20,000 die in iran

by Edwin Lee Sat Dec 27, 2003 14:53

True that the western media tends to ignore those kind of things...maybe they didn't want to dampen christmas spirits? lol
The only decent coverage i heard on it was on NewsTalk 106.

by Chekov Sat Dec 27, 2003 15:17

None of us have anything in particular to say about the disaster that the mainstream media haven't said. This is not due to us caring less about Iranians than anybody else, but due to the fact that very few indymedia users have ever visited Iran, never mind in the last few days. There really is no point in writing articles when you don't have enough information to say anything worthwhile. Maybe one day we will be able to pay to fly correspondants around the world to cover these events, but I wouldn't hold my breath. A better approach would be to check through some of the Asian and American indymedia sites to see if any of them have much coverage.

On the other hand, I know that a fair few NGO workers use the site and some of them may have worked in Iran and have something original to say about the disaster. If so maybe they'll write something about it, alternatively, if you think that it is worth doing so, why not go off and research an article and post it here rather than giving out about other people not doing it for you.

by Mellow Man Sat Dec 27, 2003 15:28

"20,000 die and we sit back and are what we criticise."

So YOU sit back on your rear end and criticise indymedia for not producing the article that YOU could have written?
You don't seem to even appreciate the irony of your position. You are what you criticise.

by Ruairi - Donegal Peace Group Sat Dec 27, 2003 16:06

Useful resources for news =

http://www.aljazeera.net
http://www.arabnews.com

others (more general) include:

http://www.gnn.tv
http://www.democracynow.org

and corporate (but good) =

http://www.commondreams.org
http://www.guardian.co.uk

by © © © © ipsiphi - pacman. @@@@ scary ghost. Sat Dec 27, 2003 20:01

ahh....

but interestingly quite a few members of the deposed Shah of Iran's entourage found hospitality and welcome and succour in Eire, forging strong cultural links between the Irish and Iranian people, so I suppose we really ought to care a little bit more.

http://www.cmc.ie/composers/work.cfm?composerID=41

by @@@@ % bonus point. Sat Dec 27, 2003 20:08

you may listen to his music.

by Drbinoche Sun Dec 28, 2003 05:26

Last I lokod it was close to nearly 40000 dead. Which is a terrible tragedy. But I have to ask when will somone blame USA. I mean it is a humanitarian tragedy, but, who is to blame?? NOOONE!! This is natural force by itself, and that is the way of the world, but what are YOU doing to asuage the situation. You sit here comfortabluy and bemoan the dreaded US, but yet none of you are grabbing the first flight to Iran to help out. But don't doubt by alot of your standards America is to blame someohow!

by Ciaran Sun Dec 28, 2003 09:02

Way to go Drbinoche!
And your flight is leaving when??

by .. Sun Dec 28, 2003 13:15

though i wouldn't be surprised if some people are wondering if it might perhaps have been a terrorist earthquake of some kind.
Or maybe some people think that God is punishing these horrible muslims for causing all this terrorism in america and around the world. Would there be some ultra patriotic redneck americans sayin that they are glad to see all them arabs get whats coming to them (like many people around the world were pleased to see the twin towers collapse)

by Drbinoche Sun Dec 28, 2003 15:23

I do not intend on flying to Iran, becuase quite frankly its not a big concern to me. People are gonna have to realise that these things happen and people dying in such a way is the way of the world. I do not believe me being there would benefit anyone at all.

Oh and the last post about some rednecks thinking its gods will to punish muslims, your right some people will think that way, but at the same time a lot of muslims will think the same and alot of Jews will think that way. Others are gonna realise that this is the way of the world and when you build homes on tectonic fault lines, eventually shit happens.

The figure has been put down now to 20000, which is a terrible tragedy, but it happens. With a further 100000 homeless. 80% of the city was destroyed and about 1000 people have been dug out and saved. Of course no one is to blame here. But realise that there are 6 billion of us here and the earth will not tolerate that amount of people, shit like this is gonna happen because we need to be culled. The human race is gonna be culled significantly, and that is the only way we are gonna survive. Anyone who believe otherwise just go to history book and read about the previous ELEs and look at the relevant number of animals to there predominant environmental needs. Large numbers of one animal depending on a limited reserve = alot of animals dying off.

by Concern for Iran Mon Dec 29, 2003 13:12

Send checks/money orders/online payments to Mercy Corps and Relief International to give badly needed donations to help in this humanitarian effort.

Recommended method of sending donations is through Mercy Corps and they can be reached via their web site [online donations here: https://ssl.charityweb.net/mercycorps/?DonorIntent=Iran%20Earthquake&Custom15=wm] or http://www.mercycorps.org or by calling 1.800.292.3355 ext. 250
Mailing address to send your checks is:

Mercy Corps
Iran Earthquake
Dept. W
PO Box 2669
Portland, OR 97208-266


Please mark your checks with “Iran Earthquake” so the funds are directed towards this effort. Thank you.


Another spot for your donations:

Natasha Behbahany of Relief International [http://www.ri.org/index.php] says that "there is a specific RI team on the ground currently offering humanitarian services to the victims." Also, they have some experience in this area, having "had on-going representation in Iran that has been working on long-term reconstruction efforts from the 2002 Qazvin earthquake and the 2001 Golestan flood".

