[Marxism] Indonesian Volcano Spews Lava, Hot Clouds

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Doesn't this really tell you just about everything you might need to
know about the differences between the U.S. and the Cuban systems
and their contributions toward humanity at this moment in history?
I wonder how many MINUTES later the Cubans were than the Americans?

And then they wonder why even the MIAMI HERALD has headlines like:

"Castro's standing tied to leftists' rise"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/50603


Walter Lippmann
Havana, Cuba
===================================================================
("Thirty more U.S. military medical personnel arrived Saturday, and
were followed by a 135-member medical team from Cuba with two field
hospitals. Medical teams already have arrived from Singapore, Japan,
Iraq, Malaysia, Qatar and Pakistan.")
===================================================================

Indonesian Volcano Spews Lava, Hot Clouds
By EN-LAI YEOH
Associated Press Writer
South Floorida Sun-Sentinel
Posted June 3 2006, 12:53 PM EDT

BANTUL, Indonesia -- The Mount Merapi volcano spewed lava and hot
clouds Saturday and a strong aftershock hit the region, sending fear
rippling through the southern Indonesian area devastated by an
earthquake only a week ago.

The mountain's lava dome has swelled in the past week to 330 feet,
raising fears that it could collapse, said Subandriyo, a government
scientist who uses one name. That could release a highly dangerous
pyroclastic flow -- a fast-moving burst of high-temperature gases and
rock fragments that burns anything in its path.

More than a thousand aftershocks have hit the region since the
6.3-magnitude earthquake struck before dawn May 27, killing at least
6,234 people and injuring 30,000 more. Officials estimate that
135,000 homes were destroyed.

Scientists say the quake may have contributed to a weakening of the
lava dome.

Most aftershocks have been weak, but one overnight Saturday jolted
survivors awake.

"I picked up my nephew and ran out of the house. It was very strong,"
said Yudi, who like many Indonesians uses one name. There were no
reports of damage from the quake, measured at magnitude 3.4.

Worried villagers in recent days have performed rituals aimed at
warding off an eruption. On Thursday, the mountain's royally
appointed spiritual guardian, "Mbah" Maridjan, led a silent
procession of 100 people three times around a village near the
volcano.

Most of the estimated 647,000 people left homeless are living in
makeshift shelters -- often just plastic tarps to ward off tropical
downpours and the hot sun -- with no toilets or running water.

Thirty more U.S. military medical personnel arrived Saturday, and
were followed by a 135-member medical team from Cuba with two field
hospitals. Medical teams already have arrived from Singapore, Japan,
Iraq, Malaysia, Qatar and Pakistan.

The United Nations issued an urgent appeal Friday for $103 million to
pay for the recovery effort over the next six months -- with about
half of that for rebuilding homes. Aid workers have yet to reach some
remote areas, and delivery of food, medicine and tents has been
sporadic in others.

More than 50 people were staying Saturday in two large empty chicken
coops in Pentong in Bantul district. Flies buzzed everywhere, and
children played barefoot on bamboo slats encrusted with chicken
droppings.

The British medical aid agency Merlin said it was concerned that the
villagers could catch bird flu or salmonella, and it appealed for
more tents for survivors.

Bird flu cases have rocketed in Indonesia in the past month, with
some occurring in districts surrounding the quake zone. At least 38
Indonesians have died.

Parji, the 60-year-old owner of one of the coops, told The Associated
Press that he was not afraid of bird flu.

"There is a slight smell from the dung, but I look after the health
of my birds. I am certain there is no bird flu here," he said.

Two earthquake survivors committed suicide Friday, one by hanging and
the other by jumping down a well, Bantul police chief Lt. Col. Dedy
Munazat said. Both men had lost their homes in the quake.

Government officials said 380 people who had complained of dizziness
and severe stomach pains after eating donated food Thursday were
apparently suffering from post-trauma stress. The villagers were
treated at four hospitals and laboratory tests found the food was
safe, the national disaster agency said.

The massive relief effort comes as Indonesia is still trying to
rebuild from the 2004 tsunami, which killed 131,000 people in western
Aceh province alone.


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