Telethon for Chile started a few minutes ago

[rabs]

Hosted by Don Francisco of Sabados Gigante.

This will go on for 24 hours to raise funds for the displaced. The goal is to raise the eqivalent of 6.5 million dollars to build homes. All of the country is tuned in, there will be top-flight entertainment (including Juanes of Colombia).

The first donation just came in, a modest 20,000 pesos, 40 dollars. Chile is picking itself up by its own bootstraps.

You can catch some of it here online.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tv-de-chile

[rabs]

1. Telethon just ended

In 24 hours, Chileans raised nearly 65 million dollars to help to rebuild homes, schools, businesses.

The telethon was named "Chile ayuda a Chile" (Chile helps Chile) and it certainly did, the goal was more than doubled. Pesos raised: $30.212.775.555.

Several million dollars have been pledged by other countries, the U.N., EU and others.

Meantime, U.S. aid is still a no-show or if any has arrived, no one has noticed.

[Judi Lynn]

2. They did well, didn't they? Terrific.

I don't understand the hold-up on the U.S. response to this disaster. Doesn't make any sense.

That phone Clinton gave President Bachelet is probably bugged!

Thanks, rabs.

Hope to hear the US will kick in soon.

Glad to know other bodies and countries have responded already.