BS: Where to make donations.....

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 01:48 PM

"But I also worry about the areas of the world that may see fewer donations and resulting greater hardship this year as a result of the huge, heart-warming outpouring from all over the world." When that sort of thing happens it means it wasn't really "an outpouring of generosity", it was people shifting their calculated and limited charity from one place to another, because of the headlines.

An outpouring of generosity means giving something extra, something you'd spend on yourself. And that's generally what ordinary people do, in fact, in a time like this. It's the big corporate donors, with an eye on good public relations and tax breaks, and the governments playing politics with the media, who play games by giving with one hand and paying for it by cutting back on the giving elsewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 07:01 PM

Fairly (if vigorously) stated. I have a BIG problem with only our local chapter of the U.S. Red Cross, but even if that should taint other entities (it shouldn't), now is not the time to address any such grievances. I also well understand that misbehavior of senior administrators would be a terrible blow to hard working and dedicated volunteers, more than to anyone else. This can be hammered out elsewhere and later. Right now they are recipients of massive donations and will be trying to show their stuff. I hope they do well.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: ard mhacha
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 04:42 PM

Can you people who are putting the knife in The Red Cross make it clear that it is the US Red Cross you are condemming, I have heard nothing detrimental about The British or Irish branches of this organisation.
Just donate to which charity you prefer and be quiet.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 08:32 AM

I share your concerns about other parts of the world being left behind as a result of our outpouring of generosity too Allison, and mentioned it quite a bit up the thread here.

Someone else also mentioned the quake of a year ago, which destroyed the town of Bam, Iran. The people there are still suffering tremendously, and awaiting the "pledged" donations from us that have never been fulfilled.

Charities also worry about this, especially so early in the new year, due to donor burnout, as this article about UNICEF describes.

BTW, LilyFestre this article describes the Global Parent program of UNICEF, so you might be interested in reading it. Many of the victims of the Bam earthquake are orphaned children too.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 05:53 AM

Forgive me if I seem hard-hearted- I mourn and ache with all of us at the vastness of this disaster and the impact on human life and our planet. But I also worry about the areas of the world that may see fewer donations and resulting greater hardship this year as a result of the huge, heart-warming outpouring from all over the world. The victims of the Sudan are still suffering. Habitat for Humanity and Heifer Project still need to help families get a leg up- so I will be sending my $ to the global charity of my choice and will put in a note that I recognize the need of the tsunami victims, but to please put my $ wherever it is needed.

I'm warmed by the length of this thread about giving. I've been waiting for my next paycheck before I write a check, and I'm grateful for the time to reflect, to read others' opinions, and to make what I hope has been a guided, thoughtful decision.

Bless you all!

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 08:55 PM

This is from an article at today's Reuters AlertNet:

"There are at least 150,000 pregnant women in tsunami-hit areas who may face complications, including trauma-induced miscarriage, and need urgent medical and nutritional support, said the U.N. population agency (UNFPA).

"Over 50,000 women within the affected communities will give birth in the next three months," said UNFPA in a statement.

"The damage to health facilities and loss of basic delivery care supplies has jeopardised their chances to deliver under clean and safe circumstances," it said.

The UNFPA was supplying $3 million for basic maternity and hygiene kits for women, which will include soap for washing hands, a piece of plastic sheeting to lay on the ground, a clean razor blade for cutting the umbilical cord, a piece of string for tying it, and a cloth to wrap the baby in."

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 08:47 PM

LilyFestre, you may be interested in donating to the UN Population Fund, which sends support directly to pregnant and nursing mothers.

I don't think it is at all safe to assume, especially in this part of the world, that most children will be taken by relatives, and that the relatives who do take them in necessarily have the children's best interests in mind. It often comes down to the men controlling all the relief and aid money a family receives, which often ends up resulting in the women and childrens' needs not getting met.

In most of this region, women and children are of a much lower status than the men. So donating to organizations that are very good at working around those cultural difficulties to insure money and resources go directly to women and children is important.

