valaber
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2266
Loc: South Wales
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Did anyone see the film from Burma on last night's news? I can't get it out of my head. I don't understand how the generals who rule the country can be so utterly stupid and cruel as to refuse help from outside. I don't understand why the army that they use to hold onto power don't mutiny - after all, some of the soldiers must come from the affected areas and have lost families and friends. Or is Burma split on ethnic lines? I realise it's not a country that I know much about.
It does make me appreciate how lucky we are to live in a relatively safe and secure country where human life is valued so much more highly.
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pinkannie
member
Reged: 16/09/2007
Posts: 1038
Loc: switzerland
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I too feel very angry at the situation in Burma, and this attitude that the generals have is not just recent. It is real genocide to me. But I realise too that these people have a completly different approach to life and values than we do. And I this probably adds to the difficult situation as we have to first understand the whys and hows of this people before we can alter their situation.
It makes me feel frustrated in my anger. Hope I'm clear enough!
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Pinkannie
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LadyWillow
member
Reged: 04/04/2008
Posts: 287
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How do you feel the aid situation should be handled? Are you in favour of the Western world giving the aid directly to the military junta to distribute, maybe together with aid agencies working under their control and direction.
Or would you be happy with the UK and other countries giving the aid directly to China, who are on good terms with Burma and will have good contacts to facilitate distribution?
I think aid should be thrown left, right and centre and hope that as much as possible gets to right places in time to save lives and alleviate suffering. It doesn't matter who gets the "credit" ... if the junta feel the only way they can allow western aid is to be seen to "be in charge", then so be it. It's also a good opportunity for China to show it's quality.
What are your thoughts?
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Duffy
member
Reged: 14/02/2008
Posts: 1273
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Who are we the UK to decide how other countries run there politics??...Do our politicians get it right all the time???.... I know how you all feel and I too get so angry...Mugabe...why didnt they take him out..knowing what he was doing to his people...Tibet ??....Chinas policies??....African issues...people starving???.....
I see the need to get into these countries and help these people.... but they live a different life to us...they have different standards and are probably scared of the western world entering there country..living in fear of what we would do ??......Almost like wild animals unsure of human contact...If that makes any sense at all.....
I do believe they are letting help in now...maybe they just needed some reassurnace that is all "we" were there for.....
Lets face it both UK and US have reputations of taking over other countries and policies...but I think Burma are coming round now.... I do hope so..but food and aid is only the tip of the iceberg...what about rebuilding/risk of disease..how long do we stay?.....it will take years and huge amounts of money to rebuild the areas.... the novelty of aid will wear off soon and it will be another disaster....Life is cruel and I hope I dont sound cruel..I dont mean to...It just doesnt make any sense...why it has to happen in the 1st place...!!..maybe we should b e educating the poorer countries on building better houses...Why did so many of the schools collapse in the China earthquake....and why didnt anyone see the cyclone coming...Meteorologists can predict weather weeks/months ahead???...why was there no warning?...was it all meant to be?....Like mother nature wiping out human lives for others to exist...Like a human cull????
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patdock
member
Reged: 01/04/2007
Posts: 75
Loc: South Wales
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I just hurt when I read all these reports about Burma. I do appreciate that they have, and have always had a very different lifestyle to us, but surely the generals must let all this aid through. These people are dying.
As for Mugabe. Well I quite agree - I too wonder why somebody has't managed to get rid of him. This election - the second one - is a farce. I cannot understand why other countries haven't joined forces and just take him out of the country. Something has to be done about all these dreadfull people.
We can run the UK down a lot for what is happening here, but we can also thank god that we live in a democratic and sensible country.
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valaber
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2266
Loc: South Wales
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I don't know what the answer is - just that there are people who are willing and eager to help, there are people dying, that it's not clear that the junta have the infrastructure to deliver the help where it's needed. I would be very happy to see aid diverted through China - but then the Chinese government and military seem to have quite enough on their plates at the moment, and deserve a lot of credit for the swiftness and organisation - and the openness of their response.
Is there an equivalent of the Red Crescent (the Islamic version of the Red Cross?) There must be aid agencies that are not European or American, surely?
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