TresSugar

After the Cyclone, Myanmar Battles 50 Year Rat Problem

CitizenSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:00:07 -0700

Sometimes the news is so bad and so removed from your daily experience that the only thing you feel capable of doing is making sure people know. So here it is: after being decimated by Cyclone Nargis this Spring Myanmar is suffering through a protracted natural disaster that the government had 50 years to prevent. 50 years.

Called the maudam, twice a century the region's bamboo flowers produce a fruit that attracts rats. Hoards upon hoards of rats. Beyond the obvious squeamishness associated, the effect is even greater and long lasting. The rats consume all of villagers' food before turning to the seeds for the crops, ensuring that recovery is lengthy verging on impossible. The last three instances of the maudam, in 1862, 1911 and 1958, were all followed by devastating famine.

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To see what the experience is like, read more.

One villager says this of the current catastrophe, "Last year during the harvest the rats came and ate almost all our rice. Our corn has also been totally destroyed. I have just one bag of rice left for my family. After that there's nothing. People in my village are going into the jungle to find wild vegetables, like leaves and roots to mix with a little rice. Our situation is desperate." A local Human Rights Organization estimates as many as 200 villages are affected by severe food shortages and at least 100,000 people, or 20 percent of the local population, are in dire need of food aid.

Waiting for that aid to arrive isn't possible for some, and the exodus to India is underway. "We love our native land. But we don't know how we can survive here any longer."

Front Page: Cyclone Recovery to Top $1 Billion, Obama in Iraq, Zimbabwe Rivals Near Deal

CitizenSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:01:34 -0700

Cyclone Recovery to Top $1 Billion:
Cyclone recovery efforts in Myanmar are expected to top $1 billion according to a report released this morning by the UN and ASEAN. The aid will cover the still pressing needs for food, agriculture, and housing, and the country still needs everything from clean water to fishing nets and buffaloes. $178 million has been given already. The May cyclone left at least 138,000 dead or missing.

Obama Arrives in Iraq:
Barack Obama met today with Iraqi officials and military commanders about the conflict in Iraq - the ending of which he's made a feature of his campaign. In Basra, Obama met with US, UK, and Iraqi military leaders before traveling to Baghdad, where he is to meet Gen. David Petraeus and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Zimbabwe Rivals to Meet:
The ruling party of Robert Mugabe who won last month's contested and violent election, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai are expected to sign a deal planning talks to end the political crisis in Zimbabwe. The deal, mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki includes the formation of a unity government and election reforms. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has just introduced a $100 billion dollar bill, as the official inflation rate surpasses 2.2 million percent.

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Front Page: World Embraces Obama, Aid Leaving Myanmar, Economy Adds Jobs

CitizenSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:00:59 -0700

World Embraces Obama: Just after Barack Obama secured the delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination, favorable reaction to the news came in from around the world. An editor of the Times of London said of the historic event, “In 220 years a country that has steadily multiplied in diversity, where ethnic minorities and women have risen to the very highest positions in so many fields of human life, has chosen a succession of 42 white men as its leader. For good measure, the vice presidency, the only other nationally directly elected position in the US government, has been held by a succession of 46 white males. But last night, in a tumultuous break with this long history, the ultimate realization of the American dream moved a little closer, and a black man became his party’s nominee for the presidency.” In addition to focus on that historic detail, news sources in China, and Pakistan also gave favorable reactions, and many European outlets gave the story the same amount of attention in garnered in the US.

Aid Leaving Myanmar: US Navy ships carrying aid for the victims of the Myanmar cyclone are due to leave the coastline after continued refusal of the government to allow them to help. After 15 failed attempts to convince the regime to let them in, the Navy said it would withdraw the four ships, carrying helicopters and landing craft. French and British navy ships have also been withdrawn after being refused permission to operate. Recent estimates show the cyclone left more than 133,000 people dead or missing.
Economy Adds Jobs: The US private-sector job market added 40,000 jobs in May, surprising analysts who had predicted a drop of almost that many. The news of growth comes after April saw the addition of 13,000 new jobs. All figures are according to a private report by ADP Employer Services released today.

Front Page: Ted Kennedy In Surgery, Mugabe at UN Food Summit, Gates to Myanmar "Criminal Neglect"

CitizenSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:00:04 -0700

Ted Kennedy In Surgery: Ted Kennedy is at the Duke University Medical Center this morning undergoing surgery for his cancerous brain tumor. The surgery comes after the 76-year-old senator was diagnosed last month with a malignant glioma, an especially lethal type of brain tumor. He's being operated on this morning by one of the nation's top neurosurgeons, Dr. Allan Friedman, and the surgery will be followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Kennedy will recuperate in NC for a week, before moving to Massachusetts General for the rest of his treatment. Kennedy said of the support he's received, ''I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and to my friends, colleagues and so many others across the country and around the world who have expressed their support and good wishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge. I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness.''

