Will you donate to Japan?

[ShanPooh]

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.

Private individual donations were lacking
http://www.aolnews.com/2010/08/19/pakistan-floods-drawing-relative-trickle-of-private-donations/
Like I said : "Sure money was given through our government, but the fundraising and free will donations didn't happen so much."

 

[Pirate Jeff]

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 did read the subsequent posts to the final page prior to responding. I am glad I did, as at first blush, this post drew my ire. I read through this thread and found a few posts that I felt compelled to respond.

First as a "sidebar", I am appalled by the criticism one gets for being concerned with "animals". Recently here in Baltimore, there was a case where an individual did "terrible things" to a dog (the details are too horrible to describe on this forum), I was one of the thousands that spoke out against this person's actions. One of the personal attacks against "us", was that we were more concerned about how "animals were treated than we were people". How untrue and a terrible thing to say. Compassion, like love, is a never ending commodity. I can love you with all my heart and still love someone else. There is no limit to love and compassion and while the welfare of animals will always be secondary (IMO) to such for people, it is not right for anyone to have to apologize for being concerned with how animals are being treated. I say, we as civilized people can do both very well and as far as I'm concerned, God Bless anyone who gives anything to help any people or animals devastated by this tragedy.

That said, I take serious issue with the tack spoken here, comparing Danes with Americans and somehow, elevating the philanthropic status of the former as being superior to the latter. That is a straw man argument both subjective and incomplete. Further, the point made by Hipchickie is right on point about the "other" costs Americans pay in terms of military aid (which I see you acknowledged later on). Further again, this "report" of which you quoted and linked to a subjective blog with no qualifications is only "part" of the picture. And again, focusing on Hipchickie's point, how much "value" is that of a human life? It can't be measured in dollars and cents. That single criteria, in my opinion, elevates the philanthropic status of the United States above most, if not all other countries.

I am tired of seeing us kicked around and the lives of Americans minimalized simply because some folks are ashamed of how we are perceived in the world. It may surprise some to know that I am more isolationalist but accept the wishes of my fellow citizens of our Republic but will continue to oppose meddling outside our borders. This doesn't ignore the sacrifice made by Americans to help others and if one uses one skewed statistic, it becomes fodder against our ideals. As a conclusion, all things considered, The United States gives explicitly MORE than Denmark or any other nation. And since the rebuilding of Japan and the work of Dr. Demming to guide Japanese recovery after WWII, we always have. I for one, refuse to apologize for how much we as a whole have given to the world over time.

One last point....

I see you made mention of the "private donations" when speaking about Pakistan Aid but declined to mention it in regards to your study. May I respectfully suggest that you look into that omitted point of contention in the study you have quoted. If you add in the private donations "per capita", you may be surprised to find out just how inaccurate the information you posted truly is.

 

[hipchickie]

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.

Well, exactly! - not only does Denmark not have a lot of infrastructure, there are a lot of other things it doesn't have to spend money on.
People have varying opinions on the US being "the worlds policeman", but fact is, when your country doesn't have to assume that cost, you have money to spend in other areas

I also wanted to mention - I have not had time to research it, but I have heard that US money given to Israel is not public knowledge? Which would also add to the foreign aid amt.

 

[ShanPooh]

Wow, I'm sorry you all missed my point. I was hardly trying to kick around the US. There were previous posts by others eluding that no matter what amount or percentage a country gives that the US's help is bigger and better. Countries facing disaster and hardship don't look the gift horse in the mouth - why should we? Help is help! We shouldn't pat ourselves on the back because our numbers are better or feel that our obligations are done because our government has arranged aid to others using our taxes. Perhaps I should have just said it that way to begin with. (Sigh)

 

[amyy]

Is anyone familiar with the organization Shelter Box?

 

[Tinkmom]

not sure how in any way shape or form that is discrimination

I choose to send money to a place I feel personally is more in need. Not because I have anything against Japanese people or the country.
So anyplace that does not get a donation from me means I am discriminating against them? Are you saying people in Japan deserve to live more than others in other countries because they had a natural disaster?

that statement was just odd....

,

More in need? When you don't have food, water, shelter, any way to communicate or travel and yourself or family are injured? The degree of the immediate CRISIS vastly overwhelms the current resources in Japan.

I know that Japan sent a lot of help after Katrina. I'm very glad they didn't say, "Oh, the United States is wealthy and can take care of their own."

 

[hipchickie]

,

More in need? When you don't have food, water, shelter, any way to communicate or travel and yourself or family are injured? The degree of the immediate CRISIS vastly overwhelms the current resources in Japan.

I know that Japan sent a lot of help after Katrina. I'm very glad they didn't say, "Oh, the United States is wealthy and can take care of their own."

again??
There are people right now who as a current state of their existence do not have enough food and do not have clean water. People who have no health care, where the infant mortality rate is 5% and even higher. Where the life expectancy is 54 years. Transportation and communication? Nothing to lose there, they don't exist!

I find them both to be a CRISIS.

Unfortunately, one of them has a good government that has a stable structure and money to help it citizens (or a good rating to borrow if need be) The other is poor.

Send your donation to the crisis you want to address, I will send mine to my crisis of choice.

 

[Vivianne]

Yes, I donated and feel VERY GOOD about it.

Each person can do what their conscience dictates. No one should second
guess what anyone else does.

Did I donate for Katrina victims? Haiti? Yes.

And I donated to Japan citizens.

I live in a wealthy State and am far from wealthy. That is really a misnomer.


It's all about government and that is really a misconception that EVERYONE
is wealthy.

