There is little doubt that the Burma cyclone is a large scale humanitarian disaster, even if not so many British were amongst its victims. We have always been much more affected when learning about individual’s tragedies. But just like many other animals, we don’t seem to have the ability to distinguish when numbers gets too big. Yet, we must never forget that despite this inability a thousand deaths are still one thousand individual tragedies.
I know that if aid will not reach the people in the next few days, the death tool may be ten times as large. Yet I did not yet donate to Burma.
Unlike previous disasters such as India or Indonesia, where I knew that despite the great corruption, at least some of the aid money would reach those in need, I have no such belief that this will happen in Burma.
Most of us in the West tend to superficially believe that life of the citizens is of some concern to the regime. However, in big parts of the world this is not the case. Such regimes see people as the means of making the rulers richer and more powerful, nothing more. They welcome disasters, as weak people are less of a threat, and if money also pours in, what can be better? Two birds with one stone.
I believe that any money donated will not reach those in need, but will only strengthen a regime of horror. So as much as my heart aches, quieting my consciousness by claiming ignorance is not the way to go. It’s our politician and government that must push the Myanmar government to allow aid workers in, and open channels by which emergency supplies will reach those in need. Then I will donate.
11/05/08 @ 10:45