Help for the victims in Asia

Today I have written a cheque of 100 Euros for the victims of the tsunamis in Asia. I have sent that money to the cooperating welfare organisations (SHO) in the Netherlands.
What have you done to help the victims of this disaster ?

Those Aid agencies take your money and spend it on fuelling civil wars all around the globe, you can write your check for 100 euros if you want but remember about 50% of that money goes into weapons!!

I love the fact that people are willing to help each other, but don't put your innocent trust into aid agencies, okay?? (HamaticBabylon Chronicles, December 2004)

Note: I was not blowing things out of proportion; I was just trying to make a statement based on facts collected over time...
Moderator Action: Don't threadjack, and if you are going to make remarks like this, then support them with evidence. Otherwise its just trolling. Warned.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

My family give loads to charity, I myself have setup a standing order to give money monthly to Oxfam. I haven't given any money directly to relieve this disaster in Asia, there is little need as in terms of money, that isn't a problem, whilst coordinating the relief is...this is one disaster governments are going to channel alot of effort and money towards and we all pay our taxes.


I almost consider taxation giving to charity, cos so little of it is directed towards me, a member of the most taxed generation in Britain to pay for what? Locking up druggies, keeping old people alive, more specifically paying for the last 7 days of a persons life (the most costly period to the NHS generally), paying for the fire brigade (when have I needed them ), people that don't go to private schools, the works

In days past, if I had been a student, I wouldn't have now a large student loan to pay off, council tax wouldn't be so high (they love raising it above inflation year in, year out), duty on alcohol would be less as would tax on fuel. Add to that the fact that houses are so darned expensive that I won't be getting on the housing ladder for ages without parental support, which I would be loathe to get.

So, if I include taxes to my standing order, well it could be as much as 40-50% of my money leaves me to visit someone else

I've donated to various things in the past. Im considdering to donate to this one, but Im in doubt on were my money is best spend. Perhaps we should make a thread about that, you know, if we cant solve all problems in the world, which one is most important?

I haven't donated anything yet, and probably never will. I just don't feel too motivated. (and another big reason is that like HamaticBabylon said, I really don't think that most charities have a good donated money to actual aid ratio)

Too much like bragging to answer this question, don't you think? "I gave $200. Oh, but I gave $300, I win!" Maybe it's just my traditional WASP background, but I believe that charity is like prayer -- keep it to yourself.

HamaticBabylon's response is just making me shake my head -- nothing like overgeneralization and focusing on the extremes.

If anyone is looking for ways to donate that don't involve giving to the big aid organizations, though, he or she might want to look around and see if any local immigrants' groups are to be found. I live in an area that's populated heavily by immigrants from southeast Asia; there are people collecting various types of donations all over. You'd have to do a bit of asking questions to find out where the aid would be going, of course, but there would be no overhead in a lot of cases.

Renata

Apparently the Swedish Red Cross has recieved about 2 million crowns these past days. Normally they get ~400000 a year!

Pellaken's Tsunami Challenge

I just spent an hour walking downtown, and an hour walking back.
why?

I went to donate $100 to the red cross for the tsunami victems. on the way back I was thinking... I should issue a challenge

This is one issue where peer pressure is a good thing. I understand some of you may not be able to afford this, I myself am an unemployed student, but I urge everyone to look serisouly at donating what they can. I know one guy who donated $4000. if I sold everything I have and added everything in the bank, I wouldent have even $4000! I'm not trying to pick on anyone who truly cant afford to make a donation, but I do want everyone to seriously see if they can beat me.

the challenge is to, yourself, donate $100 to the tsunami victems, or more. if you've done so, and please be honest, post here that you have.

may god help the victems.

This link might help: http://www.google.com/tsunami_relief.html

I made a donation to the American Red Cross a couple days ago.

I will soon be making a donation of A$400 through my Church. The collection will be made during Sunday.

I have relatives back in Malaysia and Thailand, thankfully they are not much affected. I would help if I could but money is a bit tight for me.

if you cant donate money, you can always donate your time!

Well I gave 20? today and probably will give more soon.

The question mark is supposed to be euro sign.

Anyone know where I can find a place to donate via paypal?

I dont know why my challenge was merged with this. I've even gone so far as to contact local media outlets to issue to challenge to all canadians.

I'm not planning on making any donations, but I'm going to Bangkok on Tuesday, and I was thinking I maybe should bring something to give there locally for them to use. Any suggestions to what they might need? I read the highest priority is water, food, medicines and blankets. But what will people need in a week or so? Same thing? Money? Clothes? I think tourists will get whatever they need financially from respective government, but I doubt the locals are as lucky, and once most tourists are gone from there, western interest in it will die away and locals are left with absolutely nothing.

you can donate time too.


Can we get the name of this thread edited so the word Challenge is in it?

the current title wont encourage anyone to go out and give.

I just donated $250 on Amazon.

Pellaken said:

you can donate time too.


Can we get the name of this thread edited so the word Challenge is in it?

the current title wont encourage anyone to go out and give.

Click to expand...

Shouldn't you donate because it's right and not to win a challenge?

Pellaken said:

I dont know why my challenge was merged with this. I've even gone so far as to contact local media outlets to issue to challenge to all canadians.

Click to expand...

It's a very good thing you're doing, but this seems very typical. Loads of people are in similar situations or worse every day, but since the media coverage/closeness isn't as big, the charity to help them isn't very big either. Often some groups get an unproportionate amount of help when it comes to charity, not because they need it less, but because people care less.

Also, the "best" way to donate money is usually by doing it on a regular basis and through the bank, like KittenOfChaos. The money can be used a lot more efficiently that way.