What do others think about the media reporting of this awful disaster in Britain? I've been disgusted at the over emphasis on the safety of British tourists as opposed to the trauma suffered by the indigenous populations, some of whom have lost everything, family, home and livelihood. Ofcourse it is terrible for Britons who have lost family members or friends in the disaster but it doesn't compare with what the natives of affected countries have suffered. Also, I read in the paper yesterday that foreigners are being given priority for medical treatment in hospitals. When are we in the West going to realise that affluence doesn't make us superior to those in poorer countries and that we have got to stop treating others in a way which amounts to a form of 'global bullying'.

is another tsunami consequence which leaves a lot to be desired. I've had loads of these from well-meaning friends, instructing me 'not to break the ribbon' (why?), to 'send this to at least ten freinds or you will receive a stroke of very bad luck in the next 12 hours' (I wasn't born yesterday), or to send money to a random address or organisation - in your dreams!
It is senseless exploitation of the disaster by stupid people who want to clog up others' email boxes (I have never understood why people start junk mail chains, it seems to pointless) or an even more insenstive scam to make money out of other people's misfortune.
I hope nobody takes them seriously.

we faced the same news reports, the same emphasis on the french tourists...french people before all others (i guess it's quite normal in the begginig...)

it's time to help the natives without questions..they need us right now and for some more years.

Our only "superiority" (i hate this word when it's related to occidental matters!! we 're not superior at all) is definitely based on our medical power to help them right now and over all to help them getting back on the tracks of life...

(hope my english is not to bad ....)

but I have unterstund moins that the half ! but I persevered and I'm going to take a dictionnary now to come here to read and whrite here ! oooh my god ! god save me ! MDRRRR

""

"god HELP me" ! PTDR

We should be helping more than hindering from our 'position of superiority'.
I suppose every country's reports are going to be country-centric really.

that we can never ever have an unbiased media?

it seems to me that we, citizens of the occidental countries, can make a difference between what we are told in the media and reality.
I konw it's important for our governments to focus on their own people, mostly because it's the job they've been chosed for, but it's also very important that they keep in mind that the native asian need their help, money and staff to get back to "normal life".
I hope that our governements will take the lead in helping those people that had lost everything...

it'a a real sad situation we're living her...

I totally agree with the point of view posted by Saffron. Also I am left wondering when I see memorial services held in Puhkket where the long stemmed white roses, candles and glass candleholders came from in a devastated area. Were they ferried in by air? I can see of no other way they could have reached the area. Would not space in a plane be better used in bringing in water, food and medical supplies rather than roses and candleholders.

Further, the meeting held today in Jakkartta would have been better held in a country that is not devastated by this dreadful disaster. Even if Delegates paid their own way the cost of setting up the meeting must have been astronomical (did you notice the bottled water on the tables?
Something devastated occupants of the Nicobar Islands would probably kill to get for their surviving children).

Well said, granniekool!
If they can get water to the heads of state why not the victims of the tragedy itself?
It's another unfortunate example of the West/east divide. there should be a media outcry, but there probably won't be.

I agree, of course, that the media is an ideal tool for the promotion of propaganda at all levels, albeit government, business, self-promotion, brainwashing, etc.

On the other hand, there is a positive note I would like to make. If you log onto www.bbc.co.uk there is a link on the home page, on "how you can help the survivors". Click here and you have direct links to 30 charities, all doing their individual part in the post-tsunami disaster. In today's busy, frenetic world - with no time to jump into the post office or local supporting bank - you can make a quick and essential donation online in about two minutes.

If you haven't yet made a donation but wish to, please check it out.

Oh, and thanks to everyone at sofeminine for making this communication possible!!!

The focus is totally wrong here, as has happened all too often in the past with the British media (although I suspect it is probably the same in ther countries as well).

Unfortunately, all too often the media is used to make people think a certain way, something which was brought home to me over Christmas when an ill-informed colleague said of the tsunami disaster 'yes, isn't it awful, apparently, it's worse than 9/11'.

Obviously there is sympathy for the victims behind the comment, but it demonstrates the skewed world view many people in Britain have, sometimes through no fault of their own.

However, surely even the most ignorant among us can see that for hundreds of thousands of people living in Asia this is a very serious situation indeed, no matter how many tens of Britons have died?

Western priorities are all wrong. George Bush should be shot for the pitiful amount of money he has donated.