There are numerous Latino groups in our area requesting current (1-5-99) info on y2k and how to prepare. The Cassandra project is outdated are there other websites with Spanish info?

-- rory moore (israel@telis.org), January 07, 1999

Answers

Hi Rory! I hope at least one of the following will help:

http://www.map.es/csi/2000.htm

http://www.ctv.es/USERS/estrella/2000.htm

http://www.y2k.gob.mx

http://www.cfe.gob.mx/a2000

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), January 07, 1999.

# # # 19990107

Rory:

They should've learned English if they're in the USA! There is no Y2K-time to diddle with multi-language translations. Another feel- good balkanizing folly that will rightfully bite the dust post-Y2K, reinforcing English language as a REQUIREMENT--like it originally WAS--for US citizenship.

The Latinos ( you name the nations! ) are woefully and pathetically Y2K ignorant and incompetent. Vestisages of the better ( fittest, intelligent )cultures will prevail post-Y2K. Nature's way.

My suggestion: Teach the illiterate English--FAST!

Regards, Bob Mangus # # #

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus@mail.netquest.com), January 07, 1999.

Robert Mangus, I think your post was totally uncalled for. If this is how you treat people, I can understand why certain members of your family no longer want to have anything to do with you.

-- Are you and Hitler related? (Icant@believe.this), January 07, 1999.

Robert,

The deficit of Y2k information in languages other than English is a major factor in global unreadiness.

Your message is disgustingly inappropriate.

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), January 07, 1999.

# # # 19990108

Talk about "uncalled for" ...

From bastions of dark bowels, "courageous" ( not! ) anonymity and wishy washy mushy political correctness ...

To: "Are you and Hitler related?" and "No Spam Please"

The only demostrable "deficit" that exists is one of lack of global intellectual capacity and ethical character to recognize and accept the always verifiable Y2K-Techno-Ambush situation--regardless of language.

Show me the substance--if you have any idea what substance might be-- of your objections to my rationale about time constraints and the impractical ( time wasting ) task of translating English Y2K information into who-knows-how-many languages.

Posit your self-righteously unfounded ad hominems elsewhere.

Suffer no Y2K-fools!

Regards, Bob Mangus # # #

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus@mail.netquest.com), January 08, 1999.

Robert,

Y2K is global, systemic, and knows no lauguage barriers --00.

Either we assist empowering a world, or its ALL going to power down.

1st Impact: Global

2nd Impact: Local

And vice versa.

Nest pas? Entiendes?

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 08, 1999.

# # # 19990108

[ SET RESPECT ON ]

Diane, Et Al:

As I aptly put it quite bluntly and instructively to understanding audiences attending my public forums:

"It's the ( Y2K remediation/preparedness ) resources, stupid!!"

They ( resources ) simply and inextricably do not exist! The US is hundreds of thousands people and many years short! The rest of the world is hopelessly and shamelessly in worse Y2K-straights.

Hypothetically, at whose _expense_ would _you_ wishfully propose to conscript and re-distribute your imaginary resources from? Publish _your list of the selected unfortunates, won't you? Hmmm? ... Get real!

We/They are pre-Y2K AND post-Y2K Toasties. "Get It?"

The impact is "simultaneously" global and local--all gauranteed by the same immutable sequentially staggered ticking and stroke of the clocks.

You all make this sound as if _I_ were one to "wish"/"force"/"will" the Y2K situation upon the planet. Well, I'm not _the one_. The situation just is--and, it is out of hand and not under any sense of control!

C'est la vie!! N'est pas?

Counter-respondents to this thread sound like a bunch of wishful thinking and incorrigible denial-heads.

Get over it! Get off that "Yellow Brick Road" and locate the path to inevitable Y2K-realty.

Regards, Bob Mangus # # #

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus@mail.netquest.com), January 08, 1999.

Bob,

Your reply reminds me of a thread I've wanted to start for a long time, but have never gotten around to: why are some nations so far behind on awareness and remediation than others?

In some cases, it's because of distraction by the economy (Asia), or distraction by a new currency (Europe). But it seems that generally awareness is further along in countries that are English speaking.

Peter de Jager is Canadian, of course, and articles he wrote for ComputerWorld and the lectures he gave were to people who spoke English. A great deal of Y2K awareness, I'd say, has been communicated by word of mouth and between businessmen--who speak English.

Language was a barrier to worldwide awareness. And nobody wanted to take the trouble to explain Y2K to non-English speakers, especially since even English speakers weren't sure if Y2K was something that needed to be taken seriously or not.

Some of Spanish speakers in the U.S. pick up English slowly because their parents only speak Spanish to them at home. Others are recent arrivals to the U.S. and haven't had time yet to become fluent--and have no chance of becoming fluent in English by April.

I agree that all U.S. citizens should know English well, but it's 1999 now, and English as the official language of the U.S. at this point is a moot issue. True, the U.S. cannot save the world from Y2K (we can't even save ourselves from Y2K!), but if someone in the U.S. whose first language is Spanish can understand and prepare for Y2K quicker by going to a Y2K web site in Spanish, then that's what they should do.

Bob, from this and a few of your other recent messages, I can tell Y2K has made you very edgy. Have you taken a vacation recently? No disrespect intended. As Diane would say, take a deep breath. Step back once in awhile from Y2K and relax.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 08, 1999.

Spanish, French, Germans, Japanese, Schmeese, who CAN "get it" already speak english for the most part, and some who don't speak it, easily "get it" when explained in their own language. My french-speaking-only family is an example. They don't even log on the internet, except for 2 of my nephews age 18 and 13. But when I explained to them in french what I had learned over several months of research, they not only got it but discussed and brought up scenarios on thier own much like what is being discussed here. All have said during this last trip I made home over the holiddays, that they have started preparing and making plans.

The problem is not so much language, as is very apparent with americans who were born speaking english, but can't comprehend what they read and hear, or don't want to, when they can read at all.

My cleaning lady who comes once a week is Russian, she speaks 4 languages (german, russian, muldavian and english). She works too hard and long hours to watch tv, or read books or surf the net, but when I discuss Y2K with her she gets it. She wants to know more and ask me for news each time she comes. I offered her printed material, but she says she can't read english yet (came here 4 years ago). She started stockpiling and she knows from experience what an illusion comfort is and how fast it can be taken away.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 08, 1999.

Chris, maybe you could print this page for your cleaning lady:

http://www.angelfire.com/ca/rhomer/images/socialruss.htm

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), January 08, 1999.

Cool Gayla, thanks! One question...is this site polyannish? I don't feel confortable giving info I don't agree with ;-)

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 08, 1999.

Yes, Robert, "The Y2K situation upon the planet ... is out of hand and not under any sense of control!"

Almost NO ONE posting here denies that. What you, and others need to "get" is our last best "hope" is individual and community global preparedness, and I don't mean the blasted computers either!

Potential Y2K repercussions for massive death, famine and starvation knows no language either. But the "get ready" now information needs to be translated -- simply -- into many, many languages world-wide.

No one government, or one "power" on earth, has the right to decide who is to live and who is to die by withholding the information that can save lives.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), January 08, 1999.

Chris, I can read only a little Russian, (speak even less!) but from what I could tell, it is mostly repeating major articles written about Y2K. Maybe the two of you could sit down and read it together. It might open the door for even more dialogue??? Anyone else fluent in Russian?

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), January 08, 1999.