Poverty at the root of tsunami tragedy

POVERTY AT THE ROOT OF TSUNAMI TRAGEDY

In the infancy of the 21st century, two sudden human tragedies have
found dramatic attention in the global eye: the terror attacks of
September 11, 2001, and the tsunami of 2004. That two such different
events can be compared is testament to the importance of 9/11's
lasting influence on the order of global political power. But the
tsunami, ostensibly a natural force for which no people or nation can
suffer blame, has its political dimension, too.
> by Raywat Deonandan
>
http://www.rabble.ca/news_full_story.shtml?x=36065

[excerpts]

Consider if the tsunami had struck a wealthier part of the world,
perhaps the eastern seaboard of the United States.

[...]

Canada has shown leadership in this matter, with our federal
government now pledging $80 million in aid. The provinces have so
far given over $18 million independently, while individual Canadians
continue to give in heartwarming amounts. In addition, we have placed
a moratorium on debt payments from stricken nations who owe us a
total of $993.3 million.

The United States, however, initially announced a donation of only
$US35 million. This is equivalent to 12 cents for every U.S. citizen
and is noticeably less than the $US40 million Bush has earmarked for
his own inauguration ceremonies in the new year. Poorer Western
nations like Spain and Sweden have pledged $US68 million and $US75
million respectively; Sweden's GDP is one seventh the size of the
U.S.'s.

[...]

The entire U.S. foreign aid budget in 2004 was $US2.4 billion, loudly
touted as the most generous aid budget in the world. Yet this is
what the Bush administration spends in occupying Iraq every 10 days.
Moreover, aid is rarely if ever strictly altruistic. The much touted
$US3 billion/year of HIV/AIDs money ("Bush money" to field workers)
is tainted: only nations which agree to receive imports of U.S.
genetically modified foods are eligible to receive it.