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| Author: Posted: Sep. 8, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 7,120,969 |
Question of the Week: 30 - 2/26/2001 What Do You Support and Why Do You Support It? What sort of organizations or causes do you regularly support? Are they usually local causes or national/international projects? When serious First Amendment problems come up, many folks say, "Go to the ACLU"-yet one might wonder how many people giving this advice actually send money to the ACLU to help them respond to these requests. What criteria do you look at when making a decision to support or not to support some project, cause or organization? Given the situation surrounding Napster, do you think that people are basically greedy and self-centered and will take whatever they can get for free-or does humanity really have an altruistic streak which urges us to help others and support causes that we believe in? What do you financially or as a volunteer support-and why? Or why not? |
| Reponses: There are 21 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| Mm... Being A Solo Parent Of Three Small Children, On A Domestic... | Feb 26th. at 2:19:37 am EST |
| Raindancer (Christchurch, New Zealand) | Age: 52 - Email |
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MM... Being a solo parent of three small children, on a Domestic Purposes/Disability Benefit, my resources are miniscule, but I try to give some money every year to the local Women's Refuge. Why? Because from childhood, I have seen the violence and abuses that women and children must sometimes experience. I have seen creativity and talent of beautiful ladies crushed to satisfy someone's insecurities and need to dominate and control. So I try to help where I can, send the few dollars I can, and help young women who come my way to build their self-confidence and find their own inner empowerment. What I do may be little enough compared to what others do, but its the best I could do, and over the years, I have been blessed in that I have seen some of these young ladies blossom and become fine people. I was honored when two of them took me aside and asked me if they could call me dad. Before I came to New Zealand, I also tried to regularly donate money to help Disabled Veterans. I am a Vietnam Era veteran, and saw first hand the ghastly wounds mental as well as physical, that those veterans had to endure. Then come home to be spat upon and called "Baby Killer". Those people gave a great deal, but unlike other Veterans organizations don't have the clout or influence. I know what they went through, it was the least I could do. When you see wrong and injustice in the world, if you don't lend a hand and do something, do what you can, then you are in some small part allowing it to continue. You may not be able to do much, and you may have to pick your battles, but DO SOMETHING. Blessed Be... Raindancer |
| In Addition To Whatever I Can Give To Needy Individuals That I... | Feb 26th. at 3:52:03 am EST |
| Barbarian (Chicago, Illinois US) | Age: 30 - Email |
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In addition to whatever I can give to needy individuals that I encounter, I tend to give most often to organizations that support our various freedoms, but I try to give to the "underfunded" ones before the name-brand ones. Everyone gives money to the ACLU, but how many donate to the CBLDF - the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund? (http://www.cbldf.org). I also try to give to organizations that stick to their stated purpose or that are at least consistant if they do make statements about other subjects. Despite my fierce support of the right to keep and bear arms, I do not donate to the NRA due to many of their non-firearms related statements. Instead I send money to the Second Amendment Sisters or the local chapter of the Pink Pistols. I think most people do have an altruistic side to them, but sometimes you have to appeal to their enlightened self-interest. "What's in it for me?" may seem like a miserly question, but sometimes people have been so worn down by their daily life that they can't see that the person they're refusing to help might be even more worn down. |
| There Are Several Organizations And Efforts That I Presently Support (and Others... | Feb 26th. at 7:17:53 am EST |
| Trish Telesco (western, New York US) | Age: 40 - Email |
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There are several organizations and efforts that I presently support (and others that will likely appear as one need is fulfilled and others arise). I'm a member of ACLU and Americans for Separation of Church and State - the reasons there are pretty obvious. Beyond this I'm presently helping promote the land auction fund for phoenixfestivals (www.phoenixfestivals.com) as that is a HUGE need that will have long-lasting results that benefit us all. Additionally I'm helping promote a building fund for dragonhills (www.dragonhills.com) so there will be one perminant structure for lectures, shelter from the elements, and where people can gather in the spirit of Tribe both in and out of a fesival setting. My personal guidelines for supporting anything are fairly simple - I prefer personal, hands on experience with one or more people involved (or minimally a recommendation from someone I know and trust). Beyond this I consider my time constraints. There are limits to how many projects I can give my voice to successfully - I'd rather choose two or three and see them thru to the end than spread my energy too thin and accomplish little. |
