Disasters, disasters

It's interesting (and scary to say just "interesting" when thousands of people are dying) to see these very sad natural disasters in Burma and in China and how the respective (although not necessarily respectable) governments are dealing with the situations.

In Burma we see the authoritarian government (or government thugs depending on how you look at it) restricting access for aid supplies and aid workers. The aid is there, the people who know what to do with it are there. Sadly, next to nobody or nothing can get to the people obviously in need due to the actions of the government. Everyone wonders "why?".

In China however, a country in the news because of the Olympics and Tibet, we have another supposedly authoritarian government jumping into action, putting it's considerable military power to good use sending help immediately to a heavily populated region that needs help (is there ever an earthquake in China with a low death toll?). Even the Premier got straight into a plane and headed straight to the region either to do good or just as a PR stunt - but at least he went. Things seem to be happening.

You kind of expect a corrupt military junta to perform badly (awfully) in situations like this - hence the regional and international diplomatic upset.

You get pleasantly surprised when a firm communist government does a lot of good work and is open about the situation in their country (China used to have media lockdowns in these situations).

Then you get a similar situation to Burma with Hurricane Katrina, and a government who - like the Burmese - sat back and did little or nothing. Instead of a diplomatic outcry the world just looked on in horror and incredulity as a government you'd expect to do things well (they get aid to any country in the world faster than they got aid to New Orleans) failed to act.

Which is worse? A government that can get the resources to act; isn't actually expected to "do good"; and doesn't do what is right or a government that does have the resources to act; is expected to do good (and does for other countries); and sits on their hands?

One hopes that is a reckoning day somewhere for these, for want of a better word, evil governments. It's also nice to see some signs of positive change in other governments.