There are more ways to help victims of hurricane Katrina than just donating money. My aunt is helping out a church in Alabama and sent the following instructions for putting together care boxes
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NEEDED IMMEDIATELY:
I got an interesting email from the American Progress Action Fund regarding news reports of tragic events, like the devastation wrought by Katrina.
"Like many of you, for the past 48 hours we have been glued to our computers and televisions, watching this tragedy unfold. We applaud the efforts of our news media, in particular ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, and MSNBC, to cover this story. On these networks, together as a nation, we have witnessed images of rooftop rescues and other amazing acts of heroism – along with moments of great personal tragedy. Hurricane Katrina is a truly important story and by doing a very good job of covering it, our TV news programs are providing Americans and the entire world the information necessary to help make a difference."
"Yet, as we watch in horror, we can't help but think of another tragedy a bit farther away – the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan stemming from the ongoing genocide there. Unfortunately, our TV networks are not doing such a good job informing Americans that 7,000 people are dying every month as a result of the genocide, according to the World Health Organization. Their stories of rescue, of heroism, of personal tragedy, and of survival are not being told."
"And so, when the floodwaters have receded in our homeland, and our fellow Americans begin the process of rebuilding their lives and their communities, we hope that the networks will reflect on the important role they play in keeping us informed of tragedies near and far and will continue to cover real news – important news. We hope that the networks will come to agree: Genocide IS News."
Hundreds of thousands of people are dead or dying in the wake of the recent tsunamis.
Why then is the richest and most powerful nation in the world spending
$40 million to celebrate Bush’s second inauguration and buzzing
Iranian airspace? Our resources are already spread too thinly. Should we really
be partying or contemplating another costly war?
I’m glad some effort
is being made to keep the U.N. accountable.
Congress May Block UN Budget Over Oil-for-Food Probe
More than 100 members of Congress will try to block some United States funding of the United Nations unless U.S. officials are allowed to begin an open and complete investigation into a U.N. humanitarian program in pre-war Iraq — sooner rather than later.
Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) noted Monday that it has been more than a year since the public first learned of fraud and abuse allegations directed at the U.N.’s oil-for-food program in Iraq. Flake and his colleagues are unhappy with the U.N.’s apparent lack of progress in its investigation of those charges. Now they are actively promoting existing legislation that would punish what they see as willful inaction.
The Charity Navigator is an interesting service.
“Charity Navigator, America’s premiere independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America’s largest charities.”
Of particular interest right now is their Holiday Giving Guide.