In the UK �20m has been donated to the charities disasters emergency committee. Amazon.com's laudable efforts to raise money for the Red Cross has just crossed the $4million.

As the death toll approaches 120,000 and millions are homeless and without food or water why have governments given less than their people?

In the UK the government has only pledged �15million ($29m) but this makes it the second largest individual donor after the US who have pledged $35m.

This is unprecedented and I am sure will change. The governments will not allow themselves to be out given by their people and by the efforts of corporations such as the internet and drug companies.

Governments will also increase their pledges as the awful realization of the extent of the horror continues to grow.

Bloggers such as Real Live Preacher have been criticizing Bush for pledging less than he plans to spend on his inauguration celebrations. This seems to me a little unfair as the scale of the disaster was not known when these announcements were made. Somehow I suspect that whilst he will not cancel his celebrations as some are suggesting, the giving will increase.

Remember our governments represent US the people and are in fact giving our tax revenues. The single best way for us to make them give more is to continue to out give them. In the UK and US it is also possible to make sure that your tax on gifts is also refunded.