Mugabe at UN Food Summit: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe presence at a United Nations food summit has raised eyebrows and hackles and is being called "obscene". Australia's foreign minister said of the embattled leader's arrival, "this is the person who has presided over the starvation of his people." It's Mugabe's first visit to Europe since the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won a majority in parliamentary elections in March. He still faces a presidential run-off on June 27 against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Gates to Myanmar, "Criminal Neglect": US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said yesterday that Myanmar was guilty of “criminal neglect” for blocking international aid to cyclone victims, and warned that more civilians would perish unless the military regime reversed its policy. Because of the stonewalling, he said it was probably a matter of days before the Pentagon withdrew four Navy ships carrying supplies that have been “steaming in circles” for days in the waters off Myanmar’s coast, waiting for permission to unload their cargo of aid. Gates said, “it’s becoming pretty clear that the regime there is not going to let us help. I’d say that unless the regime changes its approach, changes its policy, more people will die.”

Front Page: Crane Collapses in NYC, Myanmar Evicts Relief Centers

CitizenSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:49:32 -0700

Crane Collapses in NYC: A crane at a construction site tipped over and crashed into another building at East 91st Street and First Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan just after 8 a.m. this morning. At least two people were pulled out of the wreckage as Fire Department trucks and emergency medical workers responded. One person is confirmed dead at this time. “The crane operator is the only confirmed dead at this time. He was still in the cab of the crane” when it came down, said an official at the scene. No news yet on the second person said to be most seriously injured. Rescue workers continue to remove people from the affected buildings. The crane's top portion apparently broke off striking the building across the street.

Myanmar Evicts Relief Centers: Myanmar's junta has begun evicting stranded families from government-run cyclone relief shelters today, concerned that the 'tented villages' might become permanent. A government official says, "it is better that they move to their homes where they are more stable," At one camp people were told to clear out by the end of the day. The official said, "here, they are relying on donations and it is not stable." Local residents and aid workers said 39 camps are being cleared out as part of a general eviction plan. A 21-year-old trishaw driver said as he was leaving the camp with his five brothers and sisters, "we knew we had to go at some point but we had hoped for more support."

To see pictures of the crane collapse, read more.

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Front Page: Myanmar Accepts All Aid, McCain Rejects Hagee, Italy Goes Nuclear

CitizenSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:56:21 -0700

Myanmar Accepts All Aid: Myanmar's junta agreed this morning to admit cyclone aid workers "regardless of nationalities" said UN officials. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reached the agreement with junta supremo during mission to help 2.4 million left devastated by the storm three weeks ago. The move is positive, if not late. Disaster experts say that unless the doors to aid were opened, thousands more people would die of hunger and disease, adding to the nearly 134,000 reported killed or missing.
McCain Rejects Hagee: US presidential candidate John McCain rejected the backing of Rev. John Hagee after an audio recording of the preacher saying that God sent Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land was published on the Huffington Post. Rev Hagee then withdrew the endorsement, saying he had been misrepresented and did not want to figure in the presidential campaign. McCain faced criticism for seeking the endorsement - he's now described Hagee's comments as "crazy and unacceptable."
Italy Goes Nuclear: Italy announced yesterday its five-year plan includes resuming the building nuclear energy plants. A public referendum resoundingly banned nuclear power and deactivated all its reactors 20 years ago. Growing concern over energy contributed to the decision. The minister of economic development said, "by the end of this legislature we will put down the foundation stone for the construction in our country of a group of new-generation nuclear plants. An action plan to go back to nuclear power can not be delayed anymore. Only nuclear plants safely produce energy on a vast scale with competitive costs, respecting the environment.”

Front Page: Ban Ki-Moon in Myanmar, Oil Spikes Three Days, Farm Bill and Tax Package

CitizenSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 07:00:48 -0700

Ban Ki-Moon in Myanmar: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has begun his tour the devastated Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar. He is set to meet with military ruler Gen Than Shwe hoping to persuade the government to accept more aid for cyclone victims. So far the government has blocked large-scale international assistance, and foreign agencies say they are able to deliver just 30 percent of what they would like. The death toll from Cyclone Nargis is currently 78,000 dead, with another 56,000 missing. The UN says that fewer than a 25 percent of the 2.4 million people affected have received aid.

Oil Spikes Three Days: Oil cost attained a new record for highest price for a third straight day, topping $135 a barrel. OPEC producer Saudi Arabia last week said it had raised production by 300,000 barrels per day, but the news had minimal impact on the market.
Farm Bill and Tax Package: The House voted 316-to-108 to override President Bush's veto of the Farm Bill. The vote was well over the two-thirds needed. Bush said in his veto announcement, “for a year and a half, I have consistently asked that the Congress pass a good farm bill that I can sign. Regrettably, the Congress has failed to do so. At a time of high food prices and record farm income, this bill lacks program reform and fiscal discipline.” The House also passed a $54 billion tax package. The measure renews tax breaks that have expired or will expire soon and provides new tax relief in the form of child tax-credits and breaks for renewable energy.