| I'm An Australian And Whilst Free Speech Is Supported In This Country... | Feb 26th. at 9:02:33 am EST |
| SunsetSeashell )O( (Gold Coast, Australia, South Australia AU) | Age: 22 - Email |
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I'm an Australian and whilst free speech is supported in this country (to the dismay of everyone at some point in everyone's life), as far as I know, we have no 1st Amendment. Regardless, I support the Queensland Cancer Fund and any other 'Cancer Fund' organisation by donations of money on their special day. My reason to support them is because of my mother who died Feb 26 1999 due to Cancer (various cancers). I have my beliefs about Cancer (that it is alot of resentment, guilt and "poisonous" emotions fermenting/stored) however I'm all for finding a "cure". Other causes: * Voluntary Enuthasia (sp?). Reason: my mother again :-) Since I was unemployed and living at home .. I saw how her condition deteriated to where she looked like death walking. She got to the point where she was purely on 'The Drip'. I personally do not want to have to go through all that indingnity (sp?) and would rather end my life (when there is no hope of recovery) then go on like she did. * Animal Shelters (specifically the Animal Protection League and RSPCA). Reason: I'm a cat lover (and overall animal lover too). How I support them is by buying from their respective Opportunity shops, a kitten from their shelter (my current cat was an APL cat) and recommend to everyone to buy a pet from the shelter instead of a pet store. * Spay/Neutur issue in regards to pets (cats and dogs). Reason: There are way too many unloved and/or uncared for kittens, cats, puppies, dogs (etc).. http://catservant.cjb.net [check within the link section at the bottom of page] * Clean Up Australia Day (and various other 'environmental' causes, projects, etc)... CUAD is a good grounding of how damaging alot of our 'waste' can be and how alot of people illegally dump or litter. Besides this day, I'm all for supermakets of having cardboard boxes to be able to be used by customers than plastic bags... I also try and refuse a plastic bag as much as possible (by taking my own bag or realising I do not need one for one item). I used to also volunteer my time at a local community radio station here called Hott FM (I was receptionist).. I enjoyed that immensly. I would like to in the future volunteer my time at a animal shelter. |
| I Support A Variety Of Causes, Mostly Clustered Around Environmentalism. So, I'm... | Feb 26th. at 9:41:00 am EST |
| Skye Cat (Edinburgh, Scotland UK) | Age: 27 - Email |
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I support a variety of causes, mostly clustered around environmentalism. So, I'm a member of Friends of the Earth Scotland, Greenpeace, and a Scottish charity called Trees for Life, run from the Findhorn community, which aims to replant areas of the old Caledonian forest. I relate to the last post. I too am a one woman "No thanks, I don't need a bag" campaign. You'd be amazed at how much that floors shop assistants! I buy the Big Issue, and buy Christmas presents, etc. from charity catalogues when I can. Last year several members of my family got to adopt a tree in the Caledonian forest (see Trees for Life above). I also target charity shops for window shopping where I can. I try to avoid the charities that spend large amounts of money hiring commission based touts to get membership on the streets. I think it's an ineffective use of their funds. Also, I wouldn't give my bank details to a stranger on a street corner, charity bib or no charity bib! |
| It's Hard To Decide Where To Put Your Money, But I'm Definitely... | Feb 26th. at 11:28:42 am EST |
| Marea (Niagara Falls, Ontario CA) | Age: 30 - Email |
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It's hard to decide where to put your money, but I'm definitely a big fan of the National Geographic Society - in large part because of the wonderful job they do in illuminating other cultures, histories, wildlife, natural preservation and conservation, and so on. I'm also a supporter of a little known organization called "Free the Children International", a non-governmental organization founded by a 12 year old boy which works to end child labor and promote education on a peer-to-peer basis. You can check them out at www.freethechildren.org Locally I prefer to invest my time rather than money, wherever it's needed. I've been a dogwalker for the local Humane Society, volunteered for a local hospice organization, and a number of other things. When deciding where to put my resources, I evaluate on several bases such as the organization's track record, its need, its ability to make the most of what I give, and its ability to respect the culture and natural legacy of the area in which it works. |
| I'm A Card-carrying Member Of The Aclu And Americans For Separation Of... | Feb 27th. at 9:28:40 am EST |
| Medea (Fort Wayne, Indiana US) | Age: 40 - Email |
