Please Watch ABC Right Now

[phinny5608]

There's a report on a famine in Niger. The famine is so bad they actually postponed what they were going to report to do this instead.

[phinny5608]

It just ended a few minutes ago (where I am, anyway). Here's a link to learn more.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/International/story?id=980433

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Sad thing is... people go "aww thats so horrible!" Then go back to their dinners...

quote from the movie "Hotel Rwanda"

Jack: [after Paul thanks him for shooting footage of the genocide] I think if people see this footage, they'll say Oh, my Gosh*, that's horrible. And then they'll go on eating their dinners.

*changed for the sake of the others ^^;;

[Locke]

I get the ABC Podcasts so I should be getting it any sec now....

[Fsiphskilm]

Sad thing is... people go "aww thats so horrible!" Then go back to their dinners...

Isn't that what we all do? Isn't that all we can do?

Donate right? Consider that most donations today never reach the poeple that need them, Millions of dollars donated to 9/11 victimes NEVER got to a single family member of anyone who died during 9/11.

Tsk tsk, who to trust?

[Ky Kiske]

Hate to be cynical, but Volt is completely right.

[phinny5608]

They are aware of this, and they try to make sure it's invested well. For example, if they send food and doctors and stuff, and not money, it will more likely make it to those in need. Besides, it's not like we can control where it goes. And why should that stop us? Does not God reward us for our intentions, not where it ends up going?


EDIT------ www.thehungersite.com
You can help the hungry (not specifically in Niger) for FREE just by clicking a button. Please do that every day, bookmark it, and tell others.

EDIT AGAIN--- I had mispelled the link (but I spelled it right in the URL part)

[Retten]

......Daddyjew what is that supposed to mean?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Isn't that what we all do? Isn't that all we can do?

Donate right? Consider that most donations today never reach the poeple that need them, Millions of dollars donated to 9/11 victimes NEVER got to a single family member of anyone who died during 9/11.

Tsk tsk, who to trust?

sadly, that is true

i mean... it even applies to me

[Fsiphskilm]

11 year old kids with nothing to do but troll forums, ignore em.

Anyway. I personally donate. I could care less what they do with my money. As long as i did my part, I'm happy, I'm done. Regardless of weather they use that money for the right or wrong things, God will judge them and their actions. I did MY par, and that's all that matters to me.

The only place i trust is the 700 club. I've always been happy with their donation methods and the way they spend their money.

[bigsleepj]

I hate to sound cynical as well, but no one seems to really care about Africa. No government, I mean. A lot is done in the Far East and the Middle East but Africa is left to terrible Civil (Mozambique had one, Sudan, Nigeria) wars and famine (Niger and Sudan). Even a few years ago when there was a flood in Mozambique help from western countries arrived a month after the flooding has stopped.

Then there was that whole Rwanda Genocide incident in 1994 - no one lifted a finger to stop it despite Western leaders claiming after the Holocaust that they'd never let something like that happen again. I hate talking politics and I hate ranting so I'll stop now. But I just thought I'd give my idea on the whole thing.

[phinny5608]

He's an 11 year old kid with nothing to do but troll forums, ignore em.

Anyway. I personally donate. I could care less what they do with my money. As long as i did my part, I'm happy, I'm done. Regardless of weather they use that money for the right or wrong things, God will judge them and their actions. I did MY par, and that's all that matters to me.

There you go. Also, I prayed for that guy. ^_^

[Fsiphskilm]

If the country in trouble has nothing valuble to reward it's "rescuers" no one cares about it. Try to think back to the last time a country helped another country in need for the sake of Helping those in need.

Never happened, it's all about money. ALL about money. No one cares about people who suffer, everything is all about business, profit, and earnings. Now if that certain region in Africa was filled with Diamonds, I'm sure one of the major powers would love to step in.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I hate to sound cynical as well, but no one seems to really care about Africa. No government, I mean. A lot is done in the Far East and the Middle East but Africa is left to terrible Civil (Mozambique had one, Sudan, Nigeria) wars and famine (Niger and Sudan). Even a few years ago when there was a flood in Mozambique help from western countries arrived a month after the flooding has stopped.

