Will you donate to Japan?

[ktlm]

I agree that it is not for us to Judge who chooses to donate and who does not, or whether those who donate choose to donate to Japan or other causes. There are so many people in need and so many worthy causes in this world. For those on the fence about donating to Japan, you might take a look at this article. It had me in tears today and I don't cry easy on news stories:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...dren-sit-silent-classroom-parents-vanish.html

 

[ShanPooh]

Hmmm... only a measly 1% of 3.82 trillion dollars if the proposed 2011 budget passes. Probably a little more overall than Denmark, don't you think?

http://www.fsmitha.com/world/denmark.htm

Foreign Aid

In 2003, Denmark spent $302.72 per capita on foreign aid, compared to $23.76 for the United States.

Denmark has 5.5 million people. The US population is just over 300 million.

Sure as a whole country we give more (because there is a much larger population) - but each individual US citizen gives FAR less.

 

[Evi]

Yes I already did.

 

[disneymom3]

http://www.fsmitha.com/world/denmark.htm

Foreign Aid

In 2003, Denmark spent $302.72 per capita on foreign aid, compared to $23.76 for the United States.

Denmark has 5.5 million people. The US population is just over 300 million.

Sure as a whole country we give more (because there is a much larger population) - but each individual US citizen gives FAR less.

I am showing some ignorance here, but does Denmark not have an EXTREMELY high tax rate? Not that that adds to worth of giving etc but it might have something with their percentage rate of giving.

 

[hipchickie]

http://www.fsmitha.com/world/denmark.htm

Foreign Aid

In 2003, Denmark spent $302.72 per capita on foreign aid, compared to $23.76 for the United States.

Denmark has 5.5 million people. The US population is just over 300 million.

Sure as a whole country we give more (because there is a much larger population) - but each individual US citizen gives FAR less.

Those figures in the link in your first post are pretty old, and they only considered Development assistance, so I tried to find something more recent. Finding out the actual amount seems to depend on who is writing....

From what I could find, there are 3 types of foreign aid: Development assistance (what is in the budget) Humanitarian assistance (generally one time assistance given for things like natural disasters, and Military.

When you add the military aid, the US far surpasses any other country in foreign aid spending per capita.

 

[IDoDis]

Living Social has a deal that expires in 11 hours where they'll match a $5 donation to the Red Cross. The link is at the top of your local Living Social web page.

 

[Gisele]

I cannot give money at this time. I can give first responder assistance, search for the missing and dead, as well as assist with cleaning up and rebuilding. And help wth rescuing and caring for pets too.
Too bad all that any group that I can think of only asks for money. Not everyone has that to give. But we have many other good things to offer instead.

 

[livie1205]

no

 

[luvmy3]

Just found out that my kids' school is going to donate via the Red Cross. They wear uniforms but today they can wear regular clothes, green for their St. Patrick's day carnival (big Irish presence in their school) if they bring in a donation for Japan.



I just read a couple of interesting articles about foreign aid:

"Americans continue to vastly overestimate the amount of the federal budget that is devoted to foreign aid.

Asked to estimate how much of the federal budget goes to foreign aid the median estimate is 25 percent. Asked how much they thought would be an "appropriate" percentage the median response is 10 percent.

In fact just 1 percent of the federal budget goes to foreign aid."
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brunitedstatescanadara/670.php

"The U.S. now ranks last among the 22 industrialized countries in percentage of national income given away in development aid: less than 0.1 percent. Tiny Denmark contributes ten times as much of its national income as American taxpayers do. Japan has been the largest provider of official development assistance for ten consecutive years."
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=2093

Wow, after reading that article I can't believe that people actually think we set aside a quarter of our budget to foreign aid. I also would like to know where people think we are going to make up that 9% to get it up to 10 I don't have a problem with 1%, thats good enough for me.

 

[Anjelica]

Unfortunately, when the floods happened in Pakistan last year, Americans didn't open up their wallets as widely for relief there as they had for other disasters. Sure money was given through our government, but the fundraising and free will donations didn't happen so much.

I haven't seen 2010 figures yet but in 2009 the US gave Pakistan $1.3 billion in Economic Aid (this does NOT include military aid). They were #3 on the list for Economic Aid.

As a side note - please don't forget the US contributes quite a bit of money to the U.N. above and beyond any finanical aid we give to countries outright. In 2009 the United States contributions to the U.N. budget equated to 22% of the sum of all nations.

 

[luvmy3]

http://www.usaid.gov/

Very interesting information

 

[lyncecelia]

We donated through DBF's work. He was able to give his "travel credits" for business trips, and his company would pay the cash for them. I think the amount he gave was $500.

 

[DawnM]

We have given some, but we gave more to Haiti.

Dawn

 

[FrogPrincess]

I have made a donation through the RedCross specified for Japan. I have always loved that country and my heart breaks for these people.
You may not have much to give, but think of those who lost everything in the earthquake and tsunami- homes, warmth, food&water, jobs, families...

 

[disneychrista]

Did Japan donate to us for Katrina or other US natural disasters?

I am honestly curious because everytime there is a natural disaster in the world we/the US are asked to donate. But do other countries donate when we suffer?

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

I feel for the apanese people but japan isn't a poor country so I think I'll hold out donating. Haiti's another story. I was able to raise a little over $3000 for Haiti because I know their government was doing squat to help them and they're really very poor people.

 

[IDoDis]

Did Japan donate to us for Katrina or other US natural disasters?

I am honestly curious because everytime there is a natural disaster in the world we/the US are asked to donate. But do other countries donate when we suffer?

Japan provided $1 million in emergency supplies such as tents, blankets, and power generators to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Japanese Foreign Ministry provided $200,000 to the American Red Cross. Private and corporate donations from Japan totaled over $13 million. One Japanese individual, Takashi Endo, donated $1 million from his personal funds to Katrina relief efforts.

 

[declansdad]

Did Japan donate to us for Katrina or other US natural disasters?

I am honestly curious because everytime there is a natural disaster in the world we/the US are asked to donate. But do other countries donate when we suffer?

Yes they do.

 

[QVCshopper]

I wasn't going to because I gave so much locally through the United Way, but after seeing those poor people standing under umbrellas as it SNOWS, I've changed my mind. Will donate through DH's work because they will match the donation.

 

[ShanPooh]

I am showing some ignorance here, but does Denmark not have an EXTREMELY high tax rate? Not that that adds to worth of giving etc but it might have something with their percentage rate of giving.

It's getting a bit topic but apparently you get what you pay for:
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=4086092&page=1
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123126942

But you're right - their higher taxes mean a higher rate of giving per capita.
DH also pointed out since Denmark is a smaller country their taxes don't have to go so much towards infrastructure as in the US.

Those figures in the link in your first post are pretty old, and they only considered Development assistance, so I tried to find something more recent. Finding out the actual amount seems to depend on who is writing....

From what I could find, there are 3 types of foreign aid: Development assistance (what is in the budget) Humanitarian assistance (generally one time assistance given for things like natural disasters, and Military.

When you add the military aid, the US far surpasses any other country in foreign aid spending per capita.

Sorry the records were a few years old. It's what I could find searching at home. I know at the library there are databases that I would be able to access to find something more recent (but probably not very different). When I go there though I'm on the clock.
Yes it's great that we have a military so large that it is able to assist other countries. Imagine if Denmark suited up 1.4 million of it's 5.5 million people and had 1.4 million on reserve.