Gratuitous kitten blogging: Not-so-gratuitous disaster relief edition
By Gina Spadafori
May 7, 2008
The death toll in Myanmar may top 100,000. We don’t usually write about non-pet issues here, but … 100,000 dead, how can we not mention it?
Doctors Without Borders already had people in Myanmar, and that’s one possibility for your donations. Please feel free to add other links to relief groups you trust in the comments. Ilario says thank you, because he’s a caring kitten.
The Myanmar situation is so frustrating. Natural disaster is one thing; governmental disaster quite another.
On a lighter note… My, what big paws you have Grandma.
Comment by Laura Bennett — May 7, 2008 @ 8:24 pm
worldvision.org also has teams already working in Myanmar.
Comment by kb — May 8, 2008 @ 12:15 am
The military leadership in Burma is only letting in very limited and grossly insufficient relief efforts. There are plenty of resources ready to try and save people’s lives but the military leadership’s only “plan” seems to be letting even more people suffer and die from this tragedy. I guess they don’t want to stray from their successful game plan to date.
Ilario says: You haz a piknik. I iz it.
Comment by slt — May 8, 2008 @ 3:58 am
The Myanmar disaster will not only be a disaster for people, it will also be a disaster for animals as well. If the government doesn’t respond to both the people and animal concerns then the government will wind up dealing with major medical/public health issues as well. In major disasters such as this, various animal rescue groups have also responded.
Comment by glock — May 8, 2008 @ 5:51 am
I agree with Laura: It IS a frustrating situation, given the political reality on the ground in Myanmar. I checked on the Web site of Oxfam, one the charities I give to regularly, and they indicate they are working with other groups, because they cannot get into the country.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 8, 2008 @ 6:05 am
The response by Myanmar’s government is so bad, that its starting to make our government’s response to Katrina look reasonable. And that’s saying something.
As for the kitty - just look at those whiskers! How are prince Iilaro and princess Clara? Any pictures of them together yet?
Comment by 2CatMom — May 8, 2008 @ 7:15 am
I am hopeful that within a week or two I can get a picture of them together. At this point, she doesn’t hiss or mrrowlll at him, and will let him get within three feet or so of her. Closer, and she shoot him a dirty look and walks away.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 8, 2008 @ 8:03 am
I second the World Vision link.
What a cutie pie you have Gina! He looks like such a sweetheart.
My baby was rejected by my two adult Persians, until she grew up some, as then was recognizable as a cat…instead of a “miniature” cat.
They now run and play with her, but there’s still a level of respect that must be adhered to in our cat hierarchy or pecking order.
Comment by Marcy — May 8, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Any cat magazine would sell all their copies quickly if Illario was on the cover.
A darling!
Comment by Colorado Transplant — May 8, 2008 @ 6:37 pm
For more information about helping pets and animals after a disaster visit http://www.avmf.org. This week more than 200 veterinarians will help to continue the regeneration of New Orleans by participating in a voluntourism project to rehab four shelters in the two days prior to the national AVMA conference. To date, the AVMF’s dedication to New Orleans has included more than $735,000, deployment of emergency vet medicine teams and a shelter rehabilitation project on July 17 and 18, 2008. To learn about how you can help these efforts continue in New Orleans, and across the country, visit http://www.avmf.org. Thank you and be safe!
Comment by Lisa — July 14, 2008 @ 3:44 am