From andrea i

A Call To Action
Subject: The Real Story on Aid to SE Asia


It is important to note that now with about $2 billion in aid pledged by countries, companies, and individuals that the largest donor nations have been (in order of amounts provided) Japan, U.S., U.K., and Sweden. Israel, one of the smallest country in the world, sent major rescue and aid teams and packages to Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand. Israel's aid works out to the highest per capita donation of any country in the world. Some of Israel's initial aid was refused for political reasons. It seems some countries would rather have their people die than accept aid from Israel. Someone suggested that all donor countries should put Israeli flags on their packages and then let the recipients decide if they want the aid or not.
It should also be noted that most of the countries devastated are either Moslem or have very large Moslem populations (Indonesia is the world's largest Moslem country). Despite this fact, none of the Moslem countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE (with all their oil and the huge sums of capital they has gathered over the past year of oil price gouging) have pledged or sent anything.

It reminds me of the saying by Rabbi Hillel: "If I am not for myself, who will be? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?"

Just thought it might be nice to know the real story for a change. You certainly won't see or hear any of that from the Christian Science Monitor, the LA or NY Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Guardian, National Public Radio, CNN or the BBC.

Jack de lowe
Raanana, Israel