The Politics of Donations

The Politics of Donations: "s a corporate donation an impulsive act of selflessness, or the result of careful consideration? Is it a burden, or a measure by which to improve competitiveness?

In the aftermath of the devastating May 12 Sichuan earthquake, companies all over China have claimed they have assumed extra social responsibilities--but not all of their donations have received the same treatment.

Some companies donated significant amounts only to be criticized or else ignored. Indeed, it seems there's another hidden set of principles by which to judge the form and amount of a donati"

US naval forces consider abandoning Myanmar relief efforts - Jane's Naval Forces News

US naval forces consider abandoning Myanmar relief efforts - Jane's Naval Forces News: "Adm Keating stated during a Department of Defense press briefing that if the Myanmar government refuses to give the USN permission to deliver food, shelter and medical treatment to victims of the 2 May cyclone, the four ships currently on standby will have to abandon their relief efforts."

U.S. Businesses Pledge $54M To Aid China - May 28, 2008 - The New York Sun

U.S. Businesses Pledge $54M To Aid China - May 28, 2008 - The New York Sun: "American companies have pledged at least $54 million in cash, goods, and services to victims of the earthquake that devastated the Sichuan province of China two weeks ago, the third-largest international aid package ever assembled by American businesses."

Local groups pledge to rebuild damaged school

Local groups pledge to rebuild damaged school: "When a 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck China's Sichuan Province, many in Greenville's Chinese community were frustrated because they couldn't help with the rescue effort.
But their frustration soon turned to resolve and plans were made to help with the recovery."

U.S. ships may leave Myanmar if aid refused - Yahoo! News

U.S. ships may leave Myanmar if aid refused - Yahoo! News: "U.S. warships will soon leave waters near Myanmar if the junta does not allow the American military to deliver food, water and other aid to cyclone survivors, a U.S. commander said on Wednesday."

The Horse: Animal Relief En Route to Myanmar

The Horse: Animal Relief En Route to Myanmar: "After weeks of resistance from the military regime which governs Myanmar (a country in southeast Asia formerly known as Burma), animal welfare workers from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) finally have been given permission to enter the country to provide assistance for millions of animals affected by a devastating cyclone that hit the country May 2.

Michelle Cliffe, communications manager for WSPA Canada, reported that an international team of veterinarians and a specialist in disaster recovery planning have assembled in Bangkok. They are expected to head to the hard-hit city of Yangon.

In advance of the team's arrival, WSPA has arranged for the delivery of 31 metric tons (more than 68,000 pounds) of animal feed."

ASEAN, Indonesia and Myanmar | Forcing help on Myanmar | Economist.com

ASEAN, Indonesia and Myanmar | Forcing help on Myanmar | Economist.com: "THREE long weeks after a cataclysmic cyclone struck Myanmar, something approaching an international relief effort is at last under way. The grotesque reluctance of the ruling junta to allow foreigners to help the desperate Burmese has shredded whatever vestige of respect it enjoyed internationally. It had long lost it at home. The decisive push into a more co-operative stance seems to have come in private from China and in public from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the regional club that admitted Myanmar in 1997 and has been silently ruing the decision ever since."

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide Myanmar Embassy Fire May Delay Visas for Cyclone Relief Workers

Bloomberg.com: Worldwide: "Myanmar Embassy Fire May Delay Visas for Cyclone Relief Workers

By Michael Heath

May 27 (Bloomberg) -- International aid workers seeking permission to enter Myanmar to help survivors of Tropical Cyclone Nargis may be delayed after a fire at Myanmar's embassy in Bangkok, the United Nations said."

China’s earthquake and the free press : Stabroek News

China’s earthquake and the free press : Stabroek News: "What open coverage of the earthquake has shown is that public interest in China has now reached a level that the government can no longer easily control. Despite their fondness for censorship, China’s eagerness to exploit the global economy, has opened it out to many of globalization’s attendant nuisances such as a free press which can ignore or even criticise the government’s pronouncements."

U.N. Chief Says Myanmar Yields on Aid Workers - NYTimes.com

U.N. Chief Says Myanmar Yields on Aid Workers - NYTimes.com: "y SETH MYDANS
Published: May 24, 2008

BANGKOK — Myanmar’s military junta promised on Friday to allow into the country “all aid workers” of any nationality, after three weeks of blocking most assistance to cyclone victims, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, announced."

