Here is another:
These are houses in town. These are not boats in a harbor.
And then there's this ride in downtown Villahermosa:
The statistics are horrible. 2.2 million people live in Tabasco. More than 1 million have been displaced. About 70,000 are in shelters. Many others have fled to Veracruz or elsewhere. All of the crops have been destroyed. Oil production has ceased. Some people remain on their roof tops rather than go to shelters. The authorities are concerned that they will find bodies when the water recedes.
And there's this video that shows the incredible scale of this and the resilience of the Tabasquenos:
This has been diaried before. Here and here and here, among others.
So why am I putting this up? Why am I going on and on about this? Weren't the previous diaries enough? Why am I posting again about this?
I'm upset about this disaster. I don't think this story is getting the exposure it deserves in the traditional media. I suspect that in part that is because the comparisons of Tabasco's flood with Katrina and New Orleans are inescapable. How can US viewers look at Tabasco without wondering whether New Orleans has been repaired? And why it isn't? How can US viewers watch Tabasco get back on its feet without comparing the effort to the failure to bring New Orleans completely back after all of this time? Wouldn't we rather forget all about this and move on?
I also think the story is under-reported in part because this tragedy is happening south of the Rio Grande. And, sadly, folks on the US side of the river don't really follow what happens on the other side. In fact, interest here at dKos about events in Mexico and the rest of Latin America is really slight. Yes, there are a few diarist who continue to write about these topics. Yes, many of those diarists have connections to Mexico and Latin America. But, generally, folks here aren't really all that interested about diaries about things beyond the Big River.
And I also think the story is not at the top of the news because it's hard to watch something like this and not do something about it. Something like donating money or clothing or food. And in this case, it seems hard at this point to make donations that will actually reach the people of Tabasco. There are two or three Christian dominionist groups on the scene, and I cannot in good conscience urge you to give them money. And I can't urge you to give money to well known charities that will use too much of your money for administration and advertising and who knows what else. So I don't have a magic link you can click right now and do something about this suffering.
And so I have to ask you to look at this, and understand what is happening. If you are moved to do something, at the moment, all I can suggest is that you prepare to make a donation. But don't actually give your money until its clear to you that your donation will actually help the people you see wading in this filthy, muddy water. In a few days, I think this will become clear as Villahermosa emerges from the water.
And if you can, prayers* (pastordan definition) might be a good idea now. May all in Tabasco be safe, may all be well, may all find shelter and food, and may their recovery from the floods be swift. And may we find appropriate ways to assist in getting Villahermosa and Tabasco back on their feet.
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