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I'm a card-carrying member of the ACLU and Americans for Separation of Church and State. My real bugaboo is censorship, so I support causes which fight book banners and book burners. As one devoted to the idea of personal responsibility in reproductive matters, I also support Planned Parenthood for people and Spay-Neuter programs for pets. Closer to home, I never pass a Salvation Army Santa without emptying my change purse and I'm a sucker for those supermarket coin boxes for little kids who need transplants. I volunteer my time for local gardening projects and do what I can to make my part of the world a better place on a day-to-day basis. If there were more pagan organizations in my community, I would probably support them. |
| I Support Groups That Protect Our Animals And Wildlife. I Support Groups... | Feb 27th. at 9:59:28 am EST |
| Paula (Pittsburg, California US) | Age: 54 - Email |
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I support groups that protect our animals and wildlife. I support groups that want to protect anyone or anything from abuse. Physical or mental. |
| I Personally Meditate On Each And Every Donation I Make. I Won't... | Feb 27th. at 5:08:53 pm EST |
| ToraKoneko (Grand Forks, North Dakota US) | Age: 18 - Email |
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I personally meditate on each and every donation I make. I won't say what I support financially (it sounds too much like status markers to me) but I generally lean towards programs that protect Mother Earth and all my fourlegged, winged and aquatic-dwelling brothers and sisters. I also volunteer time at the Humane Society (not because I agree with their outlook totally, but because I care for all the poor animals inside the program). I also have my own little crusade about recycling. ToraKoneko |
| I Support Several Different Causes/organizations. As A Pagan, I Can't Imagine... | Feb 28th. at 9:18:18 am EST |
| MalenRuadhRhen (Bristol, Connecticut US) | Age: 30 - Email |
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I support several different causes/organizations. As a pagan, I can't imagine NOT supporting organizations who try to save/clean up the enivronment and it's inhabitants. Wildlife and habit savers are at the top of my list. I also support organic farming, by buying organic whenever I can and by also supporting groups try to further organic growing methods. I also recycle whenever possible. I choose all nautral cleaners, body care, and makeup products. The best way to keep the environment clean is to not trash it in the first place. I also support orgainzations that try save the homeless animals in our country and around the world. As a *mom* to 8 (yes 8!) cats, this is something near and dear to my heart everyday. While I am not a vegetarian, I do try to buy organic/free range meat, dairy and egg products. Factory farms to me are on of the most insiduous operations out there. Other things I support are education and education-related groups. First and formost is Public Televison (PBS). I truly believe we all should support this wonderful organization. With all of the *reality (aka cheesy rating gimmick)* programming out there, PBS is a breath of fresh, clean, INTELLIGENT, air in an otherwise stale room. I also support any orgainzation that furthers the education of this country. Too many people today have lost the love and learning and discovery. As the child of a teacher I find this very troubling. I give my support through money and through my time. I don't simply write checks. I volunteer, and I try to get others to do likewise. I also try to get people to examine how making a few MINOR changes in their lives will better all of us GREATLY for decades to come. I urge everyone who reads this to examine their lives and ask how making one small permanent change (could be switching brnads of cleaners, picking up trash, etc.) will benefit the world and socitey as a whole, and make that change today. |
| I Could Go On And On About What I Support And Why... | Feb 28th. at 10:08:45 am EST |
| Emerald (Fort Lauderdale, Florida US) | Age: 19 |
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I could go on and on about what I support and why I support it, but I'll boil it down and give you the broadstrokes: I support the quest for equality, tolerance, and freedom, in any form that quest may take. |
| Best Friends Animal Sanctuary In Utah - They Take In Abandoned, Abused Wild... | Feb 28th. at 11:17:35 pm EST |
| Helen (Kansas City, Kansas US) | Age: 44 - Email |
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Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah - They take in abandoned, abused wild and domestic animals and give them a good home at the sanctuary until someone comes along and adopts them. No animal is put down, no matter the condition, but nursed to health. A cat that had been doused with gasoline and set afire (and as if that wasn't enough, had one of his eyes gouged out!) was found, brought to the sanctuary, nursed gently to health and now is known as "Pirate"; this cat jumps to the top shelf whenever someone enters his abode because that's where they keep the Fancy Feast cat food. Their book, website and newsletters are filled with such stories of angst-turned-to-joy; it does the heart good. A gal I work with has visited the sanctuary (drop-ins are welcome) and said it is an incredible place, filled with beauty and kindness. Check out their website at www.bestfriends.org |
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