[chapter-delegates] ISOC Response to Tsunami Crisis in Asia PROPOSAL

[Jacques Berleur]

Dear all,
I am sorry to interfere as a dog in a skittles' play, or to turn up 
when least wanted.
Let me say first that I greet with an immense hope the solidarity 
that is manifested world-wide to the dramatic situations in the 
tsunami crisis in Asia.
But I must say also that I don't understand why ISOC should play on 
its own in response, when the international community is trying to 
organize the relief on the most efficient way. The best that ISOC has 
to do his to offer its services to well known organizations which 
have a good knowledge of what must done. I don't see any difficulty 
in organizing ourselves to collect money, and give it to the funds 
which are responding to the first and basic felt needs of people. I 
don't see what does mean to reconstruct a school with the best 
computer equipment. In what world are we moving?
There are 5000 deaths in Thailand (half Thai, half foreigners) and 
the Government announces five thousands more. But the disaster counts 
today more than 150,000 deaths - the last figures are "more than 
160,000" -, especially in Indonesia (90,000), Sri Lanka (30,000), and 
India (10,000), where the situation is still worse than in Thailand.
I should be careful to go ahead without knowing where are the most 
urgent needs. ISOC is not equipped for answering that question.
Promises remain often promises, but when the momentum is over...  See 
the case of earthquake in Bam (Iran): they have hardly received 45% 
of what was promised.
What we need in the case of Asia is a long term involvement and 
strong structures more than little projects at hand. Generosity is 
not sufficient, the situation is more dramatic than we can ever feel.
Yours,
Jacques Berleur
President ISOC-Belgium (Wallonia)


>At 10:33 05-01-2005 -0500, Gene Gaines wrote:
>>Srisakdi,
>>
>>I PROPOSE THAT WE UNDERTAKE THIS AS A CHAPTERS PROJECT.
>>It would be good for Americas ISOC chapters (North America,
>>Central America, South America) and EU ISOC chapters to
>>join in this.
>>
>>Veni, Rosa, Ramon, Srisakdi Charmonman, do you consider this
>>a constructive project?
>
>Dear Gene,
>Borka from Slovenia is already discussing the issue within the 
>European Chapter Council. We hope it will be able to respond soon.
>
>best,
>veni
>
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-- 

************************************************
  Prof. Jacques BERLEUR
  Institut d'Informatique,
  Facultes Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix
  Rue Grandgagnage, 21         Phone:  +32 81 72-4976 (Secr.: 72-4964)
		           Mobile: +32 (0)475 548372
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  BELGIUM                             Email:  jberleur at info.fundp.ac.be
  URL: http://www.info.fundp.ac.be/~jbl/
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