Hey Glort, quality rant. I`m with you about giving money rather than genuine aid. Giving money is easy: first you set up an appeal fund, second you deduct 70% of the donated funds for administration, third you transfer the remaining balance to some corrupt official in the effected area. All of this can be done at a computer console in an air conditioned office. No effort or skills required.
Sending genuine aid would require multilingual people skilled in purchasing, shipping and distribution. Far too difficult!
Please don`t misunderstand me there are some very good organisations doing this sort of work, Medicine sans frontier and the Fred Hollows foundation spring immediately to mind. I would have added Oxfam to that list but recent revelations about sexual exploitation by aid workers in effected areas make my blood boil.
Many years ago, while living in the UK, I had some dealings with the Prince of Wales Trust, a charitable organisation set up to provide training and opportunities for disadvantage young people. A very worthy cause you might think. I was invited to a meeting at their headquarters, on arriving I discovered a row of 20 or more shiny new Mercedes Benz motor cars in the car park. No doubt one for every executive on the board. I very quickly found better things to do with my time.
There are some very well meaning and committed people out there who devote their time and energy to helping others. The problem, as usual, is that the management/executive classes see these organisations as a career opportunity with deep pockets. They exploit this to benefit themselves rather than the poor sods they are supposed to be helping.
Still F**king speechless.
Bob