“Tsunami aid tops $3 billion.” –
CNN.com
Germany
Responds to Tsunami Disaster With
$660 Million – Nytimes.com
Prime Minister says Canada’s aid
could be ‘much greater’ than $80
million
– cbc.ca/news
These are just a sampling of some of
the headlines outlining relief
efforts following the horrific
events of December 26. 2004.
According to United Nations
estimates, more than 150,000 people
died in the Dec. 26, 2004 earthquake
and tsunami in the Indian Ocean off
the coast of Indonesia.
An outpouring of public support
across the globe including donations
to disaster relief funds, gifts of
food, water and clothing as well as
relief workers to aid those affected
has occurred in epic proportions.
More than $163
million in the U.S. and more than
$70 million in Canada have already
been donated.
While the events are unfortunate, it
is nice to see the world rallying to
people in need. What is disturbing
to me is why donors arenąt rushing
to help people every day in our own
countries. What of the
other equally important, though less
visible, tragedies that exist such
as homelessness in North America?
According to UNICEF, there are over
100 million people living on the
streets world-wide. A John Hopkins
research study in 2002 cited 500,000
homeless people in North America and
90,000 related deaths. The World
Health Organization reported in 2003
that over 3 million people a year
die of AIDS. Why don’t people give
on a regular basis to help eradicate
these problems? Or direct some of
their funds to the problems at
home?
While I acknowledge the terrible
nature of the death and destruction
caused by the tsunami, I think we
need to give some time and money to
these other important long-standing
issues. Maybe not a popular view,
but something for all of us to think
about. |