We MUST Act In Myanmar NOW

In a story I was just reading at Yahoo News, the tragedy of Myanmar continues to grow, and the need to do something to assist these people is imperative. I do not understand why we continue to "negotiate" with this regime, that obviously does not care for its' own citizens. We have done the good and proper diplomatic things, now we need to do the essential "save" the citizens of Myanmar, and to hell with the military junta.

There is absolutely no need to "overthrow" these idiots! Let us work with the British on their "plan" to force aid on Myanmar, by way of a massive air drop. This would assist many, and would have little if any impact on "destroying" or in any other way of taking control of this nation. It might also clear the way for further aid, as the junta "sees" that we are not there to "change" their government, but just trying to help!! We MUST act before the death toll doubles, or triples again; what with more rain, disease, starvation, this is a very real possibility, and We have the ability to stop it~~NOW!!

The story begins:

Torrential rain lashed victims of Cyclone Nargis on Friday as Myanmar's junta admitted more than 130,000 people were dead or missing, putting the disaster on a par with a 1991 cyclone that killed 143,000 in neighboring Bangladesh.


In a shock update to a death toll that had consistently lagged behind international aid agency estimates, state television in the army-ruled former Burma said 77,738 people were dead and another 55,917 missing.

The May 2 storm has left another 2.5 million people clinging to survival in the delta, where thousands of destitute victims are lining roadsides, begging for help in the absence of large-scale government or foreign relief operations.

LINK TO FULL TRAGIC STORY

Helping Children Cope With Sueppel Childrens Deaths!

This story is by Rob Daniel in the Iowa Press-Citizen concerning the Sueppel Children and how to help your kids cope with their deaths.

Being flexible to allow a child to grieve over a lost classmate is a key element in moving beyond the tragedy, an Iowa City funeral director said Thursday.

Michael Lensing, funeral director of Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, spoke with about 25 parents, teachers and counselors Thursday morning at Longfellow Elementary. The school has been reeling this week following the deaths of Sheryl Sueppel and her four children, Ethan, 10, Seth, 8, Mira, who would have been 6 Wednesday, and Eleanor, 3. Police said Sheryl Sueppel's husband, Steve Sueppel, killed them early Monday morning before intentionally crashing the family's minivan into an electronic road sign on Interstate 80, killing himself instantly. The three oldest children attended Longfellow, and Sheryl Sueppel was a regular presence at the school.

There is also complete funeral details at the story LINK, as well as stories with more details on the tragic murders!! Thank you!

COPING STORY LINK

Is Iraq Safer Than Washington D.C.

I just received a call from a friend, and he said that he sent me an email, which had been forwarded to him by his father. The email concerns the deaths by firearms among our soldiers in Iraq, and compares it to the same type of deaths by citizens of Washington D.C.:


Fw: Statistics
Regardless of where you stand on the issue of the U.S. involvement in Iraq , here's a sobering statistic:

There has been a monthly average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theatre of operations during the last 22 months, and a total of

2,112 deaths. That gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.

The firearm death rate in Washington D.C. is 80.6 per 100,000 persons for the same period.

That means that you are about 25% more likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. Capital than you are in Iraq .

Conclusion: The U.S. should pull out of Washington.

I wanted to see what I could find on this so I went to the Yahoo search, and typed in exactly the following (statistics comparing death rates by guns in iraq and washington d.c.) and what you will find will be the link I provided, in addition there are others including "the carpetbaggerreport.com" which makes just the opposite comparison, etc.,. This is not a statement, or an indictment, just more information for you to mull over, as you think about Iraq, and what statistics mean, and how they are used to influence you!! Thanks!!


IRAQ IS SAFER

IRAQ IS NOT SAFER

Bangladesh Death Toll May Top 10,000

Another rise in the reported number of dead in Bangladesh.

The death toll from Thursday's cyclone in Bangladesh is now more than 3,100, and officials say that number could reach 10,000 once rescuers get to outlying islands. Rescuers are struggling to reach thousands of survivors, and relief items have been slow to reach many. Survivors grieved and buried their loved ones Monday as they waited for aid to arrive.

The death toll from the Thursday cyclone reached 3,113 after reports finally reached Dhaka from storm-ravaged areas which had been largely cut off because of washed-out roads and downed telephone lines, said Lt. Col. Main Ullah Chowdhury, a spokesman of the army coordinating the relief and rescue work.

I did find out this morning that our neighborhood church is going to provide Bangladesh relief, so I am going to help them out. I hope you can find a way to help as well. Thanks!

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