U.N. Official Slams U.S. As "Stingy" Over Relief Aid

[Spanky11]

Well...the first aid package announced by the US totaled 15 million. It did sound kinda fucked. More was spent on building the new public library where I live.

people seemd to have missed this post...

57 000 dead and the total is rising.

 

[biteme]

Tax the fucking rich, don't tax me, I can't afford it. That woman and the others sure the hell don't speak for me.

 

[ringperm]

I might be mistaken, but I was under the impression that he wasn't ciritizising the US, but rather the western world in general. And he was referring to the fact that most western countries "only" give about 0.1% of their GNP, and this he thinks is a bit stingy.
He wasn't talking about the aid given to the tsunami victims. Here everyone has been extremely generous, and of course he is quite pleased about that.

 

[Robert Jan]

If somebody would just actually read the article, you'd see he was talking about the West, both Europe AND the USA, being relatively "stingy"

But U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland suggested that the United States and other Western nations were being "stingy" with relief funds, saying there would be more available if taxes were raised.

"It is beyond me why are we so stingy, really," the Norwegian-born U.N. official told reporters. "Christmastime should remind many Western countries at least, [of] how rich we have become."

"There are several donors who are less generous than before in a growing world economy," he said, adding that politicians in the United States and Europe "believe that they are really burdening the taxpayers too much, and the taxpayers want to give less. It's not true. They want to give more."

 

[n0th1ng]

Hes still an idiot if he thinks people want to be taxed more to feed the 3rd world. I would rather keep my hard earned money than see it go to some welfare state.

Not that I have a problem with helping India, but if they have enough technology to steal our tech and manufacturing jobs and can develop nuclear weapons it shouldn't be that difficult for them to deal with the aftermath of this Tsunami.

 

[DEEZPAZ]

Well...the first aid package announced by the US totaled 15 million. It did sound kinda fucked. More was spent on building the new public library where I live.

You must live on the North Shore!!!

 

[manny78]

The UN should understand that relief aid is a form of charity and it isnt the purpose of income taxes to be used for charity.

BTW what is the US doing in the UN ?

 

[chrisoh]

im sick of hearing about the tsumanis already, its freaking everywhere, xx,xxx dead, oops found 10,000 more, cant the news report on anything else!? its not like a first world country was hit.

 

[danielson]

Hes still an idiot if he thinks people want to be taxed more to feed the 3rd world. I would rather keep my hard earned money than see it go to some welfare state.

Not that I have a problem with helping India, but if they have enough technology to steal our tech and manufacturing jobs and can develop nuclear weapons it shouldn't be that difficult for them to deal with the aftermath of this Tsunami.

Right....worst natural disaster recorded (bad enough to alter the earth's ORBIT), happens right after Xmas and he's an idiot in asking for more help! He's not slaming the US, merely the west in general, they always have given that oter countries spnd more % of their GNP on aid. It was a comment to try and spurn more donations

As for resenting a country due to jobs being lost to them, they didnt force your countires CEO's of governments to fire you guys and hire them. They simply provided a service which was cheaper than the US could provide and your companies (of their own will) chose them. Thats the free market I guess, the US and europe have been doing it for ears to other countries in regards to agriulture and farming.

FYI India (even after being hit by the tsunami) has already sent thousands of troops, aircraft, ships and vehicles to SURROUNDING countries to try and help.

someone please point me out the article in the constitution that gives the government the authority to spend tax payers' money on 'relief' for other nations.

also, the government may be giving 15 million, but how much money do you think private charities in the US are raising.

typical holier than thou, pencil-neck, arrogant europeans calling out america for being so 'stingy'. if the EU cares so much about 'humanity' and 'human rights' why dont they put their fucking money where their mouth is.

UK's contribution is only a few million off the US's, combine it with the other countries or the EU's contribution and it adds up to a lot. I dont think anyone will fault the US's provate contributions, merely the way politicians react to this kind of tragedy (i.e. Tony Blair is still on fucking holiday

im sick of hearing about the tsumanis already, its freaking everywhere, xx,xxx dead, oops found 10,000 more, cant the news report on anything else!? its not like a first world country was hit

probably trying to stir up sympathy and donations for the victims. And perhaps inform those who's ancestry is in that reigon as to whats happening to their country.


Is it just me or did people in the US criticise others for lack of sympathy post 9-11? Even after it filled the news for weeks/months on end?

 

[Razorguns]

Hey UN..

SHUT THE FUCK UP.

Go concentrate on those millions being slaughtered in Africa and terrorists taking over the world.

Now bugger off and let intelligent people do what they need to do. Thank you.