Will you donate to Japan?

[SnowWhite607]

RE: the article about how much the Japanese donated after Katrina.......I wish some of the millionaires in this country would step up and do the same. How about the NFL owners and the players arguing over all that money that they cant decide how to split? I have an idea.......send it to Japan, Haiti and Africa to buy mosquito nets. Think they would ever do that?

 

[cappygirl]

We donated to the Red Cross since DH's company will match it.
Unfortunately our donation was a bit smaller than we would have liked since there was a horrible tragedy in Israel last week that caused us to donate to a victim of terrorism fund.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Japan and hopefully in the coming months we'll be able to donate more.

 

[ilovejack02]

RE: the article about how much the Japanese donated after Katrina.......I wish some of the millionaires in this country would step up and do the same. How about the NFL owners and the players arguing over all that money that they cant decide how to split? I have an idea.......send it to Japan, Haiti and Africa to buy mosquito nets. Think they would ever do that?

I do know that after Haiti the NFL sent a huge donation and every year after the Superbowl all the un used tee shirts and hats are sent to the World Vision fund to help clothe people in Africa . Lots of players across the NFL donated their own money after Katrina as did the NFL make a big donation. Of course our Drew Brees does quite a bit in NOLA to help the schools and the Saints for years have helped out the communities to rebuild around here. I imagine they will do something , if they can get their heads out of their butts to think about something besides themselves for a little while . ; )

 

[leight]

My brother has lived in Japan for the last 4 yrs and I am sending him a care package of canned foods, hormel compleates and toiletries, batteries, first aid supplies, etc. I will make a donation of a small amount thru Red Cross( I can't afford too much in the budget and won't pull from the normal amounts I donate) thru my work as it will be matched. While he resides in a suburb of Tokyo, they have little power and stores are quickly running out of supplies. So I thank you all for your generosity.

 

[disneymom3]

Just because a country isn't a third world country doesn't mean they are rich. Japan has the world's highest debt to GDP ratio - 200 percent - more than three times the United States' burden.

I think though that the point was for HER a country that has NO ability to recover, like Haiti for instance is something SHE would rather donate her money to.

Japan has (by some estimates) external investments of $3 Trillion. They also have a solid government and japan has a long history of raising money from their own citizens and institutions through bonds and lending.
Even if the US had 3x the debt, I would never think to call us poor.

I would not either and am pleased that we are donating to them and doing what we can as a country as they have done in the wake of our disasters.

I donated $10 to the Redcross (via text message, very cool!) and I'll likely give a larger contribution to my own company. I work for a non-profit medical organization and we have a disaster relief fund for things like this.

this brings up a great point...when we donate, we make sure it is to an organization that DHs company will match our donation. I know that's not exactly what you are saying but it reminded me of how we do it. For Haiti we donated to World Vision and his company doubled our donation.

They are also a generous people. After Katrina, the Japanese government offered material and monetary assistance that surpassed $1 million and that included tents, blankets, power generators and portable water tanks. Japan also provided $200,000 to the American Red Cross to aid hurricane victims. In addition, Takashi Endo, a private businessman in Japan, donated $1 million from his personal funds to Katrina relief efforts.

.

I think that is what many people are saying though. They know that the government is donating as did Japan's government after Katrina. So they may choose to have their personal after tax income go elsewhere.

I will probably wait until they start allowing animal rescue groups in and donate to the ASPCA and/or The Humane Society.

did you see the video of the dog guarding his buddy on MSNBC in the last day or two? It was really moving. They do have rescuers out specifically targetting animals. Those two were taken to a shelter and a vet. Not arguing with your point at all, just thought it might be something you would be interested in.

 

[disneymom3]

I do know that after Haiti the NFL sent a huge donation and every year after the Superbowl all the un used tee shirts and hats are sent to the World Vision fund to help clothe people in Africa . Lots of players across the NFL donated their own money after Katrina as did the NFL make a big donation. Of course our Drew Brees does quite a bit in NOLA to help the schools and the Saints for years have helped out the communities to rebuild around here. I imagine they will do something , if they can get their heads out of their butts to think about something besides themselves for a little while . ; )

Our church sponsers a little village in Rwanda. Last year (maybe the year before) our pastor and some others went to visit. Almost all the kids seemed to be wearing the tshirts from the Superbowl teams and they couldn't figure out why on earth that was. Their area host explained the connection.

