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| Author: Posted: Sep. 8, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 7,008,016 |
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 |
| 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 |
| To Start Off With I Think The Napster Situation Is Not About... | Mar 1st. at 3:56:38 pm EST |
| Garrett LoneWolfe (Fountain Valley, California US) | Age: 28 - Email |
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To start off with I think the Napster situation is not about greed. I believe it is about John Q. Public being tired of paying almost twenty dollars for a CD which has one or maybe two great songs, and the rest are second cuts. The recording industry should look at the success of Napster and re-think their pricing policies. As for groups I support it varies. I do not give money, for I have little to give. But I do actively participate in letter/e-mail writing campaigns for many things I believe in. Occasionally I will give an organization some money when I feel the need is there. Giving back to the community in whatever form in my mind is like putting good deeds in the Three-fold bank. It will come back to you someday. As for others, I do think that most people are genuinely good. But I do feel that Americans have their priorities all mixed up. The Stock boom of the last few years is a perfect example. Everyone wants to 'get rich'. Indian reservations have to have casinos just to feed their kids. And those that frequent them have the false hope of winning big. However, as a Social Worker, and seeing those that are often the deprived I do have a renewed hope in human beings and what they are capable of. |
| The Causes We Support Are Close To Home. An Organization For Retarded... | Mar 1st. at 5:01:01 pm EST |
| Medusa (Seattle, Washington US) | Age: 50 |
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the causes we support are close to home. an organization for retarded children, a local food bank, the Nature conservancy that buys land to take it out of the way of development and destruction and also a little known organization, the Chemical Injury Information Network in White Sulphur Spring, MT. They put out a newsletter OUR TOXIC TIMES which is available for a reasonable donation and they try to encourage getting dangerous chemicals out of our lives and away from our children.And around here recycling is a passion. We like to buy at thrift shops especially the ones who support things like a shelter for battered women and children |
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