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Tsunami amateur video
Monday, January 03 2005 @ 08:48 AM EST

I normally stick to Topic A only, and related subjects, and I've been struggling with the Tsunami disaster, because like everyone else, I naturally wished to help. I don't know which organizations are reliable, so I make no recommendations about contributions. You no doubt have already figured that part out for yourselves. But look at this video, if you can bear to:

amateur video

They call it amateur video. I call it people video. I looked at one, the one called video-sea-spills.mp4 (scroll down and it's marked 11:47pm est 12/29/2004 - " Low quality, but scary... from Tafmil nadu India, the voice/s in the video is speaking Malayalam, in which he says a 'house has just gone under', a language spoken by people from Kerala India". I hear it's Tamil Nadu.).

It made me cry, so I can't look any more, but I was pretty sure many of you would be interested in this link. Then perhaps you'd like to read this suggestion from Robert X. Cringely, "Wave of Change -- How to Build a Global Internet Tsunami Warning System in a Month".


  


Tsunami amateur video | 178 comments | Create New Account
Comments belong to whoever posts them. Please notify us of inappropriate comments.
OT Here Please
Authored by: fudisbad on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 09:19 AM EST
Back to work after the long break.

---
FUD is not the answer.
FUD is the question.
The truth is the answer.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Any recommendations?
Authored by: lifewish on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 09:29 AM EST
I have limited bandwidth (and time - darn university coursework...) - which of
the videos do you guys believe are most worth watching?

---
To err is human but, to really screw up, you need a computer.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Tsunami amateur video
Authored by: dobbo on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 09:36 AM EST
They call it amateur video. I call it people video.

To me the difference between "amateur" and "professional" is just that one gets paid and the other doesn't. A "professional" clock maker includes those that assemble ready built, plastic components into a case. Compare that with the "amateur" clock maker that spends his (or her) time make each, individual cog and gear, that hand paints the face, hand carves the scroll work on the casing. Which produces the "better" product?

If you are paid in the UK (therefore paying British Income TAX) and are thinking of given money to the Tsunami fund, make sure that you give to a reputable charity that is taking your name and address so they can claim the TAX you have already paid back. Of course Blair's Government is going to include that in the figure they come up with as to the amount they have contributed to the disaster fund; but what else do we expect by now. So much spin comes from there that I think the number on the front of the door now reads 01 :-)

[ Reply to This | # ]

To be continued, unfortunately...
Authored by: fudisbad on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 09:43 AM EST
Scientists reckon more big quakes are to come in the not too distant future (in
geologic time) somewhere on the San Andreas Fault and one right beneath Tokyo in
the next 30 years. We're talking about magnitude 7.0 and above. (The Richter
scale is logarithmic base 10, so a 9.0 would be 100 times more powerful than a
7.0.)

For those who can get it, the Sunday Express ran a story about a volcanic
eruption triggering a landslide that would trigger tsunamis that would total
almost everything on the Atlantic coast.

And if that does not happen, global warming would either fry, freeze or drown us
(or any combination of the three). It depends on where you live.

If you want to do research on the matters above, a good start would be going to
http://unknowncountry.com and get a copy of the book "A Guide to the End of
the World" by Bill Maguire (especially the book. It covers anything above,
plus more possible disasters).

---
FUD is not the answer.
FUD is the question.
The truth is the answer.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Tsunami amateur video
Authored by: LarryVance on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 09:45 AM EST
Red Cross is a good way to get help there IMO.

---
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE YOUR INFLUENCE!
Larry Vance

[ Reply to This | # ]

Relief organizations thread
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 09:48 AM EST

Post here about the relief organization you donated to (or plan to donate to),
and why.

This may help others decide: for this, and future disasters.



[ Reply to This | # ]

Tsunami amateur video: File types
Authored by: joef on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 10:02 AM EST
I'm running a newly installed Linux distro (SuSE 9.2) on an Athlon-64 system. A
number of the video file types aren't recognized by my Mozilla browser. Any
idea what plugins are needed? And some of the links from the referrenced sites
are broken (File Not Found.)

[ Reply to This | # ]

Tsunami amateur video
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 10:17 AM EST
Too bad it is all in proprietary monopoly video format.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Tsunami amateur video
Authored by: blacklight on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 11:02 AM EST
The New York Times, the three major US TV networks have compiled a list of those
organizations tha accept donations. Being a New Yorker, I sent a contribution to
the American Jewish Distribution Committee, which is part of the New York Times
listing. The advantage for me is that they can cash my in-state check within 24
hours. I am planning to continue sending contributions over the next six months,
after which I will switch to non-profits which are doing good work in my
Vietnamese homeland - barring any upset in the circumstances, that is.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Which Video did you see, PJ?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 11:10 AM EST
And what was your impression of it?

[ Reply to This | # ]

Tsunami amateur video
Authored by: Denney on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 11:30 AM EST
The place (a state) is called "Tamil Nadu" and not "Tafmil
nadu". The other site has mispelled the name.

-- Denney

---
=====================================================
I had a Nightmare! All TRUTH was Known!! --Anonymous

[ Reply to This | # ]

Wave of Change
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 11:49 AM EST

I like Robert X. Cringely's sentiment, but unfortunately he didn't do much research on Tsunamis before writting his piece.

1) Seismic data is an indicator, but not conclusive evidence of Tsunami formation. Using this alone would cause overwarning.

2) Overwarning is dangerous in that "false" warnings result in a lack of compliance with future warnings.

Some basic information (and links) can be found at:


Scientific Background on the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami

Zimbel

[ Reply to This | # ]

  • Wave of Change - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 12:07 PM EST
    • Wave of Change - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 12:47 PM EST
      • Wave of Change - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 01:53 PM EST
  • Wave of Change - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 12:58 PM EST
    • Wave of Change - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 01:25 PM EST
    • Wave of Change - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 03:58 PM EST
  • Wave of Change - Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 07:24 PM EST
The (lack of) early warning system not the entire problem..
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 11:55 AM EST
To digress first - please help out in the world effort to provide aid for the effected areas. Although there is not much we can do for the 150,000 (?) dead, there are millions who are homeless, without infrastructure and without essentials. The disaster is not yet over, the more that can be done now the less will die through diseases, lack of sanitation etc.

Now to the point..

Then perhaps you'd like to read this suggestion from Robert X. Cringely, "Wave of Change -- How to Build a Global Internet Tsunami Warning System in a Month".

Ho easy it is to blame governments - and who doesn't? .... However, the reason as far as I understand no warning system was in place in the Indian Ocean was not because of the cost of placing an early-warning system there, but the cost of providing the infrastructure of emergency services in what to do when there is a tsunami. Also, because of the number of countries involved, there was also the question "who pays for running it?". Hopefully, if Robert's suggestions come to fruition, this would be trivial and no longer a problem.

Those who live in the South Eastern States of the US will well be knowledgable of hurricane warnings and evacuation procedures. It is worth noting that the US has spent millions on this, and as a result have relatively few deaths caused by hurricanes. However, you have days warning of hurricanes, and even then, and with the millions spent, it is a struggle to evacuate the effected areas. You have hours, at most, warning of a Tsunami. If you are in the Outer Banks in North Carolina during the holiday season and there is a Tsunami in the north atlantic although the US coast guard will see it, forget it! On the Outer Banks you are dead. There is no way all those people can cross the bridges in time, and the government are likely not to say anything in fear of causing a panic and blocking the bridges for those who they want to get off.

As for the coast line of New York - try evaciuating that in a couple of hours!

Don't get me wrong - a global community-run disaster warning system I think is an excellent idea! I am all for getting as much information as possible to as many people as possible. I have faith that the prolification of that would be beneficial to everybody no matter what. Just do not expect it to save many lives in this type of disaster though.

Web Sg: Eddy Currents

[ Reply to This | # ]

Oh no ... is there no safe haven?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 01:17 PM EST
I really had hoped Groklaw would remain safe from this. If I wanted to read
about it, I'd have typed 'tsunami' into google.

In reallity, its not that big a disaster ... in Thailand 58,000 people die each
year from aids ... no one seems to worry too much. In the USA 165,000 people die
every year from smoking related diseases, not much is done. More people have
died in road accidents in the UK since the tsunami than britons died in it, but
I don't see anyone donating millions to them, but they are just as dead.

For the people involved, its a tragedy, but in the great scheme of things its a
minor blip. In the majority of cases it has affected a tiny strip of land a few
hundreds of metres wide, on a country many hundreds of kilometres across.
Percentage wise, its trivial.

Yes, it makes great TV news coverage, but get it in perspective .. its a small
blip on a planet that is way overpopulated in the first place. Stuff happens,
stuff will continue to happen. Save your panicking for the next BIG event that
takes out 10 or 20% of the population (bird flue or ebola are top of the list
for that one).

