08
Saudi Arabia $0.47
France $0.34
Japan $0.24
USA $0.13

I know that you can't tell your respective governments what to give or not (well you can, but not in time). What we CAN do is to skip that burger or those beers ONE week and aid the money instead. And when we're at it, there are other countries needing aid too.

Just because our politicians are cheap doesn't mean we have to be.

Your information is flawed and inaccurate. Pfizer Corp alone (US corporation by the way) is donating $35 million to start and other companies are following suit. This is just a tip of the iceberg when it comes to donations from the private sector in the US alone. US naval ships are already in the area providng relief. A great many citizens are donating to the relief effort. A US battle cruiser and destroyer are moored off of the Thai coastline providing help. Twelve US C-130's with relief supplies have already completed their sorties and are repeating the process. A naval aircraft carrier group (quite an assortment of ships) is moving towards the affected area to provide relief. Relief to these nations is coming from all avenues of society and government.

People should get their facts straight before assuming the worst.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Dec 31, 2004, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldBuzzard

And now for the REST of the story...

President Bush made it VERY clear that the 35 Mil was just a start and that more would be given as necessary. Why didn't you add that to your initial post? Because it didn't fit your agenda?

And there is also a LOT of private aid coming from the US also as in this from the Fox news web site:

The final tally was yet to be known, but it's clear the Red Cross and other aid groups were experiencing perhaps the largest surge in donations since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks or the string of hurricanes that hit Florida and the Caribbean this summer.

"The volume (of donations) that they're seeing in the last few days is several times what they saw during the hurricanes, which was several times what they see on a normal day," said Charlie Cumbaa, a vice president at Blackbaud Inc., which makes software used by the Red Cross and many other aid agencies to process donations.

Among the biggest corporate givers are Pfizer Inc., which is donating $10 million in cash and $25 million worth of drugs to relief agencies; The Coca-Cola Co., which is donating $10 million; Exxon Mobil Corp., which is giving $5 million; and Citigroup Inc., which is contributing $3 million. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $3 million.

Pharmaceutical and health-care products companies were among the biggest givers.

Johnson & Johnson and Abbott Laboratories Inc. are each donating $2 million and sending drugs and other health-care supplies to the region. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. is donating $1 million in cash and $4 million in antibiotics and antifungal drugs. Merck & Co., Roche Group and GlaxoSmithKline PLC were also planning to donate supplies and/or cash.

Nike Inc., American Express Co., General Electric Co. and First Data Corp. are each giving $1 million.

For some corporations with operations in the countries struggling with the disaster, their far-flung enterprises are serving as quick supply routes for aid.

Drug makers with offices or plants in the region sent employees out with antibiotics, nutritional supplements, infant formula, baby food and other supplies. Employees of companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo Inc. and Marriott International Inc. hotels in the region are delivering bottled water, food and other supplies.

"They're sending whatever they can, as fast as they can," said Elaine Palmer, spokeswoman for PepsiCo, which rushed out Aquafina bottled water from one of its Indian bottlers and plans to contribute a minimum of $1 million to the relief effort.

Fresh drinking water is one of the items most needed. Many sources of fresh water, like wells, have been contaminated by seawater, debris and sewage.

In Thailand, Starbucks coffee shops are donating all of Wednesday's profits to the relief effort. The company also made an initial contribution of $100,000 and will donate $2 for every pound of certain coffees sold in January in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany.

Many companies are offering to match employee donations to aid groups and are making it easier for customers to donate.

First Data's Western Union is offering free money transfers from U.S. and Canadian donors to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Amazon.com had collected about 87,000 donations totaling more than $5.4 million for the American Red Cross as of Thursday afternoon.

Wal-Mart Inc. is setting up collection containers at all of its stores, in addition to a $2 million donation from its foundation.

Google Inc. has put a link on its home page to relief groups, and America Online is encouraging members to donate to Network for Good, an online charity the Internet-service provider founded along with Cisco Systems Inc. and Yahoo! Inc.

AOL members donated more than $1 million in less than 48 hours, according to spokesman Nicholas Graham.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes sir, we are a stingy bunch.

