tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851511451028936152.post5043163585003194982..comments2023-12-25T08:31:01.586+00:00Comments on Holli's ramblings: Haiti Rant 2The pale observerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01597175124251218057noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851511451028936152.post-36656772986524360852010-01-23T08:14:29.715+00:002010-01-23T08:14:29.715+00:00this all makes me feel so sad and impotent. But w...this all makes me feel so sad and impotent. But what do we *do* if not give money and hope it helps? I don't mean that in a shake head and shrug it off kind of way but a genuine question, how do we help from all the way over here? What is the *best* thing to do? <br /><br />injaynesworld commented above that we can do more with less if we just do it right, but what *is* the right way? Because I don't know and neither do millions of other people that want to help. I donated and helped raise money for ShelterBox as i thought it the most direct way to help, was I wrong, should I have done something different?Not From Laplandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17165208811776097332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851511451028936152.post-60627638495949143832010-01-22T17:31:56.634+00:002010-01-22T17:31:56.634+00:00Holli, excellent post! You are so right about the ...Holli, excellent post! You are so right about the Aid, as you say you see it in Ghana and for those of us who have lived and worked in these communities in Africa (and I'm sure its the same in the rest of the world!) it is unfortunately the sad reality that the majority of the funds (contributed by kind, good intentioned souls) just dont ever end up where they should! <br /><br />I think people should really think carefully about which organisations they donate to and only do so to organisations with a proven track record.Wendy Thttp://mintteaandtagine.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851511451028936152.post-88123353523477946332010-01-22T09:54:12.116+00:002010-01-22T09:54:12.116+00:00Thanks Cath, Jayne, Deb - the trouble is that we a...Thanks Cath, Jayne, Deb - the trouble is that we all hope if we throw money at it, and then close our eyes, all will be fixed somehow. Living in Ghana I see this so often. Aid flows in, with no accountability about where it's spent. The people in the north of this country are as dirt poor as they've been for decades, and all the billions in aid has done nothing to change that. It must not be the answer...<br /><br />Anon - thanks for your comment. I agree stereotypes are dangerous, but I hope you are not trying to intimate that 419 scams are not rampant out of Nigeria, and that Nigeria coined the name 419 for a reason. I receive countless e-mails daily from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone (West Africa) all varying 419 scam themes. Some stereotypes exist for a reason.<br /><br />Also - what makes you think the example of the Red Cross letter is coming from the UK? <br /><br />The bottom line is that anyone who scams people in light of such a tragedy is shameless. Nigerian, British or otherwise - don't you agree?The pale observerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01597175124251218057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851511451028936152.post-87440814192100415292010-01-22T05:23:09.988+00:002010-01-22T05:23:09.988+00:00"Shameless scam artists out of Nigeria?"..."Shameless scam artists out of Nigeria?" From the link you provided, it seems that they are coming out of London and there is no proof that they are "out of Nigeria" as you put it. Be careful of stereotypes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851511451028936152.post-17625971197259824612010-01-22T02:32:05.703+00:002010-01-22T02:32:05.703+00:00thank you for not letting us forget..its too easy ...thank you for not letting us forget..its too easy to believe that things are getting better because that's what we so want to believe...Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17680221201312100448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851511451028936152.post-72202824299955577232010-01-22T01:17:02.925+00:002010-01-22T01:17:02.925+00:00You'd think one day we'd figure this out. ...You'd think one day we'd figure this out. Sadly, we've had a lot of practice. People think throwing money at a problem will solve it. You can do more with a lot less if you just do it right. Good thoughtful piece.injaynesworldhttp://www.injaynesworld.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8851511451028936152.post-2105095500581546162010-01-22T00:52:20.154+00:002010-01-22T00:52:20.154+00:00You should be writing for the news. The situation...You should be writing for the news. The situation is so horrible. All of it. Makes me feel helpless.<br />http://influentialparenting.wordpress.com/Catherine Dentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13771249741266703689noreply@blogger.com