Awareness of Tsunami in US

[juliebro]

A colleague of mine has just come back from her first ever trip to the US - 2 weeks in New York over Christmas and New Year. On arrival back in UK she was devastated to learn of the full impact of the Asian Tsunami and says that she heard very little about it over there. This has really upset her. She finds it so hard to understand how little people over there seem to have been told about it. She feels tere is a real lack of interest in and understanding of events beyond the US.

Anyone just got back who could say whether it's like that all over the US?

Julie

 

[KayleeUK]

If you have a look on the US Community Board you should see quite a few threads about it and what they are doing to raise funds. One I read even mentioned a special hour long special programme about it.

 

[Miffy2003]

Just back from the US - it was all over the news from when it happened to when I travelled back (Jan 1st), but in general I agree US news concentrates on events withn the US.

 

[deedee67]

Hi there ~ a New Yorker checking in here.
Perhaps your colleague was so intent on enjoying her holidays that she never looked at a newspaper, listened to the radio or watched television. This crisis has been covered extensively here in the US. I can only watch so much of it because I just break down sobbing at the horror of it but the coverage of it is nonstop.
I must admit that I am offended at the statement that there is a real lack of interest in anything that does not pertain to the US. This is a global crisis - a tragedy that is beyond anything we have ever seen. We Americans are doing a great deal to help in whatever way we can. To say that we are not interested or not aware of it is just plain wrong.

 

[catherine]

We returned from the US several days ago. We saw more news coverage of the Tsunami while we were there than we have done since we arrived back. We also saw families having yard sales etc. to raise money for the appeal!

 

[juliebro]

Sorry - I didn't mean to cause any offence. I was only repeating what she said. Maybe she was too wrapped up in other things as deedee says - and felt guilty about that when she heard the full extent of the disaster.

Julie