WORLD CONSCIENCE ASLEEP?
Pathetic international response to 3 million brown Pakistani quake victims!
by
MOIN ANSARI
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/101705S.shtml
The internal Pakistani response to the quake has been heroic, superhuman, and "goose bump" stuff of which legends are made of. The fantastic spirit of volunteerism is a case study for the "Harvard Business Review". Within 15 minutes of the falling of the Margala towers, the police and hundreds of good Samaritans were there scraping at the rubble with their bare hands. Within 2 hours the president and the Prime Minster were helping at the site. Hordes of volunteers are collecting supplies from every nook and corner of Pakistan. From dusk to dawn the air force flew 800 sorties, a world record. The mudslide prone, destroyed roads to the most inaccessible areas have been rebuilt several times, and today there are mountains of relief supplies in the remotest of the remote areas in Kashmir manned by thousands of troops and volunteers. Today more than 100,000 Pakistani troops are fanning out in the mountains of Azad Kashmir looking to help Pakistanis.
The international response to the Pakistani quake has been atrocious. The Pakistani state machinery is too polite and too overwhelmed to say anything except "thank you". They are grateful for any scarps that are doled out. The fact remains that the world response to the Pakistani quake has been beyond pathetic. The Pakistani earthquake is a bigger catastrophe than the tsunami. The tsunami countries got over $10 Billion Dollars. While many international agencies and government are "going through the motions", serious efforts have not been made to help Pakistan and Pakistanis. The reasons may be similar to the reasons why the black Katrina victims got little help and white Rita victims got a lot of aid. Racism and Islamphobic bias are at the root of this nonchalance not covered by the media.
The Washington Post did not have a singly story on the earthquake. The NY Times had a story on Muslim charities and the fact that The "mainstream charities" are not getting donations from Americans for the Pakistani quake. The focus of the BBC story was not the inadequate and pathetic international response to the quake victims, but the fact that remote village beyond Bagh in the Northern areas, which are not connected by roads have not been reached.
The US has 8000 helicopters in Afghanistan. Pakistan needs about 200 helicopters and heavy moving equipment to assist the victims. 8 were released and then an additional 4 were released by Secretary of State Rice after the President Mushraraff literally begged her for more moving equipment. The NATO forces in Afghanistan refused to release any choppers. The Japanese teams were so late that they could not save a single life in the schools where 1500 children lay buried.
What makes it more hurtful is the fact that blatant Arab racism is at its worst today. Muslim countries have different scales for white American victims and different values for brown Pakistani lives. Kuwait and Qatar gave the 20 thousand Katrina victims $400 million each. For the 3 million "miskeen" "ajami" Pakistanis $100 million was deemed enough. The Palestinian Authority has not given anything. Egypt gave $50,000.
The good news is that Pakistanis have come together like never before. From America to Australia, and within Pakistan volunteers are everywhere, sending materials and volunteers to the affected areas of Azad Kashmir. Pakistan and Pakistanis will remember the friends.
Before an official request was conveyed, Turkish teams and planes were already airborn. Pakistan well never forget the Turkish "Kurdish" (brotherhood). The British teams in Islamabad got there early and actually saved some lives. Penury stricken Afghanistan spared 4 helicopters, pretty much their entire fleet. Today Pakistan and Pakistanis are working hard to rebuild Pakistan. This is the new slogan.
The lack of international help will have consequences that will ripple to the entire world. When India exploded its nuclear device, Pakistan asked for a "nuclear umbrella" from all the super powers. The Pakistanis were laughed out of Western capitals. Pakistan made the nuclear bombs. Pakistan paid cash for 75 F-16s. Neither the money, nor the planes were ever delivered. This unleashed anti-Americanism in Pakistan that had international consequences. With Chinese help, Pakistan designed and created a FX-17 plane and also bought and indigenously developed missile technology. Pakistanis have elephant memories.
If the international response remains as pathetic as it has been, Pakistan may opt for the Shanghai Five realignment with China and Russia and dump the strategic relationship that President Musharraf has tried to develop with the fair whether friends in the West. Pakistanis see help coming from India, and Israel and the Jewish organizations in the USA. This will be remembered. The word knows that Pakistan cannot be ignored. There is very strong resentment growing in Pakistani minds. The world knows that Pakistan cannot be ignored. Pakistani foreign policy realignment is underway. This will have long term consequences for the world.
