when we need aid and help? We are expected to help everyone, but they dont help us? Something isnt right here huh! I feel bad for everyone hit by Katraina. I consider myself lucky, because it could have turned toward North Florida and hit my town.

[/End Rant]

[2nd Rant]

I feel sorry for everyone hit by that hurricane, but why the heck would we build such a big city and so many homes in a place at the most 1 foot above sea level? That is so stupid, considering that Weather Forcasters have been saying that if a major hurricane hit New Orleans, they were toast.

[/End Rant]

I have always thaough that was retarded also. Come live in this hole in the ground that could seriously flood.

You know other countrys area saying things like,, ha ha they had it coming. I think our american groups and good people will kick in any time now.

Around the world, compassion and shock at the damage wrought by Katrina
09:24 PM EDT Aug 31
DANICA KIRKA

VIENNA, Austria (CP) - From papal prayers to telegrams from China, the world reacted with an outpouring of compassion Wednesday for the victims of hurricane Katrina in messages tinged by shock that a disaster of this scale could occur in the United States.

Islamic extremists rejoiced in America'* misfortune, giving the storm a military rank and declaring in Internet chatter that "Private" Katrina had joined the global jihad, or holy war. With "God'* help," they declared, oil prices would hit $100 US a barrel this year.

Venezuela'* government, which has had tense relations with Washington, offered humanitarian aid and fuel if requested.

The storm was seen as an equalizer - proof that any country, weak or strong, can be victimized by a natural disaster. Images of flood-ravaged New Orleans earned particular sympathy in central Europe, where dozens died in raging floodwaters only days ago.

"Nature proved that no matter how rich and economically developed you are, you can't fight it," says Danut Afasei, a local official in Romania'* Harghita county, where flooding killed 13 people last week.

Throughout Europe, concerned citizens lamented the loss of life and the damage caused to New Orleans, often described as one of North America'* most "European" cities.

French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sent messages of sympathy to U.*. President George W. Bush. Chirac, who has famously quarrelled with Bush over the Iraq war, addressed this letter, "Dear George."

Pope Benedict said he was praying for victims of the "tragic" hurricane while China'* President Hu Jintao expressed his "belief that the American people will definitely overcome the natural disaster and rebuild their beautiful homeland."

The Queen sent a message to Bush saying she was "deeply shocked and saddened" at the devastation caused by the hurricane and expressing her condolences, "especially to the families of those who have lost their lives, to the injured and to all who have been affected by this terrible disaster."

The sympathy was muted in some corners by a sense that the United States reaped what it sowed, since the country is seen as the main contributor to global warming.

Joern Ehlers, a spokesman for World Wildlife Fund Germany, said global warming had increased the intensity of hurricanes.

"The Americans have a big impact on the greenhouse effect," Ehlers said.

But Harlan Watson, the U.*. envoy for negotiations on climate change, denied any link between global warming and the strength of storms. "Our scientists are telling us right now that there'* not a linkage," he said in Geneva.

In Canada, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, the federal cabinet minister, has told Michael Chertoff, the U.*. secretary of homeland security, that Canada is ready to provide assistance if needed. She said Canadian health authorities have offered to send emergency medical supplies from the country'* emergency stockpile.

The Ontario government is also looking into whether its medical and search-rescue personnel can help.

The U.*. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland - a capital at the foot of the Alps hit by flooding last week - said calls were rushing in from Swiss individuals and institutions looking for a way to donate to relief efforts.

"We are getting calls from the Swiss public looking to express their condolences, (and) people are also asking for an account number where they can make donations," said spokesman Daniel Wendell.

The Internet-edition Vienna daily Der Standard had recorded 820 postings commenting on a front-page story on the hurricane. In one of the postings, signature "Emerald" asked where money could be donated to the victims, but the question sparked a debate about whether a rich country like the United States needed such aid.

In response, one posting, from signature "far out," argued that hurricane victims who are poor still needed support.

Amid the sympathy, however, there was criticism.

As U.*. military engineers struggled to shore up breached levees, experts in the Netherlands expressed surprise that New Orleans' flood systems failed to restrain the raging waters.

With half of the country'* population of 16 million living below sea level, the Netherlands prepared for a "perfect storm" soon after floods in 1953 killed 2,000 people. The nation installed massive hydraulic sea walls.

"I don't want to sound overly critical, but it'* hard to imagine that (the damage caused by Katrina) could happen in a western country," said Ted Sluijter, spokesman for the park where the sea walls are exhibited. "It seemed like plans for protection and evacuation weren't really in place, and once it happened, the co-ordination was on loose hinges."

Just to clarify... some places in New Orleans are 6 feet BELOW sea level. Plus, when the area was first settled, it was the farm land they were after. Since it grew as a city, they really didn't have a choice. Having been there last summer, I can say it was a very nice city. Thankfully for the history buffs out there, most of the french quarter did not get flooded as it is on "high" ground.

Canada is sending down personpower last I heard, hydro workers were heading down to help restore electricity. Likely more to come.

And I hear the Brits have/are sent/sending in some aid as well.

1st part. Yes, when any natural disaster anywhere in the world happens, the USA is the first to offer and send aid. Yet no one offers us aid. That'* ok, we don't need it.

2nd part. New Orleans was originally alot higher than sea level and closer to the sea. It is built on the silt deposited by the Mississippi. They diverted the river in a controlled way around the city and the silt has been settling ever since. the protective barriers around it are current additions. the river is rising because of deposited silt and the city is settling. the current silt deposits have extended "land", causing NO to appear to be moving inland

You didn't bother to read before making that misinformed statement?

i was typing when you posted. Canada and England are of course excluded from the statement automatically. Our relationship is such that we know they will be there, as we are for them. But, the general rule is no other country ponies up the aid, both governmental and private, like the US.

I don't think many countries feel they can make a meaningful contribution to the US given its' economic clout and size of its' infrastructure. Still, even if they couldn't it still means something to offer.

Cheers,

Canada is also sending our specialized Urban Search and Rescue Team. They have been asked by the Louisanna governor to go down and help. From what I heard on the news, they will be heading down tonight. Prime Minister Paul Martin said that Canada will send whatever aid is needed.