By what you've posted Rougly 72 million...
..............
72 million corp+ 35 million gov = 108 million
that will probubly grow both the goverment and corpate donations

But thats not even begins count the the smaller donations by companies and private donations to charties like the red cross those don't make "the news".
the private and corpate donations togreather thus far could easily top 200-300 million and probubly a heck of alot more then that before things are over and done...

that doesnt even begain to take about the costs incurrend by the our millitary assistance and rebuilding. Volenteers etc..... to....

many many times what little sweeden or anyone else gave ....

also they don't have a massive nationl debt like we have either...
more people also means more goverment expense etc....

GOG · Dec 31, 2004, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToshiroOC

These are all valid comments; those numbers only account for cash donated by the government, not the nation's overall donations including private individuals, and not food or medicine or other non-cash aid provided by the American government. Of course, the claim that the US government itself is being stingy can probably be made... but don't paint the whole nation with the same brush.

I would never dream of calling the American people cheap, because I know the majority of you are not. Actually, this was not a thread of America bashing, there are other rich countries in that list.

However, I can't help that the american government is so cheap that they think 13 cents from each citizen is enough here.

GOG · Dec 31, 2004, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasNemesis

when was the last time you heard sweden getting into a war....

Ever think that maybe swedens government has less debt, and less expenditures. Like military, social security, stuff like that?

It would be strange otherwise though we are only 1/24 of your population.

violat3 · Dec 31, 2004, 06:08 PM

USA has upped its aid to $350 mill

the UK goverment have so far offered $96 mill plus so far the UK citizens have raised a further $60 mill and that figure is rising almost $2mill a hour , cash is a camodity we take for granted , we can all do our bit to help thoose affected

The_Neon_Cowboy · Dec 31, 2004, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violat3

USA has upped its aid to $350 mill

the UK goverment have so far offered $96 mill plus so far the UK citizens have raised a further $60 mill and that figure is rising almost $2mill a hour , cash is a camodity we take for granted , we can all do our bit to help thoose affected

so thats currently $350 mil goverment, 76 million big corp
thats 350+76= 426 million so far.....

little corp and private citizen donations unkown ... but massive!

So we've given at lest 2x the larest doner

GOG · Dec 31, 2004, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Neon_Cowboy

so thats currently $350 mil goverment, 76 million big corp
thats 350+76= 426 million so far.....

little corp and prive donations unkown ... but massive!

So we've given at lest 2x the larest doner

You can't count like this. Sure, the sum of money is the biggest, but you also have one of the biggest populations on earth. Divided Per Capita, I don't think you make Top-5.

kelticknight · Dec 31, 2004, 07:28 PM

guys
there is money and food and supplys comming from all over the world,not just usa,sweden or uk,but all over
and all you guys are talking about is WHO GIVEN THE MOST MONEY,GET A GRIP
THERE PEOPLE HAVE LOST EVERYTHING AND THE WORST IS YET TO COME,L KNOW THIS BECAUSE LM INVOLVED WITH A AGENCY LOCALY
CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT LM HEARING HERE
the important thing is in xmass time comming into new year is people all over the WORLD are helping out
cheers
brian

Sandok · Dec 31, 2004, 07:29 PM

Old buzzard, never said the US doesn't give alot of money but that report is a total and not just for ONE area. Anyways, as GOG said, you guys per capitat and all don^t make top 5. My country gives millions away and we are just 7m people unlike you who are 350m...

violat3 · Dec 31, 2004, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelticknight

guys
there is money and food and supplys comming from all over the world,not just usa,sweden or uk,but all over
and all you guys are talking about is WHO GIVEN THE MOST MONEY,GET A GRIP
THERE PEOPLE HAVE LOST EVERYTHING AND THE WORST IS YET TO COME,L KNOW THIS BECAUSE LM INVOLVED WITH A AGENCY LOCALY
CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT LM HEARING HERE
the important thing is in xmass time comming into new year is people all over the WORLD are helping out
cheers
brian

Kelticknight read my post again mate i did not turn my post into who's paying the most just added the latest figures and stated the obvious by saying if you have spare money please give it to this worthwhile cause

GOG · Dec 31, 2004, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kelticknight

guys
there is money and food and supplys comming from all over the world,not just usa,sweden or uk,but all over
and all you guys are talking about is WHO GIVEN THE MOST MONEY,GET A GRIP
THERE PEOPLE HAVE LOST EVERYTHING AND THE WORST IS YET TO COME,L KNOW THIS BECAUSE LM INVOLVED WITH A AGENCY LOCALY
CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT LM HEARING HERE
the important thing is in xmass time comming into new year is people all over the WORLD are helping out
cheers
brian

Yes, the worst is yet to come. That's why I want to see those countries that can afford it to spend more. There are countries giving aid which they really can't afford, and that has really touched me right in the heart.

