Tsunami Update 4: US Ex-Presidents Lead Funding

By JULIETTE ROSSANT This morning, President George W. Bush announced that former Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton would lead a national fundraising drive for victims of the 2004 Tsunami. After receiving major flak for an initial, "stumbling" response, the White House has gone into "full court press" (this is an official term in Washington political jargon) with a series of announced actions over the past few days which smother the current home page of the White House: Bush-Clinton joint relief effort (click here to see the White House video), weekly presidential radio address about the Tsunami (click here to hear radio address),increase of US Government relief to $350 million from $35 million, presidential assessment team to the region led by outgoing US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Frankly, the presidents cannot move too fast on this (except for speed that wastes resources). While the White House regains much needed favorable press with this bi-partisan fundraising effort, I don't want to hear about the "busy schedules" of both former US presidents but about the real heroes out in the field who are relieving not just real but growing suffering. The death toll approaches 155,000, so regional news is hardly improving, despite American self-congratulation over our own growing efforts. Focus needs to remain on help -- and headlines remain grim. While relief ramps up in distribution centers, "washed-out roads and bridges are still preventing aid workers reaching many of the millions of people in need." The ever-wise Economist warns "efforts still lack co-ordination and many thousands more may die from disease, dehydration and hunger." Therefore, I continue to recommend that you make small, steady donations directly to two organizations who can provide the kind of medical and food relief needed in the region, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF aka Doctors Without Borders) and UNICEF, and so I list again numerous online donation websites for your convenience. Donations - Medical Aid through Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): - MSF global donation links - MSF USA donations - MSF Canada donations - MSF UK donations - MSF France donations - MSF Hong Kong donations - MSF UAE donations Donations - Food Aid through UNICEF: - UNICEF USA online donations - UNICEF Canada online donations - UNICEF Canada don en ligne - UNICEF New Zealand online donations - UNICEF Australia online donations - UNICEF UK online donations - UNICEF Spain donativos on-line - UNICEF Austria Online-Spende - UNICEF Germany Online-Spende - UNICEF Belgium Noodhulp SOS Kinderen van Azie - UNICEF Belgium Urgence SOS Enfants d'Asie - UNICEF France don en ligne - UNICEF Denmark Hjælp katastroferamte børn Victims - How To Contact: Although only 12 Americans are reported dead (though thousands missing) according to CNN, our blogs span the globe via Internet, so here are links to expedite the contacting of victims: - Tsunami Missing Persons - BBC Missing Persons Message Board - TsunamiHelp Thanks - FellowBloggers: Food and other blogs continue to link back to superchefblog, for which I am grateful and so by listing them I thank each of them: - Ester's Kitchen - Seven Kinds of Soy Sauce - Standing here solidly on my own two hands and going crazy Previous articles: Tsunami Update 3: Christmas Island New Year's Resolution: Eat Well, Help Others Tsunami Update 2: Race Against More Death Tsunami Update 1: Foodies Help 2004 Tsunami: How Foodies Can Help Hello, Christmas Island! Baking From the Heart