Hi guys and gals.. this doesnt appear to have made much news either on the blogs or on the media.. so I thought I’d post this:
August 30 – The Government of Canada today issued the following statement in support of those who have endured the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in the United States:
“On behalf of all Canadians, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to those who have lost loved ones as a result of Hurricane Katrina, as well as our sympathies to those who have suffered great losses and personal hardship,” said Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan. “During this difficult time, we are offering our support to our friends and neighbours.”
The Deputy Prime Minister added that she has contacted U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and advised him that Canada stands ready to provide assistance if needed. In addition, the Minister of Health, Ujjal Dosanjh, has directed the Public Health Agency of Canada to contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and offer any assistance that may be helpful, such as emergency medical supplies contained in the National Emergency Stockpile System.
In short, if you guys need any help in the Gulf Coast and/or New Orleans, just ask.
Update [2005-8-31 22:47:32 by tribe34]: I just saw this story on Yahoo.ca giving more
specifics on what Canada can offer.. and also that individual Canadian provinces and relief agencies are now waiting to help:
“Yesterday, the Department of Human Health Services in the U.S. contacted our public health agency and asked for an inventory of emergency supplies that, if they need them, we could send at a moment’s notice.”
That inventory was completed Wednesday.
American officials are still assessing their needs, but in coming days Canada will be prepared to send everything from water purification systems to the Canadian military’s Disaster Assistance Response Team.
According to the story, the Canadian provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba and their respective Premiers are offering aid, and the Canadian Red Cross is ready to go as well.
We are ready to help.. I hope you folks will take us up on the offer… I’m a bit worried that pride might stop you from asking:
Officials in McLellan’s office said there had been no official request from the U.S. for help.
We have our ideological differences with the current US Administation and many Canadians dont like Bush, but that doesnt matter in a disaster like this.
We’re ready to help you if you need it.
with places like New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
Hence the name Cajun.
Sure that by know everyone knows this, but the cited cause I read was that there was so much confusion in the Federal Admin. that Canada could not get permission from anyone in the US Admin. in order for loaded planes to take off, and land in NO.
Anyone else read this, ’cause I’ve been flying ’round the I’net, I can’t remember where I saw it?
I think that Chavez has offered Venezuelan help, as well, hasn’t he?
CITGO was one of the first companies to request Strategic Reserve oil to open their damaged refinery in South Lousiana. Plus Chavez has offered doctors, though I understand they’re probably Cubans.
I don’t live in the affected area, nor do I know anyone who does, but as a US citizen I’d like to say thank you.
I hope Chertoff (or whoever) is smart enough to accept the offer.
Venezuela has also offerred help (though somehow I strongly suspect that offer will not be accepted).
“Mega Dittoes” (or did I just do so.)
Thank you for saying what I feel, and thank you to Canada and to tribe for bringing this to our attention.
Somehow I think our “All Hat, No Cattle”, struttin’, don’t-bother-me-with-reality, boy-in-a-bubble will not accept Canada’s generous offer, for any slight furthering of the obvious meme that the USA has been run into the ground, unable to provide basic support for itself. One hospital ship with 1,000 beds? 30 helicopters? When viewed from Air Force One, is it too much math to add up the people’s needs, or too much imagination to picture the former areas? Nahhh, probably just too much to imagine that everyone doesn’t have insurance and stock and 401k’s and rich relatives and contacts and plans to rebuild already swirling around in their head.
Wow That is more than our “leader” said to us. (American poster) Thank you Canada!!!!!
While Canada offered help, our “leader” was eating cake, playing golf and strumming a geeeetarrry.
Good. I sent the PM an email yesterday – I’m sure that’s what sparked this.
I’m glad we’ve offered aid – it’s going to get much worse before it gets better and that’s what a good neighbour does.
Good. I sent the PM an email yesterday – I’m sure that’s what sparked this.
No doubt! 🙂
…and point out to them that Canada has offered this to the US? All I see on CNN right now is people like Jack Cafferty saying that the international community should come to help after all the US has done for the world … and I see callers calling into Larry King Live asking where are the international offers of aid.
If Bush doesnt want to accept aid or doesnt think he needs help.. thats fine.
But at least let the American people know we have offered the aid and are thinking about them.
tribe … I pointed it out to a number of people yesterday. Today, they are still continuing with this theme. People see what they want to see. And people blog about what further’s their agenda. That’s why numerous right wing blogs are stating no one has offered condolences and aid pkgs. You have to SCREAM it constantly and even then it is likely to be challenged or deleted. It doesn’t fit their viewpoint that the whole world is a shithole full of fuckers that take their aid and never return it.
It pissed me off yesterday when I heard Cafferty read the e-mail from some turd who slammed the French and the international community for not offering help. Cafferty should have been better prepared to detail what had already been offered. That “you owe us” attitude is far from helpful. As if the international community wouldn’t offer help to begin with.
I’m going to bring this to the attention of officials here. I’m in Baton Rouge, and I know we can use the help. Thank you.
Duranta:
You’re welcome.. Read my “update” of this post.. some new stories about this.
A huge hug to you and your townspeople who are helping to cope with this disaster.
Damn those lefties and their socialist ideals of helping!
President Hugo Chavez: Venezuela offers fuel, food to hurricane-hit US
Yahoo! News
This just in from Kos: (permalink, no comments)
What the f is wrong with our government? WTF? I read this just 1/2 hour ago and was about to post a diary when I saw this thread so no need for me to repeat the story needlessly.
I as an American citizen am ashamed and outraged that Bush continues to isolate our country from the rest of the world. We need the international communities help and they are turning it away from our northern neighbor of Canada. What in the hell has this administration done to this country. Our people need every willing hand, every donation of time, money and supplies and they are not being allowed to enter the country? There are not enough fucking swear words in the english language to scream right now.
It’s no consolation of any kind – but for what it’s worth Canadians will be as pissed about this as you are. It’s … (no words)
.
Virtually overnight, fun-loving New Orleans transformed from America’s playground into a waterlogged wasteland. Photos of houses and highways underwater and reports of dead bodies floating in swampy debris and frightened refugees huddling for cover have left us mute. Hurricane Katrina turned out to be at least as violent as expected and will likely turn out to be among the biggest hurricanes of all time.
Yet, in Europe, the Web sites of major aid organizations — including international branches of the Red Cross in Germany, France, England etc. — don’t even mention its existence.
Unlike underdeveloped Third World nations, America has a well-honed and highly organized system of emergency aid distribution. So, when disaster hits, the nation — and even individual states — can readily help themselves. “If the American Red Cross asks us for help, we will be there directly,” said Margitta Zimmermann, German Red Cross spokesperson. “But so far, there haven’t been any calls for our services.”
Kristina Decker, from Germany’s Christian aid group Caritas, concurred, saying help from Germany might even cause more harm than good. “America has a strong army and are well equipped for disaster relief,” she said.
~~~
Surprised to hear about this? Have you seen any reports about the offers of aide in the newspapers or on TV? This is due to Waiting on a Leader. Stated in reports from AP and Reuters, but as of yet not syndicated: