The recent tsunami in South Asia claimed countless lives and will undoubtedly affect millions more for years to come. Against such a huge outpouring of grief, death and disaster, what can one small town in the Okanagan do?rnSurprisingly, quite a bit.
Efforts are already underway by local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce and other local organizations to gather donations for disaster relief. These efforts should be commended, but they're only the start.
The Red Cross is accepting donations through their websites, and Canadians have already donated millions of dollars, as have citizens all over the industrialized world.
But the response from ordinary citizens has thus far outpaced the response from national governments, which is at once both surprising and disappointing.
The Canadian government has pledged to match all donations made by its citizens, but is that enough? Shouldn't the government not only match what the average person can spare, but draw on its own vast resources to help out?rnCanada is sending the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to South Asia, which is not only necessary but praiseworthy. But though the Canadian military isn't exactly brimming over with manpower or resources, we still far outstrip the capabilities of many of the nations affected by the disaster, with the possible exception of India. We should use what we're lucky enough to have at our disposal to help those who now have nothing.
The United States didn't fare much better, at least initially. Their original pledge of disaster relief was paltry, at less than $10 million dollars, though to be fair they knew little of the scale of the disaster in its initial stages, and quickly ramped up their pledge to half a billion dollars. They also appointed Jeb Bush to help coordinate efforts in South Asia. What appears at first blush to be nepotism isn't anything of the sort. Bush, as governor of Florida, recently experienced his own set of weather-related disasters, so he's as qualified as any national leader to help tackle the almost impossible task of bringing life in South Asia back to something approaching normality.
But just like in Canada, ordinary citizens in the United States took the most initiative, and donations continue to pour in from those with everything to those who have been left with less than nothing.
While the donations are inspiring, we have to remember this disaster is an ongoing crisis. The effect of this wave will be felt for years to come in Asia; it's up to everyone in this community to make sure we feel, and heal their pain.