Murdoch, Schumacher pitch in for Tsunami relief

Murdoch, Schumacher pitch in for Tsunami relief

MUMBAI: Media moghul Rupert Murdoch has joined a list of high profile people that are donating millions of dollars to help the victims of the Tsunami natural disaster which struck South Asia. He has donated $1million.

Race legend Michael Schumacher has topped that by donating $10 million. This amounts to about an eight of what he earned last year.

Schumacher said, ``It's impossible not to keep thinking about it. Our thoughts are with them and we hope that they will be spared further disastrous events.''

Murdoch meanwhile has called upon media companies to do their bit. He said, "More than 150,000 dead, thousands missing, 5 million homeless, millions more vulnerable to diseases. While the world has already responded with great compassion, we can do more - and should do more."

Murdoch added that his move was a response to an appeal for funds by US President George Bush. Murdoch said, "In announcing this effort, the president placed his faith in what he called 'the good heart of the American people. I have also asked all of our US-based media to support the president's call by devoting as much space and airtime as practicable to encourage Americans to open their pocket books to this great humanitarian enterprise."

In the US, Walt Disney set up a fund with the International Red Cross with an initial donation of $1 million. Time Warner has donated $300,000 and will match employee donations up to $500,000. Individual Time Warner companies in Europe and Asia are also making donations.

Other high profile donors include American actress Sandra Bullock who donated $ 1 million to the Red Cross. Meanwhile Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have created a solidarity fund for the Tsunami victims. Fifa's emergency committee has decided to donate $ 2 million towards rehabilitation and relief work. The AFC has pledged $1 million.