Like Jiminy Cricket says, "Let your conscience be your guide"...it's all up to you. Do whatever you want but don't label people.

 

[clh2]

Our church had a collection this weekend for Japan.

Same here. 100% of the monies collected for this disaster relief effort go to the cause.

 

[quasar4legs]

Yes, we have donated to Japan.

We budget every year for the charities we support on an ongoing basis and we also set aside money for aid programs related to natural disasters.
Both my husband and I consider ourselves to citizens of the world and as such like to give to charities at home and overseas.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Yes, we have donated to Japan.

We budget every year for the charities we support on an ongoing basis and we also set aside money for aid programs related to natural disasters.
Both my husband and I consider ourselves to citizens of the world and as such like to give to charities at home and overseas.

I like that phrase

 

[SnowWhite607]

I saw that Sandra Bullock has sent a million dollars of her money to the Japan relief.

My DD's school is doing a fundraiser also - pay $1 and you can wear jeans on Friday (they usually wear only uniforms). All proceeds will go to Japan.

 

[MissBritt]

We donated Sunday at church through Convoy of Hope.


Oh, I did hear on the radio over the weekend that the donations sent to Japan in the first week were about 1/5 of what was sent to Haiti in the first week, and Americans did indicate in research they felt Japan "needed" our support less than Haiti.

 

[luvmy3]

We donated Sunday at church through Convoy of Hope.


Oh, I did hear on the radio over the weekend that the donations sent to Japan in the first week were about 1/5 of what was sent to Haiti in the first week, and Americans did indicate in research they felt Japan "needed" our support less than Haiti.

I don't think there is anyone out there who believes that the Haitian gov't is as prepared as Japan's in the event of a disaster. That doesn't mean both countries don't need aid from others when such disasters happen, but there is a logical and understandable reason why the "research" would show that. Its the motives though that bother me, why the need to do the "research", was it just to guilt American's into giving more? Who actually conducted it?

 

[Tinkmom]

again??
There are people right now who as a current state of their existence do not have enough food and do not have clean water. People who have no health care, where the infant mortality rate is 5% and even higher. Where the life expectancy is 54 years. Transportation and communication? Nothing to lose there, they don't exist!

I find them both to be a CRISIS.

Unfortunately, one of them has a good government that has a stable structure and money to help it citizens (or a good rating to borrow if need be) The other is poor.

You continue to completely miss the point. I'm sure the hungry, freezing, injured people in areas where there is a serious threat of a major nuclear incident are just so comforted that their government is so stable and rich. The ongoing catastrophe and looming deaths and astronomical cost of damage will be no biggie at all. Riiight.

These people need help RIGHT NOW. Japan will have to find a way to deal with the massive cost of these multiple disasters -- earthquake, tsumani and nuclear meltdown. Their whole world has been turned upside down, and they need assistance that they simply cannot get anytime soon from their own government. Fortunately, it seems like many people "get" it and are helping.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I donated through the Red Cross.

 

[declansdad]

You continue to completely miss the point. I'm sure the hungry, freezing, injured people in areas where there is a serious threat of a major nuclear incident are just so comforted that their government is so stable and rich. The ongoing catastrophe and looming deaths and astronomical cost of damage will be no biggie at all. Riiight.

These people need help RIGHT NOW. Japan will have to find a way to deal with the massive cost of these multiple disasters -- earthquake, tsumani and nuclear meltdown. Their whole world has been turned upside down, and they need assistance that they simply cannot get anytime soon from their own government. Fortunately, it seems like many people "get" it and are helping.

I don't think she is missing the point at all. There are many people around the world that need help right now.

Why wouldn't the Japanese govertnment be able to help right now? The entire country was not destroyed by the tsunami and earthquake. Any international aid will have to go through the Japanese government.

 

[cristielf]

To me it doesn't matter what country you are from.. If your family and home and everything you own is gone, you aren't going to be saying "well, at least it happened in Japan!" I think I already said this, but I did give. They need it.
If the world has the same mentality as many people on this thread, I feel really sorry for the USA if we ever had a crisis similar to Japan with an earthquake, Tsunami and nuclear threat. People say that they are "better prepared" and I'm sure in some ways they were, but look at Katrina and they KNEW that was coming! Look how long people were out there in the heat with no food or water and no food for babies. I had my son a week before this happened and I CRIED watching the babies with no clothes and no food. FEMA was not there immediately. Look at all that happened to the Superdome and getting people out of there. It was a disaster in our own country and we weren't fully prepared, N.O is still not fully back to restoration and it's not nearly the size of disaster that's in Japan.
I hate to say it, but it's almost like Japan is now being "punished" for being a productive country that can take care of it's people.

 

[hipchickie]

You continue to completely miss the point. I'm sure the hungry, freezing, injured people in areas where there is a serious threat of a major nuclear incident are just so comforted that their government is so stable and rich. The ongoing catastrophe and looming deaths and astronomical cost of damage will be no biggie at all. Riiight.

These people need help RIGHT NOW. Japan will have to find a way to deal with the massive cost of these multiple disasters -- earthquake, tsumani and nuclear meltdown. Their whole world has been turned upside down, and they need assistance that they simply cannot get anytime soon from their own government. Fortunately, it seems like many people "get" it and are helping.

No, I think YOU continue to miss the point. While this may be the big news story, there are plenty of humanitarian crisis all around the world that you obviously don't worry your pretty little head about.
Thankfully, there are plenty of people that do look around once in a while and realize that....hopefully someday you will be one of them

 

[Belle5]

We helped through our church. Do unto others...