 

[Minnesota!]

Japan has (by some estimates) external investments of $3 Trillion. They also have a solid government and japan has a long history of raising money from their own citizens and institutions through bonds and lending.
Even if the US had 3x the debt, I would never think to call us poor.

but anyway, I am not trying to talk anyone out of donating to Japan - the question was asked and I gave my viewpoint.
Donate to where and what you want to, but I hope anyone that has the means to does donate, to where ever your heart tell you

RE: the article about how much the Japanese donated after Katrina.......I wish some of the millionaires in this country would step up and do the same. How about the NFL owners and the players arguing over all that money that they cant decide how to split? I have an idea.......send it to Japan, Haiti and Africa to buy mosquito nets. Think they would ever do that?

 

[ShanPooh]

Has there been a Natural Disaster somewhere in the world and we haven't stepped up?

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.

 

[fakereadhed]

Yes, I am giving. I didn't have to decide on the amt. because the govt decided for me. US aid to Japan= tax dollars. We are all helping!

 

[luvmy3]

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 hate to admit that I completely forgot about that, and now that you have reminded me, IIRC that didn't get nearly the media coverage as other natural disasters. I bet that has alot to do with how much Americans donated.

 

[gk90]

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.

Yes, I am giving. I didn't have to decide on the amt. because the govt decided for me. US aid to Japan= tax dollars. We are all helping!

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

 

[nunzia]

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

...but what about DOLLARS in financial aid? and what about donations from corporations and citizens for financial aid? I still think we are the most generous in the world to others...and yes, it's because we are (or rather were) a rich country

 

[fakereadhed]

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

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?

 

[cassandrap83]

I will probably wait until they start allowing animal rescue groups in and donate to the ASPCA and/or The Humane Society.

So, you'll spend money to help animals, but NOT people???

 

[LilyWDW]

...but what about DOLLARS in financial aid? and what about donations from corporations and citizens for financial aid? I still think we are the most generous in the world to others...and yes, it's because we are (or rather were) a rich country

The post gk90 was quoting was making a comment about the government already using their tax dollars for foreign aid. This is what gk90 replied to and why she didn't mention private donations, because the post by fakereadhed was not about private donation. gk90 was only trying to point out that many American's believe that the government spends more then it really does (which I am not surprised about) and how we stand among the world leaders in foreign aid.

And most anything is looked at by percentage of budget, GDP, or national budget when you are comparing countries.

 

[LilyWDW]

So, you'll spend money to help animals, but NOT people???

Not the person quoted, but going to respond anyway.

Many people see the devastation and think about the people. Sometimes the animals get forgotten. I see nothing wrong with someone earmarking their PERSONAL donation money to help animals that have also been effected by this disaster. They will need to be taken care of as well and if people did not donate, the money would have to come from somewhere else.

My other donations go to the ASPCA and Human Society as well. It's not that I don't like people, but that is what I personally prefer to do with my money.

 

[ilovejack02]

So, you'll spend money to help animals, but NOT people???

Animals tend to be overlooked . If that is what PP wants to donate to, I say good for her!!

 

[disykat]

I upped my regular UNdesignated giving to Red Cross. An undesignated gift can be used anywhere. As others have pointed out, giving to other areas often suffers when there is a major need in one area.

That doesn't mean I don't want to give to Japan. I do, and I feel I am. I'm providing funds that help the overall organization, which in turn helps them provide services in Japan. I don't feel like my dollars need to go directly there to help.

 

[SnowWhite607]

Re; donating to help animals......I think everyone who contributes should be applauded, whether they donate thru their church, Red Cross, childrens fund or animal welfare funds. Where the heck do we get off criticizing someone for donating the way that they personally choose? If its her money and she worked and made it, why should anyone else get an opinion on how she spends it???

 

[chisnpeke]

So, you'll spend money to help animals, but NOT people???

I would donate to the ASPCA as well. Unfortunately there was a fire that destroyed a local rescue group for dogs here locally with a lot of dogs lost that I used my donation money toward.

It doesn't mean we don't care. It's just where we'd rather spend our money.

The tone of your post was not necessary.