50 Nations To Organize Myanmar Relief

50 Nations To Organize Myanmar Relief: "The Associated Press

Published: May 25, 2008

YANGON, Myanmar - The U.N. secretary-general flew to Myanmar today to steer a 50-nation conference that will pledge funding for survivors of Cyclone Nargis after the country's military junta promised to open its doors to critically needed foreign help.

Three weeks after the cyclone struck, frustrated foreign aid workers were ratcheting up preparations to finally go into the Irrawaddy delta with food, drinking water, medicine and other relief."

ASEAN-UN summit opens in Myanmar for more cyclone relief aid_English_Xinhua

ASEAN-UN summit opens in Myanmar for more cyclone relief aid_English_Xinhua: "YANGON, May 25 (Xinhua) -- An international pledging conference, co-organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)and the United Nations (UN), opened at the Sedona Hotel here Sunday to seek further international financial aid commitment for Myanmar's cyclone aid relief and rehabilitation efforts."

In U.S., a Multitude of Forces Drains the Spirit of Giving - washingtonpost.com

In U.S., a Multitude of Forces Drains the Spirit of Giving - washingtonpost.com: "U.S. disaster relief charities have issued pleas for money to fund short- and long-term efforts.
'These people are going to be suffering for a long time,' said Elizabeth Griffin, a spokeswoman for Catholic Relief Services."

MYANMAR (BURMA) CYCLONE NEWS, AID & RELIEF LINKS

A variety of material via a Squidoo lens.

MYANMAR (BURMA) CYCLONE NEWS, AID & RELIEF LINKS: "UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS ABOUT THE MYANMAR (BURMA) CYCLONE RELIEF EFFORTS

This lens is meant to get the word out about ways to help the victims of this terrible tragedy."

The Associated Press: UN chief tours still-flooded Myanmar delta

The Associated Press: UN chief tours still-flooded Myanmar delta: "UN chief tours still-flooded Myanmar delta
By JOHN HEILPRIN – 7 hours ago
NAYPYITAW Myanmar (AP) — U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon flew over Myanmar's flooded Irrawaddy delta Thursday, where the ravages of a cyclone stretched as far as the eye could see: Villages were empty of life, flattened huts dissolved into vast areas of water and people perched on rooftops."

Myanmar agrees to "all" cyclone aid workers - Yahoo! News

Myanmar agrees to "all" cyclone aid workers - Yahoo! News: "NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (Reuters) - Myanmar's junta agreed on Friday to admit cyclone aid workers 'regardless of nationalities' to the hardest-hit Irrawaddy Delta, a breakthrough for delivering help to survivors, U.N. officials said."

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We look forward to your feedback.

Ban sees Myanmar flexibility on relief

Ban sees Myanmar flexibility on relief: "Ban sees Myanmar flexibility on relief
Thursday, May 22, 2008 22:57 [IST]

Yangon: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said today that Myanmar 's junta had shown some flexibility over calls for a scaled-up international relief effort after Cyclone Nargis.

'They have shown some signs of flexibility recently,' Ban told reporters on his first day in Myanmar, where he made a three-hour helicopter tour of the Irrawaddy Delta region that was hardest hit by the May 2-3 storm."

UNHCR - Fourth airlift brings UNHCR relief goods into Myanmar

UNHCR - Fourth airlift brings UNHCR relief goods into Myanmar: "Fourth airlift brings UNHCR relief goods into Myanmar

YANGON, Myanmar, May 22 (UNHCR) – A fourth plane carrying vital UNHCR shelter and household supplies for cyclone victims landed Thursday in Myanmar's main city, Yangon, after a pause in the UN refugee agency's airlift for a few days while a new round of shipments was being organized."

World record holder becomes top donor - Howrah News Service - Latest news and headlines on Howrah and West Bengal

World record holder becomes top donor - Howrah News Service - Latest news and headlines on Howrah and West Bengal: "Beijing: China’s Olympic hurdles champion Liu Xiang donated three million yuan ($430,000) on Tuesday to quake victims, becoming the nation’s top sporting donor, state media said."