[ Reply to This | # ]

Tsunami amateur video
Authored by: billposer on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 02:10 PM EST

On Kerala vs. Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu is at the Southeast tip of India, Kerala at the Southwest, so it is Tamil Nadu that has been affected by the tsunami. (Here's a map of India.) The Tamil language is spoken primarily in the state of Tamil Nadu. Malayalam is spoken primarily in Kerala. But of course the state boundaries don't align perfectly with language, so it is possible that someone in Tamil Nadu was speaking Malayalam.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Who to trust
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 03:18 PM EST
I'm an Evangelical Christian, and as such I have friends (and family) in the
missionary business. Missionaries scare me because in even the best of times
they tell tales of horrific poverty and human suffering. These agencies are
already in the business of handing out first-world wealth to third-world need.

On the other hand, today I learned that in the '70s disaster relief to central
america funded the political overthrow of the local dictator, which whether you
like it or not, was not the intent. Today the UN stands accused of corruption on
a massive scale. I wouldn't trust them to run a fever. When I was a kid, my mom
would give money to some agency. She got glossy magazines filled with pictures
of poor orphaned children. When I got to college a prof mentioned that specific
agency was a scam. After 9/11, we learned of several "charitable"
agencies were fronts from al quaeda.

ERGO: due diligence, due diligence, due diligence!

Years back, Billy Graham helped set up the Evangelical Council for Financial
Accountability. If you see the ECFA logo, you'll know they meet some accounting
standards at least. http://www.ecfa.org/ContentEngine.aspx?Page=Main

My advice: find someone who's in on the missionary scene and ask them who'll use
your donation most effectively. I'm not advocating religious agencies because
they're religious, but because they're experienced and have track records.

I gave money to a Southern Baptist missions agency, not because I'm Southern
Baptist, but because a guy I trust said they were trustworthy. I'll probably
give some more to "International Aid" who happens to be local. Since
they're local, I assume I'd hear rumors of misfeasance.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Tsunami amateur video
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 05:14 PM EST

There is a touching article "The Tsunami and the Discourse of Compassion" by Harsha Walia at zmag.org:

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=44&ItemID=6940

The first paragraph:

The exceptional intensity of the emotions- disbelief, compassion, and global concern- displayed at the Asian Tsunami disaster is a prime example of the discourse of compassion and humanitarianism created and fostered by the political climate and media. Compared with the absence of this type of global concern for the humanitarian crisis in Darfur, in Iraq, in Rwanda, in Palestine, the compassion for more instantaneous “natural” disasters (a misnomer since the impact of such disasters is inextricably linked to the inequalities of empire) as opposed to the more readily preventative devastation of war, militarization and genocide brings to light the degree of indecency and schizophrenia of the colonial consciousness.

[ Reply to This | # ]

Please delete parent
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 05:29 PM EST
Please delete parent from here - I posted by mistake at the wrong place - this
was supposed to be a reply to another thread:
Oh no ... is there no safe haven?

Sorry!

[ Reply to This | # ]

Merged frames
Authored by: darkonc on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 06:01 PM EST
I post-processed some satellite images that were pointed to at slashdot. (registered them on top of each other). The result is here
They give an easy-to-understand view of the scale of damage done by the tsunami -- The first one especially -- not just massive structural damage -- chunks of the island are simply missing.

---
Powerful, committed communication. Touching the jewel within each person and bringing it to life..

[ Reply to This | # ]

no-safe haven? nature still trying to catch up to Iraq war
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, January 03 2005 @ 06:30 PM EST
I find it interesting that its a tragedy that 100 000 die
and every one sends funds to help the living, but its
estimated over 100 000 civilians have died in iraq war and
its just ignored as the papers are not publishing this.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article
_id=10594

Other sources can be found on google quite easy and so can
videos.

[ Reply to This | # ]

What about Burma?
Authored by: kh on Tuesday, January 04 2005 @ 03:46 AM EST
It's not that far from Phuket but I've heard and seen nothing?

[ Reply to This | # ]

Arthur C. Clarke says...
Authored by: darkonc on Tuesday, January 04 2005 @ 09:19 PM EST
Arthur C. Clarke (of 2001: A Space Odyssey fame) lives in the affected area, and has a post on his website suggesting some good links to effective disaster relief groups that he knows in the area.

---
Powerful, committed communication. Touching the jewel within each person and bringing it to life..

[ Reply to This | # ]

Tsunami amateur video
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, January 05 2005 @ 12:17 AM EST
PJ,
In the US, the Better Business Bureaus has a list of legitimate US organizations
accepting donations. Keep up the good work, and Happy New Year

[ Reply to This | # ]

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