A quick note in regards to the recent disaster that seems prevalent on the minds of pretty much everyone across the entire planet.

Now, bear in mind that I don't expect this opinion to win me any friends - that's never what this diary has been about - but it is what I believe. Feel free to have your own opinion. This is mine:

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Personally, I find the degree of sympathy raised in regards to the Tsunami tragedy to be, while not surprising, quite concerning.

To date, much of the aid pledged has been given not due to any genuine desire to aid the afflicted, but instead in exchange for International Political Browning Points�. UK upping its pledge repeatedly from �1m to whatever astronomical sum it now stands at, the US tripling and doubling again its contribution to stay ahead of other nations, Japan throwing money at it, most likely in some veiled attempt to win whaling rights back by using it as ammo in the next IWC convention. Most shocking of all are those with massive debts still trying to contribute to get their names involved in the charity race. Mexico I think it was who pledged money despite being under massive financial pressure themselves.

People quote sympathy power-words like 'selflessness' and 'greater need'. The truth is very different. As for the massive public donations, people should take the time again to read material such as last year's Civitas Report, which highlighted the concern that people were taking a morbid interest in affairs of the dead and suffering because of the genuine lack of substance in their own lives.

It actually pisses me off the level of concern these incidences get. 35 times as many people will die this year from cancer alone. Do we see this level of international co-operation and public cash generation for these? Don't make me laugh.

The world is riddled with terrible problems to which we have no current answer, but what grabs our attention? If people aren't dying in dramatic fashion, we don't care, it's that simple.

I donated hundreds of pounds to charity last year. To cancer charities, child abuse charities and numerous ecologically concerned groups, because for the most part, these needs are underfunded, under-represented and largely ignored as problems that will go away if we stare at something else for long enough.

For that reason among many more, I have donated nothing beyond my taxes (thanks Tony, by the way) to this appeal, as the cash already generated is out of proportion for the immediate need.

1 message(s) of denial

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PUBLIUS - 2005-01-06 10:24:11

It strikes me people will offer help for the Tsunami but ignore damn near everything else.

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