What's even worse is when countries pledge money, having no intention to deliver, simply out of pressure; as soon as the public eye is turned, they cancel the cheques, as it were. After the Bam earthquake, 1 billion was pledged, but very little was delivered. The problem with this (aside from the obvious problem with empty promises for ostentation) is that some people look and say "wow, the government is giving a billion, what's my 5 dollars gonna do", and don't give, or give less; and then when countries fail to deliver on their pledges, rebuilding is left to the locals, who have no more media around to portray their plight.