Have you been asked while checking out at the Virginia Tech University Bookstore if you would like to donate a dollar to Pakistan flood relief? Didn’t think so.
In July 2010, unprecedented monsoon rains in Pakistan submerged one-fifth of the nation’s total land area, causing one of the largest natural disasters of the modern era. The United Nations estimated the number of affected individuals to be greater than the combined totals of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. With water levels reaching more than 18 feet high, people were seen standing on their roof tops seeking salvation.
This damage has left millions homeless and injured, as well as severely damaged if not totally destroyed crop fields, affecting future wheat harvests in particular.
Research by Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy shows as of Aug. 30, a total of $25 million has been donated to Pakistan by individuals. While this is a seemingly large amount, it pales in comparison to the $900 million donated to efforts in Haiti within the same time frame after the quake struck.
With such great need, why the lack of relief aid?
A major factor points to the lack of media coverage. Although news stories swiftly brought images and videos of Pakistanis wading through shoulder-deep water, coverage since the flooding has been increasingly rare.
With the public’s attention indefinitely divided between other media seeking our attention such as ads, celebrity gossip, YouTube videos and social networks, news stories seem to remain in our conscious only as a result of repeated exposure.
Unfortunately, while we are able to cry “Oh, the horror,” at the breaking news bar on the bottom of our TV screens, the horror remains long after it stops being brought to our attention.
Another reason for the lackluster donations may be because of the fact that Pakistan has not been favorably portrayed in the media otherwise.
As a Muslim nation, heavily associated with terrorism as of late, individuals are perhaps less willing to offer relief. With the Park51 Mosque stirring controversy and intensifying opinions, those holding animosity toward Muslims may be less inclined to give to those thought of as the adversary.
While this may be an underlying and largely subconscious factor hindering aid, I would urge you to look past this and realize the humanitarian stakes at hand.
A version of this article appeared in the Sep 9 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 2 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
Really awesome article, puts things in perspective. Only wish that people were more aware and this article wouldn't be needed.
Reply to this Top
<a href="http://www.pskiller.com/">Photoshopped Image Killer</a> can detect various settings that were used in the digital camera in taking the photo, and also compares an image against a large number of compression signatures. PSKiller resports whether image comes from digital camera directly or from Photoshop. This is extremely useful when you have some suspiciouly edited images.
Reply to this Top