VERY of-topic: please donate to tsunami help!

[Jan van den Ende]

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

[Cheryl Griffin · Accepted solution]

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

[Travis Craig]

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 :-) ).

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

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

[Kris Clippeleyr]

Hi Jan,

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

Please all Belgians, donate.

Kris

[Ian Miller.]

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.

[Martin Vorlaender]

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

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

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

[Jan van den Ende]

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

[Uwe Zessin]

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.

[Antoniov.]

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

[John Gillings]

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.

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

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

[Jan van den Ende]

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

[Ian Miller.]

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.

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

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

[Jan van den Ende]

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

[Wim Van den Wyngaert]

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