My country can afford this (we probably can afford to give much more and we probably will) and I'm expecting my country to do this. It has nothing to do with any competition, and I would love to see my country drop down in that Per Capita list.

kelticknight · Dec 31, 2004, 07:49 PM

not pointing finger at anyone,put this thread as whole comes across that way
cheers

OldBuzzard · Dec 31, 2004, 09:28 PM

My whole point is that the US isn't as 'cheap' as some would have you think.

As for other countries response, I give full credit, and in no way want anyone to think that I've denigrated their efforts. To the contrary, your contributions are in many cases 'above and beyond the call', based on your per-capita response.

The main thing that we need to remember is that ANY amount, no matter how small or how large is needed, and it's clear the the WORLD COMMUNITY is comming thru in this instance.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Dec 31, 2004, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandok

Old buzzard, never said the US doesn't give alot of money but that report is a total and not just for ONE area. Anyways, as GOG said, you guys per capitat and all don^t make top 5. My country gives millions away and we are just 7m people unlike you who are 350m...

350 million? you figures are incorrect ...

Actaully acroding to the pupulation clock at the US census bero the current esimate is 295 million us citizens thats including children of all ages...
(homeless etc i dunno)

Please tell me how much nation debt has you conutry have? unless you can say your contry has a huge natioal debt eh? the current US nation debt as of today is...... $7,542,236,935,807.54 or 25,549.31 of debt per person

more then 1.25 dallors for every person man woman and child in the entire world.

Please how about you pay of our debt (mostly acuded from helping the world). and we'll send a larger donation

k? thought so....

aprently you have no understanding of the current reailty in the US.
maybe it's becouse you not here

...

more people = more expense for the goverment , roads , jails etc...

pr0digal jenius · Jan 1, 2005, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Neon_Cowboy

Please how about you pay of our debt (mostly acuded from helping the world). and we'll send a larger donation

k? thought so....

elect a president who can count well enough to do a balance a budget

but that's neither here nor there. I'm with keltik....the point is people are helping, and that's good

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 4, 2005, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pr0digal jenius

elect a president who can count well enough to do a balance a budget

but that's neither here nor there. I'm with keltik....the point is people are helping, and that's good

thank god we ellected bus then

actually govermant donations + private donations + millitary / aid costs=
USA in totals sending/spending in the ball park of over 1 billion dallors!!!

Why is no one wineing about china, france, etc giveing way to little? No one wineing about contries giveing $0?

GOG · Jan 4, 2005, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Neon_Cowboy

thank god we ellected bus then

actually govermant donations + private donations + millitary / aid costs=
USA in totals sending/spending in the ball park of over 1 billion dallors!!!

Why is no one wineing about china, france, etc giveing way to little? No one wineing about contries giveing $0?

Because these countries never took the role of being the world conscience.

Dec 31, 2004, 03:24 AM	#1
GOG Please answer the voices in my head Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 308 Rep Power: 0	Western greed and cheapness at the peak? I saw this list over at BBC's website, it shows how much money each country is willing to aid to rebuild the affected countries after this horrible disaster in South East Asia. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4136153.stm World Bank $250m UK $96m EU $44m US: $35m (The total cost of the war in Iraq is around 4000 times this and counting...) Canada: $33m Japan: $30m Australia: $27m France: $20.4m Denmark: $15.6m Saudi Arabia: $10m Earlier today my own gvernment announced that Sweden is sending 500m SEK in aid as a first step. This equals $74m in US currency. We only have 9m inhabitants for Christ's sake, if we can give this amount of money, there should be lot more to get in that list. Just for the sake of it, I divided the figures with the population of each country ($/inhabitant), this is what I came up with: Sweden $8.22 Denmark $2.99 UK $1.63 Australia $1.45 Canada $1.08 Saudi Arabia $0.47 France $0.34 Japan $0.24 USA $0.13 I know that you can't tell your respective governments what to give or not (well you can, but not in time). What we CAN do is to skip that burger or those beers ONE week and aid the money instead. And when we're at it, there are other countries needing aid too. Just because our politicians are cheap doesn't mean we have to be.

