cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/41555827
Statement by US Embassy in Myanmar:
As an immediate response to the March 28 Sagaing earthquake, the United States will provide up to USD 2 million through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations to support earthquake-affected communities. In addition, a USAID emergency response team is deploying to Myanmar to identify the people’s most pressing needs, including emergency shelter, food, medical needs, and access to water.
The United States stands with the people of Myanmar as they work to recover from the devastation. We offer our deepest condolences for the loss of life and infrastructure in this difficult time.
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One of my all time favorite political novels is ‘The Porkchoppers’ by Ross Thomas. It’s about a Union election in the Nixon Era. At one point one of the candidates holds a rally; to get more people to attend they hold a raffle. Surprise, the winner of the new boat is the cousin of one of the insiders.
Exact same thing happened this time.
https://www.wisn.com/article/who-received-million-dollar-checks-from-elon-musk/64345029
If I recall it’s a bit more twisted than that. Musk can’t legally just give money to make someone vote, so they’re actually giving the money to a sponsor, but playing it up like it’s some raffle.
Its just another game to undercut democracy and use his wealth to break the system.