Madam, - Daragh O'Halloran (January 12th) is not the only one feeling uneasy about the response to the tsunami disaster. While I agree with him that the generosity displayed is most admirable, there is a danger that other areas of great need, particularly the Sudan, will now be overlooked and donation fatigue will set in.
What is required is "long term compassion for our fellow human beings". Certainly the immensity of the disaster in Asia touched hearts and pockets in a positive way but areas of as great a need are not receiving as much publicity and, therefore, not as much assistance.
I hope and pray that this will be a wake-up call to us all to ensure that we do all that we can, not just when such disasters occur, but day in and day out, to provide for the needs of all. With the wealth available in Ireland, and the generosity now displayed, we can take a lead in maintaining the momentum so that no one is deprived of the basic necessities of life. - Yours, etc.,
Mrs MARY STEWART, Ardeskin, Donegal Town.
Madam, - The aid agency Concern is to be congratulated for its statement that, for the moment, it has sufficient funds to meet its tsunami-related relief projects.
Donors to international relief and development organisations are entitled to this sort of honesty, and our trust of aid organisations is surely the cornerstone for the ongoing support that their future tsunami-related development projects will need.
We must therefore hope that Concern's statement does not produce recrimination from other agencies, as was the case when Medecins Sans Frontières issued a similar statement on January 4th, after receiving $80 million for its tsunami-related work.
Just as public and corporate donors have risen to the horror of the Asian tsunami, so too must we set high standards regarding the need for clarity and accountability in delivering aid, as well as the necessity for good governance through real inter-agency cooperation. - Yours, etc.,
Prof MALCOLM MacLACHLAN, Centre for Global Health and Department of Psychology, Trinity College, Dublin 2.
Madam, - I was quite perplexed after reading John A. Murphy's intolerant attack (January 15th) on Dr William Reville's effort to explain God's role in the tsunami disaster.
As a teacher of science, I regularly use Dr Reville's excellent columns to explain various aspects of the natural world. I found his recent articles challenging Prof Richard Dawkins on his anti-religious ideas, as well as his views on the tsunami disaster, most helpful and insightful in both science and religion class.
The religious and scientific worlds have no quick-fix answers to the recent natural disaster, yet words that attempt an explanation are necessary. Ignoring the exercise plunges us further into confusion, despair, absurdity, nihilism even.
Surely a religion such as Christianity, which puts forward the idea that redemption and salvation are brought about through the suffering and death of its saviour in solidarity with humanity and creation, is entitled freely to put forward its case without being shot down.
Light a candle rather than curse the darkness, the proverb reminds us. Maybe John A. Murphy would make an effort to provide some light in the post-tsunami darkness rather than get so upset about a little inter-disciplinary ecumenism between science and religion. At very least a little tolerance of the dearly held faith views of others would go a long way. - Yours, etc.,
Rev FINTAN MONAHAN, St Jarlath's College, Tuam, Co Galway.