Donate to the Red Cross

[Kitee]

I'm an animal lover and agree with the points made regarding Japan. However, I have made a donation to a Cornish charity called ShelterBox, they give immediate shelter and cooking stoves, tools, and childrens' toys etc to those whose homes have been destroyed. It's a 'hands on' practical charity that gives some semblance of dignity back to people in dire need.

I'm always cynical about big corporations and 'stars' asking for donations without disclosing what they are giving.

 

[apple]

I see Amazon has the link to the Red Cross as well. I don't see what's to object to. When I clicked on to the QVC page and saw this prompt it actually made me think twice about spending money on a trivial item of make-up I can well do without.

I admire any company who tries to help with this sort of fundraising if requested.

 

[lilian]

I would think more of QVC if they said that they were donating a large amount, or sending a load of relevant products.

Thats exactly what I said in my OP. Donate all the P&P they make for 2-3 days. it would come to a sizeable amount I think.

 

[iclaudipuss]

Do the people who complain about compassion for "fluffy pooches" know that a substantial percentage of funds donated to deal with the horrific aftermath of this dreadful tragedy will go directly towards sending out highly skilled search and rescue dogs, those "fluffy pooches" who save countless lives, human and otherwise? Do they also realise that numerous animals are awarded military honours for feats of astonishing bravery and endurance during wartime? Apparently not.
It really pisses me off that some people have this ludicrous view that the only life form that matters is the human one. What utter and absolute arrogance. All animals, human and otherwise, are sentient beings with the capacity to feel pain, fear, stress, terror, and they ALL, therefore, matter, and they all require aid during times of war, disaster and great trauma.
Frankly, what worries is me is the fact that there are people who can only feel compassion or empathy for a species they can directly relate to, in other words, they either lack the ability or imagination to feel pity for anything other than themselves, or something like themselves. Well, I've got news for you; we all die, and we are all forgotten, (with the exceptions of those who achieve notable greatness or evil notoriety) whether we're that amazing species, the human animal, or whether we are fluffy pooches.
I have donated because I want to do all that I can to assist the Japanese nation, in all its variations, to continue in the hugely impressive and dignified way it is dealing with this massive disaster. Sadly, no amount of money will stop the inevitable nuclear catastrophe ahead, and Japan will, more than likely, suffer for generations in the same way those in and around Chernobyl have.

 

[Pinkpussycat]

Bravo Puss!! :handshake:

 

[petpixie]

Well said Yo! The arrogant and superior attitude some people have over the animal kingdom never cease to amaze me either! Don't they realise that we're all in the same boat together and without them we probably wouldn't be here for long anyway.
I measure a person by how they view animals and if they have little or no compassion for them then imo there's something lacking and I'm afraid I have no time for them.

 

[davemc]

The idea that someone would not help a fellow human in the throws of disaster because some others among their fellow countrymen haven't been nice to some kinds of animal is, frankly, warped no matter how much sentimental guff you overlay it with. Doggies and dolphins matter, of course, but they matter less; much less. To not support the Japanese people because some in Japan support whaling for example is, well, racist and callous. You are choosing to blame victims, at their moment of need, for the deeds of others.

 

[Alz1995]

I agree japan has the funds to support these organisations. I give to many charities every month and while I have no problem giving to international agencies particularly DEC when the countries are poor with none or little revenue of their own . Expertise is required and many agencies will be available. I also agree with the person who mentioned CEO of these charities - when hey come to me touting for business I ask about administration costs and how much of my contribution is effective, and not paying massive wage bills.

