news from elsewhere

[realthog]

Yes, obviously, I'm twitchy as hell over what tomorrow's likely to bring to New Orleans. Thanks in large part to LJ, this time -- unlike the case of Katrina, when I was as horrified as anyone but had almost no direct connection to the inhabitants of New Orleans -- my concern is a personal one: I blame louismaistrosand waifnola, but there are others.

At the same time . . .

This just in from the BBC:

Indian floods cut off thousands

Half a million people in the Indian state of Bihar remain stranded in villages which have been devastated by massive flooding, officials say.

A BBC correspondent reports chaotic scenes as soldiers try to reach those cut off and people attempt to scramble from rooftops into rescue boats.

With 1.2 million people homeless, India is struggling to cope with the crisis.
The flood waters are spreading to new areas, and conditions in relief camps are overcrowded and unsanitary.

The floods are known to have killed at least 75 people in Bihar but the death toll could climb once the situation in remote areas emerges.

Tens of thousands of people have also been displaced in neighbouring Nepal where some of those who have lost their homes are camping under plastic sheets.

It's a truism that we should think about those closest to home first, but let's not forget that Americans -- or Brits, or Ozzies, or Belgians, or Dutch, or whatever -- aren't alone in having to face what our planet does to us. This is not to diminish my concerns about New Orleans friends -- far from it! -- but I have friends in Bangladesh and India too.

Of course, as Our Glorious Leader keeps telling us (not to mention the Palinette), the jury's still out on anthropogenic climate change. I wish that on occasion they'd sip the Kool-Aid they insist on doling out to the rest of us.

Comments

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

Yes.

Just. Yes.

The subtext though is that it is OK for this to happen in India, because as far as most USians know, India is still a 3rd World nation -- which it is so much NOT!

Whereas this isn't supposed to happen here. Thus the subtext is that New Orleans is a part of the 3rd World, not a part of This World.

It all just sux.

Love, C.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"The subtext though is that it is OK for this to happen in India"

My subtext is that it effing well isn't OK for this to happen in India!

"Thus the subtext is that New Orleans is a part of the 3rd World, not a part of This World."

But isn't that the Repug line?

"It all just sux."

Too right. And tonight I'm worrying myself sick about my pal in Bangla and her amazingly beautiful and wonderful little granddaughters.

[adarkjewel.livejournal.com]

In the midst of covering Hurricane Gustav's approach on the Gulf coast last night, I also posted stories about the Indian floods and the deadly China earthquake. Oh, and I made sure to publish a story about how the storm affected Cuba. Gustav was a Category 5 storm when it hit the mainland and tens of thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Well done!

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Thank goodness Gustav is not as bad as what was expected, and that the evacuation went well. I'm truly hoping this storm loses its punch.

I cannot for the life of me understand how people can deny global warming. Denial is a defense mechanism that I not only loathe but which also drives me nuts when people employ it.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"I cannot for the life of me understand how people can deny global warming."

I find it bizarre, too. In most cases, of course, it's for reasons of ideology or greed (or just plumb stupidity, which obviously is majorly involved in the other motivations too). But even so, it's hard to comprehend the thought processes involved. "Here's a wizard idea! I'm going to help make the planet uninhabitable for my kids!"