On Sun, 2 Jan 2005 10:20:28 +0100, Jens Bladt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > 375 million USD is still a lot of money. I just hope teh aid gets there in > time! >
Yes, you're right, Jens. The numbers seem to be constantly changing and going up, as the tragedy and it's solutions are being assessed and re-assessed. As of yesterday, I heard that Japan had contributed the largest amount of government money at about $500 million US. But countries' contributions are going up daily. As you said, the important thing is that the money gets to where it can help quickly. As far as commercial or retail tie-ins, I agree somewhat with Paul, in that it may be good to be wary or even cynical in some cases. I'd be pretty confident that larger companies, like Walmart Canada as mentioned by Wheatfield, will get your money to the Red Cross quickly, and that they really will match donations dollar for dollar. A company that says they'll give you "free software" if you make a donation through them seems a bit dodgy, IMHO (although, they may well be on the up and up, who knows?) In terms of charities most of the ones mentioned here would likely do a good job of putting the money to good use. The Red Cross, UNICEF, Medecines Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), Oxfam and other well-known charities will all do a fair and equitable job of distributing the donations in a very efficient manner. When donating to some of the larger charities, it's a good idea to specify "for Tsunami relief fund" on your donation, to assure that your funds are put to that exact use. Otherwise, it may be possible that your donation will end up in their general funds, and not all of it will get to where you intend it. cheers, frank -- "Sharpness is a bourgeois concept." -Henri Cartier-Bresson
