O/T: Tsunami Challenge

[Pittbull™]

I've just read the death toll is now at 60,000 and counting. The following health problems are expected to kill well over that figure also. Then there are the millions of people left homeless.
I really wish I could do somthing more that the $50 donation I made to the Red Cross, but I guess every little bit they get will help in some way.

I'd like to challenge everyone on the board to at least match 1/2 of what I gave to a charity helping all the people affected by the quake and tsunami.

I think we can all afford to miss 1/2 a tub of protein to help these people.

What do you think?

Pittbull

 

[New_Mass]

small donation

Agreed!

 

[rAJJIN]

well

Id do it in 1 second if I knew it would 100% go directly toward helping one of them familys.

donations sometimes are tricky.. 5% might go to the actuall cause
and the other 95% ends up elsewhere.

 

[jerrywear]

i am with you

 

[fsm]

For some charities, such as the red cross and world vision, a monetary contribution say of $100 can pay for the transfer of up to $3,000 worth of donated goods to the disaster site. so every little bit counts.

 

[JAG]

donations sometimes are tricky.. 5% might go to the actuall cause

I agree. There are charity watchdogs that moniter and report on charities. The best known is the AIP. And here is what they recommend:

The American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP) announces its top-rated list of charities currently offering relief services to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that has devastated parts of Southeast Asia. They are rated with “A” thru "F" grade based on the portion of their budget going to program services and their fundraising efficiency. The highest rated charity was the American Red Cross (A+) 1-800-HELP-NOW http://www.redcross.org/

 

[New_Mass]

deeds

Id do it in 1 second if I knew it would 100% go directly toward helping one of them familys.

donations sometimes are tricky.. 5% might go to the actuall cause
and the other 95% ends up elsewhere.

the deed alone is whats good and what counts so dont worry about all that just know that you did a good deed, it will come back to you

 

[Tman2002]

reply

I'm not trying to hijack your thread but I just saw on that some countries are complaning that the US has only given 35 million in relief so far. WTF? You would think they would be grateful for every penny.

 

[Mr OZ]

I live in australia with a population of 19 million and we are donating $35 million (approx US$27mill),
Not saying that makes anyone better than anyone else or that anyone cares more so dont think im trying to say that but you can see why some people would raise eyebrows,
again for the record im not saying one country is better than another, I know the US has pumped money into alot of other things going on in the world and a much larger extent than any other country.
I think its some people saying well we are donating this much so the US should be donating 10 times as much as we are.
I hope you see what im saying

 

[IronMike]

...

It certainly isn't the affected countries complaining about the US's contribution - they ARE grateful for all help and too busy to have press conferences whinging about foreign aid.

The US is probably in the same boat as Australia - they've made an initial commitment and will (hopefully) revise that as the situation is analysed.

Good post on the most recommended charities. That should be circulated widely so the money goes to the most productive charities.

Australia lost just under 200 people in the Bali bombings - I knew or knew of about 20 of those personally. I can only imagine how 60,000 fatalities has affected others in other countries. Families have just had the guts ripped out of them. Impossible to understand for me, sitting here in relative comfort. IronMike

 

[Pittbull™]

Thanks guys, now that the toll is up near 100,000 it all counts and really who gives a shit how much someone gives it's just good enough in my book there trying to help.

Pittbull