topic Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help! in Operating System - OpenVMS

VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Jan van den Ende — Wed, 29 Dec 2004 15:25:41 GMT

This has nothing to do with VMS, nor with IT.

We all have seen the terrible results of the 26 dec tsunami.

I think we all should be glad to have NOT been hit, and we all know that IT-professionals worldwide earn above-average.

I solemny pledge ALL of you to donate (at least) one hour's pay to eighter the Red Croos/Red Creshent, or the UN, or maybe your national help organisation that coordinates for this disaster.

For those in the Netherlands: GIRO 555 is dedicated for this purpose.

Any specifics in other contries welcomed!

PLEASE BE GENEROUS!!!

Anyone intending to use fireworks at the coming year's change: wouldn't that money be better spent in helping out?

Anyone toasting on champagne (see above)

Of course I do NOT want to block you celebrating, but perhaps a similar amount as spent on that could be given?

In spite of the above,

wishing all the best for 2005.

Jan

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Cheryl Griffin — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 10:34:55 GMT

The International Red Cross has a Tsunami fund as well.

What better New Year's resolution could be made but to help others.... this is our opportunity to make a difference.

Cheryl

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Travis Craig — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 12:45:05 GMT

Another good way to contribute is to encourage your company to match employee contributions. Mine is doing that up to a certain overall limit (which wasn't exhausted by my contribution of a over an hour's pay :-) ).

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Wim Van den Wyngaert — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 01:32:27 GMT

http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/markets/marketfeatures/10201151.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

Just hope the money goes where it is needed.

Wim

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Kris Clippeleyr — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 04:44:01 GMT

Hi Jan,

Great initiative.
For Belgium, the bank account number is:
000-0000012-12.

Please all Belgians, donate.

Kris

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Ian Miller. — Fri, 31 Dec 2004 12:07:28 GMT

In the UK various organisations such as www.oxfam.org.uk or www.worldvision.org.uk are organising collections. Companies are doing somethings like donating part of the cost of certain items like a newspaper or photo.
Local churches/mosques/temples etc are working together on this which is good to seen.
I hope the money does get where it is needed.

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Martin Vorlaender — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 06:40:18 GMT

In Germany also, various organizations have set up accounts for the help. Many are listed at http://www.tagesschau.de/spendenkonten/0,1192,SPM26380_REF898_NAV,00.html

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Wim Van den Wyngaert — Sun, 02 Jan 2005 11:46:50 GMT

For Belgians check
http://www.msf.be/nl/steunen/gift.htm

and note that you can get back half of your payments over 30 EUR via tax refund.

Wim

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Jan van den Ende — Mon, 03 Jan 2005 03:04:26 GMT

Good point Wim!!

As far as I know, at least in most European countries it is the same!

So, you can donate double of what you want to give!

-- best wishes for 2005 to all.

Jan

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Uwe Zessin — Mon, 03 Jan 2005 04:16:16 GMT

When I was a young kid, we had a year when the fireworks started at 16:00 and lasted until 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. This year was an all-time low.

I was recently listening to the radio and heard about an idea of a young woman running a shop. She realized that many people (including kids) want to help, but not everyone can give away lot of money and it simple does not make sense to do a bank transfer for a few Euros. So she collects the money and does a single transfer.

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Antoniov. — Mon, 03 Jan 2005 06:58:04 GMT

Italy opened some founds.
For children there is Italian UNICEF http://www.unicef.it/scheda%20emergenza%20maremoto%20asia.htm
Italian kids can donate 1 Euro sending SMS to number 48580; my daughter done this.

This year, Italian people limited fireworks.

Antonio Vigliotti

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

John Gillings — Mon, 03 Jan 2005 17:12:09 GMT

Don't forget... the aftermath of this event will be with us for a LONG time to come (possibly decades), so please think about continuing your generosity into the future. Chances are it's 6-12 months down the track that will be critical. No good if we're all compassion fatigued by then.

I'd be a bit wary of using mechanisms like SMS to a premium number. What proportion of your donation actually reaches the people that need it? Who else takes a cut?

Try to find organisations actually in the affected areas and send your donations direct.

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Wim Van den Wyngaert — Mon, 03 Jan 2005 18:20:17 GMT

1) if Bush says the US is donating money it means some of his friends will recieve "rebuilding" projects with lots of profit.
2) try donating your money to medecins. Rebuilding projects may be corrupt ... (e.g. Medicins without frontiers/Medicins sans frontieres). That's where I put my money.

Wim

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Jan van den Ende — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 03:19:12 GMT

John,

at least in the Netherlands, the Telco's announced that the full amount will be transferred to the number I gave above, which is for a well-known, non-profit umbrella organisation "cooperating emergency-aid organisations".

Wim,
I am afraid you are all too right about some gifs. Examples abound.
Medecins sans frontiers is one of the above, likewise the Red Cross, and UNICEF. Also several Dutch organisations.
They are quite well audited, and have a track record of less than 30% overhead (summ of organisation + local overhead at target).
Usually specific disaster activities get below 15% overhead.

Of course, this may differ widely per country.

Jan

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Ian Miller. — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 06:58:35 GMT

In the UK the most direct way to donate online is via https://www.donate.bt.com/bt_form_dec.htm
(from the www.dec.org.uk web site).

Remember to tick the gift aid box to allow the tax to be recovered)

(in this case DEC = Disaster Emergency Committee). They are co-ordinating accoss many charities.

Otherwise walk into any post office or bank.

There is a telephone number but check it carefully as there have been reports of fraud.

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Wim Van den Wyngaert — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 04:31:27 GMT

Jan,

Some info concerning boss payments (for Dutch speaking people).
http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%22artsen+zonder+grenzen%22+foster&hl=nl&lr=&selm=3D566D57.215C8514%40nospam.wanadoo.nl&rnum=3

Note that field workers of AzG often not reach 1000 EUR per month.

Wim

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Jan van den Ende — Wed, 05 Jan 2005 06:28:55 GMT

Yes,

One example:

After a personnel initiative the Amsterdam police made a collective move:
Every member of the personnel got 1 hour leave time reduction, which by the employer is converted into money value, and donated.

Jan

Re: VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

Wim Van den Wyngaert — Tue, 25 Jan 2005 01:51:43 GMT

Very off topic (even for this topic).
Gates is not so bad after all (only Windows is).
http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh74627_2005-01-25_03-59-18_l19236858_newsml

Wim