Tsunami Donations

The British public has now given over £75 million which is an amazing sum. It illustrates the reason why charity will always be with us. Not because governments fail, but because people want to assist others: they do not expect the state to do everything. Faced with a global disaster of this kind, everyone wants to pitch in. It is international solidarity in action: perhaps the most beneficial side of globalization that we have seen.

Yesterday, there was a minute's silence at football grounds around the country. They are not always universally supported, but yesterday was different somehow. The minute's silence at Ninian Park was impeccably observed.

With so much money being given, attention is now switching to the way in which aid is being distributed. My old mate David Aaronovitch is right today in the Guardian when he says

"An unwelcome distraction in all this has been the politicking. It's hard to admire the weaselly suggestions by Messrs Howard and Kennedy that, had they been PM, they would have been wandering around various British airports right now, personally checking on the Asia-bound cargoes and inspiring everyone to greater effort."

He is also right that the attacks on the UN from the political right have been disappointing, if predictable. As he says, we need a better UN, not a dead UN. But David shows his age when he says Kofi Annan is our Jeff Tracy of International Rescue. Yes, I remember Thunderbirds as well. If Kofi is Mr Tracy, who would David cast as Lady Penelope? Condoleezza Rice?

You can read David's article here.