Posted on 01/01/2005 6:51:58 AM PST by sheila_agarwal
This is about the devastation happened by tsunami and about the funds pouring in for the relief. I know there is a lot of money coming from everywhere in the world for the relief efforts. Infact I did a little bit of math interms of indian currecny though the situation might be differnt for different countries. Even if we assume that the total relief money is about $2 billion, it would amount to almost 20,000Rs in indian currency for each person who was affected by tsunami. This is assuming that 5 million people were moved by tsunami. And if we assume that there are 4 people per family, it would amount to 80,000 Rs per family. I would not say it is a great amount. But this would atleast be good enough for them to take care of themselves for another 6 months. But the real question is would this money really reach all the affected people. I am coming from Tamil Nadu, India, which is the worst affected place in India. I exactly know how bad the government there in comparision to government here in USA. There is corruption at every level of government. Infact the current chief minister of TamilNadu became almost $ 200-300 million (speculated amount) richer after becoming a chief minister of that state, which is a huge amount in india. All these money were earned through corruption. I know about the government in TamilNadu, India. I dont know about how it is in Srilanka, Indonesia or Thailand. If this relief amount is to be given to the government of TamilNadu for instance, I would assume that only 10-20% of the total money would even reach the affected people. So my question is, is there someone making sure that the moeny does not land in wrong hands and make the corrupted people even richer than what they are now, instead of helping the affected people. As I told you I am coming from TamilNadu and I would like to send money.But I have been thinking about the correct channel to direct the money as I dont want it to land in wrong hands.. If that is the fear of the person who is coming from the native land, how are different countries going to make sure that the money really reaches the affected people?
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This does not belong in breaking news.
There are several good private organizations who can use the money better than any government agency. Research them and send your money there
You ask an excellent question. Private donations are usually made to specific organizations like the Red Cross etc. Several times this week I heard Colin Powell speak to this question. He repeated the necessity of being sure the money goes to places it will actually do good for those affected.
After the oil-for-food debacle at the UN I think there will be eyes focused on how this money is spent.
If it were handed over to the UN it could be assured that it would fall into fall into the wrong hands.
Would this have anything to do with Bush bypassing the UN relief agency, and forming a group of four nations who give directly to the effected areas?
If the UN were to distribute the relief, would it still be 25%?
Punctuation, spelling and try to use paragraphs....
Donate through a private organization. Much of this money isnt going to be written to the families in check form or something of that nature but instead will be used to pay for blankets, food, water and shelters....
Some may also be used as start up capital via government loans, which may not need to be paid back if backed up by money from the foriegn aid...
We dont know how the money will be spent yet. Thankfully we arent just giving them a blank check and are instead slowly ramping up the amounts as the devastation becomes more fully known....
Throughout the years, the Salvation Army has proven reliable time and again with honesty, integrity, and presence in the blighted areas long after others have departed.
Go here: SalvationArmy.org
As usual, the SA is already mobilized.
The Salvation Army is another good choice.
This is why the leftist talking heads and the MSM whores are all demanding everyone send cash! It is untraceable and they can line their own filthy pockets.
Donate to the Boy Scouts of America and to the American Red Cross or directly to your own Church.
DO NOT send anything to United Way, the UN, red crescent, or any of the other communist and leftist organizations nor to any of the simply crooked "charities" (many TV preachers fall into this one!).
This does not belong in breaking news.
Maybe not officially news but it IS important enough to be posted there! Especially if it keeps these criminals from stealing money like they have always done.
I believe it IS breaking news --- just call it "direct from the reporter's mouth"!
They don't literally mean cash. They mean don't donate things.
Sending cash to any organization in the middle of a crisis is just asking for your dollars to be pocketed by unscrupulous middle-(wo)men.
I'm waiting for a while for a needs assessment of some type to come out. I will then help with goods (food, clothing, medicines, everyday stuff like a cooking pot and a spoon, etc.) that will go directly to the people who need them.
And we had another discussion here yesterday about how that $350 million that the US has earmarked for this effort is made up of our tax dollars to begin with, so we Americans are already donating whether we want to or not.
(I don't know how to link to that, so if someone can, please do!)
You are correct that much of the aid money for tsunami relief will be stolen or wasted due to government corruption, extensive gangsterism and criminality, and predation by terrorist groups. For example, Bob Geldoff's fund-raising for Ethiopian famine relief ultimately redounded to the benefit of Haile Selassie's corrupt and brutal regime. Tottering before the aid arrived, the government was sufficiently enriched that it consolidated its position and launched a war against Somalia, plunging that entire region of Africa into a cycle of war, famine, and disorder that continues to this day.
The money they spend on themselves is meager, and will not increase due to donations. The vast bulk is spent on the needs... not lining pockets. they are laying up treasure elsewhere...
Matthew 6:19 - Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Matthew 6:20 - But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Matthew 6:21 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 19:21 - Jesus said to him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell what thou hast and give to [the] poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.
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