Dec 31, 2004, 03:34 AM	#3
Warpy DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,761 Rep Power: 0	Ummmm How odd, I dont see China or North Korea on that list. __________________ The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Dec 31, 2004, 03:52 AM	#5
Warpy DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,761 Rep Power: 0	Ummmm.... perhaps they can flog one of their nuclear reactors to their buddies in the East? __________________ The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."

Dec 31, 2004, 05:02 AM	#7
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	And now for the REST of the story... President Bush made it VERY clear that the 35 Mil was just a start and that more would be given as necessary. Why didn't you add that to your initial post? Because it didn't fit your agenda? And there is also a LOT of private aid coming from the US also as in this from the Fox news web site: The final tally was yet to be known, but it's clear the Red Cross and other aid groups were experiencing perhaps the largest surge in donations since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks or the string of hurricanes that hit Florida and the Caribbean this summer. "The volume (of donations) that they're seeing in the last few days is several times what they saw during the hurricanes, which was several times what they see on a normal day," said Charlie Cumbaa, a vice president at Blackbaud Inc., which makes software used by the Red Cross and many other aid agencies to process donations. Among the biggest corporate givers are Pfizer Inc., which is donating $10 million in cash and $25 million worth of drugs to relief agencies; The Coca-Cola Co., which is donating $10 million; Exxon Mobil Corp., which is giving $5 million; and Citigroup Inc., which is contributing $3 million. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $3 million. Pharmaceutical and health-care products companies were among the biggest givers. Johnson & Johnson and Abbott Laboratories Inc. are each donating $2 million and sending drugs and other health-care supplies to the region. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. is donating $1 million in cash and $4 million in antibiotics and antifungal drugs. Merck & Co., Roche Group and GlaxoSmithKline PLC were also planning to donate supplies and/or cash. Nike Inc., American Express Co., General Electric Co. and First Data Corp. are each giving $1 million. For some corporations with operations in the countries struggling with the disaster, their far-flung enterprises are serving as quick supply routes for aid. Drug makers with offices or plants in the region sent employees out with antibiotics, nutritional supplements, infant formula, baby food and other supplies. Employees of companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo Inc. and Marriott International Inc. hotels in the region are delivering bottled water, food and other supplies. "They're sending whatever they can, as fast as they can," said Elaine Palmer, spokeswoman for PepsiCo, which rushed out Aquafina bottled water from one of its Indian bottlers and plans to contribute a minimum of $1 million to the relief effort. Fresh drinking water is one of the items most needed. Many sources of fresh water, like wells, have been contaminated by seawater, debris and sewage. In Thailand, Starbucks coffee shops are donating all of Wednesday's profits to the relief effort. The company also made an initial contribution of $100,000 and will donate $2 for every pound of certain coffees sold in January in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany. Many companies are offering to match employee donations to aid groups and are making it easier for customers to donate. First Data's Western Union is offering free money transfers from U.S. and Canadian donors to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Amazon.com had collected about 87,000 donations totaling more than $5.4 million for the American Red Cross as of Thursday afternoon. Wal-Mart Inc. is setting up collection containers at all of its stores, in addition to a $2 million donation from its foundation. Google Inc. has put a link on its home page to relief groups, and America Online is encouraging members to donate to Network for Good, an online charity the Internet-service provider founded along with Cisco Systems Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. AOL members donated more than $1 million in less than 48 hours, according to spokesman Nicholas Graham. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes sir, we are a stingy bunch. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

Dec 31, 2004, 05:10 AM	#8
ToshiroOC Unbiased. Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,812 Rep Power: 0	These are all valid comments; those numbers only account for cash donated by the government, not the nation's overall donations including private individuals, and not food or medicine or other non-cash aid provided by the American government. Of course, the claim that the US government itself is being stingy can probably be made... but don't paint the whole nation with the same brush. __________________ [img][/img] [color=White]Peace be with you, Joe.[/color] Driverheaven Staff Member (Supermoderator)

Dec 31, 2004, 03:29 AM	#2
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	I think you answered your own statement. US: $35m (The total cost of the war in Iraq is around 4000 times this and counting...)

