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My Letter to the Swedish Minister of International Aid
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| St_Andrew |
(Translated from Swedish, and yeah I hate translating it doesn't sound nearly as good in English as it did in Swedish :p And it never gets that fluent either when you translate something, however, you get the picture)
Subject: Earthquakes in Pakistan and India.
Body:
Dear Minister,
I have, like you have probably too, the last 4 weeks or so been following the tragic events in Pakistan and India. What I think is the most terrible with this is not the earthquake – which in itself is a tragedy unheard of – but how the western world have reacted on this catastrophe. 73 000 entirely innocent people have so far died, the UN has pledged for 550 million USD from the international community, so far only about 130 millions have been pledged. There are people within the UN that think that the number of dead might be doubled if the UN does not get enough money.
I know Sweden has done its fair share in this, but I think since the world has showed its total inability and incompetence to do something, Sweden must take its human responsibility. Right now we are missing about 3.3 billion Swedish kronor, a significant amount of money. However, if you look at the whole picture – that it can save 73 000 innocent deaths – it is not a significant amount.
For example, we could cut compensation to sick people by a mere 2.5% and we would have enough money just there. Or do not you think it would be worth to save 73 000 lives meanwhile Sweden's population on “sick leave” could get 2.5% less to live on?
Or why not cut all our expenses by 0.04%, then we all get to pay our fair share. I mean, I do not think there is any instution in Sweden that would not go around if they got 0.04% less in government funds. Personally I do not understand how it could not be worth it if you could save 73 000 lives.
The world can not take its responsibility, but I can not sit here and watch my government do nothing while you really could, but you are not because you want to protect your own citizens that can get around more than fine anyway. I hope that you as well can take your responsibility.
Best regards,
Erik Englund |
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| Groundhog Boy |
| quote: | Originally posted by St_Andrew
(Translated from Swedish, and yeah I hate translating it doesn't sound nearly as good in English as it did in Swedish :p And it never gets that fluent either when you translate something, however, you get the picture)
Subject: Earthquakes in Pakistan and India.
Body:
Dear Minister,
I have, like you have probably too, the last 4 weeks or so been following the tragic events in Pakistan and India. What I think is the most terrible with this is not the earthquake – which in itself is a tragedy unheard of – but how the western world have reacted on this catastrophe. 73 000 entirely innocent people have so far died, the UN has pledged for 550 million USD from the international community, so far only about 130 millions have been pledged. There are people within the UN that think that the number of dead might be doubled if the UN does not get enough money.
I know Sweden has done its fair share in this, but I think since the world has showed its total inability and incompetence to do something, Sweden must take its human responsibility. Right now we are missing about 3.3 billion Swedish kronor, a significant amount of money. However, if you look at the whole picture – that it can save 73 000 innocent deaths – it is not a significant amount.
For example, we could cut compensation to sick people by a mere 2.5% and we would have enough money just there. Or do not you think it would be worth to save 73 000 lives meanwhile Sweden's population on “sick leave” could get 2.5% less to live on?
Or why not cut all our expenses by 0.04%, then we all get to pay our fair share. I mean, I do not think there is any instution in Sweden that would not go around if they got 0.04% less in government funds. Personally I do not understand how it could not be worth it if you could save 73 000 lives.
The world can not take its responsibility, but I can not sit here and watch my government do nothing while they really could, but they are not because they want to protect our own citizens that can get around more than fine anyway. I hope that you as well can take your responsibility.
Best regards,
Erik Englund |
While I appreciate your enthusiasm, no amount of money will bring back the 73,000 people. Nor could it have prevented a large percentage of those deaths in the first place. The deaths occuring now because of lack of access, medical supplies and facilities, etc. can be helped with funding, but I think it's going too far to say "Isn't this amount of money worth these lives."
Just my thoughts. |
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| St_Andrew |
| quote: | Originally posted by Groundhog Boy
While I appreciate your enthusiasm, no amount of money will bring back the 73,000 people. Nor could it have prevented a large percentage of those deaths in the first place. The deaths occuring now because of lack of access, medical supplies and facilities, etc. can be helped with funding, but I think it's going too far to say "Isn't this amount of money worth these lives."
Just my thoughts. |
Well, the thing is that they said that if they don't get enough money for their operations, the number of dead might double. Hence my argument that so much money could save so many lives. :) |
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| h0tsweetbabyd0l |
| nice letter erik ! |
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| Yoepus |
| quote: | Originally posted by h0tsweetbabyd0l
nice letter erik ! |
ack! doppleganger!
I'm seeing two Erics now ahhh!:eyes: :nervous:
Anyway the letter is good because well you are telling the government what you care about. But it will only work if 100x more people do the same.
As for being very persuasive, I don't think its going to change his attitude. I wasn't convinced how exactly more money would save lives... |
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| St_Andrew |
| quote: | Originally posted by Yoepus
ack! doppleganger!
I'm seeing two Erics now ahhh!:eyes: :nervous:
Anyway the letter is good because well you are telling the government what you care about. But it will only work if 100x more people do the same.
As for being very persuasive, I don't think its going to change his attitude. I wasn't convinced how exactly more money would save lives... |
I know, it won't change , but at least I did what I thought was right!
and i would probably need like 10000x if it should make any difference :p |
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