Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!
You would think that displaying Pig-Headedness would be anathema in a predominantly Islamic population but Noooo...
From the BBC:
Row over tsunami warning system
bq. Representatives of over 50 countries and organisations have clashed over the location of a co-ordination centre for an Indian Ocean tsunami warning system.
bq. Thailand proposed that the centre should be in its capital, Bangkok, but was opposed by India and Indonesia.
And more:
bq. Thailand is hosting the two-day meeting for affected countries on the ravaged resort island of Phuket.
bq. The representatives decided that work should start immediately on strengthening existing national and specialised institutions.
bq. Correspondents say national egos appear to be getting in the way of international co-operation.
And the all-seeing organization that will oversee this "organization"?
bq. "We agree that the role of the United Nations is the most important in ensuring that all aspects in building an early warning system are co-ordinated effectively and timely," said Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, quoted by Reuters news agency.
Double Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!
Excuse me but when you are running a monitoring system that demands a fast response, you do not use the United Nations. They are just now reacting to things that started happening two or more years ago.
And as much as I love Thailand and the culture, the Thailand Meteorological Department delayed warning people about the possibility of a Tsunami because they did not want to chance panicking the tourists and having them leave.
This story can be found
here,
here and
here...
As
this article says:
bq. Thailand's Meteorological Department officials met to discuss the likelihood of a tsunami on Sunday morning after learning of the earthquake that hit northern Sumatra at 7.58am. They had more than an hour to react.
bq. Thailand's The Nation newspaper has quoted a source at that meeting as saying officials decided to play down the threat because they were worried about repercussions from evacuations if the tsunami did not hit.
bq. The newspaper quoted the source as saying: "The very important factor in making the decision was that its high (tourist) season and hotel rooms were nearly 100 per cent full.
bq. "If we issued a warning, which would have led to an evacuation (and if nothing happened) what would happen then? Business would be instantaneously affected . . . we could go under, if (the tsunami) didn't come . . . we hesitated for a while whether we should issue a warning or not."
bq. Thailand's chief weather forecaster, Kathawudhi Marlairojanasiri, said his agency issued radio and television warnings of a possible undertow along the southwest coast from 9am.
bq. They aired as the first waves hit. By the time a website warning aired three hours later, at least 700 were dead – including King Bhumibol Adulyadej's jetskiing grandson.
And they want the center for warning? With the United Nations?
Posted by DaveH at January 29, 2005 7:46 PM