Disaster Fatigue Hits America: Giving Less to Recent Victims

LibertySugar — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Donating money for the victims of the Myanmar cyclone and the Chinese earthquake has not been an easy sell. Americans have given $12.1 million so far to the Myanmar cause, compared to the $1.92 billion that was collected for the 2004 Tsunami, and $5.3 billion for Hurricane Katrina. Donation amounts for China are not yet known.

One AP writer suspects that Americans have come down with "disaster fatigue." The article explains that the more bad news there is, the less likely Americans are to give. Americans, who unconsciously clump distinct occurrences as "faraway disasters" may feel helpless when hearing of mounting, and incomprehensible death tolls. Thus, by competing to be disaster of the moment, China and Myanmar have unknowingly dissuaded charitable individuals.

There may be other factors leading to a light trickle of donations. For some other explanations, read more.

China and Myanmar are isolated countries, which restrict international access. Their governments, a communist oligarchy and military junta respectively, may make Americans weary that their money could end up in the wrong hands. The lack of journalistic access, combined with other dominating stories such as the presidential campaign, may also prevent the cyclone and earthquake from being the hot issue of the moment.

Or maybe Americans could picture themselves as a beach tourist in Thailand back in 2004 or resident of New Orleans, but are having a hard time empathizing with the most recent victims in China and Myanmar.

Do Americans have disaster fatigue, or are there just too many other bills to worry about at home? Can the fatigue notion be applied to other issues, such as the Iraq war? As we hear more bad news, are we tempted to turn a deaf ear?

If you don't have disaster fatigue, and want to help, here are ways you can lend a hand to those in China and Myanmar.

Source

Front Page: Fleeing South Africa Attacks, Ted Kennedy Seizure, Disaster Zones Mourn

CitizenSugar — Mon, 19 May 2008 06:56:56 -0700

Fleeing South Africa Attacks: About 6,000 people fled violent attacks in South Africa on foreigners. The attacks have left at least 22 dead, according to aid workers. Thought to be a "classic refugee situation," many of those seeking refuge in South Africa are Zimbabweans who have fled violence and poverty in their own country. Estimates show as many as three million Zimbabweans are living in South Africa. The immigrants receive the blame for social problems - unemployment, crime and a lack of housing - one Zimbabwean man said of the violence, "if we go back into the streets, they're going to kill us there."

Ted Kennedy Seizure: After being hospitalized over the weekend with stroke-like symptoms, Kennedy's doctor says, “preliminary tests have determined that he has not suffered a stroke and is not in any immediate danger." Kennedy, 76, is still in the hospital but resting and doing well.
Disaster Zones Mourn: Both China and Myanmar, who've each experienced devastation in past weeks, have declared three-day periods of mourning. In China, flags are flying at half-mast and a nationwide silence has been observed to mark the time it struck a week ago. Since the 7.9 magnitude quake, more than 71,000 people are dead and more than 220,000 people injured. In Myanmar, the junta has followed ally China's lead declaring their own period of mourning. Cyclone Nargis left about 78,000 dead and another 55,000 missing. After initially stalling aid, correspondents say the junta has promised to accept significantly more international aid to help cyclone victims.

Front Page: Army Stealing Aid in Myanmar, Bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan, Farm Bill Passes

CitizenSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 06:59:21 -0700

Army Stealing Aid in Myanmar: Officials from several relief organizations say that the international aid being sent into Myanmar is being "stolen, diverted or warehoused" by the army. The members of the military junta told Thailand's prime minister they were in control of the relief operations and had no need for foreign experts. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon wants to send a senior UN official to inspect the relief effort in the ravaged country. To make matters worse, the US military’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center said there was a possibility that “a significant tropical cyclone” - another one - would form in the next 24 hours and head across the Irrawaddy Delta, the already hardest hit region.

Bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan: In an attack claimed by the Taliban, a suicide bomber wearing a burqa detonated by a police patrol at a crowded market in western Afghanistan today, killing at least 12 people and wounding 27 others, officials said. Yesterday, at least 20 people were killed and 35 others wounded in a suicide bombing at a Sunni funeral west of Baghdad. Police said the funeral was for the head teacher of a local school. The bombings occurred hours the announcement that Prime Minister Nouri Maliki was supervising an offensive against Sunni insurgents in the northern city of Mosul.
House Passes Farm Bill: The House approved a five-year, $307 billion farm bill with a solid bipartisan majority yesterday. Despite a veto threat from President Bush, the House voted 318 to 106 - more than the two-thirds needed to override a presidential veto - with 100 Republicans joining the Democratic majority in favor.