=============================================
Pakistan Earthquake relief
Donate Blankets, Jackets or Money
The horrendous Earthquake in Pakistan where more than 50,000 are missing and the toll may reach more than 100,000. Entire villages have been flattened out, and over three million people are homeless. Winter is fast approaching, and they have spent many nights out in the rain and cold.
We are holding a drive to collect "clothes, blankets, stuffed animals, dolls and tents etc.". Pakistan International Airlines has promised to take the materials free of cost to Pakistan. We need your help in collecting
Blankets or clothes should be packed in small neat bundles clearly marked, "male", "female", "jacket", "large" "child" etc.
Please write "From your friends in the USA to our friends in Pakistan" on each packet.
DELIVERY AND SHIPPING OPTIONS: PLEASE VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME?
OPTION ONE: You can take the bundled & labeled packages to the nearest Pakistan International Airlines office (NY) and have it delivered to Pakistan without paying any shipping charges.
OPTION TWO: You can deliver to MOIN ANSARI c/A AJMA, 188 Rt. 10 West, Suite 202, East Hanover, NJ 07936) and we will deliver it to PIA to ship. Call 973-463-1260. We are developing a local drop-off points in each county. Or you can deliver to the First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway is a collection point (35 Church Street, Rockaway). Your local mosque is a collection point.
OPTION THREE: Can we impose on you to help us coordinate this collection activates, and hold stuff in your church/basement, and then have them delivered to PIA to ship to Edhi Foundation. PIA Contact: Mr. Arbab Hibatullah (718) 656-4040 Ext.230
OPTION FOUR: We offer to pick up the material and deliver to the Pakistan Airline, so that it can be forwarded. Call 973-463-1260 for help in pickup and delivery
DONATE TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE
1) Earthquake relief: Consulate General of Pakistan, 12 East, 65th Street, New York, NY 10021, 212 472-4339, http://www.pakistanconsulateny.org
2) American Red Cross (marked Pakistan Earthquake relief) or Pakistan Red Crescent Society
3) UNICEF (marked Pakistan Earthquake Relief)
4) EDHI Foundation (Pakistani relief agency): 45-11 Nation Rd, Corona, NY 11368, 718-639-0633, Fax: 718-505-8001
Pathetic international response to 3 million brown Pakistani quake victims!
by
MOIN ANSARI
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/101705S.shtml
The internal Pakistani response to the quake has been heroic, superhuman, and "goose bump" stuff of which legends are made of. The fantastic spirit of volunteerism is a case study for the "Harvard Business Review". Within 15 minutes of the falling of the Margala towers, the police and hundreds of good Samaritans were there scraping at the rubble with their bare hands. Within 2 hours the president and the Prime Minster were helping at the site. Hordes of volunteers are collecting supplies from every nook and corner of Pakistan. From dusk to dawn the air force flew 800 sorties, a world record. The mudslide prone, destroyed roads to the most inaccessible areas have been rebuilt several times, and today there are mountains of relief supplies in the remotest of the remote areas in Kashmir manned by thousands of troops and volunteers. Today more than 100,000 Pakistani troops are fanning out in the mountains of Azad Kashmir looking to help Pakistanis.
The international response to the Pakistani quake has been atrocious. The Pakistani state machinery is too polite and too overwhelmed to say anything except "thank you". They are grateful for any scarps that are doled out. The fact remains that the world response to the Pakistani quake has been beyond pathetic. The Pakistani earthquake is a bigger catastrophe than the tsunami. The tsunami countries got over $10 Billion Dollars. While many international agencies and government are "going through the motions", serious efforts have not been made to help Pakistan and Pakistanis. The reasons may be similar to the reasons why the black Katrina victims got little help and white Rita victims got a lot of aid. Racism and Islamphobic bias are at the root of this nonchalance not covered by the media.
The Washington Post did not have a singly story on the earthquake. The NY Times had a story on Muslim charities and the fact that The "mainstream charities" are not getting donations from Americans for the Pakistani quake. The focus of the BBC story was not the inadequate and pathetic international response to the quake victims, but the fact that remote village beyond Bagh in the Northern areas, which are not connected by roads have not been reached.
The US has 8000 helicopters in Afghanistan. Pakistan needs about 200 helicopters and heavy moving equipment to assist the victims. 8 were released and then an additional 4 were released by Secretary of State Rice after the President Mushraraff literally begged her for more moving equipment. The NATO forces in Afghanistan refused to release any choppers. The Japanese teams were so late that they could not save a single life in the schools where 1500 children lay buried.
