Posted on 09/01/2005 1:29:18 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
.......AAP reports: No Australian citizens appear to have been killed or injured in Hurricane Katrina, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said today.
"We've been surprised by how few calls we've had to our consular operations branch in DFAT, the Foreign Affairs Department, because we thought there may be more Australians affected in New Orleans than turned out to be the case," Mr Downer told ABC Radio.
"We know of a small number of Australians who have been there. We have no reports though of Australian injuries or deaths. We'll just have to keep waiting to see."
Mr Downer said anyone concerned for the welfare of someone they believe to be in the area should contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and "we will try to follow up if they are Australians".
He said the Federal Government was considering providing assistance to non-government organisations operating in the United States.
"Normally we would, particularly with developing countries, we provide assistance to non-government organisations," he said.
"In this case we are having a look and seeing whether - bearing in mind America nevertheless is the richest country in the world - whether it would be a good thing if we, being the Government, made a financial contribution to one of the non-government organisations helping there such, for example, as the Red Cross.
"But we haven't made a decision yet."
(Excerpt) Read more at smh.com.au ...
Seems its a one way street for America, all give and no get.
Any MOOSE LImB countries forking over some bread?
This article is quite out of date at this point. Since Mr Downer made these statements, the Prime Minister Mr Howard has said that Australia is looking at ways of providing assistance if the US requests it. Australia has made it clear to the government of the United States that if we can help, we will. But it's up to the United States to tell us what help we can provide - the United States hardly needs Australia to tell them what they need.
Australia has provided support to the US during natural disasters in the past (and for that matter, the US has provided support to Australia in such situations). It will do so again - if the US needs our help and tells us what help we might be able to provide.
Sounds like all Australians in the Big Easy were smart enough to get out before the hurricane hit.
What about the Dutch? I think we could use some of their dike engineering there. As a bonus, NOLA will be criscrossed with scenic windmills.
Eh, I hope they don't do it. Let the individuals donate instead of this showboating pseudo-charity.
Unfortunately not - there's at least two in New Orleans whose daughter is complaining that the Australian government isn't doing enough to help them (oh, and that the National Guard isn't protecting them). They were on holiday.
Personally, I've no sympathy for them - in my opinion anyone on holiday in New Orleans should have got out as soon as evacuations were mooted - people who live there may have good reason to stay - people on holidays should get out of disaster areas and potential disaster areas, so resources don't have to be wasted on helping them and can go to those who had less choice in the matter.
Hmmm...French and Dutch Quarters...anything in Napoleonic Law about space cakes?
[all I know about Napoleonic Law I learned in high schol from Street Car Named Desire...]
Alexander Downer (sometimes called Alexander Bummer) has an unfortunate way of saying things - so they made him Foreign Minister!
Australia will send what aid the US requests - they might not wish for anything. Private citizens are making donations to the Red Cross, etc. In the past, the US and Australia have exchanged personnel and equipment during mass fire emergencies.
Thanks for the information.
It's not so much for them to do it (easy for me to say, I'm not in the mess) but it's the way he said it.
You know, it would be nice to hear something like, (name of country) "The American people have been so generous with their blood and treasure, we are OFFERING (fill in the blank) to help ease their loss."
Thank you for the information.
The Dutch don't know jack about hurricanes.
Eeeshant dat veeeard?
They do know about a lotta watta.
A get well card would be nice.
Mr.Downer should embark on a new career path.
I know you're talking about the advanced hydrolic dike managment system in Denmark (something this country COULD have done if we had polidical leadership WILLING to take on the environmental lobby).
Instead, I keep thinking of a guy wearing clodhoppers, liederhozen, and using his finger.
Sometimes, I'm just bad. bad bad pokey.
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