Andante does a nice compare and contrast on the reaction of the Hedgemony to hurricane Katrina, and the reaction of the Chinese government to the earthquake.

How about the Hedgemony and the Burmese junta?

I wrote about the USS Bataan, which wasn’t allowed to help New Orleans.

The BBC writes about the same class of vessel, the USS Essex, barred from Burma

The US amphibious assault ship, USS Essex, is moored off the coast of Burma, prohibited by the military government from swinging into action to help cyclone victims. The BBC’s Nick Bryant reports from aboard the ship.
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BBC reports that China declares national mourning

China has announced three days of mourning for the tens of thousands of victims of Monday’s earthquake.

It will begin with a three-minute silence at 1428 (0628 GMT), exactly a week after the quake struck the south-western Sichuan province.

The Olympic torch relay will also be suspended for three days.

The number of confirmed deaths has now risen to 32,477, but officials say the final toll may reach 50,000. More than 220,000 people have been injured.

Chinese President Hu Jintao has expressed gratitude for the international help with relief efforts following the magnitude 7.9 quake.

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First it was a lake burning and now a swamp, as CNN reports Florida Everglades fire scorches 33,000 acres

(CNN) — Almost 33,000 acres of the Everglades National Park were burning Sunday, fire officials said, the latest in a series of wildfires that have scorched parts of Florida in May.

The smoke cast a haze over parts of South Florida, including Miami, prompting a dense smoke advisory from the National Weather Service.

The fire, which threatened private property as well as an endangered bird, started Friday, the Southern Area InterAgency Management Blue Team said.

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Florida License Plates

Beneficiary

A weekend feature of Why Now.