Australia has donated US$8 million for relief in the worst natural disaster in United States history. We can't begin to thank you enough. Hurricane Katrina may make 9/11 pale in comparison when it is all said and done. For anyone who hasn't seen the details, New Orleans is mostly under water and the whole city is uninhabitable. Refugees stuck in the city are looting, raping, car jacking, and shooting indiscriminately. Many police officers have quite their postions as it is too dangerous to try to help.

It will be YEARS before anyone can live their again, IF EVER! A whole city of millions, gone overnight. I can't believe this is really happening. One idiot US senator opened his mouth and stated the city isn't worth re-building(probably the truth $-wise, but you don't say that now!)

The national guard has been dispatched with orders from the governor to shoot to kill. Of course, this was after they were able to round up some troops since so many were in Iraq! I hope this opens up some eyes in this country.

We've been seeing the video footage and its just incredible .. hard for us here to fully grasp the situation... as for not rebuilding it all ,,thats ridiculous.
such a beautiful part of the world with so much diverse history..
things are moving slow but lets hope the relief effort steps up a gear and things get sorted out as soon a possible...

Yes saratoga its a bad disaster but i think its going to get worse once the death toll is known.

Its a shame bush has been slow to act and ask for help. Was watching it on the news and people still dont have what they need to live 4 days later .

You cant blame the looting as people need to live and all they can get is stuff from shops. The shooting and raping is a disgrace.

$8million isnt much but i guess every bit helps i just hope it quickly gets to the people that need it the most.

Hi Saratoga
mate our hearts go out to all in that great city of the gulf, just such a mammoth tragedy almost beyond belief.
i was there a few years back and love the character of it all i just hope i can go back one day.
good luck with it all and its sad but such a tragedy brings out the best and the worst in people.

This has been one of the biggest tragedy's I have ever seen in a time when we have seen a few Bali/9/11, My heart goes out to all those people in New Orleans that whole city has been destroyed and it is going to take alot of work to rebuild it I just hope something can be done quickly enough before to many lives are lost.

Hate to be a downer on such a great day in OZ, but it's my duty to get the word out to whoever I can. Man, this is f'ed up! It keeps getting worse at every news report. The mayor of New Orleans had set up refuge in the Hilton Hotel across from city hall and it had taken in 200 foreign tourists(good move). He decided to get them out of N.O. by sending them to the Superdome to get on buses out. He sent word to the commander of the National Guard that these people were to get out first in front of thousands of people waiting in line for 4 days(bad move). No reports on what happened but I'm sure it's not good. The mayor will be gone, the gov of LA will be gone, and hopefully the Bush admin will be gone, but you know he'll skate. Why haven't they dropped more food and water? How about evacuations and medicine drops? No landing zones have been designated as of yet either. If ya saw 28 DAYS LATER, it's coming to life. I really think the government is letting it go as long as possible so only the strong survive. When even George Bush admits mistakes were made, you KNOW somebody f'ed up royally. The whole country is affected and 9/11 is a week away. What if something happens. Mass hysteria. Gas prices have gone up 50% in 2 days and every day they go up more. If any trigger happy guardsman start shooting, the big cities here are going to erupt. One thing about Americans, we are resilient and will get on.

Thanks to all for the thoughts and prayers.

Thanks. Australia is a great friend to the U.S.. We appreciate you in more ways than you know.

Regards,

Glenn

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There's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear.

Retired or retarded? Much the same. I'm retired...

I can't understand all the delays.....gees it is in there own backyard they should have planned for this as soon as they knew it was going to be a bad storm(and they did know this, we heard it on news before the storm hit) they should have had people and equipment in there with in hours of the storm passing.....i know it would be hard to get that many out but not so hard to set up tents and use those fancy water purifiers that they used in Iraq....this makes the US look bad....like the only time they are realy interested in helpng is when it is helping there own pocket...like in Iraq with the oil and building contracts and basses in the middle east.

Yeah, this is a real shocker...

Saw Bush parading around for the media earlier.

Pull your finger out m8.

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I like Bing Lee.

Very very sad state of affairs, my heart goes out to all those affected. Its hard to come to terms with such a disaster, we are sheltered here in australia in alot of ways and something like this really opens your eyes.
I for one will certainly be donating and encourage others to do so...

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get in the Q