http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/23/china.earthquake/index.html


So China is pleading for tents for the quake victims. If someone supplies China with tents, where are the tents manufactured in the first place? Since they make so many of the goods for the rest of the world, shouldn't they have enough tents?

I'm not trying to be heartless and say don't give aid to China. I'm just curious as to why they'd need goods that they manufacture? I'm not talking about food, obviously that is something that they can't 'build,' but I'd bet any tents that say the US would donate would say 'made in China' on them.

Is this a ploy to get countries to buy more goods from China just to have the countries donate them back to China? In the article they mention asking manufacturers in their own country make them faster for relief aid too, but this is a serious question from me.

I'm just curious as to why they'd need goods that they manufacture?Even if they did make them, it still takes more time to manufacture them than it would for the Red Cross/Crescent, FEMA, UNICEF, et al to ship their inventory of relief tents they have on hand back to China. It's a logistics thing more than anything, and time is the most valuable commodity right now for those victims.

They also shut down a ton of manufacturing in China to better the air quality around Bejing for the Olympics. Inventorys in China should be lower than normal for most things. Like Akipt said its a logistics thing more than anything. Send them tents!

Even if they did make them, it still takes more time to manufacture them than it would for the Red Cross/Crescent, FEMA, UNICEF, et al to ship their inventory of relief tents they have on hand back to China. It's a logistics thing more than anything, and time is the most valuable commodity right now for those victims.

Really? You certain? Have you seen New Orleans...it's still pretty f'd up.

How long does it take to make a tent that can offer a family of 4 shelter? I would think that in a production situation quite a few can be made daily.

Really? You certain? Have you seen New Orleans...it's still pretty f'd up.No, but my parents have spent several weeks down there this year alone in relief efforts. A lack of tents is not New Orleans' problem.

My point was that under the current situation of things that FEMA and The Red Cross have been less than able to respond in a cohesive way to a disaster, even so far as delivering goods.

That's excellent that your parents are involved! Lots of credit and good wishes their way.

Last I hear d there is over 5 million homeless. Thats a lot of freakin tents

My thought was though, if we were to donate the tents, where would we get them from? From China.

Reminds me of the thought I had in the Army: Why do I pay taxes, on money that comes from taxpayers?

I always felt that members of the military should have no income taxes.

I always felt that members of the military should have no income taxes.

They don't if they are deployed.

We still make tents here. Plus, ours actually stand up to the weather.

They don't if they are deployed.


yeah...but all through their service.

A useful point of comparison is the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 or so.

My point was that under the current situation of things that FEMA and The Red Cross have been less than able to respond in a cohesive way to a disaster, even so far as delivering goods.

That's excellent that your parents are involved! Lots of credit and good wishes their way.

Homeland Security is not running the China relief effort tho.

this is true...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4020002.ece

Some good out of this tragedy.

Woah.

That is some good for sure.