Give money to Haiti, not Japan.

[Ronin4hire]

How about you actually read what I say instead of just jumping on the bandwagon.

This was in response to another thread asking for individual donations in particular, but I suppose also includes any financial assistance.

I have already stated numerous times that material or personnel assistance should of course be offered as the Japanese need it.

Furthermore.. I didn't say it was racist. I said it was racist to use macro economics to justify why Japanese are worth more than say Haitians which is what some people were doing.

How about you use up your outrage on them instead of the very reasonable things I have said.

I don't know how many times I have gone out of my way to say that it is not without sympathy for the people affected by this disaster that I have made this thread.

Columbine... your last point is an interesting one.

Developing nations help each other so they can help the developed ones?

I would respond, how about people help each other period. All the time no matter what. Then we wouldn't have to compete for charity in this f*cked up world.

[Celte]

I am not outraged and i respect your opinion Ronin4hire.

But isn't it some kind of misplaced pride ? I mean, everyone knows that Japan is one of the most prepared and technologically advanced nation, if not the first of all. But we might be witnessing something bigger than any human society... We forgot that we are only humans. Talk about a prometheus thing.

[Ronin4hire]

Originally Posted by Celte

I am not outraged and i respect your opinion Ronin4hire.

But isn't it some kind of misplaced pride ? I mean, everyone knows that Japan is one of the most prepared and technologically advanced nation, if not the first of all. But we might be witnessing something bigger than any human society... We forgot that we are only humans. Talk about a prometheus thing.

That was more directed at Columbine than you but thank you for your respect.

I think it's a big deal don't get me wrong. But the hardest hit areas seem to be restricted to the North East coast.

I might actually change my opinion on this if the nuclear meltdown happens. But for now, most of the damage is just from the tsunami and Japan should be able to cope from the figures I've seen.

Again... if a nuclear meltdown is imminent then I will rethink my position.

[GoNative]

Originally Posted by Celte

I mean, everyone knows that Japan is one of the most prepared and technologically advanced nation, if not the first of all.

I sometimes wonder where this idea that Japan is some incredibly technologically advanced nation. Sure in Tokyo it's pretty flashy but in the vast bulk of Japan it is anything but hi-tech. Frankly in rural Hokkaido where I live it's a bit like stepping back in time compared to the technology I was used to in Australia. In many parts of Japan I've been to I seriously wonder at times if I'm actually in a modern industrialised nation at all!

[Celte]

Originally Posted by GoNative

In many parts of Japan I've been to I seriously wonder at times if I'm actually in a modern industrialised nation at all!

Don't get me wrong, i understand there may be constrats in Japan.

That's great to have a low-tech side because the countryside may be more resilient than the big cities in a worst case scenario, what do you think about it ?

[termogard]

Originally Posted by GoNative

In many parts of Japan I've been to I seriously wonder at times if I'm actually in a modern industrialised nation at all!

.....and even speedy Shinkansen that often brings me to any part of Japan, couldn't force me to change my opinion.....

[GoNative]

No shinkansen in Hokkaido!

[termogard]

Originally Posted by GoNative

No shinkansen in Hokkaido!

Yes, but remember - you said " in many parts of Japan" instead of "in many parts of Hokkaido"

[ryuhebi13]

Originally Posted by kouichisan

You're missing the point. It doesn't matter about who the government is, or what country it is. It's humanitarian effort to help VICTIMS of natural disasters anywhere in the world. Charities don't operate often in countries like this because most of the time it isn't so serious and the government has the ability to resolve it themselves.

If it was a minor earthquake then I wouldn't bother encouraging people, but the fact is an entire city has been wiped out in a matter of minutes, and there are THOUSANDS of people missing. That is a 'disaster', if that isn't then what is?. It is about helping PEOPLE recover not giving to the government.

Yeah there are other countries that do deserve an equal amount of effort, nobody is saying people shouldnt give to them either. The Red Cross operates most of the time in those areas anyway, I even donated to the Red Cross operating in Libya myself at the same time I donated to Japan. I'm sure other people would do the same.

Everyone has the freedom to choose where their donation goes, those charity websites even give people the choice on what projects their money will go toward.

Don't turn a humanitarian discussion into a political one, thank you.

I fully agree. Besides I heard on NHK a while back that Japan wasn't one of the top countries in terms of richness anyway. Every penny that the government spends on the recovery has to be borrowed or taxed away from the productive economy, where it would have been spent on increasing prosperity. Instead, Japan will now spend trillions of yen just to get back to where it was a week ago.

[spicytuna]

Originally Posted by Ronin4hire

It's like giving money to Charlie Sheen if his house blew up.

Speaking of Charlie Sheen, he's donating a dollar from each of his tickets to the Red Cross Tsunami Fund. That's really nice of him.