 

[iclaudipuss]

Dophins and doggies may matter much, much less to you, but there are others who realise that the whole fragile eco-system, including all life forms is inter-dependent, and the destruction of one species has a knock-on effect on many other species, including humans. It's a fragile earth, and humans are the dominant and controlling force for the time being, as were the dinosaurs for 150+ million years, but you don't see many tyrannosaurus rexes on your way to Sainsbury's these days, do you?
Life and the planet evolve constantly, and after each major transforming wave of extinction, so far there have been 5, a new species becomes dominant, and it's a valuable lesson to learn that after the non-fluffy dinosaurs were wiped out, the survivors in the greatest numbers were the tiny mammals, rodents and suchlike. Oh, and don't forget the most successful life-form of all time - the humble insect. Here long before us, and here long after us.

 

[delh]

So are we saying that ALL Japenese are cruel to other living things or just that some are but because of that we wont support charities trying to help human beings who have to endure the most horrific natural disaster. If so are we then also saying that any country that has animal cruelty should be excluded from our help and prayers?

if that is the case there are going to be an awful lot of charities getting no donations. Including some in this country. The sad reality is that in every country of the world there are a monority ( and I do believe it is a minority) who dont value life animal or human but to "punish" innocent victims of disaster who have lost everything by with holding our aid and compassion to me is wrong.

I was watching a news report the other day where a young Japenese woman had gone back into the disaster zone to look for her pet dog and another who was looking for her horse sadly neither of them were found

Yes some Japenese dont appear to have any respect for life but then so do some British. I believe that you can only change minds and hearts by deeds and actions not by words if we cant find it in ourselves to show compassion to human beings in time of horrendous loss then are we really any better than those who dont show compassion to animals?

I dont and never will condone delibrate cruelty to any life form be it human or animal but I believe punishing hundreds of thousands of people who are the victim of a disaster outside of their control is just as cruel as anything done to animals.

Strong beliefs and principles are to be admired in anyone but beliefs and principles should be there to guide us through life but surely if we care about all life then that should include human life

 

[Pinkpussycat]

I'm an animal lover and agree with the points made regarding Japan. However, I have made a donation to a Cornish charity called ShelterBox, they give immediate shelter and cooking stoves, tools, and childrens' toys etc to those whose homes have been destroyed. It's a 'hands on' practical charity that gives some semblance of dignity back to people in dire need.

I'm always cynical about big corporations and 'stars' asking for donations without disclosing what they are giving.

Yes Kitee Shelterbox was my choice too after I saw a report of their work on SKY news.

The idea that someone would not help a fellow human in the throws of disaster because some others among their fellow countrymen haven't been nice to some kinds of animal is, frankly, warped no matter how much sentimental guff you overlay it with. Doggies and dolphins matter, of course, but they matter less; much less. To not support the Japanese people because some in Japan support whaling for example is, well, racist and callous. You are choosing to blame victims, at their moment of need, for the deeds of others.

Here we go again - another forum twot throwing the racist accusation about with no foundation. And please point out which members actually said they wouldn't donate, although as this is a personal choice and absolutely nothing to do with you I shouldn't encourage you in your judgemental ways. :taphead:

 

[WildRose]

It is raining here, and I am in my warm house, the washing machine is going and the tumble dryer will be on later as well as the dishwasher. I am so lucky, and totally aware of it. Some of the news stories that are now coming out of Japan, such as retirement home patients being left to their own devices, with no medication, heat, food or people to look after them, are starting to sadden me greatly. Children orphaned, old people left with no heat suffering from hypothermia, I do not want to insult your intelligence by going on, you can read the stories for yourself. Japan might be a rich country, but all relief effeorts are totally streched beyond imagination by the sheer scale of the task ahead, just what to do first and how to get help where it is needed at a time where the next crisis, a crisis that can have also global consequences, is possibly just around the corner. Japan needs help maybe I am being naive here, but it seems very simple to me.
'There but for the grace of God, ' appt phrase, what will happen to us when the side of Lanzarote (or is it Tenerife?) finally fall into the ocean? Or the active fault system we have of the coast of ireland?
Just checked its actually La Palma, sorry

 

[iclaudipuss]

Yes Kitee Shelterbox was my choice too after I saw a report of their work on SKY news.


