Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 31, 1995 TAG: 9501310148
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
W.M., Staunton
A: Few nations are completely isolated, unless they choose to be.
The United States, in keeping with its heritage of independence, does not ask for help. It does accept voluntary assistance, though.
John Ballou, a Red Cross volunteer from Roanoke, just returned from rain-drenched northern California, where he worked alongside volunteers from Canada.
It was Ballou's second trip to California in a year. In January of '94 he worked with volunteers from both Canada and Mexico during the Northridge earthquake.
They prepared food and delivered it to people who had been flooded out of their homes. Canada also provided some supplies.
When Hurricane Andrew devastated Florida in 1992, the relief workers included a woman from Iceland.
``Don't ask me why,'' Ballou said, but she hauled fresh-cooked food to newly homeless people in Miami-area streets.
Mexican and Canadian Red Cross agencies both provided staff people during Andrew, and Canada gave cash assistance.
A Red Cross spokesperson said Kuwait gave $10 million for U.S. disaster assistance. Bangladesh, a poor nation that has much experience with floods, gave $5,000.
Red Cross national headquarters said the Japanese Red Cross provided $3.1 million in aid for Andrew, the Midwest floods in '93 and the Northridge earthquake.
When an earthquake near San Francisco struck during the 1989 World Series, Japan provided much technical assistance.
Now, the United States is reciprocating with offers of computer services, highway and building construction, and seismologists.
The Red Cross said industrialized nations such as Japan and the United States do not issue international appeals for help. That wouldn't be ethical in the face of great needs in undeveloped countries.
However, the wealthier nations will accept spontaneous offers of assistance. The Red Cross is in that business.
N2 P18s
Q: Why does the Commonwealth of Virginia issue so many vanity car license plates with the same mistake in them: a numeral 1 in place of a capital ``I'' in a name or word? Examples: P1ANIST, FL1ER, etc.
R.C., Roanoke
A: There are three good reasons - or maybe just three reasons:
No.3: Someone else had taken the word that car owner really wanted. The applicant opted for an impressionistic spelling to get the message across.
No.2: Some plates are RTSY and CRE8IVE, such as 2BRN2B. (To be or not to be.)
No.1: The Department of Motor Vehicles can sell more communiplates at $10 extra per consumer.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
by CNB