There is always a tremendous increase in gender violence against women particularly, and children a little less so, in the wake of these sorts of calamaties.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 03:39 PM

These are nations where the concept of the extended family is very strong. Many of these children will go to their aunts/uncles, who will welcome them. Also, just as there are many children who have lost their parents, there are many parents who have lost their children. People outside the region will certainly be glad to adopt as and if needed.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: LilyFestre
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 08:22 AM

Hi Bob,

   I don't want to hear about anyone who has died, really...but facts being what they are, there has been a tremendous loss of life. Personally, I would assume that children are the highest on the fatality list due to lack of strength, speed and knowledge of what was happening and what to do.

   The news (on television) has reported that many children are now without families (no idea of the number) yet no one is saying what kinds of provisions have been made for such situations.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 02 Jan 05 - 03:10 AM

G'day LilyFestre,

This isn't what you want to hear ... but children - particularly infants - appear to be at the top of the fatality lists. Those sleeping or playing about coastal villages were taken with little chance of survival ... and woman are the next highest part on the lists.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 11:12 PM

Okay, I know the title of the thread deals with donations...but I am thinking about all the children who are now left with nothing and no one. Maybe it's way too early to even think about this, but how would one find out about what will happen to these children? Where will they go? Who will care for them? Will they be put in orphanages? Adopted? What???????????

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 08:08 PM

I've been making donations to Oxfam for years, and just made another to their South Asia emergency relief site.

There are a variety of groups to choose from on the Google home page. Nothing could be simplier.

Pick whatever group you want, after you determine they ARE the group they represent themselves to be.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 05:53 PM

Well, I'll admit that as a bluesman especially fond of Mississippi Fred McDowell I do have my own set of *prejudices* against the Red Cross because of whar he said in his song Red Cross Blues:

"Ain't going down to that Red Cross Store no more...

and

"Red Cross people they treat you mean"

But like I said, these a prejudices and not biases since I know very little about the Red Cross...

That's why I have asked here...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: wysiwyg
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 05:44 PM

GUEST,Different One, you seem to put quite a slant on what I have posted, and maybe you aren't aware that in the many years I have been a member here, I have repeatedly referred to the roles I played in the Red Cross. I've often identified myself as a former chapter manager, not to avoid the appearence of a conflict of interest-- there is none-- but to let people know that my opinion comes from working in the trenches to provide exactly the kinds of service that are most needed anywhere, immediately following catastrophic disaster. And I know the realities of providing aid to large numbers of people, whereas most people don't. That's why, for instance, a Red Cross volunteer must take Disaster Services training before being deployed to work a disaster, large or small.

I'm not sure what you have against the Red Cross, or which unit of it has you so het up, because you don't specify, but in the end it doesn't matter. People are going to make up their own minds, and despite your accusation that I am lobbying for Red Cross, I think you're actually the one doing the lobbying. You certainly have an agenda of some sort-- dunno what it is, but it doesn't have much to do with the Red Cross.

For one thing, there are many national organizations within the Red Cross federation, each one governed by people from that country. They all work under an umbrella of shared principles (such as neutrality and assisting with the most urgent needs first in disater), but there are 5 distinct service programs (blood, disaster, health & safety, aiding military familes with emergency communication, and international services). When you multiply those 5 programs by the number of lcoal chapters and national Red Cross organizations, there are bound to be differences of persepctive on how things have been handled in one regard or another. And in a disaster like the present one, all the units collect funds to send to the Red Cross IN the affected area, and that localized unit makes the decisions, govenred by people elected to govern it. It just isn't the monolith you seem to make it out to be.

I think, actually you know very little about how it is all structuresd and managed, and that having worked for them, I know a little more about that end of it than you do. Unlike you, I trust people to make the right decision for themselves about donating, and I don't have a need to accuse you of bad motives in order to inform people. So I hope you will stop trying to pick a fight with me, because there isn't anything to fight about.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 04:45 PM

www.dec.org.uk

Give generously please.

S:0)

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: LilyFestre
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 04:05 PM

CNN has listed several links to various organizations that are sending aid to those in need. Here is the link to the CNN site where there are direct links to over 50 different organizations who are taking donations and helping directly.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/28/tsunami.aidsites/


Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 03:06 PM

BillD, my objection to Red Cross doesn't stem from their administrative vs field operations budgets, but their method of delivery. They have alienated many people with their style over the years. In fact, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, I was astounded at the number of military veterans that had a very low opinion of them.

So, like I said, it isn't just about the money. It is also just as much about the service and resource delivery style of the organization, their cultural attitudes towards those they are trying to help, and the criteria they use for who to help how much.

