Mayhem, apparently, in New Orleans.
So it’s interesting to read this guy, blogging from a tower block there.
Security has become a major concern now, because the NOPD is ineffective and the looters terrorists are roaming the streets. Word is now that they’re lighting buildings on fire, but I can’t confirm that. Anyway, we have to run guard shifts and patrol and it limits our downtime.
It is a zoo out there though, make no mistake. It’s the wild kingdom. It’s Lord of the Flies. That doesn’t mean there’s murder on every street corner. But what it does mean is that the rule of law has collapsed, that there is no order, and that property rights cannot and are not being enforced. Anyone who is on the streets is in immediate danger of being robbed and killed. It’s that bad.
On Channel 4 news (UK) the reporter on Canal St looked frightened, some looters pushed past her while on air and others looked menacing in the background. I have read reports of looting by refugees as far as Baton Rouge. I fear that we are about to witness what our world can be like when law and order really break down.
On the other hand a few ‘good folks’ in the US might start to understand a little of what the tsunami was like for hudreds of thousands of people who were forgotten about once the New Year was (w)rung in.
And > Dubya; Global warming - any new thoughts on that subject now it’s peed on the souths economy?
LT, mate. Americans gave billions and billions of dollars to the suffering victims of the Tsunami.
As for Global Warming. I agree that it’s a problem but there have been worse natural disasters in America, from times when people weren’t pumping out loads of CFCs and Greenhouse Gases.
Way to turn a natural disaster that’s killed thousands into US bashing. Class.
>John, too touchy mate - you will note if you care to I singled out a certain President and a ‘few good folks’. Within the time and space restrictions of a response to a short piece in a HK blog it should be fairly clear I was attacking the current political administration in the US. Maybe not - but them maybe you could do a check on the figures for the tsunamui donations?
“Americans gave billions and billions of dollars to the suffering victims of the Tsunami” - John, tell you what, the Yanks didnt give any “substantial” amount of money until they were condemned by other countries. They didnt give any sh*t about what happened last year. I was at the Thai Red Cross Centre in Phuket last year and I know.
You want to know my feeling? I have no sympathy whatsoever for the Americans for what happened or is happening in their country at the moment. Remember the Tokyo Protocol? Yes, that’s what you would get when you refused to sign it. Selfish twits.
Because hurricanes form over warm ocean water, it is easy to assume that the recent rise in their number and ferocity is because of global warming. But that is not the case, scientists say. Instead, the severity of hurricane seasons changes with cycles of temperatures of several decades in the Atlantic Ocean. The recent onslaught “is very much natural,” said William M. Gray, a professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University who issues forecasts for the hurricane season. From 1970 to 1994, the Atlantic was relatively quiet, with no more than three major hurricanes in any year and none at all in three of those years. Cooler water in the North Atlantic strengthened wind shear, which tends to tear storms apart before they turn into hurricanes. In 1995, hurricane patterns reverted to the active mode of the 1950’s and 60’s.
http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/national/30cycle.html&OP=3481a652Q2Fgoc8gUxQ5Cb)xxQ7BQ7CgQ7COOQ7DgO2g_OgujQ7BQ5DxujTg_OQ5CrQ5CTcQ3BVQ7BQ2AT
Chubby - “You want to know my feeling? I have no sympathy whatsoever for the Americans for what happened or is happening in their country at the moment.” - Do you want a chance to re-think that one?
Speaking as a foreigner living in the US, I can promise you that a great many people gave as much money as they could afford. Speaking as a rational human being, I can tell you that any gross generalization condemning an entire nation for the decisions of a few is, erm, pathetic.
The current administration didn’t do enough after the tsunami but if that makes you unsympathetic to a whole swathe of the underprivileged and poorly represented have-nots living through hell, there’s something seriously wrong with you.
Americans and Australians were the ones who did the actual heavy lifting in getting supplies in to tsunami victims while the UN was setting up shop in nice hotels. That help did not go into the balance sheet that the UN trotted out. Also money and supplies are useless if you don’t have a way to get them to the people who need them when they are actually needed. You also might want to check pledges of many against money that was actually donated.
The few good folks does indeed sound like a swipe against Americans in general.
Although, as an American, I am very embarrassed what is going on in New Orleans right now.
By Americans and Australians I am talking about their militaries.
yank-bashing by bloated middle-aged british expatriates is not uncommon in HK, guys, check out asiaxpat for further examples of LTs unique brand of little-englander bullshit. it’s their favourite past-time, second only to moaning about “the locals”.
Matt - I was in the shower this morning trying to come up with what you wrote. C’mon Chubby, you don’t really feel that - most of the people left in New Orleans are those that didn’t have the means to get out.
Please don’t let this post become and anti-American or anti-British-expat thing.
I’m wondering why you would build a city in a bowl surrounded by water though.
“Outbreaks of shootings, carjackings and thefts. Police chief Eddie Compass said there were reports of women being raped.”
Send in the frickin army and the navy for fooks sake.
You know, when i watch hollywood disaster and alien invasion movies, looting almost always is shown. I always thought that’s just dramatisation and people are not like that in real life. but unfortunately, its true. this and the LA riots, baghdad when the allied forces arrived, jakarta riots when suharto fell etc.
But then again, the tsunami. sri lanka, phuket, aceh. there wasn’t any major reports of loss of law and order. instead we hear more about people helping each other out.
the looting and raping is terribly disturbing. it shows how easy for people to turn nasty with each other - never mind someone of a different colour or religion.
C’mon SD - some examples of LT’s little englander bullshit and local bashing from that web site would be appreciated. By me for a start.
Not until you prove that the hurricane was caused by global warming…..
dolt.
So you admit I haven’t posted such. I rest my case.
watching the news reports from New Orleans, it seems as if there is a large proportion of poor blacks left behind in the city. There is little choice for them except to loot for food & water ( non essentials are another matter as as rapes etc ). It tends to happen in these situations ( not much left to loot after the Tsunami ). It happened during the Blitz although we Brits tend not to talk about it.
Was a hanging offence during the war I believe.
‘London 1945′ by Maureen Waller is a good book which looks at some of the events that occured post bombing of London. But on the whole because of a government that had worked out how to involve its population in the war effort and to educate them in a non patronising fashion the lootings were minimised. The real troubles which led to a lot of the organised crime of the 50’s & 60’s happened after the Victory in Europe and after the abrupt ending of Lend Leese Agreements by the US. Read the more for more info cos it is quite enlightening. Or buy me beers.
I hope Shaky keeps going like the Interdictor when El Gordo hits Honkieland. It will be his 15 minutes.