They are accepting donations on-line right here: https://ssl20.pair.com/ri/donations_new.html

A father carries the bodies of two of his sons

by FX_MBI Mon Dec 29, 2003 18:15

I thought it would bea major story here.... the bomb attacks on Romao Prodi. They're saying that an anarchist group is responsible. Is that what anarchy is about these days?

by CiaranM Mon Dec 29, 2003 20:53

Yep, we all got together last tuesday and decided that this is what anarchism is now about.

by Aul crusty Mon Dec 29, 2003 22:31

You're something else, Drbinoche. First you say that it is a terrible tragedy, then you say "its not a big concern to me" & we have to accept it because "we need to be culled".
Of course your real reason for commenting on this is so you can get a dig at anyone who has criticised US foreign policy. You jump in accusing people of being ready to blame the US for this, even before anyone had time to assess the situation. So who is the one who is prejudiced?

by simon Wed Dec 31, 2003 12:15

while you are trying to ''assess the situation'' countries including the US are sending money, medical staff, field hospitals etc to help the relief effort. the least/most you can do is donate money to one of the agencies or into one of the bank accounts that has been set up to assist in the effort.

by avi H. Wed Dec 31, 2003 19:45

by sending in world-class Israeli rescue teams but the mad mullahs turned us down.

by an mullah mór Wed Dec 31, 2003 20:45

Shure do ye think that they want their country crawling with an influx of Mossad agents at a time of crisis like this .......

by No. 6 Mon Jan 05, 2004 12:04

I just want to say "thank you" to this author for this last minute contender for "dumbest post of the year" on IMC Ireland.

Lets look at it.

-We are all guilty of doing one of the things we criticise about corporate media

Exactly what was supposed to be posted? IMC Ireland has no ground reporters in Iran, and can't provide information from journalists there. What were you expecting to see on this site you idiot?

The Guardian ran a five page story the next day, covering everything from the type of building materials used which contributed to the article, ran a piece comparing how easily califorinian coped with a similar size eathquake in december because it can afford modern earthquake proof materials. What did you expect to see on indymedia?

-we didn't even acknowledge the greatest humanitarian disaster in the last few decades

It's a tradegy but it's not the greatest humanitairn disaster of the last few decades. Remember the famines in africa (you might have heard a song about 'em?) Or Bhopal chemcial plant in india (death toil 30,000 n rising) Or the genocide in Rwanda, or.....
Your ignorance is staggering, and the thing about the above disasters they were preventiable and were a result of corporate greed, or western indiferance to the results of their foreign policy..... You are a clueless moron whinging about something you don't understand.

-Shame on us

Enough people have slagged you off (deservedly) over your criticism over the rest of us while not bothering to do anything yourself, and Drbinoche has been made look like the lone ranting pants around his ankles nutcase he is, but I'm sorry angry you're the kind of idiot who gives the left it's bad name, Stop being on our side you make us look stupid, if you want to help go to the right and make them look bad....Please.

by Drbinoche Wed Jan 07, 2004 21:45

Well of course when you guys have been proven to be unable to provide information, the most basic of which was being reported everywhere, its then stated that Indymedia.ie has no people on the ground and therefore could not properly report on it. Well, why do you guys not have anyone on the ground, I mean we know that Iran has a very bad Human Rights record and you believe that either Iran or Syria is next on the US hitlist, maybe getting people on the ground there might not be a bad idea. Also Iran shares a border with Iraq and so you guys would really just be across the border.

As for my comments, I am simple pointing out that it is a horrible disastor, but it still does not mean I have to acre a great deal about it. My posts are fairly clear and concise, its just that a large number of people here and on other sites cannot seem to grasp the common fact that there are too many of us and these things happen. Oh and I notice that the two larger catastrophes you mention are business related only and yet you do not mention the Earthquake in Armenia, or the huge loss of life around the world from other natural disasters. Of course you failed to mention the Mexico City Earthquake and other such earthquakes that have killed 1000s and left hundreds of Thousands more homeless. Because maybe to you, the only true disasters are the ones when Big business causes something by your belief. You mention the gas release in India, well, can you please give me an alternative to using pesticides and herbicides. I mean its not like the plant in India was making Chemical Weapons or anything like that. It was making chemicals used in Agriculture. These plants are found all over the world and its only a matter of time before something like it happens again, but so what?

by benovelant type Wed Jan 07, 2004 22:00

will you go to Iran?

If you follow the link above to the indymedia global list, you may restart the "iran.indymedia debate".
I'd like that. It would perhaps mean we might look back at the formation of iraq.indymedia.

By the way, you would be at considerable personal risk.

Reporters without frontiers have published the death figures for Journalists in 2003.
It was the worst year since 1995.
over 40 died.

They think it's something to do with the relaxed way in which journalists were shot at in Iraq. Anyway we _do_ get information out of Iran, and I'm sure it's good for Like "our mutual" interests.
Now you'll have a while to think it over, and you'll be accompanied, and it would really "help" if you were:
Male.
non smoker.
non drinker.
carry an Irish passport.

by dunk Wed Jan 14, 2004 18:13

FILLAWELLY has begun,
hopefully this might get some cash out to them