What makes it more hurtful is the fact that blatant Arab racism is at its worst today. Muslim countries have different scales for white American victims and different values for brown Pakistani lives. Kuwait and Qatar gave the 20 thousand Katrina victims $400 million each. For the 3 million "miskeen" "ajami" Pakistanis $100 million was deemed enough. The Palestinian Authority has not given anything. Egypt gave $50,000.
The good news is that Pakistanis have come together like never before. From America to Australia, and within Pakistan volunteers are everywhere, sending materials and volunteers to the affected areas of Azad Kashmir. Pakistan and Pakistanis will remember the friends.
Before an official request was conveyed, Turkish teams and planes were already airborn. Pakistan well never forget the Turkish "Kurdish" (brotherhood). The British teams in Islamabad got there early and actually saved some lives. Penury stricken Afghanistan spared 4 helicopters, pretty much their entire fleet. Today Pakistan and Pakistanis are working hard to rebuild Pakistan. This is the new slogan.
The lack of international help will have consequences that will ripple to the entire world. When India exploded its nuclear device, Pakistan asked for a "nuclear umbrella" from all the super powers. The Pakistanis were laughed out of Western capitals. Pakistan made the nuclear bombs. Pakistan paid cash for 75 F-16s. Neither the money, nor the planes were ever delivered. This unleashed anti-Americanism in Pakistan that had international consequences. With Chinese help, Pakistan designed and created a FX-17 plane and also bought and indigenously developed missile technology. Pakistanis have elephant memories.
If the international response remains as pathetic as it has been, Pakistan may opt for the Shanghai Five realignment with China and Russia and dump the strategic relationship that President Musharraf has tried to develop with the fair whether friends in the West. Pakistanis see help coming from India, and Israel and the Jewish organizations in the USA. This will be remembered. The word knows that Pakistan cannot be ignored. There is very strong resentment growing in Pakistani minds. The world knows that Pakistan cannot be ignored. Pakistani foreign policy realignment is underway. This will have long term consequences for the world.
=============================================
Pakistan Earthquake relief
Donate Blankets, Jackets or Money
The horrendous Earthquake in Pakistan where more than 50,000 are missing and the toll may reach more than 100,000. Entire villages have been flattened out, and over three million people are homeless. Winter is fast approaching, and they have spent many nights out in the rain and cold.
We are holding a drive to collect "clothes, blankets, stuffed animals, dolls and tents etc.". Pakistan International Airlines has promised to take the materials free of cost to Pakistan. We need your help in collecting
Blankets or clothes should be packed in small neat bundles clearly marked, "male", "female", "jacket", "large" "child" etc.
Please write "From your friends in the USA to our friends in Pakistan" on each packet.
DELIVERY AND SHIPPING OPTIONS: PLEASE VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME?
OPTION ONE: You can take the bundled & labeled packages to the nearest Pakistan International Airlines office (NY) and have it delivered to Pakistan without paying any shipping charges.
OPTION TWO: You can deliver to MOIN ANSARI c/A AJMA, 188 Rt. 10 West, Suite 202, East Hanover, NJ 07936) and we will deliver it to PIA to ship. Call 973-463-1260. We are developing a local drop-off points in each county. Or you can deliver to the First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway is a collection point (35 Church Street, Rockaway). Your local mosque is a collection point.
OPTION THREE: Can we impose on you to help us coordinate this collection activates, and hold stuff in your church/basement, and then have them delivered to PIA to ship to Edhi Foundation. PIA Contact: Mr. Arbab Hibatullah (718) 656-4040 Ext.230
OPTION FOUR: We offer to pick up the material and deliver to the Pakistan Airline, so that it can be forwarded. Call 973-463-1260 for help in pickup and delivery
DONATE TO THE CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE
1) Earthquake relief: Consulate General of Pakistan, 12 East, 65th Street, New York, NY 10021, 212 472-4339, http://www.pakistanconsulateny.org
2) American Red Cross (marked Pakistan Earthquake relief) or Pakistan Red Crescent Society
3) UNICEF (marked Pakistan Earthquake Relief)
4) EDHI Foundation (Pakistani relief agency): 45-11 Nation Rd, Corona, NY 11368, 718-639-0633, Fax: 718-505-8001
No comments:
Post a Comment