Then there was that whole Rwanda Genocide incident in 1994 - no one lifted a finger to stop it despite Western leaders claiming after the Holocaust that they'd never let something like that happen again. I hate talking politics and I hate ranting so I'll stop now. But I just thought I'd give my idea on the whole thing.

Hotel Rwanda was a very very very moving movie to me... it was very awesome. And quite sad. Goes to show that only 1st world countries try to help other first world countries. Well some

ack ill stop there, dont want this too political

[phinny5608]

I think the Somalia thing we did (Black Hawk Down) was a very VERY rare case of helping where there was little if anything in it for us.

EDIT-- a note to those just reading this: a "troll" came through. They weren't talking about banning me ^_^

[IZ&Trigun4life]

Somebody better ban him _-_

[Fsiphskilm]

(Just report a troll's posts, and it'll show up in a Mod's control panel, they'll take care of it as soon as one gets on, until then, ignore them)

I think a Protocol should be put into action.

That limits the amount of "rewards" a country can recieve for helping another country. Something like 10%, no more. I think that would be fair. Of course, that would probably be the end of helping all-together.

[bigsleepj]

I think the Somalia thing we did (Black Hawk Down) was a very VERY rare case of helping where there was little if anything in it for us.

Very true. But it ended up as a bit of a fiasco though which would make most people think twice about doing it again. But then again Africa is very complex - nothing is clear cut and black and white. Politics are 20 times more complex in Africa then anywhere else in the world.

[Stephen]

*smiles* Moving on. *blows smoke from fingertips* Try to keep this from becoming a political debate guys...

[bigsleepj]

We're trying hard, Shatter, but politics saturates everything Africa.

[phinny5608]

Heheh, I wonder how many people will think you guys were talking about me?

Somebody better ban him _-_

LOL ^_^

[Swordguy]

i did, till i looked at the numbers of the posts. anyway it is hard to see where money goes in any of this. there is alot of donation fraud and such does stop certain from donating. plus we look at those contrys but we also forget those we can reach in our own contrys.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

We should also pray for those countries ^^ So that God can help them

[phinny5608]

Those countries definitely need prayer. A very important thing is that the Gospel is brought to those areas too (if it's not already there). I could believe it's in Niger, as there seems to be French influence there. The destination of their eternal souls is more important than the state of their body (though that's very important too, don't get me wrong!)

[Heed]

I totally agree with Volt. Of course, we can pray, because that is all many of us can afford to do. Most of the organizations who take money for "donations" take most of it for themselves. The people who need it never see any of the money or products that the money is supposed to be purchasing... and if they do see any of it, it isn't very much.

I don't mean to sound anti-American, but I am really fed up with how our government handles money and the stupid ways they waste it... But that is another rant.. I don't wanna go off topic.

[termyt]

I wish this problem were as simple to solve as sending money or food. In any case, government is an inefficient way to help people. It's really not what it's intended to do. The best help comes from the private sector through individual and corporate welfare that can be accounted for.

African problems are compounded by governments (both local and abroad), though. Some nations complain if we try to do anything except send food and money – holding nations accountable for the donations we give is right out, too.

Governments are reflections of its people, though, so it really all comes down to a people problem, though. People just simply can not be counted on to treat other people with kindness and decency.

In he current state of affairs, there is no solution. If you feel compelled, the best thing you can do is donate your time and money, but be careful who you donate to. If you really care, then you will not mind doing research on the various charities and picking one that actually does use its resources to help people.

[Ashley]

As diplomatic as this thread has been, this is a time bomb waiting to go off. You guys have all been very good about skirting away from political debate, but it's really more explosive than I'd like to leave a thread. Closed, but thanks for staying mature guys.