Comments on: Joint Myanmar appeal

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 16 May 2008 09:14:59 +0000

Sorry, forgot about the “pledges only” thing for this thread but anyway it was ACFID who held the press conference.
http://www.acfid.asn.au/

By: James Farrell

James Farrell — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:18:40 +0000

Thanks, Amanda. I’ll look into it, and also see what I can find out via email. Ken reports that he hasn’t had a response yet from CARE.

In the meantime, the deadline for the Troppo-Quiggin dollar-for-dollar offer has passed. But of course anyone who wishes to announce further contributions of their own is encouraged to do so. Philanthropic competition is healthy.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 16 May 2008 08:08:52 +0000

The aid orgs had a press conference today to outline their programmes on the ground (”in country” seems to be the lingo) and stress that donations would make a difference, save lives, get to the right people etc etc so I guess many must be expressing the same reservations as Patrick, and ultimately making the same decision.

They did say the amount raised so far was about $3.5m, which was only the six agencies there — which didn’t include World Vision — or govt contributions.

By: Helen

Helen — Fri, 16 May 2008 01:51:37 +0000

$100 to MSF, but I can’t send you proof because I am a luddite and have sent off a cheque. No, really, I don’t own a credit card!

(Bpay rocks, but MSF doesn’t have it.)

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:57:29 +0000

I was going to donate via my work, who will match dollar-for-dollar and deduct it from my pay, but frankly I got cold feet because I started to have serious doubts that the money would be permitted to do any good. The longer I wait the stronger the doubt.

I think I will give the money to a foundation for the homeless that my work also supports.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 15 May 2008 04:37:43 +0000

Hi,
$90 to World Vision - I’ve emailed you the confirmation.
Thanks.

By: CFQ

CFQ — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:12:12 +0000

Excellent initiative, Troppo. $100 to Medecins Sans Frontieres.

By: Abby Imhoff

Abby Imhoff — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:57:45 +0000

Hi James,

My friends and I have donated $1750 to a small group in Yangon that is assisting victims of Nargis. I will email you the details.
Thanks,

Abby

By: Abby Imhoff

Abby Imhoff — Wed, 14 May 2008 05:55:52 +0000

Hi James,

My friends and I have donated $1750 to a small group in Yangon that is working to get food, water and assistance to victims of Nargis. I will email you the details.

Thanks,

Abby

By: David Hooke

David Hooke — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:47:34 +0000

James,

$200 to MSF.

By: M. Farrell

M. Farrell — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:52:51 +0000

Hi James

$i00.00 to CARE Australia.

Margaret

By: Simon Rumble

Simon Rumble — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:34:50 +0000

Ambiguous: or another method of avoiding them, don’t give to organisations that are willing to throw away vast amounts of donations on overhead.

By: ambigulous

ambigulous — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:54:38 +0000

I’m making a small donation to this worthy cause. Will send details privately.

Simon Rumble, there’s a way around those “muggers” who approach people on city streets to join up: find a local group (in the case of Amnesty) or try the website of the charity. I agree: cut out the middle man [or the middle backpacker ]

cheerio

By: Simon Rumble

Simon Rumble — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:24:42 +0000

NPOV wrote:

I prefer to donate money to those that make an effort to convince me that their cause is worthwhile!

The issue for me is that many of these charity mugging companies take as much as the first year of direct debit donations as their fee for signing up the donator! If you’re worried about money actually getting to those in need, this should make you very suspicious.

By: jbq

jbq — Sat, 10 May 2008 21:32:48 +0000

Avaaz is bypassing the SLORC (or whatever they call themselves these days) by going through the monks. From my experience in Burma (spelt BURMA) it would seem this has a fair chance of going where it should.

Donated $100 through avaaz.

Thanks for what you’re doing.

By: jbq

jbq — Sat, 10 May 2008 21:30:14 +0000

Avaaz at http://www.avaaz.org is bypassing the SLORC (or whatever they call themselves these days) by going through the monks. From my experience in Burma (spelt BURMA) it would seem this has a fair chance of going where it should.

Donated $100 through avaaz.

Thanks for what you’re doing.

By: Joe D

Joe D — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:48:16 +0000

Thanks to all for doing this. $50 from me to World Vision.

By: James Farrell

James Farrell — Sat, 10 May 2008 07:19:32 +0000

The issue of whether aid organizations use money efficiently is an important one, but I’d like to reserve this thread for pledges, please. Thanks to everyone who contributed so far, including those who did so by email.

By: Niall

Niall — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:53:48 +0000

No, NPOV, I don’t believe the guff that Patrick clearly does. End of story.

By: daiskmeliadorn

daiskmeliadorn — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:37:27 +0000

can i suggest TEAR australia. they also have people already working with partner agencies in burma so that should help the money actually get through.

like world vision, TEAR is a christian organisation; if you don’t mind that, i think their approach and practice is quite good. they are known for the ‘worlds most useful gifts’ catalogue.