Currently more than 20 million Pakistanis have been affected by the worst natural disaster in Pakistan's history. That is more than the population of New York State. The enormity of this crisis is hard to fathom, the rain continues to fall, and the extent of the devastation is still difficult to gauge.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones, those who have been displaced from their homes, and those left without food or water. The United States has and continues to take swift action to help. But governments cannot be alone in helping the people of Pakistan.
That is why the United States Government through the Department of State has established the Pakistan Relief Fund for all Americans to join in this tremendous relief, recovery and reconstruction effort.
The pictures we see coming out of Pakistan are painful images of human suffering at its worst. In surveying the lives and landscape affected by this disaster, we see brothers and sisters; mothers and fathers; daughters and sons. We see 20 million members of the human family in desperate need of help. This is a defining moment - not only for Pakistan, but for all of us.
And now is a time for our shared humanity to move us to help. Americans have always shown great generosity to others facing crises around the world. And I call on you to do what you can. Every dollar makes a difference. $5 can buy 50 high energy bars providing much needed nutrition; $10 can provide a child or mother with a blanket; and about $40 can buy material to shelter a family of four.
So I urge my fellow Americans to join this effort and send much needed help to the people of Pakistan by contributing to the Department of State's Pakistan Relief Fund. Please go to www.state.gov or send $10 through your mobile phone by texting the word FLOOD, F-L-O-O-D, to 27722.
If we come together now, we can meet this challenge and ensure that future generations in Pakistan have a chance to have the bright future they deserve and fulfill their own God-given potential.
As I write this, I'm listening to Geoffrey Rush on radio (it's 10.30 a.m) spearheading UNICEF's appeal in Australia. What he's telling us is hair-raising and distressing. Our government has provided a list of organisation to whom we can donate in complete confidence the the funds will reach their intended destination and I have already done so.
We must not confuse ordinary people with politics, else we become as vile as those who would cause us all harm.
List of reliable charities u can leave donations with:
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/08/05/help.pakistan/index.html#fbid=rg2JU_tZRrM&wom=false
Oh and they're also fighting ur War of terror for u......
Many people here are posting that they don't have the money to donate because it is true.
My question Madam Secretary is, why don't We (US Government) just NOT allocate funding for military (everything) to Pakistan, Afganistan, Iraq, South Korea and Isreal and allocate ALL that money to relief for Pakistan, Haiti, Palistine Refugee camps and of course, New Orleans and the rest of the UNITED STATES. We would easily have enough money to do all of that and fear not, nothing would change in the day to day operations of the aforementioned recipients of military dollars.
In fact, lets stop all foriegn military aid for one month and eliminate a huge chunck, if not of the deficit. Why isn't that on any candidates platform?
Finally, why don't we as Americans demand it of our incumbants up for re-election and those looking to get elected?
Shut that down. And use the funds for true betterment of this nation and the world.
...I don't think it's about "hating" as you say.
We're tapped out as a nation, many of us tapped out personally. We need to take care of ourselves for a change rather than always being the rescuers of the rest of the world. Our own nation is crumbling and both as individuals and as a nation we can't take care of others if we're not taking care of ourselves.
What part of millions and millions of Americans in need don't you get? Katrina, Gulf Coast/BP oil disaster, hurricanes, floods of our own, this and that, two wars, infrastructure ancient and crumbling, and so much more.
Just because people are honest and say we're tapped out doesn't mean "hating". It just means we're barely holding on ourselves these days, what with owing China more than this nation will ever be able to pay back, future disasters in the waiting, Wall Street operating as business-as-usual greedy, Dems and the Rethugs still foot dragging on anything truly legislation-worthy.
Charity starts at home, bub. And you not being "proud" of others, well, who cares? Just ebcause you served, as I did, doesn't mean a thing. Get over yourself and buy a ticket to Pakistan and do the "humanitarian" work up close and personal instead of on a keyboard.
We're still the wealthiest country in the world, intelligence notwithstanding, and can still afford kindness and a broad scale.
Thanks for the case in point. BTW - When I'm not at my keyboard (at work when I have time), I spend my time helping those in need at the food pantry, senior center, and advocating for justice. Makes me feel better and helps me overcome the cynicism projected by folks like you.
Thanks for your past service. Hope you return to that someday in civilian life.
"Charity starts at home, bub. And you not being "proud" of others, well, who cares?" - Moronic!
Here's a suggestion, stop trying to be Jerry Lewis and concentrate on getting us out of Iraq and Afghanistan and getting your good friends, the Israelis to deal in good faith with the Palestinians - you know sort of doing your freaking job.
On another note, why are we in Afghanistan anyhow? We have nothing to gain from this anymore. All we do, is suffer more and more; we see flag draped coffins lowered into the earth, yet we fail to publicize the deaths on the other side. How horrible is that?
Lastly, I would like to bring up the sex trade in Africa. Why is this not a bigger issue than Iraq and Afghanistan? People's lives are being destroyed, children are being used as sex slaves, and our complacency with these issues allows them to go on unchecked.
Our complacency shall be our undoing.
You make quite clear that EVERYBODY is complacent, only about different things.
Let me be clear on this. I do not condone the acts of Saddam Hussein, nor the Taliban. I also do not condone a government which brushes certain issues under a rug, while focusing on others.
Now, this all being said, I am not criticizing America's self-bestowed role of "Global Policeman". In my opinion, yes, the world is a better place without Saddam.
This all being said, the US signed onto the UN Convention of Children's Rights in 1995, yet allows the sex trade of children to go unchecked. Not only in Africa, but as well in the US. Do you know the estimates of prostitutes under the age of 18? The number exceeds 300,000 in the USA alone. It may be an estimate, but you cannot deny the relevance of this issue to the lives of those in the world. Just my two cents, really, but something needs to change.
Clarity Begins At Home
Any of us might be on the receiving end of charity someday.