Here we go again - another forum twot throwing the racist accusation about with no foundation. And please point out which members actually said they wouldn't donate, although as this is a personal choice and absolutely nothing to do with you I shouldn't encourage you in your judgemental ways. :taphead:

Will you stop pinkpussyfooting around and get to the point? Goodness me, shyness is one thing, but you take it to extremes!

 

[Pinkpussycat]

I know Puss tis a weakness of mine but I'm trying to overcome it. :devil:

 

[London]

'There but for the grace of God, ' appt phrase, what will happen to us when the side of Lanzarote (or is it Tenerife?) finally fall into the ocean? Or the active fault system we have of the coast of ireland?
Just checked its actually La Palma, sorry

Yes, it is a sad fact that we live on a broken earth.

 

[davemc]

"It's a fragile earth, and humans are the dominant and controlling force for the time being"

... you seem to be assuming that humans cause earthquakes and tsunamis. I'd say there's something rather more dominant and controlling there.... Geo-physical and elemental forces have always been more important than humans in the shape of the planet. It's the fact that we don't - and can't - control it that makes it so terrifying. That's why people put their faith in the new religions of silly little windmills, incapable of generating meaningful amounts of electricity, and wax lyrical about "evil" carrier bags and the carbon footprint baloney. It makes them think they're more important than they are.

"you don't see many tyrannosaurus rexes on your way to Sainsbury's these days, do you?"

No ... and that matters, how? If you can't get them in Sainsbury's perhaps you could try "King's Realm" (I bet their meat has been in the freezer long enough).

 

[iclaudipuss]

Erm no, that's not what I was saying at all. I was talking about humans being the dominant animal species at this point in time, which is, of course, a mere nano second in terms of the history of the planet. The one thing that will always dominate life on earth is nature and the catastrophic forces it can unleash.
My point about not seeing many t-rexes on the way to Sainsbury's was quite obviously a reference to the fact that the dominant animal species for 150+ million years is gone, wiped out, extinct, just as we shall be at some point, and therefore illustrating the fact that we may be arrogant and think we matter to the exclusion of all else, but in reality we are fragile temporary inhabitants of an unpredictable planet in an equally unpredictable universe.
If you're going to quote me, try to keep to my meaning, not the strange miasma of lunatic alibis that passes for a communicative effect in your world, and is just shy of coherence in mine.

 

[davemc]

"Erm no, that's not what I was saying at all. I was talking about humans being the dominant animal species at this point in time,"

Well then, you could have written that instead of what you actually wrote.

It doesn't matter at all that the dinosaurs are extinct. Nor will it matter in a few decades if iclaudipuss and little old me are. What matters, now, is that hundreds of thousands of people are suffering in Japan and elsewhere. If we can do something about it, we should. That involves prioritising.

 

[iclaudipuss]

What I meant was perfectly clear to the vast majority of people familiar with well written English prose. I'm a journalist and don't require you or anyone else to instruct me on what I should say and how I should say it.

Anyone who had read my first post on this thread would be aware that I have donated money to go some small way to help Japan at its time of dire need, so why are you asseverating that I am somehow opposed to such aid?

Incidentally, I know all about human suffering, since I am, at the incredibly advanced age of 45, terminally ill with cancer, so don't talk to me about needing to prioritise. I know exactly how precious and fragile each second of life is, and that's one of the reasons I feel tremendous compassion and empathy for every creature suffering due to the catastrophic events in Japan.

 

[argeybargey]

Oh dear Dave, I don't think Puss is very impressed by your semantics. Now off you toddle. How about going over to help those poor souls trying to damp down the nuclear plant. Your energy will be far better used in this way. Now don't make me have to come and getcha! <a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZNxpt484YYGB%2526i%253D10%252F10%255F2%255F25%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/10/10_2_25.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D10%252F10_2_25%2526uiv%253D3.0/image.gif"></a>