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1. 

   LGT Posted 10:37 am
   18 Jul 2008

   Here's one from Desmond Tutu

   "Do not fly in the face of the poor by allowing the emissions produced by endless and unnecessary business flights to keep growing."

   http://rtsf.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/stop-flying-in-the-f ...

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2. 

   Bob Wallace Posted 2:29 pm
   18 Jul 2008

   Perhaps...

   Self-centered rather than "selfish".

   But other than that I think his observation is excellent.

   Many Americans just don't seem to understand that there is anything outside our boarders.  (Except adoring "foreigners" just dying to get in.)

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3. 

   caniscandida Posted 3:27 pm
   18 Jul 2008

   selfish vs. self-centered?

   Small difference; they amount to much the same.

   Shintaro Ishihara's statement is excellent.  Future archeologists and historians will say of the US, and of American "civilization" in general, that nobody was so good as we are, at foolishly cultivating the denial of death.

   Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

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4. 

   anotherID Posted 12:29 am
   19 Jul 2008

   I prefer Churchill's

   "Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing, after exhausting all other options."

   Winston Churchill

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5. 

   Wolverine Posted 5:03 am
   20 Jul 2008

   I Wholeheartedly Agree

   I would add materialistic and greedy.

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6. 

   WWAGD?! Posted 11:05 am
   20 Jul 2008

   Ameriphobes Biting Hand

   http://www.moyak.com/researcher/resume/papers/philanthrop ...

   So, at the guilt-fest in Jo'burg, the U.S. delegation should tell the real story of American generosity abroad. While there are no complete figures for international private giving, conservative estimates from surveys and voluntary reporting are impressive: Americans privately give at least $34 billion overseas -- more than three times U.S. official foreign aid of $10 billion.

   Latest Figures

   International giving by U.S. foundations totals $1.5 billion per year, according to the latest figures. Even this shortchanges the "mega-donors" such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, because its biggest outlays came after the latest figures were tabulated.

   Corporate philanthropy has also become a significant part of the total. Once disallowed by U.S. courts, charitable giving by U.S. businesses now comes to at least $2.8 billion annually. And cooperation between corporations and foundations has become common: When Merck gave $50 million for an HIV/AIDS program in Botswana, it was matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

   This doesn't begin to touch the work of America's NGOs, whose missions help the needy around the world. Groups like Catholic Relief Services and Save the Children give a whopping $6.6 billion in grants, goods and volunteers. Religious overseas ministries contribute $3.4 billion, including health care, literacy training, relief and development. Even the $1.3 billion U.S. colleges give in scholarships to foreign students is more than Australia, Belgium, Norway, or Switzerland gave in total foreign assistance in 2000.

   There's another way that the U.S. contributes as well, one that speaks volumes about this country's real gift to the world. As Mexican President Vicente Fox says, the "real heroes" are immigrants who send money to families back home. Personal remittances from the U.S. to developing countries came to $18 billion in 2000 and provide, in Mexico for example, the third largest source of foreign exchange. U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin, who sends money to her aunt in Mexico, calls remittances "one of the most important transactions between our two countries."

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7. 

   katakanadian Posted 10:10 pm
   20 Jul 2008

   Wow. He said something that sounds intelligent

   Ishihara is famous for making racist and sexist statements. I suspect he said this more for the controversy than because he wants to see change in the world.

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8. 

   caniscandida Posted 11:53 pm
   20 Jul 2008

   "biting hand"

   Sorry, John Bailo, "Ameriphobe" is too much.  Some of us just ask good old America to be as good as good old America claims to be.  Or do you have a problem with truth and honesty?

   But you conservatives would not understand that.

   Thanks to cousin Wolverine, and KataKanadian, and AnotherID.

   Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

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