Germany significantly increases tsunami aid, promises $674 million US

[Judi Lynn]

Germany significantly increases tsunami aid, promises $674 million US

27 minutes ago


BERLIN (AP) - Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder stepped up the German government's pledge of financial aid to tsunami victims to $674 million US Wednesday as European nations moved to step up help to the devastated region.

Germany had previously pledged $27 million US, but Schroeder said once the short-term effects of the tsunami were taken care of, the region would need much more help in rebuilding its infrastructure with concrete projects over time.

"Naturally, they won't be realized overnight," Schroeder said.

Schroeder's pledge represents the largest firm pledge of aid from any single country.
(snip/)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1856&ncid=732&e=4&u=/cpress/20050105/ca_pr_on_wo/tsunami_germany_aid

[nine23]

1. He was in Sri Lanka on vacation when it happened, I believe...

Whatever it takes. Good on Germany.

[Kellanved]

3. no, that was Kohl

Schröder was in Italy and immediately returned to Berlin when the magnitude of the catastrophe became apparent.


Edit: stupid spell checker.

[nine23]

6. Yep. You're all right. Corrected I stand.

Posted that without thinking. Still stands: Good on Germany, whatever it takes...

[pnorman]

4. That was former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

>
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl has been airlifted out of a Sri Lankan hotel, where he'd been stranded by Sunday's earthquake and killer waves.
A Sri Lankan aif force commander says Kohl was "with a team on holiday" in the country's south. The commander says the stranded former German leader asked officials for help.
>
>
http://www.kctv5.com/Global/story.asp?S=2739810

pnorman

[BiggJawn]

2. "Ah'll SEE yer 674 an' RAISE ya anuther hunert mill...."-Dumbya

Betcha he announces he's raising our "contribution" before lunch today. Can't be seen as "stingy" y'know.

It's SO easy to give money away when you control the printing presses...

[Dez]

5. I wonder what kind of donation

all the richies will give, afterall, they have a huge tax break.

[Kellanved]

10. here is a nice article about that:

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/01/05/the_good_heart_of_the_american_people/

--snip
Conversely, there is no evidence that higher tax rates crowd out charitable giving. On the contrary, since charitable donations generate tax deductions, lowering tax rates actually reduces philanthropic contributions. In 2002, the year after Bush's huge tax cut bonanza, donations actually declined by 1 percent.
--snap

[utahgirl]

7. I guess that's one way to get rid of

useless dollars. I mean, donate in US or EU? Doesn't take a genius to decide that. This could be interesting -- are the other countries giving in US dollars? Wonder if it will turn into hot potato.

Ya gotta love it.
utahgirl

[Kellanved]

8. Germany pledged €500 million

The article's author converted the currency.

[rucky]

9. Doesn't Schroeder know how many inaugurations he could have...

with that kind of cash?