Also, it is crucial to remember that the charity watchdogs don't use a standardized means test and criteria to evaluate the charities. In other words, you need to also look at the politics, values, and culture of the charity watchdog you use to evaluate the charities too. Especially with elected attorneys general in the 50 states, who are the main charity watchdogs at the state level.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 02:32 PM

Doctors without Borders does a wonderful job, as does the Red Cross and Catholic Relief Services...and many more... There are a couple like "Save the Children" who have a pretty low amount actually getting to the needy, as they spend WAY too much on more fundraising.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: GUEST,Different One
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 02:15 PM

Bobert, I've actually been writing about this here in the threads quite a bit lately.

There was this thread from before Xmas.

I also collected a bunch of really good info a couple of days ago with links to websites you can use to evaluate different charitable organizations here.

Sorry Susan, but I can't agree that Red Cross meets the criteria Bobert is asking about. Also, I think you should tell people you worked for them when you try and convince people here to donate to them. It doesn't seem ethical to me to say "donate to Red Cross" and then not tell people you worked for them. That is the essence of "conflict of interest" even when you don't personally gain financially from recommending them. It isn't always about personal gain with this sort of thing. It's a question of trying to get people to donate to the organization YOU like best.

Bobert, as I said in the other thread on disaster relief, you first need to decide what you want to have done with your donation dollars. Do you want to go to women & children? Do you want it to go to medical assistance? Do you want it to go to short term, temporary infrastructure (setting up displacement camps, that sort of thing) or long-term rebuilding efforts?

There is no one organization that does it all, at least that does a good job of doing it all. Also, beware with religious organizations. They often attach strings based upon their religious values that you not only may not agree with, but might be appalled by!

For medical relief, I don't think anyone does it better than MSF/Doctors W/out Borders. Not only do they do an excellent job with the money they have (low overhead, most dollars go straight to field operations), but they will also speak out on abuses on the ground in the regions they work in, which very few charitable organizations will do. They don't want to rock the boat with the locals, and ruffle the feathers of politicians they rely upon to support them. But then, to be honest, they can afford to get away with speaking out--they are doctors, and no one can afford to send them away, in most cases.

Good luck. It is a fascinating thing, this international disaster relief thing. If you are at all interested in it, you can find a lot of really good, enlightening information on the web. Most people just send the money off to a charity they have heard of, like Red Cross, without doing the homework. Too often, those big name organizations do a lousy of job with the administrative vs field costs of delivering services. I think we can and must do much, much better than that, so I'm behind your effort to find quality charitable organizations to get the best bang for your donation buck.

I wish everyone would do that.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: Metchosin
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 02:14 PM

So far the people of BC, including provincial and federal funds have contributed just over $3.00 per head, not including personal donations. A little bit of, there but for the grace of God go I, for sure, considering the geography of this area.

If it boils down to a pecker contest, so much the better, I really don't give a shit, as long as it gets out there.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 02:13 PM

stupid, sick comparisons in situations like this is reprehensible!

Are you looking for ways to help, or looking for medals?.....'cause if you don't sign your damned name, we wont know where to SEND your "generosity medal"

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 05 - 01:33 PM

Now the British people (not including the government's contribution, which is, of course, the people's money as well),have donated 120 million dollars, that's two dollars for every man woman and child.
What's the figure for the American people?

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 09:08 PM

Yay for England!!! Go for it. Publish the results!

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 08:06 PM

It's interesting that here in the UK the news channels are giving massive coverage to the disaster and the british people are donating more money for aid, so far 90 million dollars from a population of under 60 million, than any other country in the world. I just watched Fox news...cuddly animals to give you a laugh, and baseball.

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: wysiwyg
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 07:34 PM

So does Red Cross. 1-800-HELP NOW, I believe.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: artbrooks
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 06:46 PM

Oxfam and Care both claim that 90%+ goes to the people who need assistance.

Subject: BS: Where to make donations.....
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Dec 04 - 06:12 PM

With the recent dreadful events in Southeast Asia, I'm sure many may of us would like to do what we can thru a donation...

Is anyone aware of the organization where the greatest percentage of the donation will go to the suvivors and not middle men or top heavy administrative organizations?

Bobert