General Chat

i watched a program about the earthquake in Pakistan, up in the mountains there are people living in tents, children are freezing to death. why is there no help getting to them, we and USA can spend so much money on wars in iraq and elsewhere, but we dont seem to be able to get help to these poor people, i know its difficult to reach them but a camera team from Britain got up there to film starving and freezing children, surely we could do more for them.

theres a pakistan help group in our town and the one old fella raised loads to take out there to help, he was asking for cash and tents and clothes, so things are getting to them, unless he was a fake, i dont think he was, even a doctor of ours who helps in lots of places like that went out to give help, took medication with him too i dont know why people are still living in tents

hi Julie, its the people up in the mountains who need the most help at the moment, children are dying every day, they did receive tents but it is 20 degrees below freezing, they need food and warm clothing and medical equipment urgently and nothing is being done according to the documentary i watched the other night.

hi ben, these people are high up on a remote mountainous terraine: to get to them by foot takes about three hours of climbing through heavy snow,ice and rocks,and bear in mind that heavy packs would need to be carried as well. the only reasonable way to get to them,is by helicopter,but weather conditions are so bad,that this becomes dangerous as well. a medical team has left the uk,to join up with the red cross,and the army,hoping to set up a field hospital,but there is still the problem of air lifting the sick to lower ground. bryan.

yes your correct brian, but if bin laden was up there they would get there no matter what nature threw at them, not that i am against getting bin laden, i just think more could be done for these people.

My immediate thought was 'No Oil'. But perhaps Bryan's response in more correct.

Like Ruby, my response is 'no oil'. The earthquake happened long before the bad weather set in. Something could and should have been done weeks ago. I think it's a combination of nothing in it for governments, those who donate having nothing left after other disasters earlier in the year and others who think that either charity begins at home or 'silly fools for living there', (yes, there was more than one letter in my local paper to that effect, so I hope they can manage when we have the inevitable earthquake here). We can send a craft to Pluto but not care for those who live on this planet. It's beyond me.

:a medical team has left the uk,to join up with the red cross,and the army,hoping to set up a field hospital,but there is still the problem of air lifting the sick to lower ground.: ..... unquote How long ago was this earthquake?? Ruby and Felicity are spot on -- no oil! When the earthquake happened they knew winter was coming??Priority should have been given straight to the mountainside people not the populated places.. they will always get aid. I can't even put in words the disgust I feel . Almost as disgusted as the Tsunami one year on and all that money and still living in squalor! Had to add -- I saw an article in the paper that the charities are calling it 'donated out' meaning where can we squeeze money from those who give? And they are usually the ones with the least! Another topic some day --- I'm a pop star with 750 million in the bank -- I can never spend that in my lifetime -- ...?

To follow on, Mike, someone once said - In order to be clever enough to get all that money one must be foolish enough to want it. Some of those who are blessed with plenty seem to find possession the most important thing for them.

I asked the same question recently on here - if they can get a news team there why not more essential things taken up. However at the end of the broadcasts it was said that their medical team had left ointment for that little lad's eye infection and I did notice someone must have left their umbrella behind for one of the tent people to use. I expect the team left as much as was useful behind too. Wish I could win that £100 million on the Euromillions - I am sure I could get some aid there somehow then, something more substantial than tents that collapse under the weight of the snow, etc. I wanted to just bundle up all my spare clothes that I hoard and send them. I suppose it is hard for them even to find dry fuel for fires to keep warm and cook, and dry things out. Let's hope the weather stays clear enough for the helicopters to take plenty of food and things to them. Breaks my heart to see them suffering so, through no fault of their own. There seems to be little justice in this world.

Felicity, I had to read that a few times before I got the meaning..... In order to be clever enough to get all that money one must be foolish enough to want it. Some of those who are blessed with plenty seem to find possession the most important thing for them First half of quote I'm not too sure ---- second half I Think I got -- as I said 750 million in the bank and then do a gig for Live Aid??

Mike, the 'some of those blessed with plenty...........' was my own comment and only the sentence before was a quote - sorry for not making that clear. I see your point about the concert. :-)