In a message dated 9/14/02 9:23:57 AM Pacific Daylight Time, wilden1@JUNO.COM
writes:

<< OK BenTee in the middle.
 I saw the thing on the cargo trailers being used as residences in the
 Philippines on a Frontline special that went into the details of the
 Tropical Storms in the Pacific.
 You know the Typhoons and Sunami?
 The concern voiced was that the cargo container are so strong and water
 tight that people living in them can be washed out to sea in situations
 of tidal waves and back washes.
 As for expense; there has to be some middle class working residents of
 the Philippines that can buy a $500.00 cargo container. Wouldn't you
 think?
 I knew I could never trust Public television again after I found out that
 they were partially funded by the National Endowment for The Arts. >>

Sounds like they were taking artistic license.  No way a cargo container will
sell for $500 there unless it was 1945 or something. If they are buying it
for that, it;s because it was likely appropriated w/o the shipping company's
permission. As for a middle class, they are almost nonexistent in the
Philippines. A Vanagon if you can find one for sale will likely still go for
about $15,000 for even an air-cooled (bus) example. If you start getting
ideas of importing one, you should be made aware that a big chunk of that is
customs duty and luxury tax. Tax has gone as high as 205% in some cases.

BenT