Dec 31, 2004, 03:49 AM	#4
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	china, by default, would have some phenominally small per capita donation, simply because of having, like, 1/8th of the world's populace...lol

Dec 31, 2004, 05:30 AM	#9
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	And, as for the World Bank...The US supplies 'roughly' 16.39% of IT'S money, so add another 40 mil or so to our total...dang, we just get stingier, and stingier. I think it fair to tell you the the US, in FY 2004 provided roughly 40% of ALL disaster aid for foreign countries, and if we follow the same pattern, you will see that in the end, that this 35 mill will be a drop in the bucket compared to the final total that we will contribute to this disaster. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY Last edited by OldBuzzard; Dec 31, 2004 at 05:44 AM.

Dec 31, 2004, 07:38 AM	#10
TJ- DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Infinity Posts: 3,679 Rep Power: 0	blah blah blah...................................... __________________ new sig comming soon

Dec 31, 2004, 07:42 AM	#11
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 0	Dude the US doesn't give that much mister OLD buzzard. The goverment officially has given 35m. Point. When more money goes, then it'll be in the OFFICIAL statistics. Whatever your saying might be right but till it gets accounted for, it ain't right!

Dec 31, 2004, 07:54 AM	#12
Razgriz Intelligence? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: On the edge of insanity Posts: 1,183 Rep Power: 55	when was the last time you heard sweden getting into a war.... Ever think that maybe swedens government has less debt, and less expenditures. Like military, social security, stuff like that?

Dec 31, 2004, 09:54 AM	#13
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	sandok, heres a link for you. It's for 2003. battleaxe, YOU may want to take a look at the sections on AFRICA, which you seen to think the the US cares nothing about http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humani...pdf/AR2003.pdf Just because I'm OLD doesn't mean I'm senile. Age does have it's advantages. One of which, is that my experience at doing research, allows me to easily find FACTS that show how silly , and wrong your immature little rant was. Just remember, Youth & skill are no match for Old Age and experience. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY Last edited by OldBuzzard; Dec 31, 2004 at 10:04 AM.

Dec 31, 2004, 06:08 PM	#18
violat3 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Caledonia Posts: 348 Rep Power: 0	USA has upped its aid to $350 mill the UK goverment have so far offered $96 mill plus so far the UK citizens have raised a further $60 mill and that figure is rising almost $2mill a hour , cash is a camodity we take for granted , we can all do our bit to help thoose affected

Dec 31, 2004, 07:28 PM	#21
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	guys there is money and food and supplys comming from all over the world,not just usa,sweden or uk,but all over and all you guys are talking about is WHO GIVEN THE MOST MONEY,GET A GRIP THERE PEOPLE HAVE LOST EVERYTHING AND THE WORST IS YET TO COME,L KNOW THIS BECAUSE LM INVOLVED WITH A AGENCY LOCALY CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT LM HEARING HERE the important thing is in xmass time comming into new year is people all over the WORLD are helping out cheers brian

Dec 31, 2004, 07:29 PM	#22
Sandok DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 9,472 Rep Power: 0	Old buzzard, never said the US doesn't give alot of money but that report is a total and not just for ONE area. Anyways, as GOG said, you guys per capitat and all don^t make top 5. My country gives millions away and we are just 7m people unlike you who are 350m...

Dec 31, 2004, 07:49 PM	#25
kelticknight DriverHeaven Knight Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: EIRE{great for black stuff ,bulmers cider and Munster rubgy Posts: 1,095 Rep Power: 0	not pointing finger at anyone,put this thread as whole comes across that way cheers

Dec 31, 2004, 09:28 PM	#26
OldBuzzard DH's oldest Geek Join Date: May 2003 Location: Oberlin, OH Posts: 2,783 Rep Power: 145 System Specs	My whole point is that the US isn't as 'cheap' as some would have you think. As for other countries response, I give full credit, and in no way want anyone to think that I've denigrated their efforts. To the contrary, your contributions are in many cases 'above and beyond the call', based on your per-capita response. The main thing that we need to remember is that ANY amount, no matter how small or how large is needed, and it's clear the the WORLD COMMUNITY is comming thru in this instance. __________________ When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY