This is a Journal entry by Websailor

To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 1

Websailor

Like many HooToo posters, I have been horrified and upset by the scale of the disaster caused by the Tsunami in S.E. Asia. It is the biggest disaster in living memory and appears to be growing by the day.

Many of us want to give whatever we can, but I have been surprised and upset by the callous apathy among some of my acquaintances. Not because they cannot afford to give anything but because they just do not care!

I can understand not being able to afford anything. I can understand not being sure where to send money. We all choose what we support in general. After all we have seen the fiasco here in the UK with a Fund hurriedly set up to handle well meaning donations in a previous tragedy. It is natural to be wary. But this time there is surely no question that we must help in whatever way we can. The repercussions if we don't will affect us all.

What I cannot understand is that some people cannot put themselves in the shoes (if they have any!) of some of the poorest people in the world, or feel for those who have lost loved ones. Those who have identified and found their dead loved ones, those who have lost them, they know not where, and those waiting in agony at home, for news, any news! That is just the emotional trauma, with no mention of loss of income, home, business and belongings.

If you have anyone you care about it doesn't take much imagination to have an idea of how they feel, does it? Are the cynics just in denial? After all it is an astronomical thing to get your head around.

By denying or ignoring it, surely, it is a betrayal of all those people who died, and make no mistake, it has touched every region of the UK and almost every country in the world.

Aid rushed out to disasters willy nilly in the past has resulted in some spectacular smiley - bleepsmiley - bleep like sending a container load of shoes, which when opened held shoes for one foot only, including some high heels!!! Perhaps it is best to leave it to organisations that have worked out there for years, know their way around, and know exactly what is needed. If that involves administration costs and overheads, then I would say that is unavoidable and a small price to pay to get the job done. They are also accountable in their country of origin and internationally.

Three other things occur to me. Those who were lucky enough to go home in one piece, or even with family members missing, must be shocked that the rest of the world carries on as if nothing has happened. Media wise will it be a nine day wonder relegated to page 48 of the papers? I hope not.

The second thing came to mind as a result of today's papers. Many, many children have lost parents either temporarily, or permanently and are orphans wandering the streets searching the rubble in the hope of finding them. They will be susceptible to any little kindness. PLEASE I hope there are charities who can round up these little ones and take care of them before the area become a magnet for those with an unhealthy interest in children, who will be only too willing to *befriend* them. I shudder to think.

The third thing is this - spare a thought for all the aid workers who have a monumental task ahead of them. Without the funding they will not be able to help. They will need support too. The horrors are surely more than flesh and blood can bear and they have a mountain to climb.

I am sorry if this has turned into a rant, but I have no-one else to talk to, who appears to have the least understanding of what I feel, or the desire to listen. I can't stand the indifference so I keep my mouth shut.

Thanks for "listening". smiley - brokenheart

I am in no mood for smileys today except smiley - lovesmiley - goodlucksmiley - peacedove

Websailor
smiley - dragon
Thursday 30th December 2004




To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 2

frenchbean

Websailor smiley - hugsmiley - hug

No indifference here, I promise you. No question about giving either... Give. Give. Give. But be sure that your money's *all* going where you want it to go.

Perhaps people in the west are getting disaster fatigue? Many so-called disasters are man-made - Darfur, Bhopal, Rwanda. But this one is different. Nature bit back.

You know, I think I feel sorry for the people who left the tsunami zones as soon as they could? The tourists who got on the first plane out of there. They are the ones who have suffered huge trauma and are now back in the 'normal' world. The long-term psychological impacts for them are going to be very unpleasant. I suspect the tourists who stayed put; who have helped with the clear up, the burying of the dead and have continued to put a few dollars into the local economies, are to be applauded smiley - applause

And there are tourists out in Thailand still holidaying. Good for them too smiley - ok They are showing the world that the country's main industry is still viable and enjoyable and worth supporting.

For the people who are suffering the most; the inhabitants of coastal Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Bangladesh, Somalia, Kenya smiley - sadface My heart goes out to them. For them the privations to come will become normal. We have to help in any way we can, without imposing our cultural expectations upon them.

Shall we put the world to rights, Websailor? I reckon we could do it between us smiley - winkeye

smiley - love
Frenchbean


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 3

Woodpigeon

I understand how you feel. This is a truly shocking occurrance. Unfortunately one of the big downsides of living in a media-driven western society is our ability to divorce ourselves completely from the reality of what is going on. To many, watching such mass-death on such a scale, it's like watching a video game. Non comprendo. I would have put myself solidly in this camp, until I found myself very close to a major earthquake a few years ago - talking directly to a man who was working in his bank during the day, and going out to search in the rubble for half his entire family for the night. A humbling experience.

I think that the best thing to do is to give money to the well-known relief agencies, and let them get on with it. If you don't give money because you are cynical about where the money goes - think about what the alternatives are. Less established relief agencies, who don't know the lie of the land or the true needs of the people?

If anything, this one will stay in our memory for a long time, partially because so many westerners have been affected. Also, we shouldn't forget that many people are readily donating money. This is a good sign, and its something to take hope from.

Take care,

smiley - peacedoveWoodpigeon


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 4

Blue Bird

This is blue bird here! To All those wonderful helping people I'd like to say something.
From my own experience, seeing with my own eyes the corruption, I call your attention: CACH of course the almighty CASH what "they" ask for! And you give generousely to those hands what you really did not mean to help!
Those survivors need to eat, drink and sleep somewhere. There are no stores to go and buy food and drink. There are no houses to go to go to sleep!
In the middle of the rubble, covered with dead bodies a wondering, perhaps wounded survivor does not ask for cash! He she ask for food, for drink etc.--
In the warm tropical climate one can survive easier, but effectively immediately only by helicopters dropped supplies will help! The military from the Governements! They can help! Now!
You as an outsider have no way of controlling where your CASH will go!
But blankets, canned food, water supplies will be not stolen by those who so urgently ask for CASH! Think human, think! I am just a bird guided by Nature. smiley - bluebird


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 5

Ivan the Terribly Average

Blue Bird, pure common sense says that it's easier to move money about the place, and cheaper to buy supplies in bulk as close as possible to where they are needed. It really is as simple as that.


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 6

Ivan the Terribly Average

I might also add that my country's military is already assisting in Aceh, with helicopters, and field hospitals, and doctors. We private citizens can only do so much as individuals; it's a lot more effective for us to band together to fill the gaps that the military can't fill. The best way to do this is to pool our cash, and leave it in the hands of competent experienced agencies like the International Red Cross.


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 7

abbi normal "Putting on the Ritz" with Dr Frankenstein

Give by all means.
There are many means.
I posted a link to many helper agncies on ask, there was no mention of the incident 3 days later.

Yes many funds will be misused.
But to give nothing due to that seems like revenge.
Those whom need help now, are not to be avenged for it!

There are generous people that thought no cash is best so they gathered supplies. BUT they found out quickly you need planes and gas to get there. They found out water purification systems are better and work for them in the long run. Both are needed,many needed a drink of clean water yesterday.

The warm weather is not as forgiving a blessing as you might think.
It does not *help improve the water quality, the increasing diseases, the exposure to the elements. Diahrea ,dehydration and sun stroke are deadly.

The clothing donations are often ridiculous as someone said.
Winer coats, high heels....
I would like to charge those folks for using donation sites for their own trash disposal.
It is not only the takers that are at fault,the givers are too.
Food sits and goes to waste because of timing ,packaging and organization.
Think of the time ,space and money wasted to sort or deliver non-usable itemssmiley - sadface


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 8

John the gardener says, "Free Tibet!"

The main aid agencies (Red Cross, Oxfam, etc) are all crying out for cash donations to support their work and I think it best to defer to their expertise in this matter. As mentioned previously, the logistics of shipping millions of donated blankets, and so on, half way around the world to people in such a dire situation is simply impossible. In an ideal world, I'd love to personally cook a big pot of rice and beans and sing everyone of those poor people to sleep. But I'm afraid all that I can do is watch the news, shed my tears, and donate as much as I can to the people who are in a position to help.

Also, I've been petitioning to have the Peer Review banner replaced with an appeal for support of aid organisations. Drop by and lend the idea your support if you think it's a good one:

F55683?thread=556405

I encourage everyone to give and give generously.

JTG smiley - love


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 9

Websailor

Thank you all for your comments. Just getting it off my chest made me feel a bit better, and the news this morning suggests that many, many, people ARE giving. The comments I got made me feel like a silly emotional woman for wanting to donatesmiley - doh

Thank you for putting it in perspective. At the moment the big donations are getting the headlines, but the small ones will bring touching stories no doubt - children's pocket money, pensioners" gifts etc.

One thing did make me cross this morning. Hearing from an Aid agency that they were having difficulty getting water purification tablets to send out as the companies were closed for the holidays smiley - steam

In our locality one man from Sri Lanka has lost 50 members of his family! How do you cope with that? Another lady has just had an email from her daughter in Thailand saying she is safe, five days after the event, which shows just how difficult communications are.

Incidentally the comment about cash being stolen, but blankets food etc. not , is incorrect. Aid goods often go missing or are misappropriated and I think it is almost inevitable. The other thing is that many areas are totally inaccessible except by helicopter and these are hugely expensive to operate and fuel.

There will be many criticisms of the Aid agencies in the coming months, but theirs is an appalling and unenviable task.

When I get out and about after the holiday perhaps I will feel better about people's attitudes. This has been described as a disaster of biblical proportions, and requires a similar response.

When you see what small amounts of money will provide then you see clearly how every penny counts.

A Happy New Year to everyone.smiley - cheers

Websailor
smiley - dragon


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 10

Prof Animal Chaos.C.E.O..err! C.E.Idiot of H2G2 Fools Guild (Official).... A recipient of S.F.L and S.S.J.A.D.D...plus...S.N.A.F.U.

United in griefsmiley - peacedove-United in sorrowsmiley - peacedove-United in rebuilding for a better tomorrowsmiley - peacedove


The Human race will not lie down, we will stand taller than ever-TOGETHER


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 11

John the gardener says, "Free Tibet!"

Well said, Prof. That ought to be an anthem for the future.

The trick, I think, is to make those sentiments a part of everyday life. It's all too easy to be trapped by the daily accumulation of pettiness into missing the opportunity to be better, like the factory boss who left the water tablets locked up - I'm sure he/she must lament that decision in hindsight.

That poor man from Sri Lanka, Websailor... how do you cope with something like that? How can anyone cope with such loss?


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 12

frenchbean

I can't comprehend that kind of loss either smiley - sadface

There are people here on h2g2 who have lost friends and family to this disaster. I guess it's going to be one of those events; we will all know somebody who lost somebody smiley - bluesmiley - cry

What about giving money direct to families in the affected countries? I really mean directly... to individuals who are struggling to recreate their lives? Is that possible?


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 13

Websailor

NIce sentiments Animal - if only!

John the Gardener,

I have no idea how anyone copes with such news. The range of emotions must be unbearable. Guilt at being alive, at not being there, at not being able to do anything on top of the loss must be an unbearable weight. The look in the eyes of the survivors tells it all. How will we ever put a smile back on their faces?

It has always amazed me that the children in the poorest countries manage to be happy and smiling, with none of the "benefits" the developed world children have. Right now those smiles are missing, and the "benefits" of our world seem meaningless.

I wonder who will really care about the loss of camera equipment, MP3s, clothes and the usual holiday paraphernalia etc. after this? The loss of photos and videotape will be keenly felt by many , but for others this tragedy will have put many things in perspective. It will certainly make me re-think Christmas in the future.

Of course the other benefits of our world will be helping them now, email, mobile phones, the Internet will all play a part in the recovery so perhaps our consumer society is not all bad. Helicopters and planes, vehicles, petrol, bottled water, and many of the industries we love to hate, will all play a part.

The survivors bear the burden which is why we MUST help as much as we can. Unless aid gets out there quickly, disease will finish what the earthquake and Tsunami started, and it could spread to the volunteers, holiday makers and even further afield.

I really, really wish that Animal could be right. Perhaps this happening is the catalyst we needsmiley - huh

One thing I haven't missed is the appearance of our World Statesman sanctimoniously sympathising and "taking personal controlsmiley - steam May he stay on holiday indefinitely! The Aid effort is doing fine without him!! As for Shrub's response to criticism about the paltry donation from the US Govt. that was pathetic and embarrassing.

Websailor
smiley - dragon


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 14

Websailor

Hi, Fb,

Many of the Asian organisations here are sending stuff out direct. They already have the means as they do it all the time. Perhaps you could contact one if you have one anywhere in your locality?

There is an organisation called india.aid but I have lost the web address. I will see if I can find it.

Websailor
smiley - dragon


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 15

Woodpigeon

The UK's response appears to be leading all the rest of the world at the moment. Apparently 70m euro has been donated by the UK government to the effort, and 60m euro has been raised by the public already. Many bigger (and wealthier) countries are further down the scale. So, as an outsider all I can say is Good One, Britain. You are putting a hell of a lot of other countries to shame at the moment.


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 16

frenchbean

All well and good Woodpigeon, but our politicians are turning it into some kind of a competition to see which country can donate the most smiley - huh I guess if they feel that way, they'll keep giving more and more, but I'd far rather they worked out the best way to give long-term aid to all developing countries smiley - erm


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 17

Woodpigeon

Very true Fb, but I guess it indicates some level of pressure from the people of those countries also. The British, as a people, have taken this issue to their heart, and that I think is something to feel heartened about.


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 18

frenchbean

Totally agree, Woodpigeon smiley - ok


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 19

Galaxy Babe - eclectic editor

People on hootoo who have lost loved ones?
Who are they?
I didn't know, please direct me to them.
Thank you.

At the moment £60 million has been raised by the UK public alone, (not counting the British Governments £50 Million) - the 60 million amounts to £1 for every man, woman and child in the UK.

smiley - brave

I hope it'll top £100 million by the end of the month.

Bluebird, I'm sure using the agencies like oxfam and the red cross and the DEC will spend the money as it's required - sending aid to those in need.
It won't fall into the hands of corrupt Governments.

Bless you all for being so generoussmiley - peacedove


To Give or Not to Give, that is the question?!

Post 20

Websailor

Hi, GB and everyone,

DEC has today guaranteed that Admin. costs will be no more that 2% which is excellent, even for charities. The work involved is astronomical and that is running things very tightly indeed.

There has been criticism that aid isn't getting to the outlying areas, but people must realise that Agencies need to establish bases where they have communications, and the ability to receive and dispatch goods and people.

It also seems to escape notice that Aid Agencies do not have an infinite number of volunteers at their disposal. The sheer scale of this operation is enormous. Did anyone else hear the kind of equipment needed from Governments etc. - helicopters, planes, landing boats etc. etc. and all these need fuel.

Websailor
smiley - dragon


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